Four (4) Characteristics of A Model Church

Text: Acts 2:42-47

I. Describes the early church in Jerusalem.
A. This church serves us as a model church, although it was not perfect as we can read a little later on in this same book.
B. It had hypocrites, doctrinal errors, sinful human beings of all types, yet it serves us as a model church in many important respects as we will examine tonight.
C. These verses tell what developed in the church and how it functioned in those days following Pentecost.
D. It was an inner-city church; large; and it had multiple ministries.
E. On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 new members were added to its membership, making a total of 3,120 members.
F. It had begun with 12 apostles, but when its membership was expanded, they asked the church to select an additional 7 men to serve as deacons (Acts 6), making a total of 19 officers.
G. The success of the church was not because these 19 officers alone, but because of the Faithfulness of ALL the Members.
J. Our text reveals 4 Characteristics of this Model Church:
1. It Was a Church That Studied the Bible
2. It Was a Church of Christian Fellowship
3. It Was a Church That Worshipped Corporately
4. It Was a Church That Evangelized
 
II. A Learning, Studying Church
A. "They devoted themselves to the "apostles’ teachings".
B. They were a learning, studying church - This is the first thing that Luke mentions about the church in Jerusalem!
C. Yes, it was a joyful, growing, and vibrant church - But the most important thing to be mentioned was that it was a Bible Studying Church!!!
D. The church could have been tempted to "Look Back to Pentecost" and to "Focus on Past Accomplishments".
E. They might have been tempted to dwell on the miracles witnessed on that great day when the Holy Spirit descended and every man heard the Gospel in his/her own language.
F. They might have been tempted to pray, "Lord, do something miraculous again!"
G. But instead, we find them not revelling on the past, but rather revelling in the Word of God!
H. I submit to you that this is always the first mark of a Spirit-filled church!
I. The "Apostles’ Doctrine (Teachings)" refers to those men that had been "specifically chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ".
J. vs. 43 gives an evidence of the selection of these apostles - They performed "many wonders and signs".
K. Paul stated in 2 Cor. 12:12 that the things that "mark an apostle were the signs and wonders and mighty deeds."
L. Today, believers are exhorted to "Study the Word of God" which was written during the apostolic age of these same men.
M. 2 Peter 1:21 clearly states, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
N. Being a Spirit-Filled Church and Studying the Word of God go hand in hand!
O. What is true of the church is also true for individuals as well.
P. We must provide ways for people to get to know the Word of God.
Q. Preaching, Teaching, Bible Classes, Bible School, Home Bible Studies, etc. are all ways that we can provide opportunity for people to know the Bible.
 
III. Christian Fellowship
A. Not only did they devote themselves to the "apostles’ doctrine", but they also devoted themselves to "Fellowship".
B. "Fellowship" literally means to "have common participation in God" - Read 1 John 1:3
C. The fellowship that these early saints enjoyed involved the Lord Jesus Christ and their spiritual experiences.
D. It was something that they enjoyed to do - discussing victories in the Lord, praying for one another, discussing strategies to win the lost, etc.
E. Fellowship with God and Fellowship with one another go together.
F. Whenever we are out of fellowship with God, we will not desire to fellowship with others - and the opposite is true as well.
G. This is why John stated in 1 John 1:3 that fellowship with God and one another is vitally linked.
H. Along with the fellowship of spiritual experiences comes the desire to give to those in need.
I. When one member of the church is in pain, all should feel the pain.
 

IV. A Worshiping Church
A. There was the "breaking of bread" and "prayer".
B. The breaking of bread refers to communion service; prayer was done corporately in services.
C. Forsaking the assembling of ourselves will hinder the church in regards to being all that it should be.
D. When one member is absent, all are affected.
E. Not only did they break bread in assembly, but vs. 46 states that they also did so informally in their homes.
F. Why not have worship in our homes??? Why not have both???

V. Evangelizing Church
A. vs. 47 reveals that they were a people who took their faith seriously enough to share it with others.
B. Notice that they were "Praising God" and "Having Favor with all the people".
C. The mark of a Spirit-Filled Believer is that there will be "gladness and singleness of heart".
D. Notice too that God richly blessed their efforts of evangelism - "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
E. May God help us to be such a church in the community in which we minister.
F. United Prayer

To GOD be the glory!

Simpleng Kasaysayan mula sa Bibliya

     
Nagkasala ang Tao
Genesis 3:1-6

 Ang ahas ang pinakatusong hayop sa lahat ng nilikha ng Diyos na mga hayop.  Minsan tinanong nito ang babae;

'' Totoo bang  sinabi ng Diyos na huwag kang kakain ng anumang bungangkahoy sa halamanan?''

Tumugon ang babae,

''Hindi naman! Ipinakakain sa amin ang anumang bunga sa halamanan, huwag lamang ang bunga  ng puno na nasa gitna niyaon. Pag kami raw ay kumain ng bunga nito o humipo man lamang sa punong iyon, mamatay kami.''

''Hindi totoo yan, hindi kayo mamatay,'' wika ng ahas.

''Gayon ang sabi ng Diyos, sapagkat alam Niyang kung kakain kayo ng bunga niyon, magkakaruon kayo ng pagkaunawa. kayo'y magiging parang Diyos; malalaman ninyo ang mabuti at masama.''

Napakaganda sa paningin ng babae ang punongkahoy at sa palagay niya'y masarap ang bunga nito.  Nabuo sa isipan niya na mabuti ang maging marunong  kaya't pumitas siya ng bunga at kumain. Kumuha rin siya para sa kanyang asawa, at kumain din ito.

Nagkaruon nga sila ng pagkaunawa matapos kumain. Noon nila nalamang sila'y hubad, kaya kumuha sila ng mga dahon ng igos, pinagtagni-tagni at ginawang panakip sa katawan.

PAGLAGO sa PAMAMAGITAN ng mga PAGSUBOK - (1Peter 4:12-14)

Introduction:

      May mga ginagamit ang Panginoong  Diyos para sa paglago ng isang mananampalataya. Simula sa ''spiritual'' na kapanganakan (John 3:3-5), ang pag-uumpisa ng paglago ng mananampalataya.  Tulad din sa isang pangkaraniwang pagkakapanganak ng isang bata.  Ang plano ng Diyos ay, kapanganakan, paglaki, at ang pag-abot sa kanyang kasidhian o ''maturity''.
      Ginagamit ng Diyos ang Bibliya, Iglesia o kapulungan ng mga mananampalataya, at ibang mga mananampalataya upang lumago  ang bawat isa sa atin sa spiritwal  (Hebrews 10:25)


A. BAKIT may mga PAGSUBOK ang KRISTIYANO? (V.12)
       "Mangagalak kayo",,,
     Huwag nating pagtakhan o ikagulat, kung may dumarating mang mga pagsubok sa ating buhay kahit pa ito ay ina-akala nating di pangkaraniwang pangyayari sa ating mga buhay.

     Gaano na bang kahirapan ang nararanasan sa ating buhay?
     Anu-ano na bang problema ang dumating na sa atin na masasabi nating di pangkaraniwan ang mga ito?
     Katulad ba iyan ng mga karanasan ng mga taong sinalanta ng bagyong ''Undoy''?  at ngayon naman ay bagyong ''Yolanda'', na naranasan ng mga taga Tacloban, Leyte, Samar, Ormoc nitong November 2013?

Dumadanas tayo ng mga pagsubok/problema sa ating pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay dahil :

• Tayo ay kabahagi ng makasalanang lahi  (Romans 3:10-23)
• Tayo ay nakatira sa mundo ng ''natural disaster and turmoil''
• Tayo ay nakatira sa mundo ng ''krimen'', pagkakasakit, at kamatayan (Hebres 9:27)

B. Ang mga KRISTIYANO ay maraming mga PAGSUBOK dahil si Satanas ay may kapangyarihan. 
     Mayruon tayong tinatawag na ''katunggali'' at ito ay si Satanas.  Hindi natin ito maipagkakaila o maipag-wawalang bahala lamang, sapag ang Diyos ay totoo, ganun din ang kalaban ng Diyos.
Naaalala ba ninyo ang naging galagayan ni Job?  (Job 1:8-22).  Sa kabila ng mga naranasang pagsubok, problema ni Job, hindi siya nagkasala o inakusahan man ang Diyos ng mangmang.  Si Satanas ay dapat din nating pag-ingatan sapagkat siya ay tulad sa gumagalang leon, humahanap ng masisila, umuungol (lPeter 5:8).
      Nagbigay din ang ating Panginoong Jesus ng babala tungkol sa pakikipagdigma nating ''spiritual''
       (John 15:18-20)
C. Paano ba tayong mga Mananampalataya (matured christian) tumugon sa mga pagsubok na dumarating sa ating buhay? ( 1 Peter 4:14 )

1. "Mangagalak kayo", kahit na tayo ay pinipintasan ng mga tao, o anumang sabihin nila laban sa ating pananampalataya sa ating Panginoon.  Hindi tayo pababayaan ng Panginoon ayon sa Kanyang pangako. Kasama natin ang Panginoon sa ating mga pagsubok.
2. May mga pagsubok tayong nararanasan sa pananalapi kung minsan.  Subalit sa pamamagitan nitong karanasan na ito matututunan nating maging mapagbigay sa ibang nangangailangan dahil tayo mismo nakaranas na minsan ay wala. Magiging  mapag-alala din tayo sa iba!!! ( Philippians 4:10 ).  nagigipit din tayo "financially" dahil sa ating mga masasamang pagdesisyon sa ating pananalapi, paggastos ng walang kabuluhan o hindi naman kinakailangan.,,, may kristiyano bang mabisyo!?
3. Mayruon din tayong pagsubok sa ating mga kalusugan o pisikal na pangangatawan. kung minsan kailangan pang magkatrangkaso ng isang linggo ng isang kristiyano, para lang makapag-devotion ng mabuti sa Panginoon.  Para lang makapanalangin ng maayos sa ating Panginoon. 
4. Kung minsan may dumarating na ''emotional problems'' sa atin. Dahil sa problemang iyan, nagagamit tayo ng Panginoon para sa pag-caounsel sa ibang kapatirang nangangailangan ng payo mula sa mga kristiyano. 

EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS TEACH US TO LEAN ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Grow Up!

Ephesians 4:15(a) " But speaking  the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,"
Ephesians 4:14(a) " That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every doctrine ,"

God wants us to grow up like Christ in everything,,, we are not meant to remain as children in Christ. Our heavenly Father's goal  is for us to mature and develop the characteristics of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. But, sad to say - many Christians grow older but never grow up stuck in  spiritual infancy, because they intended not to grow.

Our Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intention, self-will commitment.  we must decide to grow, want to grow,  and make an effort to grow, as well as persist in growing.  Becoming like Christ begins with a decision.

The LORD calls us, first in salvation - and we respond.

Nothing forms our life more than  the commitments we choose to make. Our commitments   can - either develop us or they can destroy us.

Most people miss GOD's purpose for their lives because of commitments.
There are some people who are afraid to commit to anything and just drift through life. Some make a full commitment to worldly ambitions, such as becoming wealthy and famous, but only to find themselves at the end disappointed and bitter.

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be  burned up. Every choice we make has eternal consequences, so better choose wisely.