WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.259 As many of you may know, the book of Acts is really the second of a two-volume set of narratives 00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:14.200 written by Luke. Luke was a Greek man. He was a doctor, actually, that accompanied the apostle 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:21.219 Paul on many of his missions endeavors. And of course, the gospel of Luke is the first volume 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:28.780 of the set, and then it is followed here by the book of Acts. And Luke's gospel begins all the way 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:34.060 at the birth of Christ. And it continues in its narrative and its telling. It continues from the 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:40.980 birth of Christ all the way through the resurrection of Jesus. And then it stops, and Luke picks back up 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:46.659 in this second volume written to the same person, Theophilus, and he picks up just after the 00:00:46.659 --> 00:00:52.840 resurrection of Jesus. And it continues all the way telling the story of how the gospel spread across 00:00:52.840 --> 00:01:00.580 the known world in the first century, particularly through the work of the apostles that Jesus had 00:01:00.580 --> 00:01:07.140 called for that specific purpose and time. So in the Old Covenant, as you read the Old Testament, 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:14.760 you see that it's the nation of Israel that God used to reflect his glory, to proclaim his truth. 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:23.580 But then when we get to the New Testament, the New Covenant, Jesus establishes the church to accomplish 00:01:23.580 --> 00:01:29.859 that task. It's no longer Israel that he's using to reflect who he is and to demonstrate his goodness 00:01:29.859 --> 00:01:35.880 to the world, to preach his word to the world. It's not them anymore. Now it's the church. It's a 00:01:35.880 --> 00:01:44.680 New Covenant people in the church. So Acts then doesn't only tell us how the gospel spread across the world, 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:52.520 but it tells us the story of how the church began. So in chapter one, we see Jesus after his 00:01:52.520 --> 00:01:58.700 resurrection ascends back to heaven. And as he ascends back to heaven, he gives a reiteration in 00:01:58.700 --> 00:02:05.200 some sense of the great commission and what the apostles would then continue to do. And he promises 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:10.520 his return. Remember, as he disappears into the heavens, it's the angels that appear and they say, 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:17.640 why stand you gazing? This same Jesus, who have you have seen ascend, will return likewise? That's an 00:02:17.640 --> 00:02:24.340 amazing promise. It's an important promise to the church. But it's not time for that because he had a 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:31.060 commission for the church, a commission for these apostles. And then when we see in chapter two, at the 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:39.340 conclusion of this, we see the Holy Spirit descend upon those apostles. Jesus promised that would be the 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:45.360 case. Remember, all the disciples in the gospel of John, they were actually terrified. They were sad 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:51.640 because Jesus kept talking about his departure. But Jesus said, no, you don't understand. It's good for 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:58.640 you that I leave. That blows our minds a little bit, doesn't it? How could it be good for us for Jesus to 00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:04.980 leave? Because he said, I'm going to send the helper to you, the comforter. And he's going to remind you of 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:10.780 all of these things I taught. He's going to give you power to do the work that I have called you to do. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.799 And he's going to continue to work. And we see that happening in chapter two at the beginning, 00:03:14.959 --> 00:03:21.280 the Holy Spirit descends on the people. We see this really incredible scene as they are gifted to speak 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:26.079 in languages that people from all over the world were able to understand in their own tongue. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:33.500 And then Peter preaches his first sermon. Perhaps it was his greatest sermon. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:39.680 Certainly, as far as we can tell in the scriptures, it was his most fruitful sermon, at least immediately. 00:03:40.600 --> 00:03:47.560 He preached about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And 3,000 people came to know Christ 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:55.939 that day. It's amazing. And then we get to these final verses in the chapter. And we see the start 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:04.460 of the very first local church. This is how it began. And what we have in these verses at the end 00:04:04.460 --> 00:04:12.560 of chapter two is a description of the church at its purest moment. Its purest moment. It has not yet 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:19.699 been defiled by false teaching. It has not yet been corrupted by sins within the church. It's not going 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:24.779 to take long for that to happen. But at this point, it hasn't happened yet. It's at its purest moment. 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:33.359 And I believe it's a snapshot for us of what it means to be a God-glorifying, Christ-centered, 00:04:34.359 --> 00:04:42.219 Spirit-empowered church. It's not comprehensive. That's why we have the rest of the New Testament. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:49.719 It helps us fill in some of those other gaps. But it does provide the vital signs that determine 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:53.800 the overall health of the body. So that's really what we're thinking of this morning. 00:04:55.200 --> 00:05:02.220 We're taking a well visit to the scriptures today. We don't really have a particular problem in mind. 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:09.040 We're just checking the vital signs. What does it take to make sure that our overall health is headed in 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.280 the right direction? That's what we want to look at. That's what we want to examine this morning. 00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:20.340 So the focus of the message really comes from a single phrase in verse 42. Get it with me again. 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:32.339 Luke wrote that these new believers devoted themselves. They devoted themselves to four essential elements 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:41.179 of a healthy church. And it's the devotion to the things in verse 42 that then produces all the things 00:05:41.179 --> 00:05:50.039 in verse 43 to verse 47. This is important here. A literal reading of this phrase, it's reflected, 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:53.379 if you have a new American standard with you today, you'll see it's already reflected this way. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:06:02.000 It says they were continually devoting themselves. They were continually devoting themselves. It's not 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:10.480 that they devoted themselves in a single moment and then it kind of wore off. No, they continued in 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:19.860 these things. The phrase itself denotes a steadfast, single-minded devotion to a particular 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:26.460 course of action. And so as the Holy Spirit is empowering the apostles and then he's falling 00:06:26.460 --> 00:06:31.800 on this early church, 3,000 people get saved. They unite together as the first local church. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:37.840 And what the product of that Holy Spirit-empowered group of people was, is this devotion to these 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:43.920 four things. Continually, steadfast, committed together to a single course of action that's 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:52.400 been described for us in the rest of verse 42. You all know that Julie and I love the music of Keith 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:56.900 and Kristen Getty very much. Mary asked us this morning, she's been listening to our church playlist 00:06:56.900 --> 00:07:01.879 on Spotify and she said, where do you find all this Irish music? It's like, I just love Irish music. 