- "That church is UNIFIED !" (Acts 2:42)
- "GOD is doing things in that church!"(Acts 2:43)
- "That church is GENEROUS !" (Acts 2:44-45)
- "That church is JOYFUL !" (Acts 2:46)
- "I can't say anything BAD about that church!" (Acts 2:47)
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above with your cursor for answers!
-
00:00-00:04
We continue our series through the book of Acts.
00:05-00:06
Acts chapter 2.
00:08-00:10
While you're turning, I've got to tell you this story.
00:12-00:18
Several months ago, my wife and I were grocery shopping, and we're standing in the grocery store.
00:18-00:26
I'm standing by the cart, and Aaron went off to get something, so I'm just kind of standing there, and I hear this lady speaking.
00:26-01:29
just this real little voice, "Help! Can you please help me? Can you please help me?" And I look over and this lady is actually speaking to an employee of the grocery store who has her back turned to the lady and is working on something and is completely ignoring this lady. Just completely ignored. "Can you please help me can you help me can you help me so I walked over and I said can I help you with something ma'am and she said yes I she was real short little lady she said I can't reach that would you get that for me and I reached and I got it for and handed it to her and she goes thank you so much and I stood there and I I I looked at her for a minute and I said, "Is your name Cheryl?" And she said, "Yes." I said, "You were my bus driver when I was in junior high, when I was 13.
01:29-02:19
You were my bus driver." She looked at me for a minute and she goes, "Mueller? Mueller? Myers?" I said, "No, Miller." She goes, "Oh, Miller! She said, 'You married that mackerel ravi girl, right?'" I said, "Yeah, that's me." She goes, "And you became a minister, right?" I said, "Yeah, that's me! That's me!" And she looked at me, no joke, she looked at me and she goes, "Boy, you put on a lot of weight." I'm like, "Since I was 13?" You know, I'm pretty embarrassed that I let myself go these past 27 years, growing into adulthood.
02:20-02:52
You know, the shame I feel when I stand in front of my mirror and I no longer have my pre-adolescent body. It's embarrassing. And apparently, apparently the problem is hereditary because my son Cade put on like 77 pounds in the past nine years. Boy, you put on a lot of weight. So of course, first thing I did was tell big brother. I'm like, "Hey Darren, guess what? I ran into Cheryl Brown at the store.
02:52-02:53
And do you know what she said to me?
02:53-03:10
She said, "Boy, you put on a lot of weight." And Darren says, "Oh, that's so funny because I ran into the lady that delivered me, you know, when I was born, and she was surprised at how many words I learned since the last time she saw me." So I wasn't offended at all.
03:11-03:13
And why was I not offended?
03:14-03:25
Because I've known this woman, and she had a reputation for being sort of the speak your mind kind of person, you know?
03:25-03:27
And I actually kind of prefer that.
03:28-03:30
I'd rather not wonder what people are thinking.
03:30-03:32
I'd rather people just tell me what they're thinking.
03:32-03:37
But she had that reputation for being that kind of person.
03:37-03:40
So when she says something like that, you can't be offended.
03:40-03:45
You knew she was going to say something that would end up as a sermon illustration.
03:46-03:49
So you can't be offended because she had the reputation.
03:49-03:57
And this morning, we're going to talk about reputation because reputation is everything.
03:59-04:06
Reputation is everything because for good or for the bad, you have a reputation.
04:08-04:10
And think of the weight that your reputation carries.
04:10-04:13
You know, Pittsburgh sports, Pittsburgh sports fans.
04:15-04:17
Think of when Michael Vick was signed by the Steelers.
04:17-04:19
You remember the controversy around that?
04:19-04:26
And there were people lined up to get their Steeler tattoos removed, and I'm not here to make a comment on that either way.
04:26-04:28
I'm just saying, do you remember the controversy?
04:29-04:32
Here's a man who did some horrible things, and I'm a dog lover.
04:33-04:34
I am a dog lover.
04:35-04:37
He did some horrible things, right?
04:38-04:55
And he's apologized, and he's tried to make restitution through some charity work, and he says he's kind of done with that, and he paid his debt to society and all of that, but there are still people that say, "Somebody like that should not be a professional athlete.
