The Never-Changing Guidelines for the Local Church
‘The Never-Changing Guidelines for the Local Church’ – Acts 1-5
Intro:
1. The church is built upon the gospel and exists for the gospel (Acts 1.1-11).
The one foundation upon which the church is built is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3.10-11).
We’re united to Christ & to His church, and enlisted as ambassadors for Christ.
We’re stewards of the church’s mission given in 1.8.
We mustn’t attempt to lift the local church off its foundation, or not fulfill its mission.
Already we’ve found 4 evangelistic sermons: 2.14-39; 3.11-26; 4.8-22; 5.27-32.
2. The church’s mission is empowered by the Holy Spirit & prayer(Acts 1.8; 2.1-21, 33).
Only by the Word & Spirit is Christ’s church built and souls saved for eternity. That’s why corporate prayer is so vital in the early church and always (Acts 1.14; 2.1, 42; 4.24-31).
3. The church’s mission fulfills God’s plan & works out by God’s providence (Acts 1.12-2.41).
The fulfillment motif is throughout. We look to God’s Word to comprehend the past, and know that right now God’s at work to fulfill His plan, as we trust that God in His providence is with us and directing us moving forward into the future.
4. The church assembles to worship by the Word, which directs all we do – the what & the why (Acts 2.41-42, etc.).
Where you should expect to find those converted to Christ is in the local church, devoted to doing these particular things together. These 4 essentials define the early church.
Plus praising the Lord in song & music too – we gotta sing people (Ps 95.1-2).
5. The church cares for its members’ physical needs via sacrificial giving (Acts 2.44-45; 4.32-37).
We give back to God in worship in our tithes & offerings. The funds are collected & utilized to fulfill the gospel mission and to care for Christ’s sheep. See 1 John 3.16-18; Titus 3.14.
6. The church doesn’t exist to enhance your self-image – you can’t ‘play church’ with God
(Acts 5.1-11). This principle comes from the account of Ananias & Sapphira in Acts5.1-11.
Opposition arises to the church not only from without but from within, in the word sin.
They looked like generous givers, but their real heart motivation was to serve themselves and enhance their self-image and reputation.
7. The church must obey God over government when standing in conflict(Acts 4.1-31; 5.17-42).
These governing officials demanded that they stop preaching the gospel and obey them over God. How did the Apostles respond? See Acts4.19-20; 5.29.
Their aim & ours isn’t to disobey human government. But when human government commands us to do what God says not to do, or not to do what God commands to do – we must obey God over government.
In obeying God over men, we should be prepared to suffer for Christ too, and to persevere thru persecution (Heb 13.6).
8. The church should expect opposition & suffering when preaching the gospel,
yet God’s Word will succeed and people will be saved (Acts 2.41, 47; 4.4, 31; 5.11, 14, 42).
Human opposition can’t stop the power of God’s gospel. So we mustn’t hide inside a church building, knowing that only by repentance & faith in Christ will anyone be saved (Acts3.19-20a).
In Acts so far & moving forward, the Word of God prevails.
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The Never-Changing Guidelines for the Local Church
‘The Never-Changing Guidelines for the Local Church’ – Acts 1-5
Intro:
1. The church is built upon the gospel and exists for the gospel (Acts 1.1-11).
The one foundation upon which the church is built is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3.10-11).
We’re united to Christ & to His church, and enlisted as ambassadors for Christ.
We’re stewards of the church’s mission given in 1.8.
We mustn’t attempt to lift the local church off its foundation, or not fulfill its mission.
Already we’ve found 4 evangelistic sermons: 2.14-39; 3.11-26; 4.8-22; 5.27-32.
2. The church’s mission is empowered by the Holy Spirit & prayer (Acts 1.8; 2.1-21, 33).
Only by the Word & Spirit is Christ’s church built and souls saved for eternity. That’s why corporate prayer is so vital in the early church and always (Acts 1.14; 2.1, 42; 4.24-31).
3. The church’s mission fulfills God’s plan & works out by God’s providence (Acts 1.12-2.41).
The fulfillment motif is throughout. We look to God’s Word to comprehend the past, and know that right now God’s at work to fulfill His plan, as we trust that God in His providence is with us and directing us moving forward into the future.
4. The church assembles to worship by the Word, which directs all we do – the what & the why (Acts 2.41-42, etc.).
Where you should expect to find those converted to Christ is in the local church, devoted to doing these particular things together. These 4 essentials define the early church.
Plus praising the Lord in song & music too – we gotta sing people (Ps 95.1-2).
5. The church cares for its members’ physical needs via sacrificial giving (Acts 2.44-45; 4.32-37).
We give back to God in worship in our tithes & offerings. The funds are collected & utilized to fulfill the gospel mission and to care for Christ’s sheep. See 1 John 3.16-18; Titus 3.14.
6. The church doesn’t exist to enhance your self-image – you can’t ‘play church’ with God
(Acts 5.1-11). This principle comes from the account of Ananias & Sapphira in Acts 5.1-11.
Opposition arises to the church not only from without but from within, in the word sin.
They looked like generous givers, but their real heart motivation was to serve themselves and enhance their self-image and reputation.
7. The church must obey God over government when standing in conflict (Acts 4.1-31; 5.17-42).
These governing officials demanded that they stop preaching the gospel and obey them over God. How did the Apostles respond? See Acts 4.19-20; 5.29.
Their aim & ours isn’t to disobey human government. But when human government commands us to do what God says not to do, or not to do what God commands to do – we must obey God over government.
In obeying God over men, we should be prepared to suffer for Christ too, and to persevere thru persecution (Heb 13.6).
8. The church should expect opposition & suffering when preaching the gospel,
yet God’s Word will succeed and people will be saved (Acts 2.41, 47; 4.4, 31; 5.11, 14, 42).
Human opposition can’t stop the power of God’s gospel. So we mustn’t hide inside a church building, knowing that only by repentance & faith in Christ will anyone be saved (Acts 3.19-20a).
In Acts so far & moving forward, the Word of God prevails.
Conclusion: