TARA! G!

(THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH)

(Acts 2:42-47, ESV)

INTRODUCTION:

It is so easy to hit the snooze button on Sunday morning when the alarm sounds at seven o'clock, roll
over and go back to sleep. Maybe you had every intention of going to church, maybe Sunday School,
too...even had your clothes laid out, but your sleepy side wins and you satisfy your conscience with
the thought, "Next Sunday."

Why go to church?

You go to school to get an education so you can make a living. You go to work to make money so
you can pay the bills. You go to the gym for exercise and better health. You go to the mall to shop for
clothes and the grocery store to buy food. You go to the ball game to cheer, and to a cafeteria to find
rest.

But church? Why go to there? Why get up early on one of your few off-days? Why go through the
hassle of dressing up and the getting the kids ready? Why go to the trouble of finding a parking space
near the front and pew space near the back?
Some people look at going to church as a bother—an unnecessary burden to be avoided whenever
possible

But to someone who understands church and what it's really all about, going to church can be the
most spiritually fulfilling, inspiring thing you do all week.

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.

1. MATURITY IN THE SCRIPTURE

Acts 2:42 apostles’ teaching. The foundational content for the believer’s spiritual growth and
maturity was the Scripture, God’s revealed truth, which the apostles received (see notes on John
14:26;
John 14:26 will teach you all things. The Holy Spirit energized the hearts and minds of the apostles
in their ministry, helping them to produce the NT Scripture.

The Holy Spirit thus is the divine author and originator, the producer of the Scriptures. In the OT
alone, the human writers refer to their writings as the words of God over 3,800 times (e.g., Jer. 1:4;
cf. 3:2; Rom. 3:2; 1 Cor. 2:10). Though the human writers of Scripture were active rather than passive
in the process of writing Scripture, God the Holy Spirit superintended them so that, using their own
individual personalities, thought processes, and vocabulary, they composed and recorded without
error the exact words God wanted written.

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises
in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from
someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but
men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21, ESV)

The prophetic word (Scripture) is more complete, more permanent, and more authoritative than the
experience of anyone. More specifically, the word of God is a more reliable verification of the
teachings about the person, atonement, and second coming of Christ than even the genuine first-
hand experiences of the apostles themselves. you will do well to pay attention.
Peter’s point is not so much about how to interpret Scripture, but rather how Scripture originated, and
what its source was.

(16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

We don't study the Bible so that we can sound smart in Sunday school; we study the Bible so that,
through it, the Holy Spirit can change us and make us more like Christ.

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up"• (1 Corinthians 8:1)

“Kapag lumalaki ang ulo, dapat mas lumalaki ang puso!” The more we know and understand the
Scripture, the more it develops us to love one another.

PURPOSE: To love God and love one another.

How to love God? Love the Scripture.

You cannot love God, without loving His WORD. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14, The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth

2. MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY

FELLOWSHIP. Lit., “partnership,” or “sharing.” Because Christians become partners with Jesus
Christ and all other believers

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have
fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus
Christ. (1 John 1:3, ESV)

The church gives us a place to belong.

The Bible says, "All the believers devoted themselves... to fellowship, and to sharing in meals...and all
the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had."

Jesus gave these new believers a sense of community, belonging and togetherness at a level that
you cannot find anywhere else in the world.

All of us need a place to belong.

No man is an island.

This fall when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might be
interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned
that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V
formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Christians who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going
quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust on one another.

Also, when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese follow him to
help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly, or until he is dead, and then they
launch out to catch up with their group. Jesus gave us the church so that we could do the same for
one another: support each other and stand by each other when we're down and out.

“TESTIMONY”

It is their spiritual duty to stimulate one another to righteousness and obedience.

(cf. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans
12:10, ESV)

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled
the law. (Romans 13:8, ESV)

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one
another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (Romans 15:5, ESV);

3. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

PRAYERS. Of individual believers and the church corporately

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:14, ESV);

And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these
two you have chosen (Acts 1:24, ESV);

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14, ESV)).

4. PREPARES YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY

Look at what else the church was doing in Acts 2: "A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the
apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders ... They sold their property and possessions
and shared the money with those in need"• (vs. 43-45 NLT).

(cf. v. 46; 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or
houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and
it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles
Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that
belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:34-37, ESV);

While the apostles were out healing the sick, blind and crippled, other Christians were helping the
poor and looking out for one another. This points us to another great reason the church exists and
you should be a part of it—ministry.

You were put on earth to contribute. You weren't created just to consume resources—to eat, drink,
and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. You were created to add to
life on earth. God wants you to give something back.

Unlike the apostles, we can't all go around healing the sick. We don't all have the resources to sell
some property and give to the poor. But we all have special gifts, abilities, experiences and interests
that God has given us for ministry.

Acts 2:44 all things in common.See 4:32. This phrase conveys not that the early Christians lived in a
commune or pooled and redistributed everything equally, but that they held their own possessions
lightly, ready to use them at any moment for someone else, as needs arose.

CONCLUSION:

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.

The church's mission is the same as Christ's mission—to seek and save the lost. When you get saved, Jesus
adds you to his church and, therefore, his mission becomes your mission.

In church, we all have the same mission: to share the Good News of Jesus and his saving grace with a bent
and broken world. You might fulfill your mission by sharing your testimony—the story of how you came to
Jesus and what he's done in your life. You might carry out your mission by telling people the Good News—
explaining the sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection of Christ and what that means to the world. Or
maybe you will accomplish your mission by simply inviting people to church and letting them hear the Good
News there.

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what
lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Gideon was poor, David had an affair
and all kinds of family trouble, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Naomi was a widow, the
Samaritan woman had five failed marriages, Thomas had doubts, and Timothy was timid. Yet, God
used each of them in his service. He'll use you, too, if you let him.

LET US MAKE A DIFFERENCE!