Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ May 7, 2006
“Church”
Acts 2:41-47 ~
Part 3 of 3
Did we get a lot done at workday yesterday – Jack
Panco brought his excavator – wow! Built a new garden shed, worked in “Mary’s
Place”, cut lots of wood, moved lots of brush & trees, carried stoves, dug
stumps, PTL for all you workers!
*** Land swap, surveyors, Architect, Land Engineers,
Zoning approval - its all coming together perfectly in God’s timing!
*** Approx 16,000 sf with seating for about 600
people! (Easter we had 400)
*** Get closer to construction date – Ground breaking
service – Another special offering will be received!!!
Review:
·
We Must Love People, Meet Needs,
Teach Truth!
·
Teaching Truth of God’s Word
Produces Faith!
·
Genuine Faith Changes my Life
Forever!
o
Jesus said, I will build my church and
all the powers of hell will not conquer it” Mt 16:18b - 2000 years later He
still is!
o
Last week we learned about the first
sermon ever preached.
o
Peter spoke the Word of God, The Holy
Spirit brought deep conviction “cut to the heart” and 3000 people were saved!
Living My New Life...
1.
In Obedience ~ Be
Baptized!
Acts 2:41
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
o
The early church
counted people because people count.
o
The first message
resulted in 3000 souls born in God’s Family... they were baptized.
o
There were no secret
disciples... if you were saved, you were baptized... automatic following
salvation. Throughout the NT we see people accepting Christ then being
baptized...
o
Baptism is not
necessary for salvation but it tells the world – I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ.
o
Have you been
baptized since receiving Jesus Christ? Why should I be baptized?
·
Commanded
by Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 19
Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age."
o
Jesus commanded us
to make disciples, baptize them once they’re made then teach them
o
The Great Commission
is not just for Pastor’s or the Deacons but for EVERY believer.
o
Baptism is commanded
by Jesus Christ... At Cross Creek we practice Baptism by immersion
·
Example
of Christ.
Mark 1:9 At
that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John
in the Jordan.
o
John the Baptist
immersed the Lord Jesus in the Jordan River... to fulfill all righteousness Mt
3:15
o
Jesus identified
with John the Baptist message of righteousness... Baptism doesn’t save you!
o
Baptism weeds out
“false conversions”... False repentance dreads the consequences of sin while
true repentance dreads the sin itself... We follow the example set by Jesus....
o
We presently must
have 10 people desiring baptism... How about you?
o
If you trusted
Christ... turned from your sins... you need to follow the Lord in baptism – see
Barry.
·
Identified
with Christ.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life.
o
Baptism is like a
billboard – it tells the world, I’m saved, I belong to Jesus – publicly /
unashamed
o
A beautiful picture
of the death & resurrection of Jesus and us dying to sin and alive for Christ.
o
Baptism doesn’t make
you a Christian it shows you already are a believer... I belong to Jesus
o
Wed. night a man in
his 20’s trust Christ as Savior in my office – private. Where baptism is
public!
2.
In Faithfulness ~ Be
Devoted!
Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves
to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer.
o
We’re given a
glimpse in the lives of the believers in the early church.
o
They were
faithfully, continually devoted! They were devoting themselves... pure in their
devotion
o
They were
enthusiastic, committed, dedicated, sold out to, passionate toward... devoted to
·
To Biblical
Doctrine.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
o
All scripture is
given by the inspiration of God! Teaching – rebuking those in sin, correcting
those in error and training us in righteousness... then we become thoroughly
equipped!
o
Passionate to know
God’s Word deeper... they were a saved church, hungry for God!
o
Not worldly or
carnal but truly spiritually born from above church – on fire for God’s Word
o
The early believers
show the genuineness of their faith by being devoted to the teaching
o
Wanting Bible is a
mark of genuine salvation - John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who
believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings.
o
Like newborn babies
long for the pure milk of God’s Word. (1Pet 2:2)
o
The Scripture’s is
food for the hungry soul... There are many verses we could turn to...
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Titus 1:9 He
must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he
can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Titus 2:1
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
·
To Unified
Fellowship.
1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be
no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and
thought.
o
Notice that the
early church were in partnership with each other... one in spirit and truth.
o
Very important today
to share together in unified fellowship... don’t isolate yourself.
Hebrews 10:24-25 24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up
love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
o
The Christian life
is not lived in isolation and apart from other believers – don’t “drift” away.
o
We need each other,
others need you to function correctly within the body of Christ.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads
to peace and to mutual edification.
There are four
main bones in every organization:
The wish-bones: Wishing somebody would do something about the problem.
The jaw-bones: Doing all the talking but very little else.
The knuckle-bones: Those who knock everything.
The back-bones: Those who carry the brunt of the load and do most of the
work.
Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, pp. 16-17
·
To Powerful
Praying.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all
kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep on praying for all the saints.
o
Prayer is the
critical duty of every believer – it’s the vital life blood of the church.
o
Illustrations:
Wednesday Nights / Praise Team / Celebrate Recovery Team / 7:30am
o
Prayer is often the
first discipline to “disappear” when we begin to drift from God.
o
Likewise there are
tons of verses that commands YOU as a believer to pray...
o
Marriages, children,
career, jobs, finances, church, pastors, salvation for lost souls, etc...
Colossians 4:2-4 2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and
thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for
our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in
chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
James 5:16
Confess your sins to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer
of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. NLT
Dead or Alive