00:07:02.340 --> 00:07:07.580 And of course, that's what the Gettys are and we produce that. They just produced a new album. It came 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:13.759 out last week and we were driving down the road with the girls one day this week, I think, and we were 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:19.899 listening to the new album. And they did a new arrangement and recording of Amazing Grace on it. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:28.259 And they did it in partnership with Dana Masters, who for, I don't know, a decade or so has been 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:37.399 traveling and singing with Van Morrison. And then they also had Kirk Whalum, who is a saxophone player. 00:07:37.979 --> 00:07:45.339 You may not know who he is, but you have certainly heard him play. It was Kirk Whalum that played the 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:51.479 saxophone solo on Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. So you've heard him play before. So we're 00:07:51.479 --> 00:07:57.419 talking, we're talking three massively talented people and musicians. And we were just talking about 00:07:57.419 --> 00:08:02.120 that as we were driving, just how good they are, how good they are at what they do. And that just led 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:06.120 into other conversations. And Julie spoke up and she said, you know, I heard the other day, 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:12.840 Kristen Getty posted something about how she was working with her vocal coach. And she said, 00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:17.720 I was really surprised that after all of these years of being a professional musician and singer, 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:22.620 she's so good that she still has to have a vocal coach. But when you think about it, 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:29.680 it's really not that surprising, is it? The best musicians continually devote themselves to the 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:34.879 fundamentals of music, to the fundamentals of singing, to the fundamentals of their courses. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:40.180 They need coaches around them. They need people that will help them stay focused, continually devoted to 00:08:40.180 --> 00:08:47.279 those things. And in the same sense, a healthy church remains continually devoted to the fundamental 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:54.799 truths of the Bible, to the fundamental elements of what it means to be a healthy church. And at its 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:02.659 purest moment in history, perhaps, it was these four things that the church was most committed to doing. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:10.459 And as we celebrate today, we want to look at these characteristics and measure ourselves against 00:09:10.459 --> 00:09:19.079 the Word of God. Is Lakeside Bible Church continually devoted to the same things that we find true of this 00:09:19.079 --> 00:09:24.579 church? And we're going to get to the particulars of that devotion in a moment. But let's start first 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:30.780 with the prerequisites of devotion. The prerequisites of devotion. Look with me at verse 41. 00:09:32.280 --> 00:09:41.900 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls. 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:48.560 Before we spend time looking at the marks of a healthy church in verse 42, we have to first understand 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:57.019 what a church is according to verse 41. Because bringing a group of people together and establishing 00:09:57.019 --> 00:10:04.039 an organization, slapping a label of church on it, is not what actually makes a church a church. 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:10.939 You don't start a clothing store by building a bread factory and selling bread, right? 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:16.240 But there are some people that think that a church is really nothing more than a group of random people 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.240 that have some common interests, and they get together, and they say that they're a church. 00:10:19.380 --> 00:10:24.340 And there are many churches, maybe even in our very Christianized culture here in the greater 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:28.160 Charlotte area, that really, they're not real churches. They're not real churches. 00:10:30.160 --> 00:10:37.440 They say they are, but they haven't actually met the prerequisites of what a true church is. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:40.900 So what exactly is it that brought these people together? 00:10:42.900 --> 00:10:53.620 What is it that set them apart? What makes a church a church? And what makes you a part of a church? 00:10:54.980 --> 00:11:02.660 Because merely identifying with a local church does not constitute being a true member of Christ's church. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:09.319 So let's think about that. There's three features of this here, just in verse 41. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:14.159 The first thing, what makes a church a church? They were converted. They were converted. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:21.399 Look with me again. Those who received His word. They received His word. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:27.959 It wasn't a desire to create another religious sect within Judaism that brought these people together. 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:36.440 They were bound together and united first because of their repentance and faith in Christ. 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:45.080 By God's grace, they heard the gospel preached, and the God opened their hearts to understand it, 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:52.820 and then they then received that word by faith. In other words, they were converted to Christ. 00:11:52.820 --> 00:12:02.900 They became true believers. And it was this work of God's salvation that made them a part of the church. 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:10.500 So then the church is not man's idea, nor is it the product of man's devices. 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:20.600 But the church is made up of the people of God who have been radically saved by the grace of God. 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:24.920 But what exactly was it that they received? 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:30.659 What exactly was it about this word that they received that made them a church? 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:38.680 It was the gospel. It was the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection preached by Peter. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:44.740 And I'll leave it to you to read the whole sermon or sermon summary as it's presented here in Acts chapter 2, 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:47.620 but let's just walk through a couple of the main features. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:52.039 First, Peter preached the death and resurrection of Christ. 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:55.940 Look with me at verse 22. Acts 2, 22. 00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:57.860 Here's Peter. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:02.360 Men of Israel, hear these words. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:10.100 Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:12.460 that God did through him in your midst. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:22.320 As you yourselves know, this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.220 you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:35.460 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:38.240 What's the first feature of Peter's sermon? 00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:40.480 The death and resurrection of Christ. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:43.280 Men of Israel, hear this. 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:49.360 This Jesus that you saw, you heard, you witnessed the signs and wonders 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.920 that can be attributed to no one but God. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:55.259 You crucified him, but before you get too excited about that, 00:13:55.400 --> 00:13:58.280 it was because of the determinative will of the Father. 