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Hi, I'm Pastor Jason van Bemmel
from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, and this is Walking with
Jesus, and our seventh devotional in the book of Acts, Acts chapter
2, verses 42 to 47, as we ask, how does the church grow in a
healthy, God-honoring way? How does the church grow in a
healthy, God-honoring way? Here's Acts 2, verses 42 and
47. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and
to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers. And
the Lord added to their number, day by day, those who were being
saved. So many books have been written
on the topic of church growth. Many strategists and consultants
have come up with guaranteed ways to grow your church and
bring more people in the doors on Sunday morning, or Saturday
night, which is more convenient for some people than the old-fashioned
Lord's Day. Yet some of the biggest and fastest
growing churches have also seen relatively little lasting, God-honoring
fruit in the lives of their people. Is there a way to grow churches
that is healthy, God-honoring, authentic, and lasting? Yes,
and we don't need a shelf full of books or highly paid church
growth experts to show us how to do it. God gives us the pattern
for healthy, growing churches at the end of Acts 2. The church
in Jerusalem, in the days following Pentecost, was deeply committed
to four things. One, the apostles' teaching.
They sat at the feet of the apostles as they taught. How did the Apostles
teach? Peter's Pentecost sermon set
the pattern. The Apostles' teaching was marked
by being thoroughly biblical, Christ-centered, theologically
accurate, and personally passionate. Second, the fellowship. This
is the committed, community life of the Church, living life together
and supporting each other. This fellowship is described
in beautiful detail in verses 44 to 46. All who believed were
together and had all things in common, and they were selling
their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds
to all as any had need. And day by day, attending the
temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received
their food with glad and generous hearts. Third, the sacraments. that is, the breaking of bread.
The use of the definite article the indicates that this breaking
of bread is the Lord's Supper, which is the breaking of bread
in the church. This is distinct from and breaking
bread in their homes, which refers to home-based table fellowship.
The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper mark out the
people of God as distinct from the world and remind us of the
gospel as signs and seals of God's grace. Fourth, the prayers. Again, Luke uses a definite article,
the prayers, which probably identifies the formal corporate prayers
of God's gathered people in worship. When we gather as the people
of God to worship God, we must also lift up our voices in prayer
before Him, adoring Him, confessing our sin to Him, thanking Him
for His grace, and imploring His help for our need. What happened
when the church devoted themselves to these essential elements of
worship and church life? They experienced true joy, favor
with outsiders, and real, vibrant church growth. Imagine if this
description were true of our churches today. They received
their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having
favor with all the people, and the Lord added to their number,
day by day, those who were being saved. That's the kind of church
life and growth that pleases God. Let's pray. Heavenly Father,
call your church back to our core commitments, which reflect
your gospel and a loving commitment to your Son, your Word, and your
people. Keep us from being distracted
by the world's foolish models of quick and easy church growth
that does not honor you. Make us the people you would
have us be. In Jesus' name, amen.
How Does the Church Grow Rightly?
Series Acts Devotionals
| Sermon ID | 2520224252351 |
| Duration | 04:40 |
| Date | |
| Category | Devotional |
| Bible Text | Acts 2:42-47 |
| Language | English |
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