04:56-05:05
Somebody like that should not be wearing the black and gold." His reputation, no matter what he tried to do to undo this reputation that he had, he still carried with him, what?
05:06-05:07
The reputation.
05:09-05:13
And today I want to talk specifically about the reputation of the church.
05:14-05:25
You know, with this portion of Acts, we have already seen that Jesus Christ promised that the church would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes.
05:26-05:29
Why would God want us to have His power?
05:29-05:37
Well Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, and you will be my witnesses." That sounds like a reputation thing, doesn't it?
05:38-06:12
giving us his power because he wants us to be not witnesses for ourselves, not witnesses for the kind of person that you are, the kind of person that I am, or the kind of people that Pittsburgh people are. It's witnesses for the reputation of the Lord. Well we've seen in Acts already that the Holy Spirit has come and Peter preached, we talked about that, and 3,000 people got saved. And in In the passage we're going to look at today, we see the reputation that the early church earned.
06:13-06:20
And as a pastor, and as church members, we should care about the reputation of this church.
06:23-06:25
Are we known for the right things, for the right reasons?
06:26-06:30
So what we're going to look at today, going through this text, simply this.
06:30-06:34
What is said about a church that has a godly reputation?
06:35-06:36
So do you have your outline?
06:36-06:39
Five things said of a church with a godly reputation.
06:40-06:45
In other words, these are the kind of things I would like said about our church.
06:46-06:52
And if we're going to have this kind of reputation, this shows us the kind of church that we need to be.
06:52-06:55
But number one, five things said of a church with a godly reputation.
06:55-06:57
Number one, that church is unified.
06:58-06:59
That church is unified.
07:01-07:01
Look at verse 42.
07:03-07:15
It says, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." They devoted themselves.
07:16-07:16
Did you see that?
07:18-07:19
They weren't church attenders.
07:21-07:23
They weren't CEO Christians.
07:23-07:25
You know what a CEO Christian is?
07:26-07:27
Christmas and Easter only.
07:29-07:30
What kind of Christians were they?
07:32-07:34
It says they devoted themselves.
07:36-07:41
The church is made up of committed people, and we live in a day of non-commitment.
07:42-07:44
Marriage, your marriage isn't working out, just bail.
07:45-07:50
Work, you don't love your job 100% every day, just quit.
07:53-07:57
Friendships, you know your bus driver tells you you're fat, you don't go to talk to her.
07:59-10:12
it's also true with the church. It's easy. I don't like what somebody said to me, or I didn't agree with how I understood one thing said in the church, and there's lots of great churches in the area. And I think that's one advantage that the early church had. They devoted themselves. They were committed people. What were they committed to? Well, we don't have to wonder what they were committed to. Did you see the list in the text? Did you see it? Quickly, what were they committed to? Apostles teaching. For us that is the Bible. Understand that the New Testament was being written with these events, okay? They didn't have the luxury at this time of saying open up your New Testaments. They were writing the New Testaments because they were apostles with apostolic authority but for us you see we have the Bible that's unity and beliefs unity and beliefs that church is unified unified how unity and beliefs you see we have this we have this objective standard that listen it doesn't really matter what I think or what I believe it doesn't matter what I I think or what I believe and it doesn't matter what you think What matters is what God thinks and if we're going to be unified we better get on the same page With what God thinks and we don't have to wonder what God thinks because he wrote it all down for us And that's why church our unity has to be in God's Word Our unity can't be in Style of worship or style of fellowship or any of these external things our unity has to be found in the objective Source, it's God's Word. This is the thing that we rally around to say it doesn't matter what we think it matters What God thinks that's why you know, whether it's me or one of the elders or we bring in another preacher Every time it better be somebody the first thing out of their mouth better be open your Bibles Okay unity in beliefs secondly do you see the fellowship?
10:14-10:57
That's unity to what I call the team You see fellowship is not just potluck dinners And I know every time we have a picnic or something everybody's like Jeff hates potlucks And I do but I I want to I want to clarify something Please understand. Please hear my heart on this If I know where the food came from I'm okay Right like small group at Murphy's house, right? I eat there Because I know where the food came from. I can't eat if I don't know where it came from Okay, so I don't hate potlucks. I just need to know where the food came from So maybe a sign or a label, you know Would it really kill you to write your name on the pan?
