Monday, February 26, 2007
Message 7: Commissioned to Share
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
One thing is for certain – the early church experienced EXPONENTIAL evangelistic explosion. By the end of the first century, the Gospel had spread across from Israel, to all of Judea and Samaria, to Europe, Africa and parts of Asia!
DQ: How did this happen?
Last week we talked about our commission to SERVE the needs of people.
Did you know that…
- The first UNIVERSITY in North America – HARVARD UNIVERSITY – was founded by Christians to train ministers?
- The first HOSPITALS in North America – PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL – was founded by Christians?
BOB ERICKSON: His house churches here in Rancho are sending a team to the African country of LIBERIA to see what they can do for the people of this impoverished country. One of the members of the team is a Physician’s Assistant who is meeting with the head of medicine in Liberia. If they get involved in ministry to Liberia, much of what they will do will be to meet the medical needs of the people.
If we are going to help people come to know Jesus, we have to be willing to SERVE them.
The second thing that the early church did was to SHARE the Gospel message. It isn’t enough to feed, heal, or listen to people – we have to give them the STORY of God’s love that comes through Jesus Christ.
I want everyone to turn to Colossians 1:25 – Here Paul lays out the privilege that we have as Christians to help others discover Christ for themselves:
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Colossians 1:25-28
Do you want to serve God?
YOU SERVE GOD BY SHARING THE STORY!
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” V. 25-26
There is no higher calling than to SHARE THE STORY of God’s love with those around you. God has given us that commission. This task. This privilege. We know something. You know something. You know something that others do not know.
There’s a girl that works at the Coffee Klatch who has never been exposed to the Gospel. She is taking a religion class at Chaffey College and she wants me to explain Christianity to her. I know something that she doesn’t know. And it is my privilege to share the story with her.
Do you want to experience the glory of God?
THE GLORY IS IN YOUR STORY
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” V. 27
As we share our story – the Glory of God is revealed. For as we share our story – people come to see Jesus! And Jesus is the Glory of God! Nothing is greater, nothing is of higher importance, nothing can compare than the glory of helping people meet Jesus! When we share our stories, it really isn’t about us – it is about what Jesus has done for us! He gets the glory! When just get to tell the story!
“All of our theology, must eventually become biography.” Tim Hansel
What we say we believe, must become who we are. What we believe becomes who we are. Our life stories are the proving ground of what we believe. And as we live out our story, the glory of God is revealed!
Think about the people in your life that you know and love. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Coworkers.
Do you want them to know what you know? Do you want them to know Jesus?
PEOPLE COME TO KNOW JESUS AS YOU SHARE YOUR STORY!
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” V. 28
Paul says that as we proclaim Christ – people will become perfect in Christ! That means that they will be rightly fitted with Him. They will come into proper positioning with Him.
When you tell your story, there will be fruit. Listen to these accounts of the fruit of God’s Word:
“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7
“But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” Acts 12:24
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23, NIV
Who is the Word of God?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” Revelation 19:13
Go back to Acts 2:42-47….
A great many Christians do not share their story because they think somehow that they’ve got to be a PREACHER in order to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you look at Acts 2:42-47 you’ll notice that it does not mention PREACHING.
What it does say is that the believers were ‘devoted to the Apostle’s teaching…” – but that wasn’t preaching, it was teaching. And teaching is done amongst BELIEVERS!
In recent weeks, we discovered what the proper priorities for Christians should be:
ß Communion w/ Christ expressed in devotion to Him in worship.
ß Community w/ Christ’s people expressed in devotion to learning and loving.
ß Commission to Christ’s world expressed in serving and sharing.
Here’s my point: By living out these priorities – you are sharing the Gospel!
Your COMMUNION with Christ is TESTIMONY to His importance!
- Coming together to worship and sing praises with intensity and sincerity of heart is a powerful witness to your love for Him! People notice!
- Coming together and going through the motions, w/o passion and w/o devotion to Christ is also a witness – it is saying: “Christ isn’t that important to me!”
Your COMMITMENT to one another is a TESTIMONY to His presence!
- Together, as we seek to discover and learn and know Christ, we are saying: “Nothing is more important to us than our relationship with Christ! He is what we are all about!
- Together, as we learn how to love one another in words and deeds, we are saying: “Christ changes our relationships! I can love! I can serve! I can give! He empowers me to love!”
Your COMMISSION to sharing the Gospel is a TESTIMONY of how much He has changed your life!
- Serving another person says: “Because I’ve been loved by Christ, I can reach out to you and love you. Because Christ loves me, I want to love you. I want to serve your needs. I want to take action to make your life better!”
- It is risky to open up and share your story with people. They might make fun of you. They might ridicule you. In some places, they might even arrest and imprison you. But the very act of doing so says: “I am not afraid! Christ has changed my life! I’m not who I used to be!”
I want you to see an important progression that occurs in Acts 2…
Communion with Christ (v. 42, 43, 46)
+ Community with Christ’s people (v. 42, 44, 46)
+ Commission to Proclaim Christ’s message (v. 38, 45, 47)
= HARVEST! (v. 47)
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” V. 47
CONCLUSION:
So what do we do with this message?
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
1 Peter 3:15
1. Be properly related to Christ.
2. Be prepared to share your story.
3. Be people sensitive.
Here’s what I want us to do:
Let’s pray:
1. That God would prepare us.
2. That God would prepare those around us who need Him.
3. That God would create ‘divine appointments’
4. That God would bring a Harvest into His Kingdom
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
One thing is for certain – the early church experienced EXPONENTIAL evangelistic explosion. By the end of the first century, the Gospel had spread across from Israel, to all of Judea and Samaria, to Europe, Africa and parts of Asia!
DQ: How did this happen?
Last week we talked about our commission to SERVE the needs of people.
Did you know that…
- The first UNIVERSITY in North America – HARVARD UNIVERSITY – was founded by Christians to train ministers?
- The first HOSPITALS in North America – PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL – was founded by Christians?
BOB ERICKSON: His house churches here in Rancho are sending a team to the African country of LIBERIA to see what they can do for the people of this impoverished country. One of the members of the team is a Physician’s Assistant who is meeting with the head of medicine in Liberia. If they get involved in ministry to Liberia, much of what they will do will be to meet the medical needs of the people.
If we are going to help people come to know Jesus, we have to be willing to SERVE them.
The second thing that the early church did was to SHARE the Gospel message. It isn’t enough to feed, heal, or listen to people – we have to give them the STORY of God’s love that comes through Jesus Christ.
I want everyone to turn to Colossians 1:25 – Here Paul lays out the privilege that we have as Christians to help others discover Christ for themselves:
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Colossians 1:25-28
Do you want to serve God?
YOU SERVE GOD BY SHARING THE STORY!
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” V. 25-26
There is no higher calling than to SHARE THE STORY of God’s love with those around you. God has given us that commission. This task. This privilege. We know something. You know something. You know something that others do not know.
There’s a girl that works at the Coffee Klatch who has never been exposed to the Gospel. She is taking a religion class at Chaffey College and she wants me to explain Christianity to her. I know something that she doesn’t know. And it is my privilege to share the story with her.
Do you want to experience the glory of God?
THE GLORY IS IN YOUR STORY
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” V. 27
As we share our story – the Glory of God is revealed. For as we share our story – people come to see Jesus! And Jesus is the Glory of God! Nothing is greater, nothing is of higher importance, nothing can compare than the glory of helping people meet Jesus! When we share our stories, it really isn’t about us – it is about what Jesus has done for us! He gets the glory! When just get to tell the story!
“All of our theology, must eventually become biography.” Tim Hansel
What we say we believe, must become who we are. What we believe becomes who we are. Our life stories are the proving ground of what we believe. And as we live out our story, the glory of God is revealed!
Think about the people in your life that you know and love. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Coworkers.
Do you want them to know what you know? Do you want them to know Jesus?
