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Today’s Message. Where Church Life Begins… Rediscover the Core Values of the First Church. Pastor Timothy Chan Chinese Grace Bible Church Sunday, April 15, 2012. Introduction.
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Where Church Life Begins…Rediscover the Core Values of the First Church Pastor Timothy Chan Chinese Grace Bible Church Sunday, April 15, 2012
Introduction A sketch of the first church of Jerusalem reveals a remarkable template for a vital Christ-centered church. Though small in origin, strapped of financial resources and weak in structure and organization…
Introduction …the community life of the first church of Jerusalem in the great book of Acts describes how a vibrant church life impacts the whole world.
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984) 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 1:13-14 (NIV 1984) 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
Acts 1:13-14 (NIV 1984) 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: believer’s • The First Church is a __________ church. It is faith built on ____________-___________ lives. radically changed
Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 6:1 (NIV 1984) 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Acts 11:26 (NIV 1984) 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Implications: • A ____________ Decision Voluntary
Acts 2:38 (NIV 1984) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Implications: • A ____________ Decision • A ____________ Change Voluntary Radical
2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (NIV 1984) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (NIV 1984) 17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Implications: • A ____________ Decision • A ____________ Change • An Adult _________ Into New Life Voluntary Radical Baptism
Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984) 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984) 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984) [37 Philip said,“If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ]
Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984) 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Implications: • A ____________ Decision • A ____________ Change • An Adult _________ Into New Life • A New Faith Taught Through ______-_____________ Voluntary Radical Baptism Life Witnesses
Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Characteristics: The identifiable characteristics of the first church are the ______________ _________________ of the believers. identifiable characteristics
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Characteristics: The Bible identifies them as disciples who: • _______________ the authority of God’s Word Fully recognized
Acts 2:37 (NIV 1984) 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Characteristics: The Bible identifies them as disciples who: • _______________ the authority of God’s Word • _____________ to the teaching of the apostles Fully recognized Fully devoted
Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Characteristics: The Bible identifies them as disciples who: • _______________ the authority of God’s Word • _____________ to the teaching of the apostles • ______________ a unique lifestyle that draws people into the church Fully recognized Fully devoted Fully manifested
Acts 2:47 (NIV 1984) 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Rediscover the first things about the First Church: The Power: In other words, they are “_______ ____________ ______.” Our reference point is not knowledge or decision but ___________________. fully committed into faith in submission
The First Church is the witness of __________ ________ in worship and praise. revived souls
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV 1984) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
Acts 2:46-47 (NIV 1984) 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The Perish of ________________ Worship: • _________-Oriented Worship Anthropocentric Activity
The Perish of ________________ Worship: • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship Anthropocentric Activity Emotion
The Perish of ________________ Worship: • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship Anthropocentric Activity Emotion Intellect
The Perish of ________________ Worship: • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship • _________-Oriented Worship Anthropocentric Activity Emotion Intellect Benefit
Theocentric • The Promises of ______________ Worship: • _________ Is Exalted Christ
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV 1984) 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV 1984) 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV 1984) 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Theocentric • The Promises of ______________ Worship: • _________ Is Exalted • ________ Is Remembered Christ Grace
Hebrews 2:17 (NIV 1984) 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.