10:59-12:17
Sorry, that wasn't in my notes But fellowship is more than the potluck fellowship is more than rally around the donut box Fellowship has this idea of we're on the same team. We're wearing the same jersey Okay, that's what fellowship is. It's not doing events together. It's doing life together, you know Hebrews 1024 actually Tells us don't don't forsake assembling together It's just real easy to say, you know what? I work hard all week. I want to sleep in on Sunday and I get that I Get that but you know the Bible says this this time a fellowship is so important where we're encouraging each other and loving each other and lifting each other up and They were they were unified they were unified to the team because they were unified through the fellowship Thirdly, it's right there in the text. You see it the breaking of bread Now the context here is spiritual life in the church everything in this verse is spiritual life in the church So what he's talking about here when he talks about breaking of bread, he's talking about the Lord's Supper in other words unity in Christ So if unity and beliefs unity to the team unity in Christ and that's common ground That's common ground, right?
12:19-12:29
see, that's But puts us all in the same playing field doesn't it Levi you were you were saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, right?
12:29-12:32
Ben you were saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, right?
12:33-13:29
And Ken you were saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. You see the common ground here There's none of us that walk in here that you know have more stripes on our uniform Have more have more kudos and accolades over anyone else because we're all just a bunch of broken people that have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and You see when we take the Lord's Supper together. That's our reminder look We're all just broken people desperately in need of God's grace and eternally thankful for what he's done in Jesus Christ It's unity in Christ The fourth thing it says unity I'm sorry, they were devoted to the prayers and Here obviously the context is corporate prayer prayer corporate prayer That's why this early church saw so much power Whether it's praying here praying in our small groups having our prayer meetings or prayer services With prayer you could say it's unity and purpose.
13:30-13:34
Unity and purpose. That's what happens in the church when we pray together.
13:34-13:36
It's saying that we have a common purpose.
13:38-13:41
And we're together seeking God for that purpose.
13:43-13:46
I try not to do a lot of cross-referencing, but you've got to write this verse down.
13:47-13:48
Matthew 18, 19.
13:49-14:02
Jesus said, "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, It will be done for them by my Father in heaven." And I can't even begin to understand everything that verse means.
14:02-14:07
But I can tell you this, there's some kind of power in corporate prayer.
14:08-14:16
When God's people come together in unity and cry out to the Lord for the same thing, there's some kind of power there.
14:17-14:21
And it's an incredible invitation and opportunity to pray.
14:22-14:25
So the early church, first of all, was unified.
14:26-14:30
They were unified because they were devoted.
14:32-14:33
They were devoted.
14:34-14:37
They were people that were committed to each other and to the mission.
14:37-14:39
And Harvest Bible Chapel, can you say that?
14:40-14:47
Can you say that you are committed to the mission of this church and to the people of this church?
14:47-14:48
Can you say that?
14:49-14:52
You know what? Where two or more are gathered, you're going to have conflict.
14:53-15:02
But being devoted to one another also means, "Look, rough times are going to come, but we're going to work through it, okay?" The Bible gives clear guidelines on how to work through some things.
15:02-15:04
And we're going to have issues come up.
15:04-15:07
We have had and we're going to continue to, so long as we meet.
15:08-15:09
But we are devoted to one another.
15:11-15:14
The mission and the people are more important than the conflict.
15:15-15:15
Okay?
15:16-15:21
So, "Five things said of a church with a godly reputation." Here's something I would like people to say about Harvest Bible Chapel.
15:21-15:22
That church is unified.
15:24-15:26
You know, those people all seem to be on the same page.
15:27-15:29
Secondly, God is doing things in that church.
15:31-15:33
God is doing things in that church.
15:33-15:34
Look at verse 43.
15:34-15:53
It says, "And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles." We've already talked about this, but just to review, God performed signs and wonders through the apostles to authenticate the message.
15:54-16:03
And the miracles stopped after the Bible was completed, because we don't have need for confirming signs, we have the Bible.
