Jerusalem

A Model Church for TodayActs 2-12

A Model Church for Today

• Models and patterns are important (Ex. 25:40; 2 Tim. 1:13)

• People are looking for church models today – “look how they are growing!”

• The Lord built his church (Mt. 16:18) and the Jerusalem church is a divine model of the Lord’s church (Acts 2-12)

A Converted Church (2:37-41)

• The problem today: a lack of true conversion among church members

• Their conversion resulted from the:– Right communication: gospel preaching– Right conviction: pricked in the heart– Right conditions: repentance, baptism

• The solution: Bible-based gospel preaching and gospel obedience (Rom. 1:14-16)

A Worshipping Church (2:42, 46-47)

• The problem today: a loss of focus on true worship in the assembly

• Their worship was:– Continual– Concentrated– Connected

• The solution: improve our worship through preparation, participation, and passion

A Learning Church (2:42; 5:42)

• The problem today: a loss of Bible knowledge

• Their study focused on the right: – Person– Plan– Place

• The solution: let us make time for reading, study, and learning (Acts 17:11; 1 Tim. 4:13)

Jerusalem

A Model Church for TodayActs 2-12

- Part 2 -

A United Church (2:44-46; 4:24,32)

• The problem today: a lack of unity, hyper-individualism, division

• Their unity was in:– Submission to God’s teaching– Service to God and others– Serious practice (6:1-6)

• The solution: let us take unity seriously and work at it (Psa. 133:1; Jn. 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:2-3)

A Praying Church (2:42; 4:24; 6:6; 12:5)

• The problem today: many church members are ungrateful and self-reliant

• Their prayers were made:– In good times– In challenging times– In bad times

• The solution: let us pray at all times and for all occasions (1 Thess. 5:17-18)

A Giving Church (2:45; 4:32-37; 6:1-6)

• The problem today: many church members are selfish and unconcerned

• Their benevolence was:– From the heart– With liberality– For the needy saints

• The solution: let us work to have for those in need (Acts 20:34-35; Eph. 4:28; 2 Cor. 9:7)

Jerusalem

A Model Church for TodayActs 2-12

- Part 3 -

A Model Church: Review

• A converted church (2:37-41)

• A worshipping church (2:42, 46-47)

• A learning church (2:42; 5:42)

• A united church (2:44-46; 4:24,32)

• A praying church (2:42; 4:24; 6:6; 12:8)

• A giving church (2:45; 4:32-37; 6:1-60)

A Disciplined Church (5:1-11)

• The problem today: many church members are allowed to live in sin and be in fellowship

• This discipline was:– God-ordered– Exercised immediately– Respected (feared) by all

• The solution: let us discipline when necessary (Mt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15)

A Persecuted Church (4:1ff; 5:17ff; 6:8ff; 8:1ff; 12:1ff)

• The problem today: many avoid persecution by living like the world around them

• Their persecution:– Resulted from standing for truth– Was met with perseverance and prayer– Was faced positively (4:4,19; 5:29,41; 6:1,7; 7:60; 8:4;

12:24)

• The solution: let us endure persecution (Mt. 5:11-12; Jn. 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:16)

A Rejoicing Church (2:46; 5:41)

• The problem today: many have lost their zeal and enthusiasm in serving the Lord

• Their joy came from:– Salvation from Christ– Serving for Christ– Society with Christians

• The solution: let us remain happy at all times (Psa. 16:11; 51:10-12; Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 4:4)

Jerusalem

A Model Church for TodayActs 2-12

- Part 4 -

A Model Church: Review

• A converted church (2:37-41)

• A worshipping church (2:42, 46-47)

• A learning church (2:42; 5:42)

• A united church (2:44-46; 4:24,32)

• A praying church (2:42; 4:24; 6:6; 12:8)

• A giving church (2:45; 4:32-37; 6:1-60)

A Model Church: Review

• A disciplined church (5:1-11)

• A persecuted church (4:1ff; 8:1ff; 12:1ff)

• A rejoicing church (2:46; 5:41)

An Organized Church (6:1-6; 11:30; 15:2; 21:18)

• The problem today: many local churches lack proper leadership

• Their organized was:– Ordained by God (Eph. 3:10; 4:8ff)– Taken seriously (Ac. 6:1ff)– Effective in work

• The solution: let men qualify themselves to lead (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1ff; Tit. 1:5ff)

An Evangelistic Church (5:41-42; 8:4,14; 11:22)

• The problem today: local churches will not spread the gospel outside the building

• They evangelized:– With zeal, continually and selflessly– Without boundaries– In the midst of persecution

• The solution: let us go out and spread the gospel (Mt. 9:38; Jn. 4:35)

A Growing Church (2:41,47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1,7; 12:24)

• The problem today: new church members are not being added; churches dying

• Their growth was not:– Without effort and preaching (5:42)– A result of unauthorized gimmicks– Hindered by persecution or problems

• The solution: let us grow in number and strength (Ac. 16:5)