
Community
Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)
Why Do Church? 02 | Mick Veach | Lead Pastor | first aired on 04.24.2022
I. Introduction
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. —Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)
A. The lies continue to scream at us
- We don’t need the church
- The church is full of hypocrites
- The church is outdated and irrelevant
- The church only wants your money
- The church is abusive
B. Let’s answer the question—who is the church?
- A group of people who declare belief in Jesus
- It is not the building
- Most if not all of us broken with crazy stories
- We are similar to an emergency room with lots of needs
C. What is the purpose of the church?
- Worship our Lord with our lives (living sacrifices)
- Share the love of Jesus in word and deed (Complete the mission)
- Care and love the body of Christ (love another and be one)
- Grow in our love relationship with Jesus (love the Lord with all that we have)
D. We live in a day that we must make a decision
- Are we going to be engaged with the community of the church or not?
- We have made church just another item in our list (not a priority)
- Our children—choose what is the most important for them
- The beginning of the birth pains that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24 is upon us
II. Choose This Day— A Church Community
>A. Many have
There are three reasons for this great departure
a. Loss of Time
b. Loss of Truth
c. Loss of TrustTime is a great asset that we must choose daily how we will use this precious gift
- We model to our children what is the most important
James 4:14 — Life is a mist, here today and gone tomorrow
Truth is under attack like never before
a. Matthew 24—the great birth pains
b. 2 Timothy 4:3—A time is coming when they will not endure sound doctrine but having itchy ears they surround themselves teachers to suit their own desires
c. 2 Thel. 2:1-12—A great apostasy must occur before the return of Christ
d. 2 Peter 3:3-4—In the last days, they will mock the return of Jesus following their own lusts
e. Luke 17:26—As it was in the day of Noah so it will be in the days of the Son of ManThe speed of the deconstruction of the Bible and Reconstruction of it is supersonic
a. Two types of churches appearing
- Compromised Church
- Biblical Church
We lost our Trust in the church because of our hurt
a. Church Hurt has occurred because of:
- Lack of spiritually qualified leaders
- Lack of true accountability
- Lack of repentance
Peter Scazzero gives 3 things that we must do to break these strongholds
a. Pay Attention to the Pain
- Bible is full of Pain
- From Genesis to Rev. scripture tells us to engage our pain/hurt
- If we don’t pay attention we: Grow hard, Cynical, Distant and aloof, Avoid engagement
b. Wait in the Confusing In-Between
- We don’t like to wait because of the pain
- Bible full of waiting examples
- What is God doing in these waiting times?
- Most growth occurs in these moments
- Forgive authentically not superficially
c. Allow the old to birth the new
1.John 12:24 — unless a kernel of wheat fall and dies it remains a single seed but if it dies it produces many seeds
2, The new life offered usa. Jesus offers more of himself to us
b. Jesus makes us more compassionateKey Point—Jesus will redeem your pain, lean into Him for healing and deliverance
B. The Church Community is
Acts 2 gives describes what biblical community looks like
a. Devote yourself to the Apostles teaching
b. Devote yourself to Fellowship
c. Devote yourself to sharing a meal
d. Devote yourself to Prayer
e. Devote yourself to believing God for miracles
f. Devote yourself to sharing your resources
g. Devote yourself to worshipping togetherThe result of biblical community
a. God gave them favor in their community
b. God added to their number dailyWe must choose this day…
a. Isolation or community
b. Loneliness or community
c. Cynicism or community
d. Lone Ranger mentality or communityCommunity allows the gifts of the spirit exercised
- Jump over the edge and begin to be the body of Christ
Key Point—What we can do together is greater than we can do by ourselves.
III. Call to Action:
A. Denounce any stronghold that is holding you from community
B. Decide to make your church a priority
C. Find your place in the body of Christ and allow the Lord to use you
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