Sermon Tone Analysis
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How do you form a habit?
When you want to form a habit, or learn to do something well, you do it over and over again.
Habit is what the Jews had and they called it “tradition” and tradition was keeping them out of the kingdom of God wasn’t it?
Well Jesus came and broke traditions and proclaimed what was coming (Mt16:18); but we need to keep in context (Mt16:15-18)
(expand) - Christ proclaimed, Christ delivered, the church was born, the church that Christ built, or the Church of Christ, that belongs to Christ.
The church was born after receiving the spoken word from Peter and the others (Act2:41)
The results left the people in awe (Act2:43)
Our text tonight is (Act2:42-47) and it is setting a new example, a new standard, a new habit for the church that Christ built.
We are going to look at some of the characteristics of their devotion to the First Church.
I. Devoted to Apostles Doctrine
Jesus prayer was that people would believe and accept the apostles teaching (Jn13:20) when they fulfilled their commission (Mt28:20)
Notice it says those I send,
They were not at it alone, they had the promised Helper to guide them (Jn16:12-13)
Not just guide them, but guide them into all TRUTH, and we know Jesus is the truth (Jn14:6) and Jesus only did what the Father told him and said what the Father said.
So the truth that they proclaimed was not their Word but the Word of God.
Word from the Apostles was to be considered Word of God (1Cor14:37; 1the2:13-14)
Now the question for us today is do we have the same type of devotion to the Apostles doctrine?
Too many today are being swayed by the world and not swaying the world to the teaching of Christ and His apostles.
People wanting ears tickled (2Tim4:3) and have lost the fear of the Lord and obedience to Christ’s commands.
We need to heed to words of Christ and teaching of Apostles (Mt15:8-9; 2The2:15)
Or as Paul said to the church at Thessolonica
If we are to be the Church of Christ we need to emulate the things the things the church that was born in Jerusalem did.
The first was the to the Apostles doctrine, the second like it fellowship (still v.42)
II.
Devoted to fellowship (spiritual)
This was not really something new.
Spiritual people were always eager to share spiritual things together (Psm122:1; Lk22:14-15; 1Jn1:3)
Coming together in fellowship in worship in the house of the Lord.
To them the temple, to us a building God has blessed us with to gather in.
To the early Christians it was in the synagogues and in the homes, but more on that at later time.
Now the question arises what was fulfilled?
The kingdom was fulfilled when the church was born on Pentecost in Jerusalem just as Jesus said.
And each time we celebrate the Lords supper we are fellowshipping with the Lord.
The Apostles were teaching what they had seen, what they had heard and in that we may have fellowship with with the Father and with Jesus.
We have spiritual fellowship when we meet together in the assembly.
Spiritual fellowship is vital for spiritual health (Heb10:24-25)
(below not on a slide, don’t put on a slide)
To stimulate on another with purpose (love, good deeds)
To encourage one another
So the next question is do we have this type of devotion to spiritual fellowship?
We cannot let things hinder us from our spiritual fellowship time together.
We cannot allow the world and its pressures to keep us from this vital spiritual thing that is needed to sustain a healthy spiritual body.
Jesus spoke of this regarding keeping priorities (Mt6:33)
This, the first church, the devoted church to the teaching, to the fellowship was also devoted to the breaking of bread (Act2:42, still)
III.
Devoted to Breaking of Bread
When you think of fellowship, you think of sharing with one another and that is what we do when we share the Lord’s Supper (1Cor10:16)
Jesus set the example for us and you can read on that (1Cor11:23-24; Act20:7)
Do this in remembrance of ME! (Expand on this)
Now knowing our congregation and how we follow the pattern set (Act20:7) we are devoted to it.
Sadly many churches are not devoted to it at all, for they think it is ritualistic or common.
There is nothing common about it, it is fellowship with God and one another, we should be devoted to it.
I know it may be hard to believe still not out of (v.42) - bringing us to the next thing we should be devoted to - - - Prayer
IV.
Devoted to Prayer
Devoted to pray (Lk11:1-4); encouraged not to loose heart (LK18:1-8)
We pray through our Great High Priest now (Heb4:14-16)
(below not on a slide)
Notice what we have and what we can do
We have a great high priest
Come confidently to the throne of grace
May we be devoted to
Pray Fervently (1The5:17)
Pray Frequently (Col4:2)
I don’t think we touched on (v.43) yet.
First church, born in Jerusalem had sense of awe (v.43) - may we have a sense of awe when we gather together as the church body
Let us never take this devotion lightly this is a part of our spiritual act of worship and we should be wholly and Holy devoted to it.
Now we will actually move on to other things they were devoted to in our passage tonight
V. Devoted to love for each other
Act2:4
They were devoted to one another and had all things in common (v.44; also see Act4:32-35)
Act4:32-35 is another good example that they were of one heart, one soul, one mind so in other words of one accord.
Jesus spoke of the signs of true discipleship (Jn13:34-35)
May we display this kind of devotion
Fervent love for one another (1Pt1:22)
In loving one another be willing to sacrifice for one another (1Jn3:16-17)
Serve one another, share with one another, not close off our heart to one another.
I mentioned serving and really that is the next point.
Serve one another, share with one another, not close off our heart to one another.
I mentioned serving and really that is the next point.
VI.
Devoted to Service (daily)
Act
otN
Day by day (Act2:46)
Not once a week, or even twice, but daily
Take this and maybe that is why we see increase (Act2:47)
May we love one another, serve one another, daily (Heb3:12-14)
It is easy to see the devotion they had, and how that promoted the unity of the body, not that they did not have problems, for they did, just like we may.
but we should
Not allow any divisions (1Cor1:10)
Be diligent in preserving the unity (Eph4:1-3)
We should maintain the same love, united in Spirit (Php2:1-2)
Finally, be harmonious . . .
(1Pt3:8)
We could go on more but w
Actions of the first church, the church that Christ built, that was born in Jerusalem as promised and empowered by the Spirit has gone forth and we are results of that.
May we go forth to and be the church and practice the things of the first church so we may see the results the first church had.
(Lead to Invitation/ Insert Invitation Slide)
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