A STRONG CHURCH

1
What God Wants

• A STRONG CHURCH

2
FACTS

• GOD CONCEIVED THE CHURCH BEFORE TIME BEGAN (EPH.
  310, 11)
• GOD PURCHASED THE CHURCH WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
  (ACTS 2028)
• GOD BROUGHT THE CHURCH FORTH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
  (ACTS 2 JN. 33-5)
• GOD USED THE MEANS OF PREACHING TO BRING MEN INTO
  THE CHURCH (ROM. 1014-18)

3
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH

• PENTECOST, THE YEAR OUR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED (ACTS
  21ff IS. 22, 3)
• THE ULTIMATE MEANING OF PENTECOST WAS FULFILLED
  WHEN THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE WORLD WERE HARVESTED
  INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD
• ABOUT 3000 WERE ADDED THE FIRST DAY
• BY ACTS 44 THERE WERE ABOUT 5000 MEN IN THE
  CHURCH

4
FACT GOD GAVE THE CHURCH PURPOSE

• SOME THINK THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS
• A SOCIAL CLUB
• A PROVIDER OF COFFEE AND CARNAL MEALS
• A PROVIDER OF ENTERTAINMENT
• A BABY SITTER
• A BROKEN FAMILY CRISIS CENTER

5
FACT GOD GAVE THE CHURCH PURPOSE

• TO SUBMIT TO HER HUSBANDCHRIST (EPH. 523, 24)
• TO BE THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH (1 TIM.
  315)
• TEACHING THE LOST SALVATION
• INSTRUCTING THE SAVED (MATT. 2818-20)
• HELPING POOR SAINTS (ROM. 1525-27)

6
WHAT MADE THE JERUSALEM CHURCH SO STRONG?????
7
A CHURCH FILLED WITH LEARNING

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine. . . (ACTS 242 NKJV)
• And they devoted themselves to the apostles
  teaching. . . (RSV)
• And they kept their attention fixed on the
  Apostles teaching. . . (BBE)

8
A CHURCH FILLED WITH LEARNING

• So continuing daily with one accord in the
  temple. . . (ACTS 246)
• A DAILY DEVOTION
• A DAILY DEVOTION WITH OTHERS
• A DAILY DEVOTION WITH UNITY

9
IS THE CHURCH FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT TO LEARN
TODAY?

• CLOCK-WATCHERS?
• CHRISTIAN VS COMPLAINER
• SLEEPERSZZZZzzzzz?
• FORSAKERS?

10
SHOULD A CHURCH EXPECT GROWTH IF SEVERAL DO NOT
COME PREPARING EXPECTING TO LEARN?
11
A CHURCH FILLED WITH FELLOWSHIP

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship. . . (ACTS 242)
• FELLOWSHIP SHARING
• MAINTAINED BY WALKING IN THE LIGHT (1 JN. 17)
• COLLECTIVE AND PERSONAL

ROM. 1526CONTRIBUTION 1 COR. 161, 2
GAL. 29 HEB. 1316SHARE
12
FELLOWSHIP SEEN IN ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES

• Be kindly affectionate to one another with
  brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one
  another (ROM. 1210) AFFECTIONATE

13
FELLOWSHIP SEEN IN ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES

• Be kindly affectionate to one another with
  brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one
  another (ROM. 1210) AFFECTIONATE
• Therefore receive one another, just as Christ
  also received us, to the glory of God (ROM.
  157) RECEIVING

14
FELLOWSHIP SEEN IN ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES

• For you, brethren, have been called to liberty
  only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the
  flesh, but through love serve one another (GAL.
  513) SERVING
• Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the
  law of Christ. (GAL. 62) BEARING

15
FELLOWSHIP DESTROYED

• But if you bite and devour one another, beware
  lest you be consumed by one another! (GAL. 515)
• BACK BITING
• GOSSIP
• SLANDER
• CONTENTIONS
• JEALOUSIES

Mt 1225 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said
to them "Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself will not stand.
16
FELLOWSHIP DESTROYED

• But if you bite and devour one another, beware
  lest you be consumed by one another! (GAL. 515)
• THE END OF SUCH SINS DISSOLVES UNITY
• LIKE TWO SNAKES GRABBING EACH OTHER BY THE TAIL!

17
CAN A CHURCH EXPECT TO GROW IF THE MEMBERS DO NOT
SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER?
18
A CHURCH FILLED WITH CHRISTS SACRIFICE

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread. . . (ACTS 242)
• BREAKING OF BREAD IS
• DISTINGUISHED FROM THE FELLOWSHIP PREVIOUSLY
  MENTIONED
• YET IS A FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SUFFERING (1 COR.
  1016)
• PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE (2 PET. 14)

19
A CHURCH FILLED WITH CHRISTS SACRIFICE

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread. . . (ACTS 242)
• BREAKING OF BREAD IS THE LORDS SUPPER
• IN COMPANY OF ACTS OF WORSHIP AND IS THEREFORE
  DIFFERENT FROM PARTAKING OF A COMMON MEAL
• SHARING IN COMMON MEALS IS A GOOD THING TO DO
  (ACTS 246)

