Sermon Tone Analysis

We continue our series on Habits today.

40% of everything you do daily is done out of habit not conscience choices.

Habits are the building block of who you are.

In other words, your life is built on the habits of yesterday.

If you want to see real change in your life – it won’t come through more goals, it takes new habits.

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We have spoken on:

Knowing who we are and where we are going.

Last week we talked about how systems create our habits – Que- Routine- Reward.

And how one small consistent habit can radically shape who we are.

Today, I want to talk to you about the 3 habits that built the first Church and changed the world.

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Before we jump in though you need to understand a Habit principle.

Keystone Habits:

· One small habit that leads to the creation of a system of habits.

(Steven and diet) Changing my eating Habit led to – a desire to work out – drinking more water – better sleep pattern – All of this led to higher energy level, level blood sugar, better mood, clearer mind, and a thinner waist line.

The benefits are all most too numerous to count.

A couple lynch pin habits can set off a chain reaction of new habits.

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Let’s look at the 3 simple habits of the first Church that led to the reshaping of the world.

My favorite verse in this section is

A deep sense of Awe came over the people of the first Church.

How many of you today have that sense of AWE?

How many of carry that Awe into the week?

Many of us have not experienced that awe of God in a very long time.

I even see people run from event to event looking to recapture that sense of awe, like it is drug.

What led to the AWE?

Three keystone habits we often ignore in the First Church!

They met together for teaching from the apostles.

They met daily for fellowship and the Lord’s supper.

They met daily together to pray with one another.

And this led to a frightened people becoming the most generous people.

A Spirit filled life is a life of simple yet powerful habits.

A Spirit filled life is a life of radical generosity.

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We do not need a revival to see the success of the church in Acts.

We need the Habits of the Church of Acts to see Revival.

Do you want to see the Loving and Generous power of God’s Kingdom?

Do you want to see healings?

Do you want to see people set free from bondage?

Do you want to see the church living in extreme Generosity?

Do you want to see the world turn their attention back to the Church and it’s Lord?

Then we need to live the habits of the early Church.

Successful people do consistently what other people do occasionally.

A successful church does consistently what others only do occasionally.

A Spirit filled life is a life of simple yet powerful habits.

A Spirit filled life is a life of radical generosity.

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The 3 Keystone habits that led to the miracle of radical generosity.

Learning together about the radical generous nature of God and our call to image Him to the world around us.

Fellowship - A group of strangers eating, laughing and participating in the Lord’s supper together.

(strangers became family, enemies became brothers, rivals became partners)

Prayed together - Nothing binds the heart of people together more than praying for one another in person.

(We take on the heart of God for one another and it build empathy.)

A Spirit filled life is a life of simple yet powerful habits.

A Spirit filled life is a life of radical generosity.

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Why does this matter?

What is at stake is the difference between a Powerless, loveless, lifeless, Christianity and a Fatih that flows with power and love motivated by a radical generosity.

The world is dividing and looking for someone to show them a path to healing.

God has given us the simple plan of unity, reconciliation and inclusion.

(Apostles teachings, fellowship, prayer)

When the church gets this right - governments will hate us and the world will run to us.

(Roman Government)

Purpose -

We all need a purpose that is bigger than us.

We need a reason to live.

Something to die for.

God’s purpose for you is to spread His Kingdom of Generosity and Love to all around you.

And this is how we do it.

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How Can You Implement these 3 Keystone Habits in Your Life?

D Groups

Table Talk

Visit and pray with one another

Especially people like Jim, Arlen and Sharron, and others who for various reasons cannot come on Sundays.

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These Three Simple Habits Changed The World and Can Change You.

Every day the Lord Jesus by his Spirit saved some, incorporating them into their number.

God’s plan is for churches to grow.

The challenge for us is, “Will we meet the Scriptural conditions for growth: a dedication to be a learning, caring, fellowshipping, worshipping church?”

Will we meet the one essential condition?

“As empowering follows petition, so evangelism and Christian unity or community follow Pentecost.

The empowering, moreover, is repeatable.

So pray!” (Talbert 1984:17).

A Spirit filled life is a life of simple yet powerful habits.

A Spirit filled life is a life of radical generosity.