WEBVTT

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 Well, as I said last week, we took our time studying the theological realities of the church

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 as Paul expressed them to the church of Ephesus.

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 We were reminded that everything the church is and does is focused on the work of Jesus Christ

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 and that in the gospel, we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, reconciled to God by his grace,

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 and we are made members, eternal members of Christ's new kingdom people.

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 And Paul used three illustrations at the end of that passage, if you remember,

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 to describe this new kingdom people, these gospel people, what we call the church.

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 He said that we are citizens of God's kingdom, that we now all have the same passport.

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 We are members of God's family, that we all have the same father.

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 And that we are living stones of God's temple.

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 In other words, those who repent of their sin and follow Jesus are saved by God's grace

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 and then united together with God's people.

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 And those are the theological realities of who we are and what God has created us to be as his church.

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 And today, we begin looking at how these theological realities shape the identity and practice of the local church.

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 And of course, particularly how these realities should shape the identity and practice of Lakeside Bible Church.

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 And I think Acts chapter 2 is the perfect place for us to do just that.

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 The chapter begins, maybe if it's been a while since you've read it,

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 the chapter begins with the unique pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

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 This is about 50 days after Jesus' crucifixion.

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 It's only a few days following his ascension to heaven.

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 And as you recall, perhaps in your readings of the Gospel of John,

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 Jesus had promised his disciples that once he returned to his exalted place in heaven,

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 he would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Helper,

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 who would come and would indwell them and would empower them and would teach them

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 and help them to recall all that Christ had taught them.

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 And this day of Pentecost, as it's recorded in Acts 2,

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 is that promised moment that Jesus had foretold.

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 And as a part of this, the apostles who were in Jerusalem at the time

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 were uniquely empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages that were unknown to them,

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 but known to the various ethnic communities represented in Jerusalem at the time.

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 And as you might expect, this caused quite a stir among the people,

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 which led Peter to preach perhaps the clearest gospel message

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 that you'll find anywhere in the New Testament.

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 Peter's inspired sermon, spirit-empowered sermon,

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 resulted in 3,000 people being saved.

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 Or as Paul would have said to the Ephesians,

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 3,000 people who were then redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

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 Now our purpose this morning is to examine what took place

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 after the conversion of these new Christians.

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 So the Spirit comes, Peter preaches,

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 the Lord pricks their hearts,

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 He regenerates 3,000 souls,

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 they trust Jesus by faith.

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 Now what?

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 That's what we want to focus on now.

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 And it's interesting.

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 They didn't simply continue their everyday lives

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 with only a shift in their religious affiliation.

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 That's not at all what took place in the lives of these people.

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 Their lives were transformed.

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 Immediately, they were united in fellowship

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 with all the other new Christians that had come to faith in that moment.

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 Now think about this.

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 In that moment,

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 ethnic people from outside of Israel have gathered in Jerusalem.

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 They have heard the apostles preaching the gospel,

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 speaking of Jesus in their own native tongue.

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 Now they have been pricked in their hearts

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 by the preaching of the gospel through Peter.

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 And now all of a sudden,

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 all of these people from different backgrounds

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 and different cultures,

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 Jews and Gentile alike,

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 are now united in fellowship together in Jerusalem.

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 It's amazing.

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 Just like that,

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 everything changes.

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 Their lives are transformed.

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 Totally.

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 Fellowship's actually an important word in this text.

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 We see it in verse 42.

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 They were devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching

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 and the fellowship.

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 The Bible doesn't describe God's people in this way

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 anywhere in the scriptures prior to Acts chapter 2.

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 Not even the gospels use this word for fellowship.

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 It appears for the first time at this moment.

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 And then the apostles regularly used it

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 in reference to the church.

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 And I want to tell you what the word is.

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 You probably already know it.

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 It is koinonia.

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 Koinonia.

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 And I want to give you a definition for it.

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 It means fellowship,

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 partnership,

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 the close association between persons,

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 emphasizing what is common between them.

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 That's a definition that a Greek scholar,

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 Bill Mounts, has given to us.

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 Fellowship,

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 partnership,

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 the close association of persons,

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 emphasizing what is common between them.

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 These people that have come to know Christ

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 are now this koinonia in Jerusalem.

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 Something that the apostles would continue to describe them as

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 over and over in the New Testament.

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 Let me give you just a couple of instances

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 where the apostles use this in other places.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 9.

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 Paul tells the Corinthians,

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 God is faithful

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 by whom you were called into the

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 koinonia,

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 fellowship,

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 partnership

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 of his son,

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 Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 Here he is writing to a local church

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 and he says,

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 God has been faithful

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 through the gospel.

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 He has called you into

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 koinonia.

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 Koinonia.

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 Not just any koinonia,

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 but the koinonia

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 of Jesus,

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 the son of God.

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 Paul continues many times

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 to use this word.

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 Notably,

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 he uses it

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 when he refers

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 to the Lord's Supper

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 in the same letter

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 to the church

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 at Corinth.

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 But the apostle John

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 also speaks of it.

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 1 John chapter 1

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 verse 3.

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 That which we have seen

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 and heard

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 we proclaim

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 also to you.

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 so that you too

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 may have

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 koinonia

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 with us.

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 And indeed,

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 our koinonia

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 is with the Father

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 and with his son,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 Do you see?

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 What brings people together

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 emphasizing

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 what is common

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 between them.

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 And whenever the apostles

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 used this term koinonia,

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 what they were referring to

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 is the church.

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 that as we have

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 koinonia

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 with Jesus Christ

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 in the gospel,

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 now all of a sudden

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 we have koinonia

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 with others

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 who have also

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 become one

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 with Christ

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 in the gospel.

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 And we think back

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 to Ephesians 2.

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 What is it that

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 the church

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 is made by

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 or made to be?

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 We are redeemed

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 by the blood of Christ,

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 then we are reconciled

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 by the peace of Christ.

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 We are reconciled

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 first to God

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 and in the process

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 of being reconciled

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 to God

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 through Christ,

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 we are reconciled

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 to one another

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 so that Christ

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 is making

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 his kingdom people

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 a koinonia.

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 You see,

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 this fellowship word,

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 this koinonia,

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 was not what

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 the apostles used

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 to describe

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 a church potluck

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 after the morning

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 worship service.

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 It wasn't merely

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 men as a term

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 for gathering

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 as if we're going

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 to go and have

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 fellowship together

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 after the service today.

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 That's not how

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 they used this.

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 They employed

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 the word

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 to indicate

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 a believer's

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 reconciled state

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 to God

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 and to other Christians.

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 And this is

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 what we are.

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 We are a partnership

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 together

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 that goes far deeper

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 than a simple choice

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 to worship

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 with a particular

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 group of people

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 at a particular place

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 on Sunday mornings.

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 We,

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 Lakeside Bible Church,

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 have koinonia

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 together

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 in the same way

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 that each of us

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 who are believers

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 have koinonia

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 with God

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 through Jesus Christ.

