Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

The Secular:

My daughter, Bailey, is 3yrs old and she has, probably in the last year hit that stage in life where she questions everything with the word “Why?” Doesn’t matter what you say, she’s going to ask why.

She also has been dealing with her new little brother.

A few nights ago I was watching the 2 of my children and I as putting Bailey to bed, Zackery was crying and so I picked him up and took him to Bailey’s room with me.

Immediately, Bailey asks, “Why is he in here?”

I said, “Because he’s crying and he’s your family.”

Her response, “I don’t want him in here.

I didn’t ask for him.

Why is he my family?”

Funny stuff from the mouth of a toddler.

But I’ve heard and seen Christians and non-Christians act the same way about the Church and the people in it.

There’s a lot of “why?” Christians who like to ask “why?” about everything.

Many particularly like to ask this question when it comes to church.

You hear questions like: “Why Should I attend Church?” “What’s the point of it?”

“Can’t I love Jesus, but not go to Church?” “Why should I go to church with a bunch of hypocrites?”

“Why are they here?

I knew I should

And we treat our brother’s and sister’s in Christ who may think differently than us like siblings we don’t want around.

Christianity is a large tent with a lot of diverse people, but we often act like anyone who doesn’t think like us or act like us, isn’t in.

I think we will be surprised when we get to heaven by who makes it and who doesn’t.

This is the question I want to ask tonight - “Why Church?”

What’s the point of it?

Why should I even bother with it?

Is it really worth putting up with the people who may rub me the wrong way?

This is the point I hope to make: Love it or hate it, we need the Church.

There is something God wants to do in your life and in my life that only happens when we come together.

My dad often uses this illustration: Imagine a group of porcupines on a cold winter night.

In order to get warm they come together.

But when they come together, they end up poking each other.

The moral of the story: we need each other, but we needle each other.

Transition to the Biblical Text:

This is the question I want to ask over the next couple of messages - “Why Church?”

The birth of the Church tells us a lot about why we need it.

Let’s take a few moments and look a text this morning.

What’s the point of it?

This is After Peter has preached his sermon at Pentecost and he’s wrapping up and is about to tell his listeners how they should respond to his message.

Why should I even bother with it?

Is it really worth putting up with the people who may rub me the wrong way?

This is the point I hope to make: Love it or hate it, we need the Church.

There is something God wants to do in your life and in my life that only happens when we come together.

Biblical Text:

Transition to Points:

This morning and tonight, I want to answer the question - “Why Church?”

Points

Why Church?

Because it’s a place of Power

I know we can experience God's Power in a lot of places, but the truth is, if we think about it, some of our most powerful, life changing experiences have either come at church, because we where at church, or in the presence of other believers.

Now, I know we can experience God’s power in a number of places and spaces, but there is something that happens when we come together.

For some reason, God likes to use other people and show up powerfully when we come together.

This group of 120 believers came together on the command of Jesus.

Jesus had told them in to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit.

to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit.

They had been praying for some 10 days before the power of the Holy Spirit falls.

They had been praying for some 10 days before the power of the Holy Spirit falls.

5 Times in the first two chapters of Acts we get something said about them being "Together."

5 Times in the first two chapters of Acts we get something said about them being "Together."

Evidently, when they came together, prayed, and worshiped Jesus, something powerful happened.

When they came together, prayed, and worshiped Jesus, God poured out the Holy Spirit and gave them power to be witnesses for Jesus.

They changed their communities, their cities, and their world - But it all started when they “Came together...”

The world is looking for power.

Turn on the TV and you’ll see show after show interested in all things “Supernatual”

Men and women spend their lives trying to obtain power through money and political influence.

What the world needs to see is a place where God’s power is demonstrated.

This happens when we, “come together...”

People are looking for power because they’re frustrated

In this room we all have frustrations and problems that will only be fixed as encounter the power of God.

Some of us are dealing with anxiety and depression - It's in His presence that we find "fullness of joy."

It's the Holy Spirit who gives us peace.

Some of us are dealing with sickness and pain - It's His power that can make us whole and bring healing.

Some of us are dealing with sickness and pain - It's His power that can make us whole and bring healing.

Some of us are working through major life decisions - It's in His presence that we can find direction.

Some of us are working through major life decisions - It's in His prescence that we can find direciton.

Some of us are dealing with bondage and sinful habits - It's in His presence that there is freedom.

Some of us are dealing with bodnage and sinful habits - It's in His prescence that there is freedom.

All throughout the book of Acts people experience healing, peace, direction, and freedom - THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFFERING THE WORLD.

throughout the book of Acts people experience healing, peace, direction, and freedom - THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFFERING THE WORLD.

Why Church?

Because it’s a place of healing

Notice what our passage says: “Many wonders and signs were being done...”

We go on to read throughout the book of Acts that as the Church moves forward, God begins to heal.

In a lame man is healed

In crowds of people gather to be healed.

In Phillip heals many who were paralyzed and lame

In a paralyzed man who had been bedridden for eight years is healed

In a young lady named Tabitha is rased from the dead

In a cripple man is healed while Paul is preaching

We could Go on, but suffice it to say: The Church is to be an agent of God’s healing in our community and our world.

Not just physical healing

We are to be an agents of emotional healing as well

God wants people to be whole, and he tends to use the church to bring this about.

I know the Church can also be a place of hurt and pain at times.

The church is full of people and sometimes people fall short and mess up.

We need grace with each other

Just because we get hurt

Illustration: I know there are people who have been to hospitals and they’ve been hurt by the dr.’s who were supposed to bring healing.

But that doesn’t change the mission of the hospital and it doesn’t mean there aren’t good hospitals and dr.’s out there - And you know what happens when someone gets sick again?

They still need the hospital.