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Choosing a good Church
Can you tell the difference
20,800 denominations as of 1980
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What did the early church look like?
Acts 242-47 42 And they devoted themselves to
the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And
awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and
signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all
things in common. 45 And they were selling their
possessions and belongings and distributing the
proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by
day, attending the temple together and breaking
bread in their homes, they received their food
with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord added to their number day by day those who
were being saved.
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What did the early church look like?
We cant do everything like the new testament
churches. Obviously there are cultural and
differences due to the era in which they lived.
Im sure that the new testament church didnt
have a bus ministry. And I wouldnt be very
happy about having to walk to church   There
were differences among the churches of that day
and there are room for differences of the
churches today.

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Acts 242 42 And they devoted themselves to the
apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers.

1. Apostles teaching
2. God centered focus
3. Loving concern for the needs of people

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A devotion to the Apostles teaching
Acts 172 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom,
and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them
from the Scriptures,
New Testament Inspiration Election,
predestination, justification, redemption, grace,
perseverance, righteousness, salvation, judgment,
forgiveness, the virgin birth, the sinless life
of Christ, substitutionary atonement, glorious
recognition, and his ascension.
Old Testament Truths Gods character the
sovereignty of God the justice of God the love
of God the power of God the grace of God the
omniscience of God
marriage, finance, employer-employee, parent
child, missions
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2 Peter 13 3 His divine power has granted to us
all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his
own glory and excellence,
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The manner of the apostles teaching
How did they teach?
Acts 2 14-36 14 But Peter, standing with the
eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them
Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let
this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
15 For these people are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the third hour of the
day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the
prophet Joel 17 And in the last days it shall
be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit
on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they
shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the
heavens above and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke 20 the sun
shall be turned to darkness and the moon to
blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the
great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come
to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved. 22 Men of Israel, hear
these words Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to
you by God with mighty works and wonders and
signs that God did through him in your midst, as
you yourselves know 23 this Jesus, delivered up
according to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of
lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the
pangs of death, because it was not possible for
him to be held by it. 25 For David says
concerning him, I saw the Lord always before
me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be
shaken 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my
tongue rejoiced my flesh also will dwell in
hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to
Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life
you will make me full of gladness with your
presence. 29 Brothers, I may say to you with
confidence about the patriarch David that he both
died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to
this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants on his
throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the
resurrection of the Christ, that he was not
abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see
corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of
that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore
exalted at the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy
Spirit, he has poured out this that you
yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David
did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself
says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, 35 until I make your enemies your
footstool. 36 Let all the house of Israel
therefore know for certain that God has made him
both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you
crucified.
Acts 2 14-36
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• The manner of the apostles teaching
• How did they teach?
• It was relevant - In 14-15 Paul began by trying
  to relate to events occurring in and around his
  audience. He answered question that they were
  asking.
• It was biblical and expository. In verses 16-21
  25-28 34-35 Peter quoted scripture and then he
  explained it and then he made applications to
  those that were listening.
• It was Christ centered. The person and work of
  Jesus Christ.
• It was specific and personal in application
  you.
• It was authoritative. It wasnt his opinion it
  was the non negotiable facts of the gospel
• It was purposeful in intent. In 1 John john
  wrote to a churches struggling with false
  teachers, Paul wrote instructions specifically
  to Timothy.

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A God Centered Focus
Acts 243 43 And awe came upon every soul, and
many wonders and signs were being done through
the apostles.
The conviction that people had when Paul preached
was not temporary but had lasting impact.   Now
granted they were seeing a lot of things for the
first time and they got to see the unfolding of
Gods church, but we should have that same sense
of awe today.
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A God Centered Focus
Psalm 211 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and
rejoice with trembling.
It should be evident that the purpose of the
church is not primarily for the benefit of man,
but for the glory of God. Rev 411 11 Worthy
are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and
honor and power, for you created all things, and
by your will they existed and were created.
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A God Centered Focus
The goal is not to solve peoples problems or to
meet peoples needs but to bring glory to God.
Now certainly these things if done in a biblical
way do bring glory to God, but they can also be
done with no attention to God and that would not
be a sign of a good church.
Isaiah 437 7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and
made. Col 116 16 For by him all things were
created, in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers
or authoritiesall things were created through
him and for him.
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What does a man centered church look like ?
Extra Biblical traditions (Mark 76-13) Avoids
certain doctrines for fear of offending someone.
(Acts 2027) Chooses styles of worship based on
peoples preferences instead of conforming to
scripture (Rom 116) Do not practice church
discipline with focus on reconciliation (Matt
1815-17) Little emphasis on prayer (Eph 618)
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Loving Concern for the needs of Others
The needs of people must never become more
important than God himself or His truth.
1 Cor 132 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and
if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.
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Loving Concern for the needs of Others
Acts 242-47 42 And they devoted themselves to
the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And
awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and
signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all
things in common. 45 And they were selling their
possessions and belongings and distributing the
proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by
day, attending the temple together and breaking
bread in their homes, they received their food
with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord added to their number day by day those who
were being saved.
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A concern for those outside of the church
Acts 247 47 praising God and having favor with
all the people. And the Lord added to their
number day by day those who were being
saved. We cant please the world, but a true
concern for a lost world will cause us to reach
out to the unbeliever and introduce him to the
Gospel so that he will quilted into Gods
kingdom.