PEOPLE COME TO KNOW JESUS AS YOU SHARE YOUR STORY!
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” V. 28
Paul says that as we proclaim Christ – people will become perfect in Christ! That means that they will be rightly fitted with Him. They will come into proper positioning with Him.
When you tell your story, there will be fruit. Listen to these accounts of the fruit of God’s Word:
“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7
“But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” Acts 12:24
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23, NIV
Who is the Word of God?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” Revelation 19:13
Go back to Acts 2:42-47….
A great many Christians do not share their story because they think somehow that they’ve got to be a PREACHER in order to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you look at Acts 2:42-47 you’ll notice that it does not mention PREACHING.
What it does say is that the believers were ‘devoted to the Apostle’s teaching…” – but that wasn’t preaching, it was teaching. And teaching is done amongst BELIEVERS!
In recent weeks, we discovered what the proper priorities for Christians should be:
ß Communion w/ Christ expressed in devotion to Him in worship.
ß Community w/ Christ’s people expressed in devotion to learning and loving.
ß Commission to Christ’s world expressed in serving and sharing.
Here’s my point: By living out these priorities – you are sharing the Gospel!
Your COMMUNION with Christ is TESTIMONY to His importance!
- Coming together to worship and sing praises with intensity and sincerity of heart is a powerful witness to your love for Him! People notice!
- Coming together and going through the motions, w/o passion and w/o devotion to Christ is also a witness – it is saying: “Christ isn’t that important to me!”
Your COMMITMENT to one another is a TESTIMONY to His presence!
- Together, as we seek to discover and learn and know Christ, we are saying: “Nothing is more important to us than our relationship with Christ! He is what we are all about!
- Together, as we learn how to love one another in words and deeds, we are saying: “Christ changes our relationships! I can love! I can serve! I can give! He empowers me to love!”
Your COMMISSION to sharing the Gospel is a TESTIMONY of how much He has changed your life!
- Serving another person says: “Because I’ve been loved by Christ, I can reach out to you and love you. Because Christ loves me, I want to love you. I want to serve your needs. I want to take action to make your life better!”
- It is risky to open up and share your story with people. They might make fun of you. They might ridicule you. In some places, they might even arrest and imprison you. But the very act of doing so says: “I am not afraid! Christ has changed my life! I’m not who I used to be!”
I want you to see an important progression that occurs in Acts 2…
Communion with Christ (v. 42, 43, 46)
+ Community with Christ’s people (v. 42, 44, 46)
+ Commission to Proclaim Christ’s message (v. 38, 45, 47)
= HARVEST! (v. 47)
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” V. 47
CONCLUSION:
So what do we do with this message?
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
1 Peter 3:15
1. Be properly related to Christ.
2. Be prepared to share your story.
3. Be people sensitive.
Here’s what I want us to do:
Let’s pray:
1. That God would prepare us.
2. That God would prepare those around us who need Him.
3. That God would create ‘divine appointments’
4. That God would bring a Harvest into His Kingdom
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Message 6: Commissioned to Serve
In recent weeks, I’ve been teaching a very basic and fundamental series about the core commitments we are to be living out as believers.
I’ve expressed it visually in the form of the triangle. The foundation of the triangle has to do with your COMMUNION with Christ. The left side has to do with the COMMUNITY of Christ. And the right side has to do with our COMMISSION to the world.
Another way of expressing this is through the arrows on your notes.
Communion is expressed by two up and down arrows.
Community is expressed by two horizontal left and right arrows.
Commission is expressed by a curved arrow pointing outwards.
Today, we are going to discover – again – the commission that was given us by Christ Himself.
Look at Matthew 28:19-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
DQ: What EXACTLY is our commission from Christ?
1. Go
This is a word of encouragement: “don’t be afraid! Go, I’ll be with you.” Notice that Christ says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” And then He says: “I am with you always…” We are encouraged to go in the power and authority of Christ!
This is also a word of challenge: “Go – into the world. Don’t just stay in communion with me and in the community of my people. The world needs what you’ve got!”
2. Make disciples
This is the product of the commission. Disciples. Followers of Christ. The Vineyard churches have as their motto: “Disciples making disciples.” I like that.
An old Jewish rabbi posed this question: “If God intended man to live on bread, why didn’t He create a bread tree?” God could have created a bread tree, but He preferred to offer us a grain, invite us to buy a field, till the soil, plant the grain, while He sends the rain and provides the sunshine. Then we harvest the crop, grind the grain into flour. Then we knead it and bake it. Voila – bread.
God has commissioned us to join Him in helping people get restored to right relationship with God.
That said, turn to Acts 2:42-47…
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
I see two ways that the early church sought to fulfill the Great Commission:
ÿ Serving the needs of people
ÿ Sharing the news of Christ’s love
Today we focus in on SERVICE as a means to helping people discover Christ!
Now – look at vs 45: ”Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…”
Generosity within the Body of Christ – and outside the church – were hallmarks of the Christian movement from the very beginning. This took the form of costly and radical SERVICE to meet the needs of those around them.
How did the early church KNOW that they should SERVE the needs of people? Because they saw Jesus do it.
We are all familiar with Luke 4:18-19 – Jesus’ mission and purpose statement: Here Jesus quotes an Old Testament prophecy – Isaiah 61:1-2…
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18, 19
Notice what Christ’s commission is: “preach good news”! But of greater importance is his strategy for doing so: “recovery of sight, release from oppression.” – In other words: Before Christ spoke, He took action! He served the needs of people!
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35
When Christ met the needs of people – He was ‘incarnating’ God’s presence to a broken world. By taking action and serving people, He brought God’s Presence with Him.
“Incarnation” refers to the act of God entering into the created universe and the realm of man with the Presence of Christ. This is what Christ did. And this is our commission – to bring God’s Presence into the lives of people lost in the brokenness of sin.
In Matthew 10:1 we see Jesus sending His disciples out be the ‘incarnation’ of God’s Presence:
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Matthew 10:1
The disciples – granted authority by Christ – did the exact things Jesus did. They made God’s Presence manifest through supernatural acts of healing and deliverance. In essence, the disciples became the ‘incarnation’ of God!
And it wasn’t just the Apostle’s who did this. We read in Luke 10:1, that Jesus gathered 72 followers and sent them out to do the same thing:
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Luke 10:1
And in Luke 10:9 Jesus tells them what to do:
“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” Luke 10:9, NIV.
And in Luke 10:17 we see the results:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17
SO – WHAT’S THE POINT?
In order to fulfill our commission as Christ’s people – we must take up the authority of Christ, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ‘go’ to people who need Jesus, and demonstrate the reality of the Gospel – in the same way that Jesus did, the Apostle’s did and the 72 did – by SERVING them!
Like Jesus, we must become the INCARNATION of God to a world that is in desperate need of His presence. Jesus didn’t expect people to come to Him, we can’t expect people to ‘come to church’. We have to be willing to ‘go’ where the people are.
God is calling us to be an incarnational people.
HOW?
1. Don’t think church – think mission!
Your goal isn’t to invite people to church. It is to be a missionary.
What do missionaries do? They meet needs and share the gospel. If I was a missionary to the Philippines, I’d learn the language of the Philippines, I’d know the culture of Filipinos. I’d find out what their needs were and seek, through the authority of Christ, the meet that need. Then, I’d tell them about Jesus in order to usher the Presence of God into their lives.
Don’t think church – think mission!
2. Know your spheres of influence.
Look at the three circles. That’s YOU in the middle.
The inner circle is those closest to you – family and very close friends. Write in the word: Family
The middle circle includes those you count as friends that you interact with on a regular basis. They also could be co-workers or neighbors. Write in: “Friends”
The outer circle has the most people in it. I call this level ‘acquaintances’, but the reality is this also includes ‘strangers’. Write in “Everyone Else”
What are the needs of these people? If we don’t know, we cannot possible SERVE them.