16:03-16:07
Now please hear me, because somebody is going to mishear this.
16:09-16:14
I do believe that God is still at work, and I do believe that God still performs miracles.
16:14-16:17
I have seen them. I have seen so many.
16:17-16:22
I could tell you stories that would keep you here till the Super Bowl about miracles that I've witnessed the Lord perform.
16:24-16:30
With that said, I do not believe that there are apostles walking the earth today that have healing powers.
16:31-16:42
Despite what you see these guys on TV looking like they're doing, there aren't people that walk around that have healing power that just touch people and heal them.
16:43-16:46
If there are, my question would be, why don't they go to children's hospital?
16:47-16:51
Huh? Why don't you walk up and down the ward at children's hospital and touch those kids?
16:51-16:52
If you have that power.
16:54-17:08
God does do miracles and God does heal and God is still at work, but I don't believe God's at work through people, through the apostles, the way that he was when he was using these apostles to confirm the message that he was speaking through them.
17:08-17:12
This was a huge transition period in history.
17:12-17:18
So the Lord had to perform these miracles through the apostles to authenticate the message.
17:18-17:19
Does that make sense?
17:20-17:21
Is everybody with me on that?
17:23-17:33
What you have to see is today, God is still at work in every decision to repent.
17:35-17:38
Every decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
17:38-17:43
every baptism, every miraculous provision, every mission opportunity.
17:43-17:45
God is still at work in this church.
17:47-17:53
And if this were a place where everything is easily explained by our resources, then we're in big trouble.
17:54-18:16
We are in big trouble if somebody can step back and say, "I can see how they get stuff done at that church." If there's not some supernatural component to this church, If there's not some disproportionate fruit and work that's happening that can only be explained by God showing up and being at work in our midst, then we have a real problem.
18:17-18:20
We have a real problem if we can do church without God.
18:20-18:29
You see, the people in this day, they weren't awed by the church, even though that was kind of an awe-inspiring thing.
18:29-18:31
Three thousand people made a decision in one day.
18:31-18:36
That's pretty awe-inspiring, but that wasn't the thing that awed them.
18:37-18:39
They were awed by the presence of God.
18:40-18:45
At Harvest Bible Chapel, this should be a place where unexplainable things happen.
18:47-18:53
We have seen it, and we have to continue to seek the Lord for big things.
18:54-18:55
Are you willing to pray for big things?
18:56-18:58
Are you willing to trust God for big things?
18:59-19:01
See, I believe that God has the power.
19:02-19:10
I believe that God can and God will and God wants to do big things in your life and do big things through this church.
19:10-19:11
Do you believe that?
19:12-19:16
If you believe that, are you willing to pray like you believe that?
19:17-19:22
Are you willing to say, "God, I know you have the power.
19:23-19:27
God, I know what you want done." Are you willing to pray for that?
19:28-19:31
That's the sort of reputation I want for this church.
19:31-19:36
The same reputation that this first church had, where people are saying God is doing things in that church.
19:37-19:41
Thirdly, five things said of a church with a godly reputation.
19:42-19:44
Thirdly, that church is generous.
19:45-19:46
That church is generous.
19:46-19:47
Look at verse 44.
19:47-20:24
It says, "And all who believed were together," there it is again, were together and had all things in common when it says that they had all things in common that didn't mean like interests and hobbies right that's not what that meant they had all things in common like here at harvest Bible Chapel you have to be a Steelers fan to attend is there anybody here that is not a Steelers fan anyone dismissed you see that's not the point that does that's That's not what it means they had all things in common.
20:26-20:30
What it meant was there's this sense of, there's a sense of what's mine is yours.
20:31-20:32
That's what it is.
20:33-20:36
In other words, these people were fridge friends.
20:37-20:38
You know what a fridge friend is?
20:39-20:40
You know what a fridge friend is?
20:42-20:44
How many people know what a fridge friend is?
20:44-20:45
Some of you do.
20:46-20:47
I'm going to tell you what a fridge friend is.
20:48-20:55
A fridge friend is somebody that's over at your house and your relationship is so comfortable They help themselves to whatever's in your refrigerator.
20:56-20:58
How many people here have a fridge friend?
