Reboot Our Church Life

“The issue is church health, not church growth,” he writes. “If your church is healthy, growth will occur naturally. Healthy, consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church—Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, and Mission, derived from the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).”

Reboot our Fellowship - Let’s reinstall the “essential programs”

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This idea of devotion was big in the NT church. Paul later will tell young Timothy …

1 Timothy 4:13 NIV

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Define Devoted: On ww.dictionary.com the word devotion is defined as “profound dedication; earnest attachment to.”

Biblical Definition:

The word devoting is a strong word.

The Theological Dictionary of NT Words defines it as “to occupy oneself diligently with something”; “to pay persistent attention to”; “to hold fast to something.”

Examples of what people are devoted to:

Humanitarian efforts or causes (human rights)

Political efforts and agendas

Sports fans

How do you measure your devotion? Look at your life. Ask yourself the question: “What gets your time, energy, resources, and passion? What doesn’t get your time, energy, resources and passion”?

Personal example: For me, here is an example of what gets a lot of my life. I find myself being devoted to my family and my church.

“When it comes time to choose between you and my family, you lose every time!” Don Miller

4 things the church “devoted” themselves to ...

Apostles teaching

To the Fellowship

To the Breaking of Bread

To Prayers

Illustration:

Dr. Best said a few weeks ago in staff meeting when we were discussing this sermon series. “Pastor, there’s a saying they use down in the Arkansas that you might not be familiar with coming from New York … ‘You don’t miss the water until the well runs dry.’” Used in the hill country to describe one who is not appreciative of what they have until it’s gone or lost.

Although we’ve still been able to gather online, many still today, there is something important about our in person public gatherings …

Reestablish Our Gatherings

What is essential in our gatherings?

Worship - encountering the presence of God

Prayer - Asking God to do what only He can do

Preaching, teaching, discipling, mentoring - God’s word is essential to our gathering. (We gather around God’s word)

Spiritual gifts (Small and Large gatherings) Built up the body!

Ordinances of the church (Baptism & Communion)

Encouragement (small and large gatherings)

Acts 2:42 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Apostles were DEVOTED to teaching … the church was devoted to learning!

Jews - prove that Jesus was the fulfillment of the OT vs. Gentiles - worshipped pagan gods and new nothing of Jesus.

They relied on the apostles to communicate to them who Jesus was and what He had done.

They believed in Jesus - now they wanted to know more!!

If you truly desire to be “Devoted to the Apostles Teaching”, this means that we are Receptive to the Word of God but it also means that we are Responsive to what God is showing us to do.

Reinforce Relationships

“to the fellowship” (Greek word koinonia)

More than just gathering together for a “Pot luck” dinner or hanging out in the church cafe. (PTAG’s “Fellowship hall”)

This is the idea of close association and participation in something; it means to share in something.

The same love for God & Redemptive story

The same desire to worship Him

The same need for Him to guide and direct our steps

The same struggles and defeats

The same victories

Colossians 2:2 ESV

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

**mom patiently knitting or crocheting a blanket (time & patience)

“To the breaking of bread” - certainly communion but so much more!!

Bread was so significant in the Bible.

Unleavened bread: eaten during passover to remember Israel’s flight from Egypt

Manna: God’s supernatural provision during Israels wandering

Mentioned 492 x’s in OT & NT

Biblical times bread was essential part of their diet

Bread is the primary metaphor for life and substance. (Jesus - I am the bread of life)

Bread in the Bible functioned as a social bond. The giving of bread often times carried with it the idea of hospitality as well as respect and concern for one another.

“breaking bread” = Used as a metaphor for making peace with someone.

Reignite Our Mission

Big picture (the Great Commission) Missions is important to us! Today is missions Sunday

Our mission - Reach, Restore, Teach, Send

Acts 2:45 NIV

45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

This is God’s prescription for church growth. If we take care to follow the example of Acts 2:42–47a, God will take care of growing the church Himself.

Guzik, D. (2013). Acts (Ac 2:46–47). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.

Acts 2:47 NIV

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Reboot the essential programs (Looking forward to launching other ministries in June that reinforce)

Gathering …Relationships …Mission

Communion

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