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:01.440 He delivered him into your hands for a purpose. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.860 For a purpose. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:05.980 But he doesn't get into the purpose yet. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:08.460 He moved straight to resurrection. 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.159 God raised him up. 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:14.300 God raised him up. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:15.940 Why? 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.800 Because death had no claim on him. 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.779 This is amazing. 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.180 This is amazing. 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:25.279 Listen, why was Jesus raised? 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:27.180 Because he couldn't stay dead. 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.039 He had no sin for which to pay. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:35.399 Death literally had no claim on him. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:38.059 He did not die because he was a sinner. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:42.240 He laid his life down in the place of sinners. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.699 And Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost after receiving the Holy Spirit. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.319 And what's the first thing he says? 00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:53.019 Men of Israel, listen, this Jesus that you crucified, God raised him up. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:55.980 And the reason he raised him up is because he's God. 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:57.319 He's perfect. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:59.879 Death had no claim on him. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.100 What's Peter preaching? 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.039 The gospel. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.799 That's the gospel. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:06.659 That Jesus died for our sins. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:10.200 And that he rose from the dead to give us life. 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:12.240 But he didn't stop there. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.439 It continues. 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:17.120 He focused on the death and resurrection. 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:23.559 Then he moved on to describing Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:26.239 Look at verse 36. 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:34.519 Let all the house of Israel, therefore, know for certain that God has made him both. 00:15:34.619 --> 00:15:35.819 What's the next three words? 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:39.219 Lord and Christ. 00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:42.139 This Jesus, in case they had forgotten. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.979 This Jesus whom you crucified. 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.739 He is Lord. 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.239 He is the Christ. 00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.619 He's the Messiah. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:55.340 He's the Savior, the Redeemer, the Son of Man, the one you've been waiting for. 00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:56.519 It is him. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.159 He is Lord and Savior. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:02.700 There are plenty of people that want to see Jesus as Savior. 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:04.580 Not as many want to see him as Lord. 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:08.200 Peter says there's no salvation apart from his Lordship. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.840 There's no salvation apart from his Messiahship. 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.560 This is who Jesus is. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.519 And it's not that we make him our Savior. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.419 It's not that we make him our Lord. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:20.379 It's that we recognize that he is the Lord. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.539 We recognize that he is the Savior. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.039 But he doesn't stop there. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.460 He continues on. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:31.919 After the death and resurrection, after the Lordship and Messiahship of Christ, 00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:35.039 he gives a response of faith. 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:37.379 He exhorts them to believe. 00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:39.460 Look at verse 37. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:44.780 Now, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:48.860 Now, before we move forward, why were they cut to the heart? 00:16:50.280 --> 00:16:53.940 Was it because Peter was just so eloquent? 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.759 No. 00:16:56.780 --> 00:16:58.900 That's actually part of what blew their minds. 00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:01.840 You see it again in Acts chapter 4. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.120 Peter preaches the gospel. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:08.439 And it's the Sanhedrin that's blown away because they look at him and John and they say, 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.979 these are unlearned men. 00:17:10.679 --> 00:17:11.719 These are fishermen. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:14.079 There's no eloquence in Peter. 00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:16.000 What's happening here? 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.979 Why are they cut to the heart? 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:19.399 It's not because of Peter. 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:22.459 It's the grace of God at work. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.979 That's what he does with the gospel. 00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:28.259 When we take the gospel and we preach the gospel, 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:30.019 what does the Holy Spirit then do? 00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:33.399 He cuts the hearts of those who hear the gospel. 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.600 That's his work. 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.180 Verse 37. 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.780 Now, those who heard, they were cut to the heart. 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:40.800 And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 00:17:41.080 --> 00:17:42.420 brothers, what shall we do? 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.540 What do we do? 00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.259 And Peter said to them, 00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:55.780 repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:58.980 The forgiveness of sins doesn't come as a result of the baptism. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:02.580 The forgiveness of sin comes as a result of the name of Jesus Christ. 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.080 And then he says, 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.960 and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.620 And then there's this fantastic promise. 00:18:09.040 --> 00:18:10.700 This promise is for you. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:11.840 And then who else? 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.920 And for your children. 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:17.480 And for all who are far off, 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:19.560 everyone whom the Lord, 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:22.040 our God calls to himself. 00:18:22.540 --> 00:18:23.620 What does that mean? 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:31.899 This call is as much for us as it was for those people in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:36.739 This same Jesus who died and rose again, 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.959 he's to be our Lord and Savior too. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:44.779 And when we're cut to the heart by the gospel and we find ourselves asking, 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:46.200 what am I supposed to do? 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.600 We do what Peter says, 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:49.620 repent and believe the gospel. 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.980 This is always the message in the Bible. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.620 It's what Jesus himself preached. 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.860 We've talked about it so many times in Mark. 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.960 Mark chapter one, 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.640 verse 15. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.880 Jesus came into the region of Galilee. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.680 He was going around and what was he preaching? 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.840 The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:05.699 It is near you. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:08.899 Repent and believe the good news. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:14.199 Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.619 1 Corinthians 15. 00:19:17.459 --> 00:19:18.639 Let me read it to you. 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:26.399 Now I would remind you brothers of the gospel that I preached to you. 00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:28.579 The gospel, good news, 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:31.000 the good news that I brought to you of Jesus, 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:33.019 which you received. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.679 There's that receiving again. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:39.759 The people he preached to in Corinth received the word that he had and in which you stand 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.379 and by which you are being saved. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.000 Here's what it is. 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:49.859 That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:56.319 That he was buried and that he raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.359 What's that all about? 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.899 It's always the message. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.500 It's the message of Jesus. 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.679 It was the message of Peter in Acts 2. 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:05.279 It was the message of Paul in the Corinthian setting. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.259 It was the message of all the apostles. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:16.660 Jesus Christ, he has died for our sins and he has raised for our justification to give us life. 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:19.340 What is it about this gospel? 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:25.079 Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans chapter 1 that he wasn't ashamed of this gospel. 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:25.519 Why? 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:32.559 Because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.679 Why do we preach the gospel? 00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:37.379 Why did Peter preach the gospel? 00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:39.399 Because it's the power of God. 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.679 The only way you will ever be saved. 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:44.399 The only way you will ever have your sins forgiven. 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:51.019 The only way you will ever get eternal life is through faith in the gospel of Christ. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:55.940 It is his power at work through the gospel. 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:01.259 So God's people are not those who sign membership forms. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.900 God's people are not those who regularly attend worship services. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:10.500 They're not those who live morally acceptable lives. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:15.460 Because today nobody really understands what morally acceptable actually is. 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:31.539 A true church is made up of those who by God's grace have heard the gospel, believe the gospel, and followed Jesus because of the gospel. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.519 That's what salvation is. 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.400 There's nothing else. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.299 There's nothing less. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:44.240 Churches are full of people that identify as Christians. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.279 Christians but have never actually received this word. 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.120 Are you one of them? 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:57.759 You say you're a Christian but you have not yet received this word. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:01.240 Come to Jesus today. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.339 Come to him. 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:06.799 Believe the gospel today. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.900 He'll forgive your sin. 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:13.240 He'll rescue your soul from hell. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:17.279 He'll freely give you eternal life. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:20.940 And he'll make you a member of his glorious church. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.380 Otherwise, you're a pretender. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.160 You're a pretender. 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:29.200 But you don't have to be a pretender. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:32.480 What is a true church? 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:36.480 It's made of people that are actually converted to Christ. 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.500 Not people playing games. 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:42.600 Not people who just want to be involved religiously in some form or fashion. 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:48.680 But people who have heard the gospel, believe the gospel, and follow Christ because of the gospel. 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:51.360 But it wasn't just that they were converted. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.680 We also see that they were confessing. 00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:56.360 They were confessing. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.400 Look back at verse 41. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:23:01.560 Those who received his word were baptized. 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.080 They were baptized. 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:10.220 Now, the fact that they were baptized, immediately following their conversion, is really important. 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:13.360 Jesus actually commanded this. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:15.440 We talked about it last Sunday night in the Great Commission. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:18.860 Jesus said, go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:28.859 And he said, one of the ways that you'll go about making disciples is by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:33.979 Some Christian traditions will distort this. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:37.899 They'll say that baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:41.199 But that's not at all what Jesus or the apostles were teaching. 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.879 Baptism does not produce salvation. 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:48.159 Baptism is a public declaration. 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:53.919 That a person has received the gospel by faith and has become a follower of Jesus. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.839 It's a confession. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:24:03.519 Not a confession in the sense of confessing sin, but of professing that I am now a follower of Christ. 00:24:03.719 --> 00:24:04.959 He has saved me. 00:24:05.199 --> 00:24:08.279 I have abandoned everything else, and I am following him. 00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:10.019 It's not something that saves you. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:12.539 It's something that you do because you are saved. 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:14.079 It's a declaration. 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:15.839 It's a confession. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.119 And this was a dramatic step of obedience for these people. 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:25.599 For many of them, it likely led to them being cut off from their families. 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:32.500 The Jews practiced a form of baptism, but it wasn't for Jews. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:40.579 The baptism that would most closely relate to what is happening here, John's baptism in particular, 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:46.099 it was reserved for Gentiles, people who were not a part of the people of God. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:48.200 They were outside of the covenant people. 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:51.220 Well, Jews believe they were already a part of the covenant people. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:53.099 They didn't have to be baptized in this way. 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:55.099 It was reserved for Gentile proselytes. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:59.779 So if there was a Gentile that had determined to proselytize to Judaism, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:04.859 they would go through a baptism that would be a confession that that's what they were doing. 00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:09.359 They were leaving behind the defilements of their past in order to become a Jew. 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:14.740 So for a Jew to be baptized in this way in the name of Jesus was them saying, 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:17.859 as a Jew, I'm on the outside of the covenant. 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:21.839 As an Israelite, I don't belong to God. 00:25:22.979 --> 00:25:26.019 Therefore, through Christ, I must confess him. 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.639 And I have confessed him. 00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:29.079 That's what this baptism was. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.539 This was a big deal. 00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:32.000 It's a big deal. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.979 It's also helpful to remember here. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:41.859 There were no church buildings in Jerusalem at this point. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:43.839 They didn't come for a long time after this, actually. 00:25:44.719 --> 00:25:46.240 So how were these people actually baptized? 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:48.240 In the middle of the city of Jerusalem. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:52.740 Well, because there's mikvahs everywhere in Jerusalem. 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:57.700 Places where they would go through ceremonial clean cleansings for various things, 00:25:57.779 --> 00:26:01.279 things that they would have to do as a part of their obedience to the Mosaic covenant, 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.319 the Mosaic law. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.579 They're all over Jerusalem. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.640 3,000 people scattered around to these mikvahs, 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:09.779 along with the apostles who are now 12 again. 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:17.039 And the apostles are baptizing them publicly in the town squares with all of their family, 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:20.859 with all the people that they know around going about their daily business. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:24.639 Now here comes Faye into the mikvah in the middle of the city. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:27.519 She's been a Jew, but now she's converted to Christ. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:30.819 And as Peter stands with her in the mikvah, he says, 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:36.900 Faye has trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, to be a part of his kingdom people. 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:41.220 And she is now being baptized to represent her faith in Christ. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:43.440 This meant something huge. 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.539 It was public. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:46.059 It was a declaration. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.279 That's what this baptism was. 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:50.220 They were confessing. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:54.319 It was a sign that these people had truly believed the gospel 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:57.539 and they were willing to publicly identify with Jesus, 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:59.860 no matter the personal cost. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.319 And there was great personal cost. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:09.140 And it may not have that same cultural impact in North Carolina 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:12.279 as it still does in some other places around the world. 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:15.539 But we still practice believer's baptism. 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.240 Why? 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.100 In obedience to Christ. 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:22.900 And to confess our faith in him. 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.759 It's part of what makes a church a church. 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.180 And then there's a third thing. 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.440 They were converted. 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.079 They were confessing. 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.440 They were committed. 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.600 Committed. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.440 Look at the verse again, verse 41. 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.519 So those who received his word were baptized 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:41.920 and they were added that day about 3,000 souls. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.559 They were added, Luke says. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.839 What does he mean? 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.799 What were they added to? 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.680 Well, he clearly means the church. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.079 They weren't only converted. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:58.059 They weren't only confessing their faith. 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:04.559 But they immediately committed themselves in fellowship with other believers. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:07.599 I think this is important too. 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:11.940 Because the Bible knows nothing of an isolated form of Christianity. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:21.019 God intends for us as faithful disciples to function within the context of a local church. 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:30.259 And it's within this commitment to the local church that all four of the essentials in verse 42 that I promise we're going to get to 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:33.920 can only happen within the context of the church. 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:42.819 If there's no commitment to a body, you can't have any of the things in verse 42 that describe the purity of this gathering and this people. 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:45.480 You know, you have to think about these three things. 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:48.980 Remember, we're thinking about the prerequisites of this devotion. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:51.839 They were converted. 00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.500 They're confessing. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.740 They are committed. 00:28:56.599 --> 00:29:00.879 Take just one of those things away and you can't have a true faithful church. 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:06.220 Now, I don't mean that different views on baptism would prevent you from being a true church. 00:29:06.280 --> 00:29:07.060 That's not what I mean by that. 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.160 I'm talking about the confession. 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:12.820 If you take away the confession and all you have is conversion and commitment, 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:15.980 well, nobody knows what you're actually committed to. 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.240 It takes confession. 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:23.260 What's the things that we're declaring to this world as they drive by every Sunday when they see us here? 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.360 Lakeside Bible Church. 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:28.300 They may not know this, but what we're declaring is that we are followers of Christ. 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:32.940 And we gather Sunday by Sunday to worship him, to hear from him. 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:36.599 Without that, without the confession, you can't have a true church. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:43.700 You're just a bunch of Christians that get together for a gathering, for clubs, for social things, whatever it is. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.319 All right, you take conversion out. 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.299 It's not a true church. 00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:50.720 It's just a bunch of pretenders. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.759 Take commitment out and there's never actually anybody together. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:55.980 You see? 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:59.279 Before you can be a devoted church, you have to actually be a church. 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.940 And what is a church? 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:09.039 It's a group of people that are true believers in Christ, that are confessing their faith in Christ to the world around them, 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:12.940 and that are committed to one another to glorify him. 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:17.059 Well, let's look at the particulars now. 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.120 Particulars in verse 42. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:31.500 The full description that summarizes the character of the church. 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:39.299 It goes all the way to the end of the chapter, but it's the four particulars in verse 42 that really lay the foundation. 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:43.779 It's not that the other things don't matter or that they're less important. 00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:49.659 Generosity, hospitality, corporate worship, all of those things are indicated in those other verses. 00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:51.379 It's not that they're less important. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:55.559 It's that they flow first from the things in verse 42. 00:30:55.559 --> 00:31:02.379 Without the continual devotion to these four things, none of the other things would actually take place. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:08.000 And look, you know, we could spend weeks on each one of these, and I'm just going to barely touch on each one of them, okay? 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:10.700 We're doing a quick flyby here, okay? 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:11.599 Number one. 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.480 What's the essential first? 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.039 The preaching of the Bible. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:17.220 The preaching of the Bible. 00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:22.779 They continually devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:27.339 The backbone of a healthy Christian life is teaching. 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:38.480 And these 3,000 souls that were saved in Jerusalem immediately committed themselves, devoted themselves to the regular preaching of the apostles. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:42.039 What exactly was it that the apostles were teaching? 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:45.299 It wasn't a collection of their own thoughts. 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:48.139 It wasn't a collection of their own ideas. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:50.099 They're preaching the Bible. 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:55.740 Acts chapter 2, Peter's sermon is an exposition of the prophet Joel. 00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:57.879 You can go back and read the whole thing. 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.700 He reads Joel. 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:01.159 He explains Joel. 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:04.659 He does a cross-reference with Psalms, and then he applies it to the people. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:08.980 He's preaching the Old Testament prophet of Joel. 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.059 He's preaching the Bible. 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:12.960 They expounded upon the Old Testament scriptures. 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:19.480 And in doing that, they were always explaining how Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:23.839 That the Old Testament proves it, points to Christ, to Jesus. 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.159 They taught what Jesus taught. 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:35.159 The distinctive feature of the New Testament church is that it was continually devoted to the preaching of the Bible. 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:46.640 And to be a biblically healthy church, we must put a premium on the faithful exposition, explanation, and exhortation of the Word of God. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:50.380 Our health begins there. 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:58.300 If our overall health is going to continue going in the same direction, we've got to stay committed continually to the preaching of the Bible. 00:32:58.299 --> 00:33:11.859 But just as a quick word of caution, we need to make sure that our devotion is to the truth of the message, not to the style of the messenger. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:18.719 I feel even silly even saying this because I know that you're not committed to the style of the messenger. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.399 You'll be somewhere else if you were. 00:33:22.459 --> 00:33:24.240 But what is it that we're actually committed to? 00:33:24.399 --> 00:33:27.079 What is it actually that has the power to do anything in our lives? 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:29.219 It's not how I say something. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:33.620 It's not any kind of eloquence on my lips or in my words. 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.259 It is the power of the Word. 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:38.360 It is the authority of God's Word. 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:46.339 Alistair Begg said the significance of preaching is not in the power of the personality, gifts, or background of the one who speaks, 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:49.640 but in the authority of the message that is conveyed. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:56.920 And the only authoritative teaching in the church is that which comes directly from the Word of God. 00:33:56.920 --> 00:34:00.360 That's why we named our church Lakeside Bible Church. 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:03.140 We had people a little upset at me about that. 00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:06.300 Not in our church, but others, friends. 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:09.099 They thought we should have been Lakeside Baptist Church. 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:10.000 And I'm Baptist. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.760 I am. 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.599 But what I care about is the Scripture. 