21:00-21:02
How many people here think that they are a fridge friend?
21:04-21:07
I'll be honest with you, I know there's some people in this room that can testify.
21:08-21:12
You know, Murphys, Mowers, I mean, I've done it at your house.
21:13-21:15
I just help myself to whatever's in your fridge.
21:15-21:15
Why?
21:15-21:16
Because we're fridge friends.
21:16-21:19
Because we have all things in common, that's what that means.
21:19-21:20
What's yours is mine.
21:21-21:27
And guess what? If you're at my house, you're welcome to whatever's in the fridge or any of the cupboards.
21:28-21:30
Because we have all things in common. You see?
21:31-21:32
That's what that means.
21:34-21:38
And you're like, "Well, what if somebody has a need and I can't meet the need?" Well, look at verse 45.
21:39-21:49
It says, "And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." Well, what if I can't meet the need? Well, we'll find a way to meet the need.
21:50-21:53
You see what the early church did? That's how generous they were.
21:53-22:05
Like, look, there's some people here that have needs, and you know what? I don't need all this extra stuff to live, so I'm going to sell it, and I'm going to be generous, and I'm going to take care of the people that have need.
22:07-22:12
Let's be honest, when we talk about money in the church, let's be honest.
22:13-23:13
When we talk about money in the church, does the church typically have a reputation to the world of being greedy, being generous which one greedy right typically to the world the church is greedy do you know many times I've heard people say all the church wants is money all the church wants the church has that reputation but instead the church should have a reputation not of being greedy but of being generous the church should have a rep for being generous and I want you to notice this this generosity should start with each other. Catch this. When we talk about generosity we can think about raising money to repair the pastor's house in Moldova. That was fantastic. You remember that? That was fantastic. You know, generosity to buy materials for the Romanian training center, generosity to send a team of people from our church over to help with the construction project, generosity.
23:14-24:12
Those things are all great, but you have to see in this passage the church wasn't for being generous outside their walls they were first known for being generous with one another did you see that they were first known for being generous with one another and I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing the mission thing we should be seeking the Lord to increase our capacity to do more of those mission things but there's a problem with the church if we're so concerned about being generous to the people outside that we're neglecting the needs of the people inside the church. The early church got that. You see that in the text? Everybody see that? They were taking care of each other and that's where it has to start. Taking care of each other, being a generous church. That's what I'd like people to say about Harvest Bible Chapel. That church is generous.
24:13-24:16
Fourthly, that church is joyful.
24:17-24:18
Look at verse 46.
24:18-24:19
That church is joyful.
24:20-24:30
Says in day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.
24:31-24:32
Glad and generous hearts.
24:32-24:33
We already talked about generous.
24:34-24:35
Let's talk about glad.
24:36-24:38
Says they went to the temple together.
24:39-24:40
That's corporate worship.
24:40-25:41
was church before church buildings and they met in homes that's like our small groups that's why we do what we do at harvest Bible Chapel we meet together this is like temple time and then in each other's homes that's our small group time but notice it says their hearts were glad so let me ask you is this church a joy for you is it a joy for you to come to church Do you love the people at this church? You're like, "Man, I can't wait to get to church. I can't wait to be with the people and to worship together." Is church a joy for you? Like, "Well, I'm not sure." Well, here's how you can find out real quick. I want you to make two lists. You don't have to do it right now, but make two lists. I want you to write down five things you love about Harvest Bible Chapel. I want you to write down five things you don't like about Harvest Bible Chapel. Which of those lists is easier for you to make?
25:42-26:07
Which of those lists do you complete faster, things that you love about the church or things that you don't like about the church? That'll kind of show you what your attitude in general is towards the church. Notice in the first part of verse 47, it says they were praising God. You see, that's how this joy thing works. It comes from God and it goes back to God.
26:09-26:10
It shows up in worship.
26:11-26:23
That's how I see joy in the church when we're worshiping and I turn around and I see people lifting up their voices, worshiping God in spirit and truth with hands raised and adoring Jesus Christ.
26:24-26:26
That's how I see joy in this church.
26:27-26:36
I see joy in this church when, you know, the custodians are kicking us out because people want to stay and talk and hang out and catch up with each other.
