The Church That Jesus Built - Acts 2:36-47
Introduction:
Pew Research Center: "Nones" on the Rise: One in Five Adults Has No Religious Affiliation... POLL 10/9/2012
The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.
In the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).
However, a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, conducted jointly with the PBS television program Religion & Ethics News Weekly, finds that many of the country’s 46 million unaffiliated adults are religious or spiritual in some way. Two-thirds of them say they believe in God (68%). More than half say they often feel a deep connection with nature and the earth (58%), while more than a third classify themselves as "spiritual" but not "religious" (37%), and one in five (21%) says he prays every day. In addition, most religiously unaffiliated Americans think that churches and other religious institutions benefit society by strengthening community bonds and aiding the poor.
With few exceptions, though, the unaffiliated say they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them. Overwhelmingly, they think that religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules and too involved in politics.
Key Verse: "Therefore let the House of Israel know assuredly that this same Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:36
The key to Christian influence upon our world is commitment of individual Christians to the goals and purposes of Jesus for our life, "For this promise is to you, your children and all those who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:39
This kingdom is not about a family heritage but about a place of forgiveness and grace for all those who have strayed from God. He is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.
Commitment: 1) The act or process of entrusting or consigning oneself to the care and authority of another). 2) An engagement or pledge to do something. 3) The act of doing... So commitment is an attitude coupled with a corresponding action.
Commitment to Jesus is a continuing action, not a one-time decision or deed.
I. Commitment Is Entrusting Our Lives To The Care of Jesus - Acts 2:36-41
1. The Inquiry: "What must we do?" Is still applicable today.
For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him ....Acts 2:39 (ASV)
2. There are commands to be obeyed - Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. There are promises to be enjoyed - You shall receive the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
4.There is an attitude to be adopted - Save yourselves from this crooked generation (desire to share & do all He says.)
5. There are actions to be observed.
All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:18-20 (ASV)
2. Commitment Is Entrusting Our Lives to Follow His Word - Acts 2:42a
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching."
1. Attitude of Adherence: Example: Cornelius - Acts 10:33
Jesus' Words - Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Jesus' Directions - Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
2. Attitude of Compliance: Jesus’ warning - Matthew 7:21-27
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof."
James’ Commentary - James 1:19-27
"Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
3. Commitment Is Entrusting Our Lives to Take Care of Each Other - Acts 2:42b
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers."
1. Koinonia: "Having in common" Jesus... Salvation... Deliverance.... Church family/community... ?
2. Attitude: "Preferring one another in love." Romans 12:10
3. Action: Koinonia is translated by the context in which it is found: It is translated as participation, cooperation, communion, contribution distribution, sharing, and communication.
4. Commitment Is Entrusting Our Lives to Remembering Jesus - Acts 2:42c
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers."
1. Attitude: Meeting on the Lord’s Day & Breaking Bread (Lord’s Supper)
Assembly and Breaking bread:
Acts 20:7 "And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow, and prolonged his speech until midnight."
2. Action: An introspective look which leads to repentance, which is an inward look that affects our outward behavior. Repentance literally "a change of mind."
An alteration of moral judgments; profound change in life direction; a conversion that affects the whole person (involves thoughts, will and feelings.)
Recognition: Earlier view was foolish, improper or evil.
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Regret/remorse: Dissatisfaction with thoughts cherished, plans followed, or actions performed.
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Restitution: Correction or admission of committed faults or actions.
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Reevaluation: Adoption of new view freeing us from false thoughts, passions or pleasure that allow us to pursue the mind of Christ.
V. Commitment Is Entrusting Our Lives to Communicate With God - Acts 2:42d.
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers."
1 . Attitude: Rejoice & pray - "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV)
2. Actions: Word & deed - Colossians 3:17
" And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Prayers:
"First of all then, I am urging that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered regularly for all men; for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and peaceful life in all godliness and gravity. For this is good and pleasing in the eyes of our Savior God, whose will it is that all men should be saved, and come into full knowledge of the truth."
---1 Timothy 2:1-4 (Montgomery NT)
Be an answer to prayer when you can...
" And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46 And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart," Acts 2:44-46
Conclusion:
1. Christ included in a lifestyle of worship produces awe and brings others to the Body of Christ (The Church)
Acts 2:46,47 (New Living Translation) "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
2. Worship is using who we are and becoming an instrument of God for good.
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
If you have never given yourself to Christ and His church, come as we sing a song of invitation.