Which leads us to the third thing:
3. Listen to people.
People will tell you almost anything if you’ll be quiet and actually listen. When you are talking with something – think like a missionary and listen for the clues. What does this person need? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring revelation. When people are complaining, we usually get irritated, but what we need to do is to realize that God is giving us a window into their soul! Listen!
4. Pray believing.
I don’t mean pray later. I mean pray now. You hear a need. Respond. That’s what Jesus would do. Ask the person: “May I pray for you?” 99% of people will respond positively to this! Then, do it! Open your mouth and pray. Simply. Briefly. Sincerely.
What does this tell that person? It says loud and clear: “I care!” And why do we care? Because Christ cares for us!
CONCLUSION:
Look at 1 Peter 4:11…
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
When we serve, we are bringing God’s presence into a dark and broken world. When we speak, we are speaking on behalf of God. And as we serve others, we bring glory to God!
I’ve expressed it visually in the form of the triangle. The foundation of the triangle has to do with your COMMUNION with Christ. The left side has to do with the COMMUNITY of Christ. And the right side has to do with our COMMISSION to the world.
Another way of expressing this is through the arrows on your notes.
Communion is expressed by two up and down arrows.
Community is expressed by two horizontal left and right arrows.
Commission is expressed by a curved arrow pointing outwards.
Today, we are going to discover – again – the commission that was given us by Christ Himself.
Look at Matthew 28:19-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
DQ: What EXACTLY is our commission from Christ?
1. Go
This is a word of encouragement: “don’t be afraid! Go, I’ll be with you.” Notice that Christ says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” And then He says: “I am with you always…” We are encouraged to go in the power and authority of Christ!
This is also a word of challenge: “Go – into the world. Don’t just stay in communion with me and in the community of my people. The world needs what you’ve got!”
2. Make disciples
This is the product of the commission. Disciples. Followers of Christ. The Vineyard churches have as their motto: “Disciples making disciples.” I like that.
An old Jewish rabbi posed this question: “If God intended man to live on bread, why didn’t He create a bread tree?” God could have created a bread tree, but He preferred to offer us a grain, invite us to buy a field, till the soil, plant the grain, while He sends the rain and provides the sunshine. Then we harvest the crop, grind the grain into flour. Then we knead it and bake it. Voila – bread.
God has commissioned us to join Him in helping people get restored to right relationship with God.
That said, turn to Acts 2:42-47…
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
I see two ways that the early church sought to fulfill the Great Commission:
ÿ Serving the needs of people
ÿ Sharing the news of Christ’s love
Today we focus in on SERVICE as a means to helping people discover Christ!
Now – look at vs 45: ”Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…”
Generosity within the Body of Christ – and outside the church – were hallmarks of the Christian movement from the very beginning. This took the form of costly and radical SERVICE to meet the needs of those around them.
How did the early church KNOW that they should SERVE the needs of people? Because they saw Jesus do it.
We are all familiar with Luke 4:18-19 – Jesus’ mission and purpose statement: Here Jesus quotes an Old Testament prophecy – Isaiah 61:1-2…
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18, 19
Notice what Christ’s commission is: “preach good news”! But of greater importance is his strategy for doing so: “recovery of sight, release from oppression.” – In other words: Before Christ spoke, He took action! He served the needs of people!
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35
When Christ met the needs of people – He was ‘incarnating’ God’s presence to a broken world. By taking action and serving people, He brought God’s Presence with Him.
“Incarnation” refers to the act of God entering into the created universe and the realm of man with the Presence of Christ. This is what Christ did. And this is our commission – to bring God’s Presence into the lives of people lost in the brokenness of sin.
In Matthew 10:1 we see Jesus sending His disciples out be the ‘incarnation’ of God’s Presence:
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Matthew 10:1
The disciples – granted authority by Christ – did the exact things Jesus did. They made God’s Presence manifest through supernatural acts of healing and deliverance. In essence, the disciples became the ‘incarnation’ of God!
And it wasn’t just the Apostle’s who did this. We read in Luke 10:1, that Jesus gathered 72 followers and sent them out to do the same thing:
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Luke 10:1
And in Luke 10:9 Jesus tells them what to do:
“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” Luke 10:9, NIV.
And in Luke 10:17 we see the results:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17
SO – WHAT’S THE POINT?
In order to fulfill our commission as Christ’s people – we must take up the authority of Christ, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ‘go’ to people who need Jesus, and demonstrate the reality of the Gospel – in the same way that Jesus did, the Apostle’s did and the 72 did – by SERVING them!
Like Jesus, we must become the INCARNATION of God to a world that is in desperate need of His presence. Jesus didn’t expect people to come to Him, we can’t expect people to ‘come to church’. We have to be willing to ‘go’ where the people are.
God is calling us to be an incarnational people.
HOW?
1. Don’t think church – think mission!
Your goal isn’t to invite people to church. It is to be a missionary.
What do missionaries do? They meet needs and share the gospel. If I was a missionary to the Philippines, I’d learn the language of the Philippines, I’d know the culture of Filipinos. I’d find out what their needs were and seek, through the authority of Christ, the meet that need. Then, I’d tell them about Jesus in order to usher the Presence of God into their lives.
Don’t think church – think mission!
2. Know your spheres of influence.
Look at the three circles. That’s YOU in the middle.
The inner circle is those closest to you – family and very close friends. Write in the word: Family
The middle circle includes those you count as friends that you interact with on a regular basis. They also could be co-workers or neighbors. Write in: “Friends”
The outer circle has the most people in it. I call this level ‘acquaintances’, but the reality is this also includes ‘strangers’. Write in “Everyone Else”
What are the needs of these people? If we don’t know, we cannot possible SERVE them.
Which leads us to the third thing:
3. Listen to people.
People will tell you almost anything if you’ll be quiet and actually listen. When you are talking with something – think like a missionary and listen for the clues. What does this person need? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring revelation. When people are complaining, we usually get irritated, but what we need to do is to realize that God is giving us a window into their soul! Listen!
4. Pray believing.
I don’t mean pray later. I mean pray now. You hear a need. Respond. That’s what Jesus would do. Ask the person: “May I pray for you?” 99% of people will respond positively to this! Then, do it! Open your mouth and pray. Simply. Briefly. Sincerely.
What does this tell that person? It says loud and clear: “I care!” And why do we care? Because Christ cares for us!
CONCLUSION:
Look at 1 Peter 4:11…
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
When we serve, we are bringing God’s presence into a dark and broken world. When we speak, we are speaking on behalf of God. And as we serve others, we bring glory to God!
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Message 5: The Community of Lovers
INTRODUCTION: TURN TO ACTS 2:42
When we talk about our experience together as a Christian church, I want us to be very clear what it is we are to FOCUS ON.
We are to BALANCE our commitments. See the triangle –
That’s it. Plain and simple. Easy to remember.
• Communion
• Community
• Commission
Expressed through passionate devotion to:
• WORD, WORSHIP, LEARNING, LOVING, SERVING & SHARING.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law.” “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No-one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” John 13:34, 35; Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 1:5, NIV.
• WE ARE CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LOVING ONE ANOTHER.
Yet we live in a world, where ‘loving one another’ does not come easily. Even in our families we jokingly reveal a sad truth when we say: “Families, can’t live with them, can’t kill them…”
Today, I want us to see the standard of loving one another, and to grab hold of some tools to do so.
PRAYER
Read Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
Look at verse 44: All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Look at verse 45: Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Look at verse 46: They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
Their love for one another was three-dimensional. It wasn’t just talk – it was lived out with ACTION.
1. Loving Attitude: ‘together and had everything in common’ - this is an Inclusive love
2. Loving Actions: ‘selling… they gave to anyone…’ - this is a Generous love
3. Loving Acceptance: ‘in their homes ate together…’ - this is Hospitable love
1. ATTITUDE: Inclusive love – ‘together and had everything in common’
In all social settings, there is a PECKING ORDER. Someone is on top, someone is in the middle and inevitably, someone is on the bottom.
But Christ calls to love with an ATTITUDE of Inclusion. WE are united by one common truth: We need Christ.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
Are we inclusive?
This is all about our ATTITUDE. We all have ATTITUDE. We’ve all been shaped by something that has determined out attitude. Shaped by FAMILY, CULTURE, EXPERIENCES. And truth be told, we need to be RE-SHAPED in order to develop the proper attitude of love towards each other.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
What tools do you have at your disposal to reshape your attitudes? Prejudices?
Christ call us to love each other with an attitude of inclusion.
Secondly…
2. ACTIONS: Generous love – ‘selling… they gave to anyone…’
Talk is cheap.
James 2:15-17 says:
“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:15-17
These people took action. Action that we materialistic people swallow hard against. They actually took their possessions – and because of love – sold them and gave the money to those within the church family that were in need.
Everything in our culture wars against this kind of action step. First of all we are measured by our possessions. Secondly, we frequently blame people who are having a hard time financially. In fact, we’ve even spiritualized it and say: “If they were in God’s will, He’d be blessing them!” That is about as unloving as one can be. Many times people will have financial hard times simply BECAUSE they are following God’s plans for them.
The Mormon’s have this down pat. They guarantee their members security from the CRADLE to the GRAVE. When a Mormon family is down on their luck, the Mormon community rises up and helps them get back on their feet. Now, let me remind you that they are doing this to EARN THEIR WAY to planetary rulership.
Paul says:
“you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20
As those who have been ‘bought with a price…’ – who have been forever forgiven and eternally saved by the SACRIFICIAL GIFT of Christ – can we not learn to LOVE the way that Jesus did? Not out of obligation, but out of GRATITUDE?
‘Body’ speaks of the material world. The material possessions that God blesses you with are designed to bless those around you.
• What can we do to help each other in times of need?
The third dimension of ‘loving one another’ is
3. ACCEPTANCE: Hospitable love – ‘in their homes ate together…’
There is something very powerful about opening up your home to your fellow believers. You are making yourself vulnerable. People might judge you – either your house is too nice, or not nice enough. People might think unkind things.
But the power of opening up your house and your kitchen to the community of Christ is that you can sit down together – over tuna fish sandwiches and coffee – and share your hearts with one another.
When you say to someone “Hey, I’m having some folks over for a B-B-Q, can you come?” – what you are really saying is: “Hey, I ACCEPT you, come join us…”
• How important is ACCEPTANCE?
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7
• What is our motivation to accept each other?
• Why do you think we spend so much time in restaurants and not very much time in homes?
• How many of you are uncomfortable having people in your home?
• Is it possible that God is speaking to you and desiring to reclaim your house for ministry? Is it possible that you’ve been listening to the lies of the enemy: “My house isn’t nice enough… clean enough… in a good enough area…”?
• Isn’t it time to stop listening to the liar and declare that your home belongs to God – even if it makes you feel uncomfortable?
CONCLUSION: The early church loved one another – in fact, they loved each other so effectively that the world around them took notice.
Jesus said: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” John 13:35
I think we are pretty good at our relationships with one another. Yet – we also are very comfortable keeping them as ‘once-a-week’ relationships. Frankly, I believe that if we are going to be the LOVING COMMUNITY that Christ is calling us to be, we simply need to be more involved in one another’s lives.
• How can we do this?
Loving ATTITUDE
Loving ACTIONS
Loving ACCEPTANCE
Message 4: The Community of Learners
Turn to Acts 2:42
There are three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
We spent the last two weeks focusing on our COMMUNION with Christ through the pursuit of the Presence of Christ and through PASSIONATE WORSHIP.
For the next couple of weeks we are going to focus on the COMMITMENT to COMMUNITY OF FELLOW BELIEVERS. – The church family.
Look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
The Bible calls the church the ekklesia of God. Ekklesia means ‘the called out’ people of God. We are called out of loneliness, isolation, self-centered living and sin and called IN to friendship, unity, service and holiness – into the Body of Christ!
What is the church to do? What will build COMMUNITY? How do we deepen our relationships with Jesus’ people?
I believe that early church teaches us two vital activities that lead us into community:
• The community of Christ is passionate about LEARNING.
• The community of Christ is passionate about LOVING.
Today we examine the first – learning. I’ll put it like this:
• WE ARE CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING.
Most modern churches – including this one – has been very focused on TEACHING. TEACHING is not what Christ wants us to focus on – He wants us to be LEARNING-oriented.
Let me explain by contrasting some of the differences between TEACHING and LEARNING.
TEACHING: - transference of IDEAS LEARNING: - rebuilding the IMAGE OF GOD
TEACHING: - CONCEPTS LEARNING: - CHARACTER
TEACHING: - aims at the HEAD LEARNING: - aims at the HEART
TEACHING: - is about a TALKING HEAD LEARNING: - is about TRANSFORMED LIVES
TEACHING: - is EDUCATIONAL LEARNING: - is EXPERIENTIAL
If we were to DEFINE learning in a community of Christ, surely that definition would include something like this: “The process by which individuals, families and the church community mature into the likeness of Christ.”
You see – for each and every one of us – it is God’s will, His plan – that you would become like Jesus.
Read Genesis 1:26…
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26, 27, NIV.
Read Romans 8:29…
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29, NIV.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:49…
“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:49, NIV.
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV.
We were made to be like Jesus.
But, there is no doubt, we have a long way to go. But don’t lose heart – read as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-6, NIV.
That’s why it is vital that this community of Christ become a people who are committed to learning. We need to know how to be like Jesus. We need the character of Christ to be our character. We need to heart of Christ to be our hearts. We need to experience the experiences of Christ! We need our lives to be transformed. And ‘head knowledge’ won’t get the job done. We need the partnership of the Body of Christ!
So, how do we become a LEARNING COMMUNITY?
• LEARN THROUGH DEVOTION TO APOSTOLIC TEACHING – VS. 42 (1 CORINTHIANS 2:4-7)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”
The message given by Christ to the apostles is not simply words – it is power. Power to be utterly transformed.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4-7…
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-7
We need to become wise. We need to know how to take the Word of Christ in the power of the Spirit and become mature.
A learning community ‘devotes’ itself to this and seeks to discover all of its implications for life – in the midst of its current culture.
I am providing you with some tools for this: The daily scripture readings, the 3 day devotions, the website. These are tools to explore the Apostolic teachings. Use them – or don’t use them – but devote your lives to this message!
Look again at verse 42… ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship…”
• LEARN THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS – VS. 42 (1 CORINTHIANS 14:26)
In a culture that is as disconnected as ours – where even Christians feel perfectly justified ‘church shopping and church hopping’ – Christ calls us to move into deep relationships with one another – to the point where we can truly LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
We’ve talked in the past about how THE GLORY IS IN YOUR STORY. As you share with one another your spiritual journeys, it opens up the opportunity to LEARN from each other.
Paul said to the church in Corinth:
“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:26, NIV.
Where do these words of instructions and revelations come from? Your personal walk with Christ. When we come together, our conversations need to take on a depth and quality beyond ‘how are you doing?’ and ‘what movies have your seen lately?’
This is an area we really need to work on. It’s time to move out of the superficial and into true fellowship.
Thirdly – look at verse 46: ”They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…”
• LEARN THROUGH THE LOVE FEAST – VS. 46
The first church had their worship gatherings around table laden with food. They didn’t sit in rows or in pews. They sat around a table and ate together. They were Jews – and for Jews – MEALS were a vital part of spiritual festivals. It was perfectly natural for them to eat together. And as they ate, they talked.
They talked about what God was doing in their lives. They talked about how great it is to be free from sin, free from law, free from ‘religious obligation’, free from demonic invasion.
All of this LEARNING took place organically, naturally. Unless one of the Apostle’s happened to be in town, there wasn’t a ‘special speaker’ – there wasn’t an expert. The LEARNING came from the experiences the people were having with God.
Well, what about if someone was out of line? What if someone started teaching something different from the true Gospel? That’s why Paul told Timothy to appoint ‘elders’ in each church. The ‘elders’ were mature believers – recognized by the local church as such, and they would keep things pure.
The central point of the LOVE FEAST was when the group zeroed in on the MAIN THING: THE WORK OF Christ!
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth these words: 1 Corinthians 11
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, NIV.
Prepare to meet with Christ at His table.
SING AND DO COMMUNION/OFFERING
In two weeks we are having a LOVE FEAST – be prepared to share – as the Lord leads – a portion of your story.
CONCLUSION: Can you see that God is calling us back to the CORE of what it means to be a church?
Our commitments are to:
• Uur COMMUNION with Christ.
• Our COMMUNITY with one another.
• Our COMMISSION to impact this world.
And for today – we are challenged to be a people who – in community – are LEARNERS.
There are three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
We spent the last two weeks focusing on our COMMUNION with Christ through the pursuit of the Presence of Christ and through PASSIONATE WORSHIP.
For the next couple of weeks we are going to focus on the COMMITMENT to COMMUNITY OF FELLOW BELIEVERS. – The church family.
Look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
The Bible calls the church the ekklesia of God. Ekklesia means ‘the called out’ people of God. We are called out of loneliness, isolation, self-centered living and sin and called IN to friendship, unity, service and holiness – into the Body of Christ!
What is the church to do? What will build COMMUNITY? How do we deepen our relationships with Jesus’ people?
I believe that early church teaches us two vital activities that lead us into community:
• The community of Christ is passionate about LEARNING.
• The community of Christ is passionate about LOVING.
Today we examine the first – learning. I’ll put it like this:
• WE ARE CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LEARNING.
Most modern churches – including this one – has been very focused on TEACHING. TEACHING is not what Christ wants us to focus on – He wants us to be LEARNING-oriented.
Let me explain by contrasting some of the differences between TEACHING and LEARNING.
TEACHING: - transference of IDEAS LEARNING: - rebuilding the IMAGE OF GOD
TEACHING: - CONCEPTS LEARNING: - CHARACTER
TEACHING: - aims at the HEAD LEARNING: - aims at the HEART
TEACHING: - is about a TALKING HEAD LEARNING: - is about TRANSFORMED LIVES
TEACHING: - is EDUCATIONAL LEARNING: - is EXPERIENTIAL
If we were to DEFINE learning in a community of Christ, surely that definition would include something like this: “The process by which individuals, families and the church community mature into the likeness of Christ.”
You see – for each and every one of us – it is God’s will, His plan – that you would become like Jesus.
Read Genesis 1:26…
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26, 27, NIV.
Read Romans 8:29…
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29, NIV.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:49…
“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:49, NIV.
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV.
We were made to be like Jesus.
But, there is no doubt, we have a long way to go. But don’t lose heart – read as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-6, NIV.
That’s why it is vital that this community of Christ become a people who are committed to learning. We need to know how to be like Jesus. We need the character of Christ to be our character. We need to heart of Christ to be our hearts. We need to experience the experiences of Christ! We need our lives to be transformed. And ‘head knowledge’ won’t get the job done. We need the partnership of the Body of Christ!
So, how do we become a LEARNING COMMUNITY?
• LEARN THROUGH DEVOTION TO APOSTOLIC TEACHING – VS. 42 (1 CORINTHIANS 2:4-7)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”
The message given by Christ to the apostles is not simply words – it is power. Power to be utterly transformed.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4-7…
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-7
We need to become wise. We need to know how to take the Word of Christ in the power of the Spirit and become mature.
A learning community ‘devotes’ itself to this and seeks to discover all of its implications for life – in the midst of its current culture.
I am providing you with some tools for this: The daily scripture readings, the 3 day devotions, the website. These are tools to explore the Apostolic teachings. Use them – or don’t use them – but devote your lives to this message!
Look again at verse 42… ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship…”
• LEARN THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS – VS. 42 (1 CORINTHIANS 14:26)
In a culture that is as disconnected as ours – where even Christians feel perfectly justified ‘church shopping and church hopping’ – Christ calls us to move into deep relationships with one another – to the point where we can truly LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
We’ve talked in the past about how THE GLORY IS IN YOUR STORY. As you share with one another your spiritual journeys, it opens up the opportunity to LEARN from each other.
Paul said to the church in Corinth:
“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:26, NIV.
Where do these words of instructions and revelations come from? Your personal walk with Christ. When we come together, our conversations need to take on a depth and quality beyond ‘how are you doing?’ and ‘what movies have your seen lately?’
This is an area we really need to work on. It’s time to move out of the superficial and into true fellowship.
Thirdly – look at verse 46: ”They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…”
• LEARN THROUGH THE LOVE FEAST – VS. 46
The first church had their worship gatherings around table laden with food. They didn’t sit in rows or in pews. They sat around a table and ate together. They were Jews – and for Jews – MEALS were a vital part of spiritual festivals. It was perfectly natural for them to eat together. And as they ate, they talked.
They talked about what God was doing in their lives. They talked about how great it is to be free from sin, free from law, free from ‘religious obligation’, free from demonic invasion.
All of this LEARNING took place organically, naturally. Unless one of the Apostle’s happened to be in town, there wasn’t a ‘special speaker’ – there wasn’t an expert. The LEARNING came from the experiences the people were having with God.
Well, what about if someone was out of line? What if someone started teaching something different from the true Gospel? That’s why Paul told Timothy to appoint ‘elders’ in each church. The ‘elders’ were mature believers – recognized by the local church as such, and they would keep things pure.
The central point of the LOVE FEAST was when the group zeroed in on the MAIN THING: THE WORK OF Christ!
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth these words: 1 Corinthians 11
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, NIV.
Prepare to meet with Christ at His table.
SING AND DO COMMUNION/OFFERING
In two weeks we are having a LOVE FEAST – be prepared to share – as the Lord leads – a portion of your story.
CONCLUSION: Can you see that God is calling us back to the CORE of what it means to be a church?
Our commitments are to:
• Uur COMMUNION with Christ.
• Our COMMUNITY with one another.
• Our COMMISSION to impact this world.
And for today – we are challenged to be a people who – in community – are LEARNERS.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Message 2: Communion with Christ in Worship
There are three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
Look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
Last week we made our first commitment based upon the example of the early church:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
WORSHIP is to be a major priority in any group of believers who earnestly desire to build their relationship with Christ.
Look again at Acts 2:46-47: Let’s do some sentence diagramming –
“Every day they continued to meet together…” – Apparently they sensed the importance of the gathered body of believers. There has always been ‘lone ranger’ Christians – but that is not what God desires. We need each other.
“in the Temple Courts.” – a very short term strategy, they were quickly kicked out of the Temple and Synagogues.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” – The house and the church meeting just seem to make sense. As does FOOD!
“praising God…” – This was their activity. This is what they did together. They worshipped. The Greek word for used here means: “To praise, to extol, to sing praises – all in honor to God”
“and enjoying the favor of all the people…” – There was a positive dynamic here that was very attractive to even non-believers! The energy, the love, the sharing and the worship all contributed to the people in the community being attracted to the church.
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Of course He did! They were focused in on doing the MAIN THING that He wanted them to do, and blessing was – and is – the result!
With all of that said – in order for us, as a group of believers to experience communion with Christ –
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
Notice that I said “passionately” – God wants you to rediscover your heart – your true passion – and the best way to do so, is through focusing on something – or someone – that really matters.
God calls us to rediscover our hearts by getting lost in worship of Him.
Look at 2 Samuel 6.
