CHURCH CHECKUP: Taking a "Spiritual" Temperature

Memorial Drive 1/12/20 CHURCH CHECKUP: Taking A Spiritual Temperature Acts 2:42-47 … TWO TRUTHS ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS • Spiritual Gifts Are A Significant Part of God’s Plan for Church Growth! God has gifted Christ’s church to equip the saints so that through what every part supplies the fellowship is built up and grows up (Eph. 4:11-12, 15-16) We are to exercise the gifts we have been given (Rom. 12:6) Every believer receives a gift or gifts for the common good of the body (I Cor. 12:4-7) Every believer is called to be a good steward of his gifting (I Peter 4:10) • Spiritual Gifts In And Of Themselves WON’T Build the Church! The Corinthian believers were richly endowed with all the spiritual gifts (I Cor. 1:4-7) But that didn’t guarantee growth or maturity (I Cor. 1:11, 3:1-3) There are other “works of the Spirit” that are necessary for us to become what our Lord wants us to become! The gifts alone won’t guarantee the growth of the fellowship! … OUR PRIMARY TEXT (Acts 2:43-47, Acts 2:42) “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47) … THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY (SPIRIT-FILLED) CHURCH • A SENSE OF AWE (Vs. 43) "After all, He's not a tame lion!" "No, but He is good." • MULTIPLE EVIDENCES OF THE POWERFUL WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD God has been quite willing to demonstrate His presence and power throughout history God’s willingness to act in power is less about whether it’s the first or the 21st century and more about the spiritual temperature of His people in any given day! This willingness is being attested to throughout our world in the 21st century • AN AMAZING ONENESS OR UNITY THAT DEMONSTRATED ITSELF IN A VARIETY OF WAYS ◦ They Shared Themselves and Their Possessions to Meet Needs “And all those who had believed were TOGETHER and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” (Vs. 44-45) See also Acts 4:32-34 ◦ They Shared Fellowship In The Temple and In Their Homes “Day by day CONTINUING WITH ONE MIND in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart …” (Vs. 46) ◦ They Shared A Delight In Worship … TWO CONSEQUENCES OF A HEALTHY, SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH • They Enjoyed the Favor of Those Looking In They enjoyed “favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47) • They Enjoyed the Fruitfulness of Not Only Spiritual But Numerical Growth “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Vs. 47) … ONE BIG REASON FOR A HEALTHY, SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH “They were CONTINUALLY DEVOTING THEMSELVES to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) • THEY WERE CONTINUALLY DEVOTED IN TWO DIRECTIONS DEVOTION - “to be earnest towards something, to persevere, to be constantly diligent toward something, to attend to something with remarkable care, to be actively busily, industriously, energetically, vigorously, tirelessly” moving in a particular direction. What was the direction? ◦ They were DEVOTED to the Apostles’ Teaching ◦ They Were Devoted To Fellowship Fellowship – In the Word, the Lord’s Supper and home meals, praying together, caring for one another in every way. God was able and willing to work powerfully among them because they were steadfastly, NOT CASUAL about this thing we call “church.” I fear that the greatest impediment to the Church being what Christ intends is not outward persecution, but inward complacency!