Wednesday, January 20, 2021
So those who accepted his message were
baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and
signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were
together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and
property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Every day
they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke
bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble
attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the
Lord added to them those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47
An Authentic Church
Tomorrow and Friday we will be focusing on the early church that Sam preached about this past Sunday. The early church was completely authentic, 100% sold out. It was a hard place for them, yet they drew people in because of the way they were devoted to God and to each other. They were drawn to the closeness of the group - the "family" like relationships and fellowship. This devotional was taken from a sermon preached some time ago by Jim Garner and it outlines the characteristics of an "authentic church."
The church is the body of Christ,
of which He is the head. It is where we have opportunity to express our worship
and exercise the gifts of the Spirit the Lord has given us. We are many members working together for a
common goal. We all have different
strengths and God has designed us all to fit together so we can work as one for
His glory.
Just what should the Body of Christ
look like to the world? Below are seven characteristics of an “Authentic
Church”:
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN “AUTHENTIC CHURCH”
•
Motivated
by the Gospel (v.41)
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is God’s power of salvation to everyone who believes, first to the
Jew and also to the Greek (Gentile).”
•
Meaningful
membership (v.41-42)
Ephesians 4:15-16 > “Rather, speaking the truth in
love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it
is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it
builds itself up in love.”
•
Mentoring
leadership (v.42)
2 Timothy 2 > “You then, my son, be strong in the
grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the
things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to
reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
•
Moved by
God's power (v.43)
Mark 5:19 > “And He did not let him, but He said to
him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord
has done for you, and how He had mercy on you."
•
Minister
to one another (v.44-45)
When God’s power moves in people’s lives, people move their lives under the
presence of God. Our stories are all a
part of God’s story and no matter what the details are, God can use our stories
for His glory and to help others. God
has redeemed you from your past so you can grow and live for Him in the present
which will someday impact someone else’s future.
Titus 3:5-7 > “…he saved us, not because of righteous
things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing
of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously
through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
•
Meet
together regularly (v.46-47)
Hebrews 10:23-25 > 23 Let us hold fast the confession
of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us
consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting
to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all
the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Community - unity
with a common purpose. Our service (ministry) is an indication of what or who
is a priority in our lives. This is evident by the emphasis we place on how we
sacrifice our time, energy, and resources.
•
Mobilized
to multiply (v.47)
2 Corinthians 5:20 > “Therefore, we are ambassadors
for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God.”
But
God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that
there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same
care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member
is honored, all rejoice together.
I Corinthians 12:24b-26