For the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant represented the Presence of God in their midst. The Ark had been stolen and ended up in the hands of the Philistines. This meant that the people of God did not have the Presence of God – for nearly 70 years! When the armies of Israel defeated the Philistines, King David sought to return the Ark to Jerusalem and as He did so, He worshipped God with great passion…
Look at 2 Sam 6:12
“Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” 2 Samuel 6:12
Now skip to verse 14:
“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:14-16
This is an excellent picture of man rediscovering his heart! He passionately worshipped!
“danced before the LORD with all his might… with shouts and the sound of trumpets… leaping and dancing before the LORD…”
He didn’t give a rip what anyone thought – David was showing his passionate love for God! He was pouring out his heart! He was jumping, shouting, dancing and looking like a fool! All because he loved God! All because he was experiencing the Presence of God.
Now, it’s inevitable that when someone rediscovers his heart, that he will take some heat for it. Look at verse 20:
“When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would.” David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:20-22
Look at David’s response to the criticism: “It was before the LORD… I will become ever more undignified that this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes…”
This is an example of the proper attitude of worship!
David Crowder wrote a song about this:
I will dance, I will sing, To be mad, For my King Nothing Lord Is hindering This passion in my soul
And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Some may say It's foolishness But I'll become Even more undignified than this
Leave my pride By my side And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Passion for worship comes from the Presence of God in our lives.
Jesus issues a warning against complacency in Revelation 3:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16
Do you remember last week we read John 1:14…
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” John 1:14
We have His Presence available to us! David danced because of the Ark –how much more should we passionately worship because of Jesus? Through Jesus – we have what the Jews only dreamed of!
Furthermore, Paul reminds us that the Presence of Christ is in our very spirit!
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16
SO, HOW ARE WE TO WORSHIP? Turn to Hebrews 12:28
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28
Notice that the motivation for worship is that ‘we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” What God has done for us is irrevocable and final. Therefore, acceptable worship is to be characterized by thankfulness, reverence and awe!
• Reverence is an attitude.
• Awe is an emotion.
Reverence describes your desire and willingness to demonstrate honor, respect and exaltation of God while humbling yourself before Him!
Awe describes the emotional feeling of being in the Presence of greatness!
Worship is to combine proper attitude and emotion.
Now turn to John 4:23 – this is the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. They began to discuss acceptable worship of God. And Jesus says:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24, .
Jesus says that worship that God finds acceptable is done in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
WORSHIP in Spirit – Ephesians 5:18-19
- A proper state of mind that is focused on Christ!
- Inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit!
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Worship is a SPIRITUAL connection between us and the Almighty God. We must worship in the power of the Holy Spirit. Which requires that we are ‘filled with the Spirit.’ Which requires that we consciously make the choice to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh!
And Jesus also says that we are worship in TRUTH
WORSHIP in Truth – Psalms 86:11
- Whole-hearted worship
“Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalms 86:11
Worship that God finds acceptable comes from a heart that is focused and obedient to Christ! He is all that matters. You are passionate about Jesus.
CONCLUSION: Last week, we realized afresh that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
And today, He is reminding us that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
We worship God through faith in Jesus. As Matt Redman wrote in the now familiar song “The Heart of Worship” – look on p. 4
I’m coming back to the heart of worship And it’s all about you, it’s all about you
Jesus, I’m sorry for the things I’ve made it When it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath.
As we sing songs of worship – fulfill your calling. Worship with passion the One who helps you rediscover your heart.
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
Look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
Last week we made our first commitment based upon the example of the early church:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
WORSHIP is to be a major priority in any group of believers who earnestly desire to build their relationship with Christ.
Look again at Acts 2:46-47: Let’s do some sentence diagramming –
“Every day they continued to meet together…” – Apparently they sensed the importance of the gathered body of believers. There has always been ‘lone ranger’ Christians – but that is not what God desires. We need each other.
“in the Temple Courts.” – a very short term strategy, they were quickly kicked out of the Temple and Synagogues.
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” – The house and the church meeting just seem to make sense. As does FOOD!
“praising God…” – This was their activity. This is what they did together. They worshipped. The Greek word for used here means: “To praise, to extol, to sing praises – all in honor to God”
“and enjoying the favor of all the people…” – There was a positive dynamic here that was very attractive to even non-believers! The energy, the love, the sharing and the worship all contributed to the people in the community being attracted to the church.
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Of course He did! They were focused in on doing the MAIN THING that He wanted them to do, and blessing was – and is – the result!
With all of that said – in order for us, as a group of believers to experience communion with Christ –
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
Notice that I said “passionately” – God wants you to rediscover your heart – your true passion – and the best way to do so, is through focusing on something – or someone – that really matters.
God calls us to rediscover our hearts by getting lost in worship of Him.
Look at 2 Samuel 6.
For the Jews, the Ark of the Covenant represented the Presence of God in their midst. The Ark had been stolen and ended up in the hands of the Philistines. This meant that the people of God did not have the Presence of God – for nearly 70 years! When the armies of Israel defeated the Philistines, King David sought to return the Ark to Jerusalem and as He did so, He worshipped God with great passion…
Look at 2 Sam 6:12
“Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.” 2 Samuel 6:12
Now skip to verse 14:
“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:14-16
This is an excellent picture of man rediscovering his heart! He passionately worshipped!
“danced before the LORD with all his might… with shouts and the sound of trumpets… leaping and dancing before the LORD…”
He didn’t give a rip what anyone thought – David was showing his passionate love for God! He was pouring out his heart! He was jumping, shouting, dancing and looking like a fool! All because he loved God! All because he was experiencing the Presence of God.
Now, it’s inevitable that when someone rediscovers his heart, that he will take some heat for it. Look at verse 20:
“When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would.” David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:20-22
Look at David’s response to the criticism: “It was before the LORD… I will become ever more undignified that this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes…”
This is an example of the proper attitude of worship!
David Crowder wrote a song about this:
I will dance, I will sing, To be mad, For my King Nothing Lord Is hindering This passion in my soul
And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Some may say It's foolishness But I'll become Even more undignified than this
Leave my pride By my side And I'll become Even more undignified than this
Passion for worship comes from the Presence of God in our lives.
Jesus issues a warning against complacency in Revelation 3:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16
Do you remember last week we read John 1:14…
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” John 1:14
We have His Presence available to us! David danced because of the Ark –how much more should we passionately worship because of Jesus? Through Jesus – we have what the Jews only dreamed of!
Furthermore, Paul reminds us that the Presence of Christ is in our very spirit!
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16
SO, HOW ARE WE TO WORSHIP? Turn to Hebrews 12:28
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12:28
Notice that the motivation for worship is that ‘we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” What God has done for us is irrevocable and final. Therefore, acceptable worship is to be characterized by thankfulness, reverence and awe!
• Reverence is an attitude.
• Awe is an emotion.
Reverence describes your desire and willingness to demonstrate honor, respect and exaltation of God while humbling yourself before Him!
Awe describes the emotional feeling of being in the Presence of greatness!
Worship is to combine proper attitude and emotion.
Now turn to John 4:23 – this is the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. They began to discuss acceptable worship of God. And Jesus says:
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24, .
Jesus says that worship that God finds acceptable is done in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
WORSHIP in Spirit – Ephesians 5:18-19
- A proper state of mind that is focused on Christ!
- Inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit!
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Worship is a SPIRITUAL connection between us and the Almighty God. We must worship in the power of the Holy Spirit. Which requires that we are ‘filled with the Spirit.’ Which requires that we consciously make the choice to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh!
And Jesus also says that we are worship in TRUTH
WORSHIP in Truth – Psalms 86:11
- Whole-hearted worship
“Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalms 86:11
Worship that God finds acceptable comes from a heart that is focused and obedient to Christ! He is all that matters. You are passionate about Jesus.
