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WHAT KIND OF CHURCH PLEASES GOD?
ACTS 2:36-47
Introduction
There is a lot of emphasis today on the Church being “effective.” There are a lot of books and seminars dealing with the matter of how we can be more “effective.”
Usually the definition of “effectiveness” has more to do with making the Church more attractive to the unchurched than it does with our being what God would have us be.
This world judges effectiveness with a horizontal focus rather than a vertical focus. A lot of the books and seminars that I have seen are about changing methods and principles to please men rather than focusing on pleasing God.
A pastor of mine once told me, “Methods are many, principles are few, methods sometimes change, but principles never do!” Although that is not Scripture, it is supported in Scripture.
Our principles must never change!
Does God want us to be effective?–Yes He does, but not at the cost of abandoning principles.
God would rather have us obedient to Him rather than “effective” in the eyes of this world.
Was Isaiah “effective” in His ministry? He was a willing volunteer to go and speak for God.
However, he was sent to people who would not hear, would not see, and would not understand. Looking at the people of God, the world would judge him as ineffective. Yet, he was effective because he was obedient to the Lord.
Was Jeremiah “effective” in His ministry? As we read the book of Lamentations after God sent His people into captivity, we would probably judge him as ineffective by this world’s standards. However, he was effective by God’s standards because he was obedient to the Lord.
Invariably, I get asked the question, “How is your Church doing?” The question calls for an answer that really doesn’t say at all how the Church is doing.
To really know how the Church is doing cannot be described in numerical terms of attendance or growth alone. Anyone can draw a crowd with the most ungodly of methods and principles.
However, if you stand for truth and righteousness in this day in which we live there are a lot of people who are not going to like it and will go down the road to some ear tickling Church that will cater to what they want to hear.
My question is, “How is this Church doing?”
How can we assess this? It takes more than looking at numbers, it takes an honest evaluation of ourselves in light of the degree to which we are pleasing the Lord. That brings the question, “What Kind of Church Pleases God?”
Let’s examine this question together from the Word of God:
I. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FUNDAMENTAL CHURCH. (Vs 41-42)
A lot of fundamental churches are shying away from the word “fundamental” because the news media have associated the word with the likes of Muslim extremists and even cultists. Hence, much of the world sees fundamental as equivalent to being wacko.
However, the word “fundamental” is defined as “pertaining to the foundation or basis; essential; important. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the ground work of a system; essential part”
So what we are speaking of when we say “fundamental” is that there are some principles that are non-negotiable in our faith. Some things are so fundamental that we dare not let them slip.
A. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SALVATION. (Vs 38-41)
1. By Grace Through Faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Repentance and Faith.
a. There Is No Faith Without Repentance.
b. There Is No Repentance Without Faith.
B. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BAPTISM. (Vs 41)
Matthew 28:19-20–“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
1. It Is Only For Believers.
It is an outward expression of an inward experience.
2. It Is Only By Immersion.
C. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP. (Vs 42)
This is one of the most neglected parts of the Great Commission today.
D. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DOCTRINE. (Vs 42)
1 Timothy 4:16–“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4--“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables,”
E. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FELLOWSHIP. (Vs 42)
This is not fellowship as we think of fellowship.
Fellowship = partnership, that is, (literally) participation.
Partnering together in the work of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:9–“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
F. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE LORD’S TABLE. (Vs 42)
1. It Is Not A Sacrament. (It bestows no grace!)
2. It Is A Memorial.
G. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PRAYER. (Vs 42)
Too many Christians today try to get by without prayer.
1. We Are To Continue Instant In Prayer. (Romans 12:12)
2. We Are To Pray Without Ceasing. (1 Thess 5:17)
3. We Are To Always Pray, And Not To Faint. (Luke 18:1)
H. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GIVING. (Vs 44-45)
2 Corinthians 9:6–“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
II. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FEARING CHURCH. (Vs 43)
“And fear came upon every soul.” (Vs 43) (Talking about the fear of God.)
Ecclesiastes 8:12-13–“Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13–“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Psalm 36:1–“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.”
III. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FAITHFUL CHURCH. (Vs 42, 46)
Faithful is becoming a loose term even among Christians today.
What does “faithful” mean?
1. If your car starts one out of three times, do you consider it faithful?
2. If you paper carrier skips Monday and Thursday editions would you call him faithful?
3. If you failed to go to work two or three days a month, would your boss consider you faithful?
4. If your refrigerator quits for a day now and then, do you excuse it and say, “Oh well, it works most of the time.”?
5. If your water heater greeted you with cold water one or two mornings a week, would it be faithful?
6. If you miss a couple of mortgage payments in a years time, would your mortgage holder say, “So what, ten out of twelve isn’t too bad.?”
7. Now think of this in relationship to your Worship attendance, your giving, and your service to God.–Are you faithful?
“. . .they continued stedfastly. . .” (Vs 42)
“. . . continuing daily with one accord. . .” (Vs 46)
1 Corinthians 4:2–“Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.”
IV. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FOCUSED CHURCH. (Vs 44, 46, 47)
“And all that believed were together. . .” (Vs 44)
“And they, continuing daily with one accord. . . with. . .singleness of heart” (vs 46)
“Praising God.” (Vs 47)
Acts 4:24
They were focused upon the risen Saviour and His plan for their lives.
A. Focus On Self–Brings envy, jealousy, strife, hatred, wrath.
B. Focus On Circumstances–Brings worry, fear, doubt.
C. Focus On the Saviour–Brings joy, faith, power, love.
V. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FRIENDLY CHURCH. (Vs 47)
“. . .and having favour with all the people.”
VI. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FEARLESS CHURCH. (Acts 4:1-3, 7-14; 5:25-29)
A boldness that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
VII. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FORTIFIED CHURCH. (Acts 4:29, 31, 33)
Fortify means to strengthen against any attack.
A. They Were Fortified By Prayer.
B. They Were Fortified By Faith.
C. They Were Fortified By The Holy Spirit.
D. They Were Fortified By The Whole Armor Of God.
VIII. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FUNCTIONING CHURCH. (Acts 5:29-42)
The body of Christ working together for His honor and glory!
IX. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FRUITFUL CHURCH. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7)
John 15:8–“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
X. GOD IS PLEASED WITH A FERVENT CHURCH.
A. They Were Fervent In Their Love For God.
B. They Were Fervent In Their Love For The Brethren.
C. They Were Fervent In Their Love For A Lost World.
Conclusion
So, “How is our Church doing?”
Remember, the body is only as good as the sum total of its parts.
Are you carrying your part of the load?
Is God pleased with our Church?
More importantly, is God pleased with you?
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!