Acts 2 43 -47 Church growth Part 1

Acts 2: 43 -47 Church growth Part 1

“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles”. Acts 2: 42 -43

Supernatural These miracles were GENUINE and AUTHENTIC performed by the APOSTLES to confirm the teaching 2 Corinthians 12: 12;

v 43 And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. FEAR = REVERANCE – AWE - RESPECT

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 44 -47

A Period of Good Will Acts 2: 44 -47; These first days of the Kingdom-Church were like a honeymoon. But it would not last long. Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish religion that did not accept Jesus as their Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in numbers and power. But for now this great multitude from all over the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem and were united and happy.

vv 44 -45. THERE WAS ALSO A GREAT COLLECTION! JOHN WESLEY. EARN ALL YOU CAN! Old farmer- AMEN! SAVE ALL YOU CAN! Another AMEN! GIVE all you can! And the old farmer groaned OH! HE'S GONE AND SPOILED IT!

These new Christians had come from far and wide and wanted to stay to hear more, some having become Christians might have lost their jobs!

Acts 2: 43 Generous, Sacrificial For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4: 34 -35

Acts 2: 43 This way beyond normal charitable giving… Becoming a Christian can involve SACRIFICE Sacrificial giving is much more effective than spiritual talk!

The purpose of this collection was TO relieve individuals in need, NOT to distribute property equally (2: 45; 4: 35). Each disciple decided voluntarily how much to give (2 Cor. 9: 7; Acts 5: 4). Christians did not practice mandatory communal living. People continued to own houses to live in (Acts 2: 46; 21: 8; chap. 12).

This special need likely arose because people had come to Jerusalem from all over the world (vv 5 -11). After being converted, they stayed to be taught before going home. Other Christians went to great lengths to provide for them. Many other verses show that local churches helped needy members (Acts 4: 32 -5: 11; 6: 1 -6; 11: 27 -30; 2 Corinthians 8: 4; 9: 1, 12).

Churches received funds to do their work and meet special needs by taking collections on the first day of the week. All members gave generously according to their prosperity. See 1 Corinthians 16: 1, 2; 2 Corinthians 9: 6, 7. This CONDUCT was in marked CONTRAST with the NEGLECT of the poor which was then common among the Jews, even in violation of their own law, and which was universal among the Gentiles.

The Fellowship of Christians Acts 2: 44 -47; Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish religion that did not accept Jesus as their Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in numbers and power. But for now this great multitude from all over the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem and were united and happy.

The Fellowship of Christians a poem by Ellis Jones Acts 2: 44 -47; Fellowship is sharing Ourselves, our things, with others. Especially with Christians; But all men are our brothers. Our neighbor's not the one next door But anyone in need. Seize the opportunity And Jesus' teaching heed.

The Fellowship of Christians a poem by Ellis Jones Acts 2: 44 -47; Share time, concern, a hand to help, A kindly word of cheer, Share their joys with happy smile Or even share a tear. Jesus came to earth to share In our humanity. So that we may share with him A blest eternity.

And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2: 46 -47

Unified Phil. 2: 2 … make my joy complete by being of the 1 same mind, maintaining the 3 in spirit, same love, united 2 intent on one purpose. 4

To accommodate meetings of thousands of Christians, the Jerusalem church apparently met in a porch of the temple (cf. Acts 3: 11; 5: 12). However, they ate their meals at home. The work of the early church involved Worshiping God, Studying and teaching God's word, and caring for needy members.

CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2: 46 -47; ). Large & Small groups Large groups: -Shared -Anonymity -Excitement Small groups: -Personal -Interactive -Intimate

CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2: 43 -47; ). Authentic Grateful The 10 lepers Infantile attitude = bitter regarding what we don’t have Not grateful for what we’ve been given = source of much selfishness & dissatisfaction

Grateful Praising GOD OUGHT to be THOUGHTFUL POWERFUL WORSHIPFUL JOYFUL And EVEN EXCITING

CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2: 43 -47; ). Culturally Integrated

Outreaching Without this… We are NOT Fulfilling our potential in Christ. Being blessed by God is not an end in itself We need to be a blessing to others as LIGHT & SALT WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE

The church is a SPIRITUAL BODY, dedicated to the salvation of souls. We need to IMITATE this SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS in the church today. From v 47 on, Acts describes the church as a living, working group of people (Acts 5: 11; 8: 1 -3; 11: 22, 26; etc. ). The church is not a physical building or an institution - it is a LIVING ORGANISM.

If We are the body of Christ today 1. 2. 3. 4. We need to develop a Deeper relationship with Christ We need to GROW reaching out to the Community We need to be a WELCOMING Family of Believers We need to have a greater SENSE of our MISSION 5. We need to WORK TOGETHER in Partnership with the Christ

(1 Corinthians 12: 14) Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. The Principle of Diversity

(1 Corinthians 12: 15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, " it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. The Principle of Indivisibility

(1 Corinthians 12: 17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? . . . The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) …As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!". . . The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) …On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor… The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) …And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment… The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) …But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body… The Principle of Indispensability

(1 Corinthians 12: 18 -26) …but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. The Principle of Community

CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2: 43 -47; ). The church is the BODY OF ALL PEOPLE who have been SAVED by JESUS BLOOD and OVER WHOM He RULES as HEAD (Matt. 16: 18; Eph. 1: 22, 23; 5: 23, 25; Acts 20: 28). One CANNOT purchase membership or be voted into the church that Jesus' built. One must SUBMIT TO THE GOSPEL, so Jesus' blood CLEANSES HIM. Then Jesus ADDS him to the church (v 47).

CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2: 43 -47; ). FELLOWSHIP, which is an expression of brotherly love, is BEAUTIFUL and POWERFUL. The book of Acts helps us to an understanding of what fellowship is and what it does for us. It is a POWERFUL INCENTIVE in helping us SEE the RISEN CHRIST and want to PROCLAIM HIM and WANT to REMAIN FAITHFUL to Him