Message
#2 "Essentials of the Church"
Text:
Acts 2: 41 - 47
Intro:
Someone said, "Let's have a New
Testament Church. But
the question arise, "Which One".
Certainly not the Corinth-
ian church and certainly not the Laodicean Church.
The
answer is, "Let's have an "Acts" church.
I.
A CHURCH EXERCISING FAITH
A)
Accepting Faith (vs
41 "they gladly received His Word")
they were like men drowning, who needed
a lifeboat
they were like prisoners who needed freeing
B)
Acting Faith ("were
baptised")
the
identified with Christ
("first called Christians at Antioch")
they identified with the church
("added")
C)
Accurate Faith ("HIs
Word")
II.
A CHURCH EXHIBITIING FAITHFULNESS
(VS 42 "and they continued
stedfastly")
A) The Meaning of Faithfulness
means full of faith - stedfast continuance
it means taking the content of faith and showing continuity
B)
The Manifestation of Faithfulness
Faith manifests
itself in good works. When we operate by
sight, we will accomplish little,.
III.
A CHURCH EMBRACING FELLOWSHIP
(vs 42 "fellowship")
that's getting on the other fellow's ship
A)
Unity
(vs 42 "breaking of bread -
prayers")
(vs 43 "fear came upon every soul")
("had all things common")
(vs 46 "with one accord")
B)
Charity (vs
47 "having favor with all the people")
charity is the legs
of love
C)
Sincerety
(vs 46 "singleness of heart")
IV.
A CHURCH ENJOYING FRUITFULNESS
(vs 47
"and the Lord added to the church
daily such as
should be saved")