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:24.519 We want this to be unmistakable to those on the outside of our church that what we care about is the Scripture. 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:31.699 And we need to be reminded every week on the inside of the church that what we need to continue in is the Scripture. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:34.059 Not what the Baptists are doing. 00:34:34.579 --> 00:34:36.340 Not what the Presbyterians are doing. 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:40.519 But what God has said eternally for us to do. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:41.559 It's who we are. 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:43.239 We're putting a premium on it. 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:46.820 Number two, the partnership of the church. 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.539 The partnership of the church. 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.780 Look back at verse 42. 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:54.480 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship. 00:34:55.700 --> 00:34:56.860 I love this word. 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.320 I love it. 00:34:59.340 --> 00:34:59.700 Koinonia. 00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:02.120 Koinonia is the word here, the Greek word. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:09.720 Usually in English, it's translated throughout the New Testament as either fellowship, partnership, or sharing. 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:15.480 Sometimes Paul used it to refer to, like, the gifts that the Philippians had sent to him on his missionary journeys. 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:20.440 He referred to that as a partnership with him, as a koinonia with him. 00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:27.480 And I want to show you a definition from Bill Mounce, who is a New Testament Greek scholar, because I like his definition. 00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:31.500 He summarized the use of koinonia in the New Testament in this way. 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.400 Here's what it is. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:32.960 All right? 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.280 You ready? 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.179 Here's what it is. 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:46.599 Partnership, fellowship, the close association between persons, emphasizing what is common between them. 00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.659 All right? 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.619 Hope's with me. 00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.659 She's with me on it. 00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.799 Let me say it one more time. 00:35:51.699 --> 00:36:03.000 Fellowship, partnership, the close association between persons, emphasizing what is common between them. 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.919 So what does it mean that these new Christians 00:36:05.919 --> 00:36:07.980 were continually devoted to the fellowship? 00:36:08.299 --> 00:36:11.279 It means they were continually devoted to one another. 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:16.199 They're continually devoted to one another, the church. 00:36:17.419 --> 00:36:19.299 They entered a unique partnership 00:36:19.299 --> 00:36:23.919 that emphasized what was common between them 00:36:23.919 --> 00:36:26.219 and what was common between them. 00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:30.379 Their conversion, their confession, 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.259 and their commitment. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:33.719 It's amazing. 00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:38.440 John writes about this in his first epistle. 00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.960 1 John 1, verse 3. 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.679 That which we have seen and heard, 00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:46.119 we proclaim also to you, that is the gospel, 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:51.299 so that you may have koinonia with us, 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.759 koinonia with us. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:57.539 And indeed, our koinonia is with the Father 00:36:57.539 --> 00:37:00.019 and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:01.679 Did you catch that? 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:06.519 He and the other apostles preached the gospel of Jesus 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:11.299 so that others could have koinonia, partnership, fellowship with them. 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:16.019 And then he reminded the readers that what makes us koinonia with one another 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:20.359 is the fact that we have first been made koinonia with God. 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:23.539 And how have we been made koinonia with God? 00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:27.539 Through the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:32.920 In other words, the church is not merely a group of religious fanatics. 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:39.180 It is the very people of God that have been saved by the sovereign grace of God. 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:42.899 He has brought us into partnership together 00:37:42.899 --> 00:37:47.279 because He has first brought us in fellowship with Him. 00:37:47.399 --> 00:37:49.839 It starts vertically with Him. 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:53.460 And because of that, He then brings us together like this. 00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:54.699 I love this so much. 00:37:54.839 --> 00:37:56.299 I love it so much we put on a t-shirt. 00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:58.199 You can go buy the t-shirt today. 00:37:58.460 --> 00:38:01.919 And on the back of it, it's got this verse on it to remind us of what this is. 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.940 And it's for this reason. 00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:05.299 I think we need to stop referring to this as church membership. 00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:07.579 I think we need to start calling it in our church. 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.199 I'm being serious. 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:12.539 I think we need to start calling it church partnership or church fellowship. 00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:13.119 Why? 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.500 Because that's what we are. 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:16.940 And as we move forward by God's grace, 00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:19.139 it's only going to be as we're checking the vitals, 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.079 not only that we are preaching the Bible, 00:38:21.279 --> 00:38:24.239 but we are committed to the partnership of the local church. 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:26.019 Quickly, the last two. 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:28.799 Number three, the practice of ordinances. 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:32.239 The practice of ordinances. 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:36.599 To the breaking of bread, Luke writes, 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:40.779 which is a reference to the Lord's Supper that we'll observe in just a moment. 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:46.739 Shows that these new Christians, under the leadership of the apostles, 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:51.039 were continually devoted to the practice of gospel ordinances. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.460 What does that mean? 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:57.119 They're ordinances because Jesus has ordered the church to do them. 00:38:58.159 --> 00:39:03.039 They're gospel ordinances because they symbolize the gospel, 00:39:03.159 --> 00:39:05.099 the death, resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:06.380 And there's two of them. 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:07.960 Baptism. 00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:10.179 We know they were regularly observing that. 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:12.199 And the Lord's table. 00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:15.239 They're signs of the new covenant. 