20
A CHURCH FILLED WITH CHRISTS SACRIFICE

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread. . . (ACTS 242)
• THE BREAKING OF BREAD
• WAS CONTINUED STEADFASTLY
• DONE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, Now on the first day of
  the week, when the disciples came together to
  break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day,
  spoke to them and continued his message until
  midnight (ACTS 207)

21
A CHURCH FILLED WITH CHRISTS SACRIFICE

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread. . . (ACTS 242)
• THE BREAKING OF BREAD HAS TWO ELEMENTS
• The CUP OF BLESSING which we bless, is it not
  the communion of the blood of Christ? The BREAD
  which we break, is it not the communion of the
  body of Christ? (1COR. 1016)

1 COR. 1123-28 LUKE 2215-20
22
MOVED BY HIS SACRIFICE

• For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He
  became poor, that you through His poverty might
  become rich (2 COR. 89)
• By this we know love, because He laid down His
  life for us. And we also ought to lay down our
  lives for the brethren (1 Jn. 316)

23
CAN A CHURCH EXPECT TO GROW IF THE CROSS IS LOST?
24
The breaking of bread. . .shows the Lord as the
Centre of His people, the Object before them, the
Sustenance of their true life, the Effecter of
their communion with one another this is
realized in that precious Death, passed for ever,
yet ever abiding in that which it has wrought and
that which it has displayed. Lastly, prayer
manifests the sense of constant need which the
nearer we are to God is always the more
realized. (ECLECTIC NOTES)
25
A CHURCH FILLED WITH PRAYER

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread, and in prayers.
• THEY USED PRAYER
• THEY BELIEVED IN PRAYER

26
PRAYER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• These all continued with one accord in prayer
  and supplication, with the women and Mary the
  mother of Jesus, and with His brothers (ACTS
  114)
• FOR COURAGE (423-31)
• Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you
  seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy
  Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this
  business but we will give ourselves continually
  to prayer and to the ministry of the word (ACTS
  63, 4)

27
PRAYER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• IN DEATH (754-60)
• So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the
  street called Straight, and inquire at the house
  of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for
  behold, he is praying (911)
• PRAYER BEFORE THE DEAD (936-43)

28
PRAYER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• The next day, as they went on their journey and
  drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop
  to pray, about the sixth hour (109)
• Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant
  prayer was offered to God for him by the church
  (125)

29
PRAYER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• PRAYER BEFORE SENDING PAUL AND BARNABAS (131-3)
• But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and
  singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were
  listening to them (1625)

30
PRAYER IN THE EARLY CHURCH

• "Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for
  this is for your survival, since not a hair will
  fall from the head of any of you." And when he
  had said these things, he took bread and gave
  thanks to God in the presence of them all and
  when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they
  were all encouraged, and also took food
  themselves.
• ACTS 2734-36

31
CAN A CHURCH EXPECT TO GROW IF IT DOESNT USE OR
BELIEVE IN PRAYER?
32
A CHURCH FILLED WITH FEAR

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every
  soul. . . (ACTS 242, 43)
• MAY HAVE COME UPON EVERY SAINT AND INHABITANT IN
  JERUSALEM
• IT SEEMS THE CHURCH IS WHAT IS BEING FOCUSED ON

33
A HEALTHY FEAR

• NOT A FEAR THAT BROUGHT DISLIKE, BUT AWE!
• EVIDENCED FROM praising God and having favor
  with all the people. And the Lord added to the
  church daily those who were being saved (247)
• WORSHIP SHOULD INSTILL A FEAR OF GOD

34
FEAR, WONDERS, SIGNS

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every
  soul, and many wonders and signs were done
  through the apostles. (ACTS 242, 43)
• MORE SIGNS RESULT IN MORE FEAR?
• RATHER, WHY NOT THE MORE FEAR BROUGHT ABOUT MORE
  WONDERS?

35
FEAR, WONDERS, SIGNS
53 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished
these parables, that He departed from there. 54
And when He had come to His own country, He
taught them in their synagogue, so that they were
astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this
wisdom and these mighty works? 55 "Is this not
the carpenters son? Is not His mother called
Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and
Judas? 56 "And His sisters, are they not all
with us? Where then did this Man get all these
things?" 57 So they were offended at Him. But
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without
honor except in his own country and in his own
house. " 58 Now He did not do many mighty works
there because of their unbelief.
(Mk. 13)
36
SO THEN THE EARLY CHURCH HAD REGULAR WORSHIP!

• I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into
  the house of the LORD. (PS. 1221)

37
23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth for the Father is seeking such to
worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth." JOHN 4

• THREE ASPECTS OF WORSHIP
• WORSHIP THE RIGHT OBJECT GOD
• WORSHIP IN THE RIGHT WAY IN TRUTH
• WORSHIP WITH THE RIGHT MIND IN SPIRIT

38
WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH YOU ARE A MEMBER OF?

• IS THEIR WORSHIP DRIVEN BY WHAT GOD WANTS OR THE
  WORLD?
• DO THEY LOVE WORSHIP?
• DO THEY SUBSTITUTE MANS WORD IN PLACE OF GODS
  TRUTH?

GOD
SPIRIT
TRUTH