And The Lord Added To The Church :: 7/29/12 Part 1 and 2

And the Lord Added to the Church

Acts 2:47

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

Intro: The doctrine of the local church is one of my favorite topics to preach about.  The Bible is filled with teaching and multiple references to the church.  The church is special because:

A. Its Purchase – The church is the reason Jesus died

• Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

B. Its People – the church is made up of men and women, boys and girls that have accepted Jesus Christ

• I Peter 2:9, 10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

C. Its Power – the church is the most powerful agency on the planet

• Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

D. Its Purpose – the church was endued with power to be witnesses; to tell the world what Jesus did on Calvary

• Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

I. The Importance of Church Membership

A. The Principle of Church Membership – they had a roll with names on it in Acts 1

• Acts 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

The word ‘church’ is found in the King James Bible 79 times.

The word ‘churches’ is found 36 times.  It is very clear from the plural use of the word ‘church’ that the word ‘churches’ implies that there are more than one, hence the Doctrine of the Local Church.

Notice for example, Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Of the 79 times we find the word ‘church’ mentioned, nearly all of them refer to a specific, local assembly.

• Acts 8:1 And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem…
• Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers…
• Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
• Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
• 1 Corinthians 4:17  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

B. The Practicality of Church Membership – if the church is a body, it must have individual members

• 1 Corinthians 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
• 1 Corinthians 12:20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.

C. The Prerequisite of Church Membership – they must be saved and scripturally baptized

• Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
• Acts 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
• Acts 5:14  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
• Acts 11:24  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

II. The Identification of Church Membership – vs. 41

• Acts 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

A. Members Identify with the Beliefs­ – vs. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine…

B. Members Identify with the Battles – Acts 8:3, 4 Saul made havock of the church, entering into every house…

C. Members Identify with the Burdens­ – Gal. 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ

III. The Increase of Church Membership

• Acts 16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
• Acts 6:7  And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

A. There was an Increase in Attendance – Acts 2:42, 46 – their numbers grew; the services had more people!

Illustration: Centuries ago, a Christian Scotch lady caught by the guards going to church on Sunday in the country against the king’s decree. She didn’t want to lie about her intentions but knew if she got caught, she could be imprisoned.  She thought for a moment, and then answered them, “I’m going to my Father’s house in the country.  I’m meeting with my brothers and sisters.  You see, my eldest Brother has died, and we are reading His last will and testament!”  She believed in going to church!!

B. There was an Increase in Adversity – Acts 4:1, 3, 4 – when the church grows, expect greater opposition!

Like a family, trouble should draw us closer to each other; not drive us apart.

Satan hates it when a church grows – he will stop at nothing to hinder it.

Expect it, prepare for it and endure it!

C. There was an Increase in Assets – Acts 4:32-37 – there is a financial obligation that comes with membership

There is something wrong if a company hires more employees, and the profit doesn’t go up.

There’s something wrong with a family if more of its members get a job, and the bills doesn’t get paid.

There’s something wrong with a church if the membership increases, and the offerings doesn’t!

D. There was an Increase in Abilities – Rom. 12:4-6 differing gifts… everybody contributing their talents for Him

Everybody is doing something to be a help and a blessing to the body!

Every member of the church has something to contribute – the question is, are they doing it?

What is your ability?  What is your gift?

Don’t be a parasite!  Notice the definition of a PARASITE

1. an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.

         2. a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

Question: Can you look around in this congregation and see a single member that is here because of your effort and burden?

Conclusion: God ADDING members to the church should be a desire on the heart of every member.  It shouldn’t just be the pastor’s desire; it shouldn’t be just a few people’s desire – it should be all of our desire!

Part 2

IV. The Integration of the Church Member

Definition of Integration: The state of combination or the process of combining into completeness and harmony.

A. Studying Truth Together– vs. 42 …And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine

One of the best ways for members to become integrated into the church is to study God’s word together.

Getting involved in the Sunday School class, and the services are one way to belong and create unity and harmony.

Illustration

Part of the church missing a service where God really does a work is like washing one hand and not the other.

It would be like having Sunday lunch and part of the family is out in the yard and missing the meal.

The reason many people never feel like they belong to a church is because they are missing a lot meals!

B. Spending Time Together – vs. 42b …and fellowship; vs. 46 breaking bread from house to house…

• 1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
• Sharing meals
• Having company
• Doing things together; getting to know each other

C. Sharing Things Together – vs. 45 …and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

• Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
• Being there for each other
• Visiting the sick; cooking for them, babysitting for them.
• Giving a helping hand during a financial crisis; poundings, helping do what you can for each other

V. The Interactions of the Church Member

A. It should be Loving – the phrase ‘LOVE ONE ANOTHER’ is found about 19 times in the New Testament

• John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
• John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Joke: Men insult each other, but they really don’t mean it.  Women complement each other, but they really don’t mean it!

The love should be SELFLESS – not self-centered.

Not based on what you can benefit from it, but on loving people unconditionally; the way God loves us.

B. It should be Longsuffering

We should be as patient and longsuffering with each other as we want others to be with us.

We shouldn’t hold others to a higher standard than we do ourselves.

We shouldn’t be more patient with our co-workers than we do our church family.

Don’t let Satan make a mountain out of a molehill or Niagra Falls out of a drip.

VI. The Impact of the Church Member – turn to Acts 4:23-31

A. Is dependent on their relationship with God – God can’t use a backslidden, rebellious member!

A church member that is disobedient and cold will become critical, and will never make an impact except for the bad.

Keep developing your relationship with Jesus Christ and He can use you!!

These men made God the Lord of their life, and submitted to Him.

They ramped up their prayer life.

B. Is dependent on their relationship with each other – God demands unity amongst His saints (one accord)

We are a body of believers; we must submit to one another in the love of Christ.

• Ephesians 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

C. Is dependent on their relationship with the world – separated but reaching out

We can’t make an impact on the world if we LOOK LIKE THEM, ACT LIKE THEM, SMELL LIKE THEM, THINK LIKE THEM!!

These men asked for boldness to speak the Word of God!!vs. 29, 31

They needed power to stand up to the world; not try to fit in and not try to pacify or imitate!

Conclusion:

I still believe that the modern world is yet to see a church where the man of God is on the same page with the Spirit of God, and all the members of the church are on the same page with the man of God.

That’s how you make an impact!!