Pastor Joe on Acts

November 12, 2004

Jesus IS Building HIS Church

Selected Passages from the Book of Acts

Introduction –

1. Today is the first time ever for me to preach wearing a suit. This is a first that probably will not, well actually, certainly will not become a famous first. This first will come and go and never be remembered. This morning I would like to speak to you about a famous first that came, is still here, and will never go.

2. Read Matt. 28:16-20. It is estimated that at this point there were ~120 Believers. Acts 2 tells us that after the day of Pentecost about 3000 more people became Believers and that the Lord was adding to the number of Believers day by day.

3. At that point there was no such thing as a local church. The first local church did not come until Acts 11. The Bible tells us that the first church plant took place in Antioch. From there the number of local churches began to expand to the point of today when there are so many that they can not accurately be counted.

4. Most people, when they hear this for the first time, want to know – how did it happen? How did it go from 1 to uncountable?

5. I believe there are three answers to this question and these answers are the three most important facts we must remember if we want the number of local churches to become uncountable squared.

6. This morning I want us to look at what I consider to be the three most important facts one should know about the spread and the growth of the Church – or how to make the Church uncountable squared.

7. We will do so by looking at selected passages from the book of Acts.

8. If you have your Bible, turn with me to Acts 4 where we will see the first fact .

Important note: There was elaboration done on the major passages from the book of Acts. These elaborations do NOT appear in this text.

I. Jesus is the head, the cornerstone, of the Church; therefore, the church must always

exist to glorify Him. Acts 4:1-12 cf. Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18

Listen to the words of one pastor:

Why do churches split today? Is it because they can not decide on doctrinal issues, on which version of the Bible to use, on what type of administration or church government is best? Is it because they can not decide on which Pastor to hire or fire, on which type of music is appropriate or inappropriate, on how to or not to pray? Could the reason perhaps be because they can not agree on whether or not the Hymn books and carpets should match or not match in color? In reality the answer to all of these questions is no, an EMPHATIC NO!

The reason churches split today is because they take their focus off the Head, Jesus. When we take our focus off of Jesus, a very dangerous thing happens. We begin to think and thus act as if the Church exists for us rather than we for the Church. We go to Church looking to get and not to give. We go to be blessed rather than to be a blessing, to both God and others. We sing in order to lift our spirits, we pray for all of our problems to be fixed, we study on how to better apply Biblical principles to our everyday living in order that we may benefit materially and/or spiritually. It is all about us and our comfort. We are looking for Christ to make us comfortable here until we reach our ultimate comfort, heaven.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus, as the one and only Who is to be glorified in and through the Church, we forget that the main point of our spirituality, the furthering of God’s glory, not the fixing of our lives. So let’s fix our eyes, our minds and our hearts on Jesus, the Author and Completer of the Christian Faith.

In short – the Church exists to glorify its Head, Jesus Christ.

Let’s continue in Acts 5:27 where we will see the second fact.

II. Try as they will man – unbelievers, governments, other religions, persecution, etc,

can NOT stop Jesus from building His Church. Acts 5:27-42

One of the more recent attempts to stop the Church on a very large scale was communism.

While I was in Bulgaria I had the privilege of spending time with one of the many Christian Workers that ECC supports.

Ross knows from personal family experience what it was like to survive communists attack on the Church. Until 1989-90 Bulgaria was under Communist rule. Ross can remember the communist police doing everything they could think of in order to try and stop the Church.

What is happening today?

SLIDE PRESENTATION –

Who are they?

Ross and Maya are ECC Missionaries serving in their native Bulgaria in the city of Etrople. They have a fifteen year old daughter, Manuela, and a ten year old son, David.

In what capacity do they serve?

Ross serves as a Pastor/Church Planter. He and Maya lead worship at the local fellowship in Etrople. Ross preaches twice a month at another local church in a city ~1.5 hours away. (This is until this church finds a full-time pastor.) He is also involved in three church plant efforts two are in Bulgaria among some of the poorest minorities in the country and one is in Spain among Bulgarian laborers who live and work there.