26:36-26:51
I see joy in the church when it's like, "Hey, let's go to lunch together after church because they kicked us out of the school." Okay? Signs of a joyful church culminating in worship. A church is joyful. I'll tell you, that's something I'd like said about Harvest Bible Chapel.
26:52-27:00
Is that true? Then finally, finally, I can't say anything bad about that church.
27:01-27:04
Look at verse 47 again. It says they were praising God.
27:04-27:12
Look at this next phrase, "And having favor with all the people." Having favor with all the people.
27:13-27:19
There is offense in the gospel, true or false.
27:20-27:21
There's offense in the gospel.
27:22-27:28
Because to preach the gospel you have to say, listen, you're a fallen sinner and you're heading for God's judgment.
27:30-27:33
You're wicked to the core and you need a savior.
27:33-27:33
That's offensive.
27:34-27:37
It's true, but it's an offensive message.
27:37-27:43
And even though sharing the gospel message brings an offense, understand the distinction.
27:43-27:46
We should not be offensive people.
27:47-27:48
You see the difference?
27:50-27:52
We should not be offensive people.
27:53-28:01
We can share the gospel message and let the offense rest in the gospel, but we should not be offensive people.
28:01-28:05
That's why it says here that they had favor with all the people.
28:06-28:09
Another New Testament term for having favor with people.
28:11-28:14
This will help us all to understand this a little better.
28:14-28:16
The New Testament talks about being blameless.
28:17-28:25
It talks about being blameless, meaning if somebody wants to say something bad about you, what would they come up with?
28:27-28:31
A blameless person, somebody who tries to live, here's another term, above reproach.
28:32-28:37
Somebody that tries to live a blameless life, lives in such a way that nobody has anything bad to say about.
28:38-28:39
Meaning what? Meaning your conduct.
28:41-28:43
You're honest at work. You put in a full work day.
28:46-28:52
You have integrity in your home. You're the same person at home that you are in church, that you are in the workplace, that you are with your buddies.
28:53-28:55
That's integrity. Blameless.
28:56-28:58
Blameless in your speech.
28:59-29:05
You don't speak one way in church and another way in social media, or another way with your buddies.
29:07-29:08
Blameless in speech.
29:09-29:10
Blameless in your attitudes.
29:13-29:14
That you're not a complainer.
29:15-29:17
Blameless in compassion.
29:19-29:31
See, this morning as we talk about the reputation of the church, The reputation of the church is really about the reputation of the people, right?
29:32-29:35
We don't even have a church building, we rent this space.
29:35-29:42
So the reputation of this church isn't about the reputation of the building, it's about the reputation of the people.
29:42-29:45
But let's zoom in a little closer.
29:45-29:52
The reputation of the church really zeroes in to the reputation of you, right?
29:54-30:08
Look at this last phrase. It says, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Just to remind you that none of these things are things that we manufacture.
30:08-30:11
Here you see God's sovereignty at work.
30:12-30:15
Who was doing the adding? Who was bringing people to the church?
30:16-30:18
Who was growing the church? The Bible is crystal clear.
30:19-30:22
The Lord added to the number.
30:23-30:26
Day by day, those who were being saved.
30:27-30:29
So God's sovereignty at work through all this.
30:30-30:35
A healthy church has natural evangelism.
30:37-30:42
So when we talk about the church growing, do I want this church to grow?
30:42-30:43
I absolutely do.
30:44-30:45
Why?
30:46-30:48
Why do I want this church to grow?
30:50-30:53
There's really three reasons that I'd like to share with you.
30:53-30:55
Here's why I want this church to grow.
30:55-30:58
Number one, is growth is a sign of health.
30:59-31:00
Growth is a sign of health.
31:02-31:10
Number two, as we grow, so will our capacity to serve Christ and our influence in this community.
31:12-31:19
But the main reason, the number one reason I want this church to grow, is because the more this church grows, the more glory God gets.
31:20-31:31
The more people come in here to lift up their voices and raise their hands and sing unashamed adoration of Jesus Christ, the more glory God gets.
31:31-31:32
That's why I want this church to grow.
