Pastor Joe's Sermon Notes for Sunday, August 23, 2020

 

 

 

“This Is Church!” Part II

August 23, 2020

 

Introduction: “An ideal is a model of something perfect or without equal. As an adjective, ideal describes this ultimate standard for excellence.” All of us have ideals about what life should look like, there is an “ideal” church too and in Acts 2:42-27 Luke provides for us what that looks like.

 

Last week, I spoke about “Becoming a Believer” from the pattern that is evident from Acts 2:37-41.  

Becoming a Believer (2:37-41)

1. Hearing the Gospel (2:37)

2. Conviction of Sin (2:37)

3. Repentance of sin (2:38)

4. Baptism as a profession of faith (2:38)

5. Joining the fellowship of believers (2:41)

 

Being the Church (Acts 2:42-47)

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ 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, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

“Devoted” has the idea of “steadfast and single-minded fidelity to a certain course of action.” Devotion to the Lord characterized the early church. There were four areas that the believers were devoted to.

The believers were devoted to . . .

1. Discipleship (2:42). “The apostles’ teaching.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

 

 

2. Fellowship (2:42, 44-45). “The fellowship” (ESV).

 

 

3. Worship (2:42, 46-47).

²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   Hebrews 10:23-25

 

 

4. Prayer (2:42).

The early church was known for their praying and references to “prayer” are frequent in Acts (cf., 1:14, 24; 4:24-31; 6:4, 6; 9:40; 10:2, 4, 9, 31; 11:5; 12:5; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25; 22:17; 28:8).

 

 

As a result of the believers being devoted to the Word, the fellowship, worship and prayer there was a great sense of “awe” and God was working mightily, and “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:47).

 

God honors our “devotion” to Him but not much happens through indifference, or lack of concern. Will I embrace the “ideal” and strive to be the church in practical ways in my life? Will I be devoted to discipleship, the fellowship, to worship, and to prayer?