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 Now,

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 does that seem

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 like a relationship

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 that is to be

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 treated casually

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 and with a commitment

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 that is based

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 primarily on convenience?

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 Of course not.

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 Unfortunately,

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 that's actually

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 how many Christians

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 think about

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 their relationship

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 with the local church.

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 And what I want

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 to get across today

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 is this dynamic

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 of the fellowship

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 of believers.

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 believers,

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 the koinonia

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 of believers,

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 that because

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 of who we are

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 in Christ,

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 we have an identity

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 and a relationship

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 with one another

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 that is meaningful

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 and is deep

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 and is unlike

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 any other relationship

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 that we will have

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 in this life.

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 And I want to point out

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 the importance of it.

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 But of course,

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 before we can really

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 talk about that fellowship,

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 it would be necessary

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 for us to talk about

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 what it means

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 or how one might

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 become a part

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 of this koinonia.

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 We find that answer

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 in verse 41.

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 Let's read it together.

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 So those who received

00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:11.019
 his word

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.080
 were baptized

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 and there were added

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 that day

00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:18.019
 about 3,000 souls.

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 So notice that

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 this fellowship

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 of believers,

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 the entrance into it

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 is expressed

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 in verse 41

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 by believers,

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 baptism.

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 Now, it's not that

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 the apostles were teaching

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 that baptism

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 was necessary

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 for salvation

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 or in some way

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 contributes

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 to our salvation.

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 They repeatedly

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 affirmed

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:40.819
 in the scriptures

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 that salvation

00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.220
 is by grace alone,

00:11:44.699 --> 00:11:46.500
 through faith alone,

00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.019
 in Christ alone,

00:11:48.319 --> 00:11:48.939
 according to

00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:50.000
 the scriptures alone

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 and to the glory

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 of God alone.

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 That's unmistakable

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:53.700
 in the scriptures

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 and it's undeniable

00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:55.319
 in the scriptures.

00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:56.839
 At no place

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 do the apostles

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 ever teach us,

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 do the Bible

00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:00.480
 ever teach us

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 that our baptism

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 is actually

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 what makes us

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 a believer.

00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.360
 But it's also true

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.659
 that baptism

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:08.899
 was so closely

00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:09.659
 related

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.980
 to a person's

00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.539
 conversion

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.719
 in the early church

00:12:12.719 --> 00:12:13.819
 that the apostles

00:12:13.819 --> 00:12:14.639
 did sometimes

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.439
 use the terms

00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:16.500
 interchangeably

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.399
 to refer

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.199
 to a person's

00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:18.699
 conversion.

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.019
 And here we see

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:22.240
 that this represented

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.439
 in this baptism

00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:25.100
 as these people

00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.360
 received the word

00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:26.940
 of the gospel

00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:28.140
 that Peter had preached

00:12:28.140 --> 00:12:29.500
 actually became

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.020
 the entrance

00:12:30.020 --> 00:12:31.120
 into the kingdom.

00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:32.880
 Not the baptism

00:12:32.880 --> 00:12:33.540
 itself,

00:12:33.900 --> 00:12:34.920
 but the faith

00:12:34.920 --> 00:12:36.060
 that undergirded it,

00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:37.260
 the conversion

00:12:37.260 --> 00:12:38.380
 that was represented

00:12:38.380 --> 00:12:39.700
 by it.

00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:41.780
 So as Peter preached

00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:42.280
 the gospel

00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:43.400
 on the day of Pentecost,

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.460
 the Holy Spirit

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.900
 regenerated these people,

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.660
 they believed

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.220
 the gospel,

00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:48.720
 and then they were baptized

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.260
 to publicly declare

00:12:50.260 --> 00:12:51.180
 their repentance

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.919
 from sin

00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.339
 and conversion

00:12:53.339 --> 00:12:54.000
 to Jesus.

00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:55.679
 And notice

00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.379
 that only

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.859
 these regenerate

00:12:58.859 --> 00:13:00.459
 baptized believers

00:13:00.459 --> 00:13:01.939
 were formally added

00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:03.859
 to the fellowship.

00:13:05.239 --> 00:13:06.219
 And there's an important

00:13:06.219 --> 00:13:06.939
 truth in this

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.439
 for us.

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.479
 You can't be a part

00:13:10.479 --> 00:13:12.179
 of a local church

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:14.299
 without first being

00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:14.819
 a part

00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:16.819
 of the church.

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:19.940
 Now you can play

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.400
 the part

00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:21.200
 of a church member.

00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.260
 You can sign

00:13:23.260 --> 00:13:24.280
 the membership forms

00:13:24.280 --> 00:13:25.540
 and you can affiliate

00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:26.400
 with a particular

00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:26.879
 congregation.

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.680
 You can do

00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.800
 all of those things,

00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:29.879
 but you can't truly

00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.500
 be a part

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.140
 of the church

00:13:31.140 --> 00:13:32.040
 without being

00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:32.379
 a part

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.040
 of the church,

00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:34.600
 without being

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.160
 a believer,

00:13:35.920 --> 00:13:36.600
 without being

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:37.800
 a Christian.

00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:39.500
 Someone who,

00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:40.400
 as Paul said,

00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:41.740
 has been redeemed

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.680
 by the blood

00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:43.360
 of Christ

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.180
 and reconciled

00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:45.700
 to God

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:47.039
 through the peace

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.600
 that Christ brings.

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.019
 You cannot be

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.340
 a part

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:52.879
 of the fellowship

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.539
 of believers

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:55.580
 until you first

00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.899
 know Christ.

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:58.980
 What do we see

00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.460
 is true

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.220
 about the church,

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.320
 even the local church,

00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:01.960
 in the way it was

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.980
 formally recognized

00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.639
 in the scriptures?

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.159
 It was only made up

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.779
 of those who

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.639
 were regenerate,

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.500
 those who were

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.840
 truly in Christ.

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.660
 It wasn't only marked

00:14:12.660 --> 00:14:13.480
 by regenerate

00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:13.960
 partnership,

00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:14.580
 it was marked

00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.840
 by meaningful

00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.580
 partnership.

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.480
 Belonging to the

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.180
 people of God,

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:20.700
 as we'll see

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.240
 in the remaining

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.740
 verses,

00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:23.720
 is something

00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.560
 that these Christians

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.780
 took very seriously.

00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.160
 There's nothing

00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:29.460
 casual about their

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.440
 life in the church.

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.820
 It truly meant

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:33.220
 something to them.

00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:34.800
 Even the fact

00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:35.780
 that someone

00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.860
 was keeping track

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.680
 of these things

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.280
 leads us to believe

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.860
 that there was

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.740
 even a formal

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.519
 recognition

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.539
 in some way,

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.659
 even early on,

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.959
 of who belonged

00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:45.579
 to the church

00:14:45.579 --> 00:14:46.459
 and who didn't.

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.459
 The truth is,

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.179
 the Bible knows

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:49.939
 nothing of an

00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.159
 individual that

00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:52.360
 belongs to Christ

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.600
 but doesn't belong

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.379
 to his people.

00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:56.600
 Yet there are

00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:57.319
 so many Christians

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:59.019
 who treat their

00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.939
 relationship with

00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:01.539
 the church as if

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.079
 it doesn't really

00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:02.600
 matter.

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.079
 I don't want to

00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:05.159
 say it's a mistake.

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.519
 I would say

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.220
 it's a sin.

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.159
 Let's think about

00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.679
 it this way.

00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:12.579
 Chris and Ashley,

00:15:12.839 --> 00:15:13.339
 Lord willing,

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.019
 this weekend

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.480
 are going to stand

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.319
 and covenant

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.799
 together in

00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:18.720
 holy matrimony.

00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.459
 And it's an

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:21.139
 exciting day

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.079
 and everybody's

00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.620
 excited about it

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.139
 and perhaps,

00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:24.439
 can you imagine

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.559
 what Ashley would

00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:26.240
 think if Chris

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:26.919
 came to her this

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:27.899
 afternoon after lunch

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.220
 and he said,

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.679
 you know what,

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.339
 sweetheart,

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.439
 I've been thinking

00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:33.279
 and I just want

00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:33.720
 you to know

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:35.620
 I love you so much

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:37.000
 and I'm so

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.000
 thankful for you.

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.620
 All I want to do

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.659
 is spend the rest

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.759
 of my life with you

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.679
 and I want to grow

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.240
 with you

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.139
 and I want to serve

00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.000
 you and I want to

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.639
 be a part of what

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.139
 you're doing

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.620
 and I want you to

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.200
 be a part of what

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:47.759
 I'm doing

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.740
 and I want us to

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.360
 go at this thing

00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:49.740
 together.

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.000
 But I've been

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.360
 thinking,

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:53.120
 I'm not really into

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.840
 this whole marriage

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.639
 covenant thing.

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:57.060
 I mean,

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:58.080
 is it really necessary?

00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.659
 I mean,

00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:00.480
 what difference

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.659
 does a piece of

00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.460
 paper from the

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:02.940
 state of North

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.279
 Carolina really make

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.279
 with our relationship?

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:05.679
 I mean,

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.559
 we're in love.

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.559
 We're committed

00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:08.279
 to one another.

00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:09.139
 We don't need

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.120
 the formalities.

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.399
 In fact,

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.639
 it might even

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.360
 actually cause

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:14.839
 some kind of

00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:15.519
 hindrance in our

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.000
 relationship

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.679
 and I don't want

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.299
 to ruin a good

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:18.000
 thing that we got

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.240
 going.

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:18.500
 So,

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.079
 sweetheart,

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.039
 I know you've

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.699
 been planning the

00:16:20.699 --> 00:16:21.480
 wedding and you're

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.120
 excited about this.

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.679
 I just don't think

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.139
 we need it.

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.839
 I think we just

00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:24.360
 need to forget

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.159
 about that and move

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.500
 forward lest we

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.019
 mess things up.

00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:28.779
 It's not really

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.500
 that big a deal.

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.100
 Of course,

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:31.759
 Ashley's going to

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.100
 say,

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.199
 what does it matter

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:33.659
 with you?

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:35.339
 Of course,

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:36.319
 it's a big deal.

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.240
 Right?

00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:39.100
 We would all say,

00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:39.839
 yeah,

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.139
 no,

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.579
 Chris,

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.000
 you're out of

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.519
 your mind.

00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.179
 Of course,

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.659
 this is a big

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:42.779
 deal.

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.259
 This covenant

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.959
 means something.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.759
 It means something

00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.419
 as you make a

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.259
 covenant with God

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.759
 and you make a

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.480
 covenant with

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.199
 Ashley in the

00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.000
 process of this.

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.799
 It's important.

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.899
 There's a lot of

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.519
 people who actually

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.399
 view marriage that

00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:56.659
 way.

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.259
 There's a lot of

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.019
 Christians who view

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.720
 the church that

00:16:59.720 --> 00:16:59.959
 way.

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:02.160
 I don't mean to

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:02.980
 say that the

00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.180
 covenant that you

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.980
 make with a local

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.000
 church is the same

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.819
 as a covenant that

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.299
 you make in

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:07.539
 marriage.

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.460
 It's not the

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.480
 same, but that

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.200
 doesn't mean that

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.740
 the formal

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.779
 partnership with a

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.539
 local church is

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.140
 insignificant.

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.819
 And there's so

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.600
 many people who

00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.140
 they go through

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:17.720
 this life and

00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.180
 they think,

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.519
 you know what,

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.019
 I love my

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.059
 church and as

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.640
 far as I can

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.180
 tell at this

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.539
 point in my

00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.140
 life, this is

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:23.600
 who I want to

00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:24.500
 identify with and

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.000
 this is who I

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.319
 want to serve the

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.140
 Lord with and I

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.180
 want to grow with,

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.519
 but I don't think

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.160
 I want to make

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.640
 any kind of

00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.960
 formal commitments

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.600
 to them.

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.539
 I don't want to

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.400
 make any kind of

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:36.160
 public membership

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.080
 statements or

00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:37.840
 anything like that.

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.460
 Maybe that would

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.360
 mess up a good

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:39.799
 thing going.

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.120
 Maybe that would

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.759
 tie me in too

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.279
 close.

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.420
 I don't know.

00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:46.779
 But what we see

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.779
 taking place here

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.400
 in the fellowship

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.360
 of believers in

00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:50.320
 Jerusalem was that

00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.340
 it was made up of

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.299
 regenerate people,

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.019
 but it was also

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.980
 meaningful to them.

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.519
 They took it

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.120
 seriously.

00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.840
 And we see that

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.619
 continuing through

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.339
 the New Testament.

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.179
 Now that we're on

00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:02.159
 the same page about

00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:02.919
 meaningful,

00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:04.119
 regenerate koinonia,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.319
 let's see what

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.079
 marked the Christian

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.799
 church at its

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.759
 purest moment in

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.159
 history.

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.759
 What's abundantly

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.379
 clear in this

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.220
 passage is that

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:16.619
 God's people are a

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:18.679
 gathering people.

00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:20.619
 Hence the reason

00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.659
 I'm connecting this

00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:23.419
 particular text to

00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.579
 the value that we

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.019
 would call gathered

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.539
 worship.

00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.799
 When God's people

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.659
 gather, what is it

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:30.259
 that they do?

00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:32.019
 They worship,

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.159
 they encourage,

00:18:34.939 --> 00:18:35.819
 they express

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:37.500
 affection as they

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.419
 build one another

00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.379
 up in Christ.

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.740
 And when fulfilling

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.740
 God's desires,

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.659
 the local church

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:46.139
 displays the glory

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.359
 of God in such a

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.740
 way that its kingdom

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.720
 identity is

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.579
 unmistakable to the

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.500
 world around it.

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:54.359
 God's people are a

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.839
 faithful to the

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.759
 Ephesians 2.

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.279
 So the theological

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:55.980
 affirmations of

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.119
 Ephesians 2 are then

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.779
 intended by God to

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.740
 have practical

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.440
 applications in the

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.319
 ongoing life of the

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.799
 church.

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.000
 Now we're going to

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.940
 spend the next four

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.019
 weeks after today

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.460
 diving into the

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.460
 details of these

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.059
 things that we're

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.720
 going to just

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.420
 mention briefly.

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.500
 So if I hit on one

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.180
 of these things this

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.099
 morning and you

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.640
 think I'd really

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.480
 like, I think we

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.200
 should probably spend

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.859
 some more time on

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.039
 that.

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.839
 Chances are we're

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:18.559
 going to spend more

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.160
 time on that.

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.759
 But there's no

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.480
 reason for us to do

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.099
 it today, okay?

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.860
 So just come back

00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.660
 the next four Sundays

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.759
 and you'll get your

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.240
 feel, okay?

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.700
 But let's just

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:28.120
 briefly mention these

00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:30.019
 five spirit-filled

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.579
 marks of the

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.220
 fellowship of

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.099
 believers, okay?

00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.000
 Number one,

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.180
 gathered worship.

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.880
 Gathered worship.

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.620
 Look at verse 42.

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.700
 They devoted

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.680
 themselves to the

00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.660
 apostles' teaching

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:44.039
 and the fellowship

00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.880
 to the breaking of

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.120
 bread and the

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:47.640
 prayers.

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.880
 So verse 42

00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:50.640
 opens with a

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.040
 statement regarding

00:19:52.040 --> 00:19:52.700
 the fledgling

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.740
 church's passion

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.420
 and commitment.

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.240
 If you have a

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.860
 New American

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.760
 Standard Bible

00:19:57.760 --> 00:19:58.360
 with you today,

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:58.880
 you'll see a

00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.360
 more literal

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.760
 translation represented

00:20:00.760 --> 00:20:03.040
 where it could

00:20:03.040 --> 00:20:03.660
 literally be

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:05.060
 translated, they

00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:07.320
 continually devoted

00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:07.900
 themselves.

00:20:09.340 --> 00:20:10.260
 It's a present

00:20:10.260 --> 00:20:11.380
 active participle.

00:20:11.520 --> 00:20:12.340
 It's the idea

00:20:12.340 --> 00:20:13.100
 that this wasn't

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.580
 just something

00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.340
 that they did

00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.600
 on this day of

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.380
 Pentecost, but

00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.140
 this was something

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.100
 that was true of

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.740
 these Christians

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.339
 moving forward in

00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.660
 an ongoing way

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.980
 in their Christian

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.599
 lives.

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.500
 The devotion of

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.259
 these new Christians

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.900
 was not a fire

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.779
 that quickly burned

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.200
 out.

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.440
 It was a continual

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.680
 devotion that marked

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:34.180
 the ongoing state of

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.200
 this fellowship in

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.740
 Jerusalem.

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.559
 And such is the

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.980
 mark of a truly

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.059
 regenerate

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.220
 congregation.

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.720
 The Holy Spirit

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.539
 indwells his people.

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.519
 He empowers

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.940
 Christians so that

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.859
 the fire of

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.920
 devotion for God

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.119
 and his people

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.379
 is enduring.

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.759
 And the things

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.379
 to which the

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.099
 Christians were

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.500
 continually devoted

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.839
 continues all the

00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.680
 way through the

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.940
 end of verse 47.

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.220
 But here in

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.059
 verse 42,

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.379
 the section

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.180
 opens with

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.900
 their devotion

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:07.259
 to the formal

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.579
 worship of the

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.160
 congregation.

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.019
 What was it

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.900
 that these people

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.240
 did?

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.799
 What was their

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.819
 main concern

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.659
 when it came

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.379
 to their

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:18.319
 formal worship

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.579
 of God

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.639
 in Christ?

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.079
 Four things

00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.779
 are listed here.

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.759
 Number one,

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.220
 Bible teaching.

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.019
 Bible teaching.

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.539
 And they

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.659
 continually devoted

00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.759
 themselves to the

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.279
 apostles'

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:33.839
 teaching.

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.379
 Now it's

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:35.980
 important to

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.740
 note that the

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.159
 apostles'

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:38.079
 teaching here

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.659
 doesn't refer

00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:40.399
 to teaching

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.740
 that originated

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.740
 in the minds

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.400
 of men.

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.000
 These were

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.099
 not contrived

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.980
 doctrines of

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.319
 men.

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.819
 That's not

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.759
 what this was.

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.339
 What they

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:51.880
 taught the

00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.039
 people was

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.680
 the gospel

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.319
 of Jesus

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.720
 through the

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.240
 written word

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.819
 of God.

00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.180
 Jesus had

00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.000
 instructed these

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.880
 apostles to

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.599
 take his

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.539
 message to

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.039
 the world,

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.819
 not their

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.160
 own.

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.480
 And his

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.099
 message was

00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.920
 rooted in the

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.500
 Old Testament

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.839
 scriptures and

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.940
 expressed in his

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.779
 own teaching to

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.460
 the disciples,

00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.600
 apostles, and

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.240
 then especially

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.819
 through his

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.240
 crucifixion and

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.880
 resurrection.

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.640
 These early

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.340
 Christians were

00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:20.700
 devoted continually

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.319
 to the faithful

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.340
 exposition of the

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:25.000
 Bible and what

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.319
 Jesus had taught

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.420
 his disciples.

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:28.539
 Now think of

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.120
 Peter's sermon

00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.440
 here.

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.319
 You can go back

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.700
 and read it

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.759
 later in Acts

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.299
 chapter 2.

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.340
 He begins with

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.259
 an exposition of

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.259
 the prophet Joel.

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.840
 And he says this

00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:37.360
 that you are

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.120
 witnessing today,

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.819
 this pouring out

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.220
 of the Holy

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.220
 Spirit, this is

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.039
 exactly what

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.960
 Joel prophesied

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.339
 and he goes

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:42.759
 through and he

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.380
 deals with it.

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.240
 And then he

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.980
 takes that Old

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.779
 Testament scripture

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.860
 and he connects

00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:48.100
 it directly to

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:48.860
 the person and

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.480
 work of Jesus

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.819
 Christ, the

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.259
 gospel.

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.779
 And then as he

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.440
 connects it to

00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.059
 the person and

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.720
 work of Jesus,

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.960
 he pulls in

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:57.480
 parallel passages

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.440
 in the Psalms that

00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.860
 help undergird the

00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.740
 truth that this

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.480
 really is who

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.120
 Jesus is.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.180
 He really is the

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.759
 Son of God.

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.880
 He really is the

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.299
 Messiah.

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.620
 And only if you

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:08.200
 trust in him can

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.279
 you know God and

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.299
 be saved and be

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.700
 forgiven.

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.059
 What was Peter

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.000
 doing in Acts 2?

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.940
 He's preaching the

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.299
 Bible.

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.120
 He's not preaching

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.059
 Peter's thoughts.

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.620
 This wasn't Peter's

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.580
 commentary on the

00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:19.299
 Christian life.

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.140
 This was the

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.360
 Bible Peter was

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:21.740
 preaching.

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.440
 And when they

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.420
 gathered together

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.580
 Sunday by Sunday

00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:25.400
 or even in some

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:27.100
 cases, day by day,

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.080
 what were these

00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.019
 people, these early

00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.860
 Christians committed

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.240
 to?

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.360
 They were committed

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.779
 to Bible teaching.

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.120
 And what does that

00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.980
 mean for us?

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.579
 Well, over time,

00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:39.440
 these apostles were

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.779
 inspired by God to

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.799
 take this teaching

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.839
 and to write it

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.400
 down.

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.180
 And it's what we

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.299
 have in the pages of

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.039
 the New Testament.

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.160
 And when we gather

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.019
 as a church,

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.140
 especially in the

00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:53.299
 context of formal

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:55.680
 worship, we must be

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.539
 committed to,

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.579
 continually devoted

00:23:58.579 --> 00:24:00.500
 to the faithful

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:02.339
 preaching of the

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:02.799
 Bible.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.720
 people, you

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.399
 don't need my

00:24:05.399 --> 00:24:05.960
 thoughts.

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.859
 My word will be

00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:10.799
 meaningless at the

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.419
 end of the day.

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.779
 What you need is

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.740
 God's words.

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.180
 What we need to

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.299
 hunger for is not

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.680
 the best wisdom that

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.819
 Jared can impart to

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.059
 you.

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.139
 What we need to

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:21.099
 hunger for is the

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.460
 very words of God

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.559
 that point us to the

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.480
 person of Christ,

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.899
 that tell us who we

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:27.119
 are in him and

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:28.240
 instruct us on what

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.460
 we're to do in

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.559
 relation to that.

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.039
 Bible teaching.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.099
 Secondly, we'll talk

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.940
 a lot more about that

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.440
 next week.

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:38.119
 Secondly, gathered

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.619
 worship.

00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:40.619
 The actual

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:42.019
 gathering.

00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:45.299
 This is the

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.099
 koinonia word.

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.919
 Look again at verse

00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:47.299
 42.

00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:47.859
 They devoted

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.680
 themselves to the

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.919
 apostles' teaching and

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:51.339
 the fellowship.

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.379
 Notice the definite

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.980
 article there before

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.539
 koinonia.

00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.680
 It's actually in the

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.079
 Greek.

00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.139
 The koinonia,

00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.039
 making this an

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.460
 explicit statement to

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:04.539
 the gathered church

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.879
 in this moment.

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.480
 So what were they

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.119
 committed to?

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:10.339
 Bible teaching in

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.940
 person with other

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.399
 Christians.

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.579
 That's what they

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.319
 reflected on,

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.619
 committed themselves to

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.559
 in regards to their

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.420
 formal worship.

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:20.099
 And this is such an

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.899
 important word for our

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.399
 times.

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:25.240
 because we have such

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.660
 incredible wealth of

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:29.400
 access to teaching

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:32.100
 through modern forms of

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.480
 media.

00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:34.000
 That's a blessing that

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.620
 we are to rejoice in

00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.620
 God with, but it can

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:38.000
 also be a curse on the

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.580
 other end.

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.940
 I've seen a, I think,

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.060
 a disturbing trend

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:45.360
 actually in recent years

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:47.400
 where Christians are

00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:48.680
 passionate about Bible

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.400
 teaching, they're

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.360
 passionate about Bible

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:52.479
 doctrine, but not in

00:25:52.479 --> 00:25:53.799
 the biblical practice

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.379
 regarding the church.

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:59.439
 Many are content to be

00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.899
 fed by their favorite

00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:02.459
 celebrity preachers

00:26:02.459 --> 00:26:05.879
 online, or they relish

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:07.439
 the ability to kind of

00:26:07.439 --> 00:26:08.459
 roll out of bed at

00:26:08.459 --> 00:26:10.599
 9.55, grab their

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.719
 coffee and sit on the

00:26:11.719 --> 00:26:12.959
 couch in their PJ so

00:26:12.959 --> 00:26:13.899
 that they can bring up

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.899
 the live stream and at

00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:16.059
 least kind of halfway

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.219
 hear what's going on at

00:26:17.219 --> 00:26:17.919
 the church down the

00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.740
 road for the day.

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.900
 And I'm not trying to

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.599
 be mean about this.

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.220
 I'm trying to be really

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.019
 serious about this

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.460
 actually.

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.920
 The COVID lockdowns

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.099
 exacerbated this

00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:29.559
 extremely, in our area

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.140
 especially.

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.460
 I want to say that

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.240
 though the Bible

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.960
 teaching is the

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.980
 backbone of Christian

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:43.440
 living, it's wrong to

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:45.839
 think of preaching as

00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.279
 the sum of gathered

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.700
 worship.

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:53.160
 It is a vital part of

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.039
 our gathered worship.

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.619
 But what many

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.720
 Christians have done is

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.519
 they've taken their

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.700
 passion for teaching

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:01.859
 and they've made that

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:03.500
 the whole of their

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.539
 Christian life and their

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.259
 Christian worship.

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.579
 So that the actual

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.779
 gathering of God's

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.539
 people doesn't really

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:12.339
 matter to them as long

00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.180
 as they can hear the

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.460
 message and they can hear

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.240
 it from a faithful

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.279
 preacher that is going to

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.920
 that maybe have a style

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.019
 that they prefer and

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.319
 hit the things that

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.920
 they like.

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.899
 I think it was Dylan and

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.759
 I a few weeks ago we're

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.660
 having coffee and we were

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.799
 talking about this dynamic

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.899
 and in relation to and I

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.759
 hear all the kids in there.

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.099
 I love hearing the kids in

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.139
 our church services.

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.859
 I really do.

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.519
 And I hear them in there

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.940
 enjoying their time

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.379
 together.

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:38.680
 And Dylan and I were

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:40.100
 talking about that dynamic

00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:41.620
 of you know sometimes it

00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.880
 feels like you know if I

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.740
 got to go in this side

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.740
 room what's the whole point

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.380
 in coming and what we came

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.640
 to the conclusion of in the

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:48.460
 point of that conversation

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:50.280
 is well if the only reason

00:27:50.280 --> 00:27:51.300
 you gathered with God's

00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:53.420
 people was just to hear me

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:55.540
 preach then you'd be just

00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:56.520
 as well to sit at home.

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.680
 But that's not the only

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.860
 reason we gather today.

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.800
 You're not here just to hear

00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.080
 me.

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.320
 You're here to hear from the

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.480
 Lord.

00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:04.580
 Of course that's vital to

00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.100
 what we're doing.

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:06.879
 But there's a magnificent

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.919
 part of being here knowing

00:28:08.919 --> 00:28:10.240
 that Dylan has made the

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.000
 effort to be here.

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.839
 Knowing that he's going to

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.759
 end up having to go to

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.659
 that side room at some

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:13.899
 point.

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:16.059
 That does something for me.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:18.159
 Something for me that I

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:19.399
 would not experience and be

00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:20.659
 encouraged by if he didn't

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.019
 come.

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.399
 There is a significance to

00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:25.879
 the gathered people to the

00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.859
 koinonia.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.139
 There's a significance to

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:30.439
 being here with Noel and

00:28:30.439 --> 00:28:31.719
 Raina where we get to hear

00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:33.039
 about God's gospel work

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.919
 around the world.

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.840
 That's something that you

00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:36.360
 cannot experience online in

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:37.080
 the same way.

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.420
 There is a uniqueness to the

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:41.039
 passionate praise and

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.620
 singing of God's people.

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.580
 There was a commitment from

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.980
 these new Christians to the

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.700
 gathered church.

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:51.060
 The corporate worship of the

00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:51.519
 church.

00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:54.279
 And I think it would be a sin

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:56.940
 for us to count our online

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.580
 preaching diets as a suitable

00:28:58.580 --> 00:29:01.900
 replacement for gathered worship

00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:03.500
 services with the church.

00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.259
 We need to take that seriously.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.900
 I think the early Christians

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.180
 did.

00:29:08.280 --> 00:29:09.620
 Number three is the Lord's

00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:09.860
 Supper.

00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:13.500
 They devoted themselves to the

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.400
 apostles' teaching, the

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.240
 fellowship, and to the

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.060
 breaking of bread.

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.180
 Sandwiched between these two

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:21.360
 terms of formal worship, the

00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.600
 breaking of bread here is

00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:24.280
 certainly a reference to the

00:29:24.280 --> 00:29:25.519
 ordinance of the Lord's

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.740
 Supper.

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:28.759
 Paul, in his first letter to

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:31.460
 the Corinthians, was the

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.980
 first time that we see the

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:35.059
 apostolic teaching of this.

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:37.059
 But we see here that

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:38.579
 Christians practiced it from the

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.120
 very beginning.

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:42.700
 Remember, Jesus instituted the

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.720
 Lord's Supper with his

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.160
 disciples and he commanded them

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:48.200
 to regularly partake in it in

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.339
 remembrance of the gospel.

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:51.959
 And here, we find that those

00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:53.859
 disciples obeyed the Lord's

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.220
 command.

00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:57.379
 In just a matter of days, after

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:59.559
 Jesus has ascended back to

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.720
 heaven, here is the church

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:04.019
 faithfully, continually devoting

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:06.759
 themselves to the observance of

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:08.139
 the Lord's table.

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.699
 I think that's important.

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:13.439
 I love that we do it every month.

00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:15.379
 Sometimes I wonder if we should

00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.679
 actually be doing it more often

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.319
 than that.

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:20.720
 They were continually devoted to

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:20.919
 it.

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.579
 Number four, the prayers.

00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.200
 The prayers.

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:26.639
 Here again, the definite article

00:30:26.639 --> 00:30:27.779
 is helpful to us.

00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:30.220
 It indicates that there was a

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:32.019
 body of composed prayers

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:34.599
 utilized in the regular worship

00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.859
 of the early church.

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.639
 These probably included the

00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:38.939
 Psalms.

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.220
 No doubt it included the

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.619
 Psalms.

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.960
 We have other examples in the

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:45.899
 New Testament of doxologies and

00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:47.840
 benedictions that were commonly

00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:49.460
 used in the early church.

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:52.440
 Bottom line, in a corporate

00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:54.940
 sense, God's people are a praying

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.440
 people.

00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:58.140
 And corporate prayer was a vital

00:30:58.140 --> 00:31:00.120
 part of the gathered worship of

00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:01.060
 the early church.

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:03.079
 Now here's the question.

00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:06.519
 How devoted are we to gathered worship?

00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:09.019
 I know it's a foolish question this

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.299
 morning.

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:12.000
 On a day with low attendance in our

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.460
 church, you are here and you're

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.000
 always here.

00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:17.700
 Even Shannon is here with a brand new

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.319
 baby boy.

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.480
 She's committed to the gathered worship

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.980
 of the church.

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:23.019
 So don't take this as a question that

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.480
 that's saying, I don't think you are.

00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.519
 I know you are.

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:29.720
 But it is helpful to be reminded of how

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.700
 important it is.

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.799
 Maybe another way to ask the question

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:37.960
 is, what does it take for us to miss

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.700
 the gathered worship?

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:41.180
 I'm not saying that there's never a

00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.839
 reason to miss.

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:44.000
 I'm saying, what does it take though?

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.859
 Our priorities in worship as a church

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:49.920
 match the priorities of the church in

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.599
 Acts chapter 2.

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:52.619
 That's an important question for us.

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.000
 Gathered worship.

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.319
 Number two, Holy Spirit power.

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:59.039
 We're going to zoom through these last

00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.500
 few, okay?

00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.839
 Holy Spirit power.

00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:05.259
 Verse 43, and awe came upon every soul.

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:08.180
 Many wonders and signs were being done

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:10.859
 by the apostles, through the apostles.

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:14.160
 Let me carefully point out the

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:15.880
 conjunction in the middle of this verse.

00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:16.920
 Notice it.

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:21.640
 Awe came upon every soul and many wonders

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:24.339
 and signs were being done through the

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:24.779
 apostles.

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:29.659
 A casual reading, we would assume that the

00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:32.519
 awe that came upon every soul was only

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.720
 concerned with the many wonders and signs

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.579
 done through the apostles.

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.559
 But that's not what Luke is saying here.

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:40.259
 They certainly contributed to the awe that

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:41.419
 was experienced by the church.

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.839
 There's no doubt about that.

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:48.740
 But Luke is describing two different demonstrative works of the

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.240
 Holy Spirit.

00:32:50.199 --> 00:32:52.720
 There's the awe that came upon every soul.

00:32:52.939 --> 00:32:56.159
 And then there's the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power

00:32:56.159 --> 00:33:01.159
 through the apostles as God affirmed the gospel through signs and

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.519
 wonders.

00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:04.579
 Two different things are happening here.

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:10.659
 And while the spirit-empowered signs of the apostle certainly contributed to this awe,

00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:17.899
 the fear of the Lord that overwhelmed them was rooted in the transformative power

00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:20.359
 of the spirit at conversion.

00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:25.599
 Now, this is an often forgotten mark of the fellowship of believers.

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:35.179
 That is the power of the Holy Spirit at work by producing people who fear God and love Jesus

00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:36.799
 and obey the word.

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:40.000
 So remember, we're thinking about the koinonia of believers.

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:46.700
 If it starts with regenerate people, and we're not just calling everybody and anybody a Christian

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:48.779
 that just mentions the name of Jesus.

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:52.900
 We're talking about legitimately regenerate people as far as we can see.

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:56.180
 And that is who has gathered as the church.

00:33:56.359 --> 00:34:04.380
 What will be evident is the Holy Spirit's power at work in leading us to fear God and to love Jesus

00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:07.299
 and to love one another and to serve him.

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:13.579
 It is a transformative power that takes the life of a person who was an enemy of God and

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:19.259
 not only reconciles them to God, but radically changes who they are and how they think and

00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:21.440
 their desires and the way that they live.

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:27.779
 And we could go church by church, perhaps in our area even, and we could see lots of people

00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:33.400
 naming Jesus's name, but very little Holy Spirit power evidenced through the transformative

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.599
 work of conversion.

00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:39.259
 And we step back and we wonder, where is the power in all of this?

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:44.639
 And I think this is just another reason to emphasize the importance of regenerate partnership

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.759
 in the local church.

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:53.219
 If a church is not careful to practice biblical membership and discipline, it will inevitably

00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:58.819
 be filled with unbelievers who are utterly powerless regarding the Spirit of God.

00:34:58.820 --> 00:35:05.800
 will develop nothing more than a cultural Christianity that isn't very Christian.

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:15.200
 You know, one of the marks of a true church is people who have the Holy Spirit of God resting

00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:15.920
 on their lives.

00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:23.820
 Not in an ecstatic way, but by the ordinary means of grace, God is transforming them and he

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.820
 is sanctifying them.

00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:29.740
 And there's no doubt that something is going on in them that is unique.

00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:36.059
 And it may not be flashy and it may not be extreme, but something's working.

00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:38.660
 And we know what that thing is.

00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:42.620
 It's the Spirit of God through the gospel of God.

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:44.299
 Holy Spirit of God.

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:49.339
 That's not to diminish the awesomeness that would have come through these signs and wonders.

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:53.719
 It's just to say that we don't need the signs and wonders to see the Holy Spirit at work in

00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.279
 our church.

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:57.400
 Number three, loving care.

00:35:58.359 --> 00:35:59.000
 Loving care.

00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:04.460
 Verse 44, and all who believed were together and had all things in common.

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:10.679
 They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any

00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:12.099
 had need.

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:19.780
 It's amazing how the transformative power of the Spirit will so radically destroy our sense

00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:25.460
 of greed and selfishness and in its place put loving kindness.

00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:28.940
 That's exactly what was happening in Jerusalem.

00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:34.199
 These new Christians who've, some of them at one point were enemies even of one another,

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:37.519
 are now sharing and having all things in common.

00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:43.980
 All things in common here carries the sense of being willing to share the blessings and

00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:47.539
 possessions that God has given you with those around you.

00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:54.639
 It would be akin to having, you know, Alice and Tom over to your house this week.

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:58.720
 And in the process of that, they walk in and you say, I want you to make yourself at home.

00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:01.320
 Whatever you need, help yourself to it.

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:03.159
 What's mine is yours.

00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.960
 Whatever you need while you're here.

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.539
 It's that kind of idea.

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:09.219
 They were together and they had all things in common.

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:12.279
 Not that they put this big pot in the middle of the church.

00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:13.920
 They said, all right, everybody bring all your stuff.

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.819
 We're going to distribute it evenly.

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.440
 That's not what they were doing.

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:20.519
 They were saying, what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine.

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:22.859
 And whenever you have a need, you can help yourself to it.

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.279
 Because this isn't for me.

00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:29.420
 This is a blessing of God and it's useful to us all.

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:31.480
 But then they took it even further.

00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:37.880
 Serious financial crisis overwhelmed some of the people who belong to this fellowship of believers.

00:37:38.120 --> 00:37:44.380
 And instead of just saying, you know what, to the homeless man, I'm going to pray that God will provide you shelter.

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:50.119
 And instead of just saying to the hungry man, I'm going to pray that God will send you food.

00:37:51.240 --> 00:37:57.300
 The spirit-filled Christians sacrifice their own goods to help meet the needs of others.

00:37:57.300 --> 00:38:00.700
 And you are so faithful at doing this.

00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:02.039
 I love this about our church.

00:38:02.680 --> 00:38:08.519
 That though we're just such a small church, you're always so willing to go above and beyond in your giving.

00:38:08.620 --> 00:38:11.280
 And I know that's exactly how it's going to work out with this Christmas project.

00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.600
 I know all of those things.

00:38:12.640 --> 00:38:14.780
 But it's good to be reminded in this text.

00:38:15.780 --> 00:38:22.880
 They routinely shed their excesses to meet the needs of those who were struggling.

00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:25.280
 It wasn't government ordered.

00:38:25.560 --> 00:38:26.620
 It wasn't church ordered.

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:32.360
 It was the free generosity of God's people caring for one another.

00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:36.420
 A wonderful example of what we are to be for one another.

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:39.220
 And it was all based in love.

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:42.560
 They had experienced the loving kindness of Jesus.

00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:47.620
 And they were showing that loving kindness then in whatever way they could to one another.

00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:50.880
 Number four, routine togetherness.

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:53.080
 Routine togetherness.

00:38:54.640 --> 00:38:55.640
 Verse 46.

00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:59.579
 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.

00:38:59.699 --> 00:39:02.699
 They received their food with glad and generous hearts.

00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:06.379
 Praising God and having favor with all the people.

00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:13.200
 Most Christians these days only view their koinonia through the lens of formal worship.

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:19.039
 That is the gatherings of the church on Sunday or perhaps in other events throughout the week.

00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:21.400
 Not the early Christians.

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:30.380
 Their devotion to one another produced a togetherness that extended to every facet of their lives.

00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:35.440
 They genuinely lived as new kingdom people.

00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:39.740
 And we're going to deal with this in a lot more detail in a couple of weeks.

00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:47.140
 But we can't miss the fact that these Christians routinely built one another up in Christ as often as they could.

00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:49.340
 Day by day, we're told.

00:39:49.340 --> 00:39:50.340
 They were together.

00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.600
 They were together.

00:39:50.600 --> 00:39:59.620
 And their interactions included worship, hospitality, praising God, spurring one another along in holiness.

00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:07.539
 And I'll say, if our engagement with the local church is limited to Sunday worship and occasional events,

00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:13.199
 we are surely going to be deficient regarding what God has called us to be as his people.

00:40:14.319 --> 00:40:17.339
 It should be normal for us to host one another in our homes.

00:40:17.340 --> 00:40:26.579
 It should be routine for us to go have coffee or lunch or breakfast together just for the purpose of being together

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:30.720
 and talking about what the Lord's doing in our lives and praying together and encouraging one another.

00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:32.640
 That should be routine.

00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:39.519
 That should be something that happens all the time in our lives, not just in what we do on Sundays.

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:42.780
 It's true discipleship.

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:53.700
 True discipleship is accomplished when Christians get serious about their responsibility to help one another faithfully follow Jesus.

00:40:55.100 --> 00:40:57.140
 And of course, that happens on a Sunday.

00:40:57.920 --> 00:40:59.880
 Of course, that happens at Lakeside Connect.

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:05.060
 But I'll tell you, the places that it's going to be most impactful is sitting at the coffee shop

00:41:05.060 --> 00:41:10.720
 or sitting in one another's living rooms or going out to the golf course like I'm going to do on Wednesday with Terry.

00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:14.239
 And I'm going to get embarrassed and he's going to encourage me through the process.

00:41:15.839 --> 00:41:17.480
 That's a part of what we do.

00:41:17.839 --> 00:41:21.519
 We're together, building one another up in Christ.

00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:25.059
 Finally, instinctive evangelism.

00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:27.219
 Instinctive evangelism.

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:30.219
 Again, we'll talk about this in a lot of detail later on.

00:41:30.279 --> 00:41:31.519
 But look at verse 47.

00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:36.919
 The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:42.579
 I don't think that it is a coincidence that Luke tacked this on at the very end of this series.

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:49.519
 And I'm being very deliberate by referring to this evangelism as instinctive.

00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:58.400
 Because faithful evangelism will be the natural overflow of a life that is wholly devoted to Christ.

00:41:58.400 --> 00:42:09.639
 If we think of our evangelism mainly in terms of church programs, we will be involved as long as there's a church program.

00:42:09.880 --> 00:42:13.840
 But whenever there's not a church program, we probably won't do a lot of evangelism anymore.

00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:23.400
 The point here is that there was an instinctive, natural overflow because of all of these other things.

00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:32.940
 To which these faithful people were clearly demonstrating the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

00:42:33.180 --> 00:42:36.680
 They were routinely talking to others about the gospel.

00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:41.259
 They might not have been on a street corner with a microphone and a speaker.

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:47.699
 But something about their lives and the overflow of that came natural evangelism.

00:42:47.879 --> 00:42:49.899
 And I think that's really what we're called to do.

00:42:50.359 --> 00:42:52.119
 To love Jesus so much.

00:42:52.659 --> 00:42:55.619
 And to be so committed as his new kingdom people.

00:42:55.980 --> 00:43:01.099
 That the way we talk about the Lord is really just an overflow of our faithfulness as Christians.

00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:07.519
 So then the fellowship of believers is that koinonia that grows organically.

00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:17.019
 Not because we've manipulated something in a service or created a particular mood that will encourage people to flood an altar or whatever it may be.

00:43:18.339 --> 00:43:23.960
 Programs and marketing are tools that we can use, but they will never be the reason for church growth.

00:43:24.460 --> 00:43:27.519
 Not when we think about regenerate church growth.

00:43:27.519 --> 00:43:34.759
 That only comes as God adds people through the faithful witness of his church.

00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:38.639
 The Lord added, such as should be saved.

00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:40.900
 And we need to trust that.

00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:44.679
 And then let the overflow of our lives be one that glorifies God.

00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:45.880
 Let's wrap it up.

00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:54.460
 Too many local churches, I think, appear in contrast to what we studied in Ephesians 2.

00:43:54.460 --> 00:44:03.619
 They appear more like divided kingdoms, dysfunctional families, desolate temples.

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:08.340
 Characterized by infighting.

00:44:10.860 --> 00:44:12.920
 Without a focus on the gospel.

00:44:12.920 --> 00:44:23.139
 Not living in unity with one another, but maybe in struggles of power and style.

00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:30.300
 Part of this, I think, is because so many churches are largely composed of unbelievers

00:44:30.300 --> 00:44:36.519
 who have affiliated with a cultural form of Christianity that's not actually truly Christian.

00:44:36.519 --> 00:44:44.639
 Part of it, I think, is because Christians have failed to take their place in the fellowship of believers very seriously.

00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:50.820
 And I realize that Acts chapter 2 is what we would call a descriptive passage.

00:44:51.980 --> 00:44:54.699
 There's no formal commands here.

00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:57.199
 It's describing what this church was.

00:44:57.719 --> 00:44:58.599
 That's not irrelevant.

00:44:58.599 --> 00:45:03.480
 But someone may would confront us and say, well, that's just describing.

00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:05.860
 There's not really saying we have to do all these things.

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:10.039
 So maybe it would be helpful for us to wrap up with Hebrews chapter 10,

00:45:10.279 --> 00:45:12.860
 where these things are expressed as a command.

00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:16.839
 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 19.

00:45:17.179 --> 00:45:18.579
 I can't remember if I put it on the screen.

00:45:18.659 --> 00:45:19.579
 You can turn there if you want.

00:45:20.460 --> 00:45:21.480
 I'm going to read it.

00:45:22.819 --> 00:45:24.880
 Hebrews 10, beginning at verse 19.

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:32.460
 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

00:45:33.180 --> 00:45:36.079
 that's the redemption through the gospel, through the blood of Jesus,

00:45:36.700 --> 00:45:41.000
 by a new and living way that he has opened for us through the curtain,

00:45:41.579 --> 00:45:42.720
 that is through his flesh.

00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:46.660
 And since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:50.519
 let us draw near with a true heart,

00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:52.900
 in full assurance of faith,

00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:56.940
 with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,

00:45:57.460 --> 00:45:59.619
 and our bodies washed with pure water,

00:46:00.059 --> 00:46:01.500
 all of that's gospel focused.

00:46:02.200 --> 00:46:02.980
 And then he says,

00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:08.039
 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.

00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:10.880
 For he who promised is faithful.

00:46:11.220 --> 00:46:14.360
 In other words, be continually devoted to something.

00:46:14.780 --> 00:46:18.700
 And that something being the gospel and the implications of it.

00:46:18.699 --> 00:46:28.439
 And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and to good works,

00:46:28.859 --> 00:46:33.559
 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,

00:46:34.159 --> 00:46:36.439
 but encouraging one another,

00:46:37.219 --> 00:46:40.219
 and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

00:46:40.219 --> 00:46:43.459
 Do you see the explicitness in this?

00:46:44.639 --> 00:46:47.259
 He says, here's what Jesus has done for us.

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:49.859
 He has united us with God.

00:46:50.919 --> 00:46:54.919
 And undergirding this is the assumption that he's also united us together.

00:46:55.159 --> 00:46:58.659
 And then he also assumes that there is a temptation that we will have

00:46:58.659 --> 00:47:01.779
 to think a lot of Christ and actually very little of his people.

00:47:01.780 --> 00:47:03.600
 And he says, so let's not do that.

00:47:03.900 --> 00:47:07.280
 Let's seek to find ways to stir one another up.

00:47:07.640 --> 00:47:08.860
 And how are we doing that?

00:47:09.040 --> 00:47:12.040
 To love good works.

00:47:12.940 --> 00:47:16.540
 Not neglecting the gathering, the formal gathering,

00:47:17.260 --> 00:47:21.820
 but looking for more and more ways to do that as we see the day,

00:47:22.080 --> 00:47:25.080
 the day of judgment, the return of Christ coming near.

00:47:25.480 --> 00:47:28.680
 In other words, what is described for us in Acts chapter 2

00:47:28.679 --> 00:47:32.739
 is clearly demonstrated as command throughout the rest of the New Testament.

00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:35.659
 This is who we are in Christ.

00:47:36.839 --> 00:47:38.579
 This is what he's called us to be.

00:47:39.239 --> 00:47:40.039
 So let's be that.