CONCLUSION: Last week, we realized afresh that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
And today, He is reminding us that…
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY WORSHIP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
We worship God through faith in Jesus. As Matt Redman wrote in the now familiar song “The Heart of Worship” – look on p. 4
I’m coming back to the heart of worship And it’s all about you, it’s all about you
Jesus, I’m sorry for the things I’ve made it When it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath.
As we sing songs of worship – fulfill your calling. Worship with passion the One who helps you rediscover your heart.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Message 2: The Logos of God
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Acts 2:42
Last Sunday I introduced what I believe are the three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
These commitments comes from the example of the early church – look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
Now, I also introduced the SPECIFIC activities that helped accomplish the major commitments:
ß They built their communion w/ Christ through the WORD of God and the WORSHIP of God.
ß They built their community w/ one another through LEARNING and LOVING.
ß And they grew in their commission to impact the world with the love of Christ through SERVING and SHARING.
Today I want us to focus in on the first of the commitments – building your communion with Christ through the WORD of God. Turn to John 1:1
Most people hear the expression “The Word of God” and they think: “The Bible”. The Bible is not what we are talking about here – although the Bible helps us to experience the Word of God.
I’ll explain by reading the John text:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4, NIV.
Question: WHO IS JOHN TALKING ABOUT? - Jesus!
Now skip down a few verses to vs 14 – which explains verse 1 & 2 in more detail:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, NIV.
Let me do a little GREEK word study with you – the word ‘word’ is the word LOGOS – now when you hear the word LOGO what do you think of?
Now, when John refers to Jesus as the LOGO of God, he is saying that Jesus is the REPRESENTATION of God to the earth! If you want to know God – look at Jesus!
Here’s the second Greek word I want us to examine – the Word became FLESH.
It is the Greek word ‘sarx’ and it refers to a physical body made of flesh and bones. God took on flesh. The Spirit became flesh. Theologians refer to this as the INCARNATION of Christ. ‘Carne’ means flesh. Spirit became flesh.
Look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
The response of the early believer’s to this reality was ‘awe’. They experienced in their gatherings and in their lives the very Presence of the Holy God. What was once impossible to man, had become possible – they could be in the Presence of God because God had come to them in the form of Jesus Christ!
And awe was the result. This sense of awe and wonder was generated not only by the miraculous. It seems that the early church sensed God’s presence even more keenly in their gatherings than at other times. And from the rest of the book of Acts it is obvious that the first Christians sensed God and heard Him speak in all manner of situations, but the gathered community of believers did seem to expect a communal sense of God’s presence in their meetings.
With all of that said – here’s the point of what God wants us to be committed to:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
This needs to become a major emphasis of our gatherings: Pursuing the Presence! Hungering for Christ! More of Him and less of us!
I want to show you some biblical examples of what happens when God’s Presence is pursued:
THE APOSTLE JOHN
- Heard God’s voice: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,” Revelation 1:10, NIV.
- Experienced visions: “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:2 “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3, NIV.
- Saw the future: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10, 11, NIV.
- Received freedom from condemnation: “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19, 20, NIV.
KING DAVID
- Got direction and joy in the presence of God: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalms 16:11, NIV.
CORNELIUS received spiritual instruction in the presence: “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”” Acts 10:33, NIV.
Now – isn’t this something worthy of pursuing?
So – HOW DO WE PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD? Again – look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
They we ‘filled with awe’ – Greek word PHOBOS – literally ‘fear’ – carrying the meaning of great reverence, respect, wonder and amazement.
Do we want to make pursuing the Presence a major priority in our church?
Here’s some suggestions to facilitate this:
1. Be PREPARED for the Presence of Christ.
2. Be GRATEFUL for the Presence of Christ.
3. Be EXPECTANT in the Presence of Christ.
4. Be CONFIDENT in the Presence of Christ.
5. Be AMAZED in the Presence of Christ.
And as God makes Himself known – look what happens – vs. 43: “and many wonders and miraculous signs we done…”
Where Christ is – things happen that transcend our power, our ability and our thinking. Things that can only be described as WONDERS and MIRACULOUS!
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19: "The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." Luke 4:18-19 NCV
And this is what we are to do as well. This is our mission.
CONCLUSION: Who here hungers for more of Christ? Who here desires to move in closer to Jesus? Who wants to be in AWE of His presence?
Who needs His touch? His help? His hope? His joy? His voice? His instruction?
Then let’s – together as Christ’s family – passionately pursue the Presence of Christ!
Last Sunday I introduced what I believe are the three major commitments that Christ is calling us to invest our lives in:
1. Communion – our deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Community – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
3. Commission – our deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
These commitments comes from the example of the early church – look at Acts 2:42ff:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
Now, I also introduced the SPECIFIC activities that helped accomplish the major commitments:
ß They built their communion w/ Christ through the WORD of God and the WORSHIP of God.
ß They built their community w/ one another through LEARNING and LOVING.
ß And they grew in their commission to impact the world with the love of Christ through SERVING and SHARING.
Today I want us to focus in on the first of the commitments – building your communion with Christ through the WORD of God. Turn to John 1:1
Most people hear the expression “The Word of God” and they think: “The Bible”. The Bible is not what we are talking about here – although the Bible helps us to experience the Word of God.
I’ll explain by reading the John text:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4, NIV.
Question: WHO IS JOHN TALKING ABOUT? - Jesus!
Now skip down a few verses to vs 14 – which explains verse 1 & 2 in more detail:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, NIV.
Let me do a little GREEK word study with you – the word ‘word’ is the word LOGOS – now when you hear the word LOGO what do you think of?
Now, when John refers to Jesus as the LOGO of God, he is saying that Jesus is the REPRESENTATION of God to the earth! If you want to know God – look at Jesus!
Here’s the second Greek word I want us to examine – the Word became FLESH.
It is the Greek word ‘sarx’ and it refers to a physical body made of flesh and bones. God took on flesh. The Spirit became flesh. Theologians refer to this as the INCARNATION of Christ. ‘Carne’ means flesh. Spirit became flesh.
Look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
The response of the early believer’s to this reality was ‘awe’. They experienced in their gatherings and in their lives the very Presence of the Holy God. What was once impossible to man, had become possible – they could be in the Presence of God because God had come to them in the form of Jesus Christ!
And awe was the result. This sense of awe and wonder was generated not only by the miraculous. It seems that the early church sensed God’s presence even more keenly in their gatherings than at other times. And from the rest of the book of Acts it is obvious that the first Christians sensed God and heard Him speak in all manner of situations, but the gathered community of believers did seem to expect a communal sense of God’s presence in their meetings.
With all of that said – here’s the point of what God wants us to be committed to:
WE ARE CALLED TO PASSIONATELY PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST.
This needs to become a major emphasis of our gatherings: Pursuing the Presence! Hungering for Christ! More of Him and less of us!
I want to show you some biblical examples of what happens when God’s Presence is pursued:
THE APOSTLE JOHN
- Heard God’s voice: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,” Revelation 1:10, NIV.
- Experienced visions: “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:2 “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3, NIV.
- Saw the future: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10, 11, NIV.
- Received freedom from condemnation: “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19, 20, NIV.
KING DAVID
- Got direction and joy in the presence of God: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalms 16:11, NIV.
CORNELIUS received spiritual instruction in the presence: “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”” Acts 10:33, NIV.
Now – isn’t this something worthy of pursuing?
So – HOW DO WE PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD? Again – look at Acts 2:43:
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43, NIV.
They we ‘filled with awe’ – Greek word PHOBOS – literally ‘fear’ – carrying the meaning of great reverence, respect, wonder and amazement.
Do we want to make pursuing the Presence a major priority in our church?