31:34-31:45
As I was preparing this message, I was thinking, what would be a great way that we can immediately apply some of these things that are in this passage?
31:45-31:49
And I thought, you know, why don't we pray about this right now?
31:50-31:51
Can you do that with me?
31:51-31:58
Can we pray as a church and our reputation, can we pray that this is a church that is unified?
32:00-32:04
Can we pray that this is a church where God is at work?
32:05-32:09
Can we pray that this is a church where the people are generous with one another?
32:10-32:14
Can we pray that this it a church that is joyful?
32:16-32:21
Can we pray that this is a church that is blameless?
32:23-32:26
And can we pray that this is a church that the Lord will grow?
32:28-32:30
You bow your heads with me as our worship team makes their way forward.
32:32-32:35
You want to join hands to the person next to you as a sign of unity?
32:36-32:37
I think that's a beautiful thing.
32:38-32:48
If you want to just reach across and hold hands as a sign of saying, "We are unified in this prayer because we aren't committed at Harvest Bible Chapel to putting on a show.
32:50-32:56
We are committed at Harvest Bible Chapel to the glory of God and Jesus Christ.
32:58-33:04
Father, as we come before you in prayer, I thank you for this church.
33:06-33:07
I thank you, Father.
33:08-33:14
For the miracles that you have been performing through this church, I thank you, Father, that this is a church where you are at work.
33:15-33:19
And I pray, Father, as we move forward, we would be a church that's unified.
33:21-33:35
And the things that you've called us to be unified about, your word and our fellowship and the Lord's table coming together in Christ and praying with one another, let us be unified.
33:37-33:41
Father, we have seen a disproportionate amount of generosity in this church.
33:42-33:46
people taking care of one another with material needs.
33:46-33:52
We've seen generosity, certainly outside this church, with mission work as well.
33:53-33:58
Father, I pray that you would always stir in our hearts a spirit of generosity.
34:00-34:02
Father, I pray that this would be a joyful church.
34:03-34:07
Just like these first century Christians, your word says that their hearts were glad.
34:08-34:11
The church wasn't a pain.
34:12-34:14
And I can't stand those people.
34:15-34:18
They were people who loved one another.
34:19-34:23
And enjoyed coming into your presence with one another.
34:23-34:25
Let us be a joyful church.
34:26-34:29
And Father, I pray that we would be a blameless church.
34:29-34:31
Yes, there is offense in the gospel.
34:31-34:32
It's a stumbling block.
34:33-34:40
And there are people that hate us for no other reason than the fact that we love Jesus Christ.
34:41-34:52
But Father, concerning our conduct towards the outside world, the kind of people that we are in our homes and in our workplaces, and the way we speak, let us be blameless people.
34:53-34:57
Father, we pray for growth.
34:58-35:01
We have certainly seen growth already.
35:03-35:04
Father, we pray for more.
35:05-35:09
We pray for more spiritual growth, more maturity in Christ.
35:09-35:11
And Father, I pray for more numerical growth.
35:13-35:15
Not to draw attention to ourselves.
35:17-35:24
Your word says with this early church that you were adding to their number day by day, those who were being saved.
35:24-35:25
That's what I pray for, for this church.
35:26-35:41
that more people would come and experience your presence and marvel in your glory and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that you would add to this church people who are being saved.
35:44-35:52
Father, grow this church so that our capacity to serve you would increase and our influence in this community would increase.
35:53-36:04
Grow this church so that your name is glorified more and more and more and more as so many more people come to adore you.
36:06-36:10
Father, we thank you for everything that you have done.
36:11-36:17
And by faith, we're seeking you for more, for your glory.
36:18-36:19
For your glory.
36:20-36:21
For your glory, Father.
36:22-36:25
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Sermon Discussion with your Children:
What does it mean to be generous?
How can you and your family be generous in and with the church?
Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 2:42-47
Why is unity so important to the reputation of the church? What does church membership say about unity?
Without Apostles, how does awe come upon souls today (Acts 2:43)?
How does God add to a church (Acts 2:47) that strives for excellence in these areas?
Breakout Questions:
Of these 5 areas, what is most lacking at HBCPN? How can we seek the Lord for better in that/those area(s)?