Think back to what I said just a few minutes ago. Ross remembers when Communism was doing everything it could to stop the Church.

Today there are more that 1500 Evangelical Local Churches in Bulgaria.

In the last three years the numbers of believers in Bulgaria has more than doubled.

In short, nothing can stop Jesus from building His Church.

Let’s continue and look at the third and final fact to consider.

Since you may find it a bit shocking, I will state it and then try to explain it.

The third fact to consider in looking for the Church to become uncountable squared is . . .

Unbelievers, governments, other religions, persecution, etc. are not the biggest threat to the church, Believers are.

III. Unbelievers, governments, other religions, persecution, etc. are not the biggest

threat to the church, Believers are. Acts 15 (esp. :30-32) & Acts 17:1-4

This is true from two aspects. The first one is found in Acts 15. Let’s turn to verse 30.

A. Disunity can rip apart the Church. Acts 15 (esp. :30-32) cf. John 13:31-35

1. One night in particular stands out – We got together with two other families.

Show picture of “Three Families”.

2. What made the evening even more fun and amazing is the fact that the three families are from Iraq, Iran, and America.

3. As one of the men put it, when he saw this picture, - we should send this to Kofi Annan so he can see what the real U.N. looks like.

4. Over the next three days all three of these families and many others participated in a three day Family Festival including a Sunday morning worship service. One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is the fact that everywhere I have been, there has been brothers and sisters in Christ and we have enjoyed tremendous fellowship together.

5. John 13:31-35 tells us that we as Believers must love one another.

The first way we as Believers pose a threat to the growth of the Church is through disunity.

The second way is found in Acts 17:1-4. Let’s turn there.

B. How will more believe, if we do not share? Believers must be active in sharing

their faith. 1 Peter 3:15

1. Evangelism was the focus of Jesus – Luke 19:10

2. It was Paul’s most common prayer request – boldness and clarity in sharing

3. Acts 17:1-4

Share about Ross and the “global ministries” in which he is involved

It is the responsibility and the privilege of every Believer to be actively involved in sharing their faith. That does not mean that everyone should pack up and go to another country . . . or that all Believers should concentrate only on evangelism. What it means is that we should always be actively looking for opportunities to share our faith with our neighbors co-workers, etc. and that we should be involved in praying for and if possible financially supporting those who are concentrating on full-time evangelistic work. There are many ways to be involved. THE POINT is BE INVOLVED!!!

Maybe you could begin to pray for Ross on a regular basis. Here are some requests from the pink sheet in your bulletins –

How can we pray for them?

· As individuals, a couple and a family may they grow in their relationship with the Lord.

· May Ross & Maya have strength and perseverance as they both work to support their family and the ministry. He does translation work and she works full time at a small grocery store. Especially pray for many translation jobs.

· May their children continue to do well at school. May their daughter be safe and encouraged as she is away at a school for accelerated students.

· May their local fellowship in Etrople continue to grow in depth of relationship with Jesus and in numbers as more people hear and believe the Good News.

· Ross is in Spain to work with the Bulgarian fellowship there until Nov. 29. May it be a profitable time of training leaders, encouraging the congregation, and reaching out to non-believers.

· In January he will be leading a seminar/training for personal evangelism. May it be well attended and may it yield much fruit.

May all of their financial needs be met; especially the need for a new car as theirs was stolen.

The second way we as Believers pose a threat to the growth of the Church is through not being active in sharing our faith.

In short, when unity and evangelism are in short supply, so is potential for growth.

Conclusion:

1. Jesus is the head, the cornerstone, of the Church; therefore, the church must always exist to glorify Him.

Try as they will man – unbelievers, governments, other religions, persecution, etc, can NOT stop Jesus from building His Church.

Unbelievers, governments, other religions, persecution, etc. are not the biggest threat to the church, Believers are.

These, I believe, are the three most important facts for us to consider when asking – how can the church become uncountable squared?

2. Matt 16:18.

3. Jesus is building His Church – How involved are you?