Here’s some suggestions to facilitate this:
1. Be PREPARED for the Presence of Christ.
2. Be GRATEFUL for the Presence of Christ.
3. Be EXPECTANT in the Presence of Christ.
4. Be CONFIDENT in the Presence of Christ.
5. Be AMAZED in the Presence of Christ.
And as God makes Himself known – look what happens – vs. 43: “and many wonders and miraculous signs we done…”
Where Christ is – things happen that transcend our power, our ability and our thinking. Things that can only be described as WONDERS and MIRACULOUS!
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19: "The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." Luke 4:18-19 NCV
And this is what we are to do as well. This is our mission.
CONCLUSION: Who here hungers for more of Christ? Who here desires to move in closer to Jesus? Who wants to be in AWE of His presence?
Who needs His touch? His help? His hope? His joy? His voice? His instruction?
Then let’s – together as Christ’s family – passionately pursue the Presence of Christ!
Message 1: An Introduction to the Three Commitments
I want to talk with you today – and for the next several weeks, about the “C” word: COMMITMENT.
Some people say that the world we live in is afraid of commitment. I disagree. I believe that people will be committed to that which is personally valuable to them.
As people of faith – it is appropriate for us to review and reflect on our commitments.
Specifically, I want us to consider what God expects of us in terms of our commitments as His people.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
I see in this text three major commitments that the early church made and kept:
Commitments to…
ß Communion – deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
ß Community – deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
ß Commission – deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
I’m going to give a brief overview of these commitments today, and then we will go into depth on each one for the next several weeks.
I. COMMUNION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Nothing is more important – or has greater value – than your relationship with Christ! He is all that matters.
Paul said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10, NIV.
Now the early church pursued their relationship with Christ with a major commitment to...
vs. 43 – Commitment to GOD’S WORD
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” vs. 43
They were filled with awe because they encountered the Living Word of Christ – they felt His Holy Presence.
Doesn’t that sound valuable to you? Doesn’t that sound like something worth being committed to?
My desire as your pastor – and as a fellow journeyer – is that in our gatherings, the Presence of Christ would be felt by all!
And as we pursue the presence of Christ – we will also experience a new level of…
vs. 46 – Commitment to WORSHIP
“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…” vs. 46
The early church made gathering together to worship and praise Him a major priority! I believe that God is calling us into a deeper experience of Christ through more intensive and Spirit-directed worship.
As we get closer to Christ, we will also get closer to Christ’s people! The second major area of commitment that I see in Acts 2 is a commitment to…
II. COMMUNITY: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS’ PEOPLE
Again, Acts 2 teaches us two aspects of HOW to achieve this commitment:
Vs. 42 and 46 – Commitment to LEARNING
Vs. 44 – Commitment to LOVING
The commitment to LEARNING is different than a commitment to teaching. Most churches are filled with tremendous TEACHING, but teaching isn’t what counts – LEARNING is what matters. Look at vs. 42 and vs. 46 and you’ll see that the early church was a group of people dedicated to LEARNING through the Apostle’s teaching, genuine Christian relationships (iron sharpening iron) and the power of Love Feasts.
And the other commitment that leads to deepening relationships with Christ’s people is the vital commitment to loving one another.
Vs. 44 says… “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44, NIV.
These people became dear friends. So much so that they not only spend great amounts of time together, but they all experienced genuine ‘commonality’.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34, NIV.
Again, we will go into the depths of this in a few weeks.
The third major commitment is a commitment to Christ’s COMMISSION
III. COMMISSION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JESUS’ WORLD.
The word ‘commission’ speaks to our task as God’s people. Christ has given us a specific task – that to impact the people around us with the love of Christ – that they might enter into relationship with Christ!
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NIV.
The problem is, we’ve been hidden for too long.
I see in two specific commitments that the early church made in order to fulfill this commission.
Vs. 45 Commitment to SERVING
Vs. 47 Commitment to SHARING
Look at verse 45:
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45, NIV.
Now that is serving the needs of the world. And by meeting genuine needs – the world takes notice of the reality of who Jesus is.
Not only are we called to SERVE the unbelieving pre-Christian world, we are all called to a commitment to SHARE the good news of Jesus.
Look at verse 47: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47, NIV.
God added to their number those who were being saved – as the people of God shared the Gospel with them. We have an amazing story to share – the story of what Christ has done for each and every one of us personally. And as we live out this commitment – Christ will add people to His family!
CONCLUSION:
Commitment to Communion with Christ
Commitment to Community with Christ’s people
Commitment to Commission to Christ’s world
Question: Are these commitments worthy of your investment?
Some people say that the world we live in is afraid of commitment. I disagree. I believe that people will be committed to that which is personally valuable to them.
As people of faith – it is appropriate for us to review and reflect on our commitments.
Specifically, I want us to consider what God expects of us in terms of our commitments as His people.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 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 2:42-47
I see in this text three major commitments that the early church made and kept:
Commitments to…
ß Communion – deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
ß Community – deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
ß Commission – deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
I’m going to give a brief overview of these commitments today, and then we will go into depth on each one for the next several weeks.
I. COMMUNION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Nothing is more important – or has greater value – than your relationship with Christ! He is all that matters.
Paul said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10, NIV.
Now the early church pursued their relationship with Christ with a major commitment to...
vs. 43 – Commitment to GOD’S WORD
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” vs. 43
They were filled with awe because they encountered the Living Word of Christ – they felt His Holy Presence.
Doesn’t that sound valuable to you? Doesn’t that sound like something worth being committed to?
My desire as your pastor – and as a fellow journeyer – is that in our gatherings, the Presence of Christ would be felt by all!
And as we pursue the presence of Christ – we will also experience a new level of…
vs. 46 – Commitment to WORSHIP
“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…” vs. 46
The early church made gathering together to worship and praise Him a major priority! I believe that God is calling us into a deeper experience of Christ through more intensive and Spirit-directed worship.
As we get closer to Christ, we will also get closer to Christ’s people! The second major area of commitment that I see in Acts 2 is a commitment to…
II. COMMUNITY: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS’ PEOPLE
Again, Acts 2 teaches us two aspects of HOW to achieve this commitment:
Vs. 42 and 46 – Commitment to LEARNING
Vs. 44 – Commitment to LOVING
The commitment to LEARNING is different than a commitment to teaching. Most churches are filled with tremendous TEACHING, but teaching isn’t what counts – LEARNING is what matters. Look at vs. 42 and vs. 46 and you’ll see that the early church was a group of people dedicated to LEARNING through the Apostle’s teaching, genuine Christian relationships (iron sharpening iron) and the power of Love Feasts.
And the other commitment that leads to deepening relationships with Christ’s people is the vital commitment to loving one another.
Vs. 44 says… “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44, NIV.
These people became dear friends. So much so that they not only spend great amounts of time together, but they all experienced genuine ‘commonality’.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34, NIV.
Again, we will go into the depths of this in a few weeks.
The third major commitment is a commitment to Christ’s COMMISSION
III. COMMISSION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JESUS’ WORLD.
The word ‘commission’ speaks to our task as God’s people. Christ has given us a specific task – that to impact the people around us with the love of Christ – that they might enter into relationship with Christ!
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NIV.
The problem is, we’ve been hidden for too long.
I see in two specific commitments that the early church made in order to fulfill this commission.
Vs. 45 Commitment to SERVING
Vs. 47 Commitment to SHARING
Look at verse 45:
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45, NIV.
Now that is serving the needs of the world. And by meeting genuine needs – the world takes notice of the reality of who Jesus is.
Not only are we called to SERVE the unbelieving pre-Christian world, we are all called to a commitment to SHARE the good news of Jesus.
Look at verse 47: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47, NIV.
God added to their number those who were being saved – as the people of God shared the Gospel with them. We have an amazing story to share – the story of what Christ has done for each and every one of us personally. And as we live out this commitment – Christ will add people to His family!
CONCLUSION:
Commitment to Communion with Christ
Commitment to Community with Christ’s people
Commitment to Commission to Christ’s world
Question: Are these commitments worthy of your investment?
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