00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:21.000 Baptism is the sign that brings a new believer into the fellowship of the church. 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:29.019 And the Lord's Supper is the perpetual sign that continues to identify those who belong to God's church. 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:33.179 And depending on what Christian tradition you're a part of, 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:35.400 one may be emphasized more than the other. 00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:39.760 Many times in the Baptist circles, baptism, of course, is emphasized, 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:42.440 but maybe sometimes to the neglect of the Lord's table. 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:46.820 Maybe if you have a Presbyterian background, that's flip-flopped around a little bit. 00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:49.019 But the early church was committed to both. 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:55.820 And it's interesting here that Luke puts it here in verse 42 as one of the essential vital signs of a church. 00:39:56.140 --> 00:39:56.600 Why? 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:59.440 Because it keeps our focus on Christ and the gospel. 00:40:00.140 --> 00:40:02.580 And we need to routinely commit ourselves to it. 00:40:03.100 --> 00:40:05.120 Finally, number four, the prayers. 00:40:06.080 --> 00:40:06.600 The prayers. 00:40:09.460 --> 00:40:13.000 Prayer is one of the most crucial of the Christian practices. 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:19.380 It's also one of the most neglected of the Christian disciplines. 00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:28.079 It's not really surprising that it's listed here as something the church in Jerusalem was continually devoted to. 00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:31.579 I mentioned Acts chapter four a while ago. 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:33.000 Would you just flip a page over? 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:34.360 I'm not going to read this whole thing to you. 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:35.380 I'm just going to read one verse. 00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:38.079 Peter and John have been preaching the gospel. 00:40:38.219 --> 00:40:41.019 They healed a man by God's grace, the spirit of Christ. 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:45.460 The Sanhedrin didn't appreciate that, so they brought them in for questioning. 00:40:46.219 --> 00:40:49.780 Some people wanted them martyred at this point. 00:40:51.239 --> 00:40:52.519 That wasn't God's plan. 00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:55.579 They questioned them and ultimately decided to let them go. 00:40:55.659 --> 00:41:00.099 But they told them, if you keep preaching Jesus, we're going to do something about it. 00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.920 We're going to stop you. 00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:05.559 And immediately after leaving that, they go to the church in Jerusalem. 00:41:05.739 --> 00:41:07.340 They gather around with some other believers. 00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:08.900 And they begin to pray. 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.360 Begin to pray. 00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:14.099 In fact, the prayer begins in verse 24. 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:16.159 Here's what they prayed. 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:19.259 When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, 00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:23.099 Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 00:41:23.299 --> 00:41:26.980 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, 00:41:27.359 --> 00:41:30.339 why did the Gentiles rage and the people's plot in vain? 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:35.599 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. 00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:40.339 For truly in this city they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, 00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:46.119 whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, 00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:49.299 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:56.839 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:58.900 while you stretch out your hand to heal, 00:41:58.900 --> 00:42:03.119 and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:04.599 What a prayer! 00:42:06.240 --> 00:42:07.460 And what happened, verse 31? 00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:09.320 And when they had prayed, 00:42:10.160 --> 00:42:12.599 the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, 00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:15.860 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:19.240 and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 00:42:21.700 --> 00:42:24.079 God responds to our prayers with great power. 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:29.480 And this is just one of very, very many instances in the scripture that tell us that. 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:31.739 You say, does God still respond that way? 00:42:35.159 --> 00:42:39.299 To be honest, I don't know that I've ever prayed fervently enough to find out. 00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:46.579 But why would we ever expect that God wouldn't show his power 00:42:46.579 --> 00:42:51.699 as his church fervently prays for his hand to work? 00:42:52.139 --> 00:42:53.500 Why wouldn't we expect that? 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:57.319 And as we're doing this evaluation, 00:43:00.340 --> 00:43:02.360 and as we're checking off our boxes, 00:43:04.039 --> 00:43:06.199 you know, I think we're doing a great job at preaching the Bible. 00:43:06.659 --> 00:43:07.960 I think we have a focus on that. 00:43:09.840 --> 00:43:13.380 I think all in all, we have a great partnership with the church. 00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:14.279 We love each other. 00:43:14.340 --> 00:43:15.619 There's unity in our church right now. 00:43:15.639 --> 00:43:16.219 It's fantastic. 00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:21.980 We're observing the ordinances more regularly now than we ever have. 00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:28.240 If there's one thing I think that probably we should give some attention, 00:43:28.820 --> 00:43:30.860 it's to the prayers. 00:43:30.860 --> 00:43:34.599 And I don't mean your private prayer. 00:43:36.260 --> 00:43:37.880 I mean our prayers together. 00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:40.300 Our corporate prayer. 00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:44.519 And I don't know exactly how that should look in our church right now. 00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:46.680 But I think we need to figure it out. 00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:48.580 I think we need to figure it out. 00:43:48.640 --> 00:43:48.840 Why? 00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:52.280 Because the health of our church moving forward depends on it. 00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:53.660 Depends on it. 00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:59.200 We don't want to do great in three areas and slack off in one. 00:43:59.199 --> 00:43:59.719 No. 00:44:00.059 --> 00:44:01.559 We want to stay faithful in every area. 00:44:05.739 --> 00:44:08.759 A church is only as healthy as the individuals that make it up. 00:44:10.119 --> 00:44:15.399 And without a doubt, there's a corporate dimension to what's happening here. 00:44:16.519 --> 00:44:19.059 We have to begin by searching our own hearts. 00:44:19.059 --> 00:44:21.860 Have you met the prerequisites? 00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:23.019 Are you saved? 00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:25.119 Are you born again? 00:44:27.199 --> 00:44:30.539 Have you heard the gospel, believe the gospel, and follow Christ 00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:37.440 with full abandon because of the gospel? 00:44:38.360 --> 00:44:39.440 Have you been baptized? 00:44:41.079 --> 00:44:42.500 It's a part of our obedience. 00:44:42.679 --> 00:44:45.199 If you haven't, we're doing it December 5th. 00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:47.239 It's important. 00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:49.219 It's our confession. 00:44:52.359 --> 00:44:53.299 Are you committed? 00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:55.879 I know you are. 00:44:55.959 --> 00:44:56.339 You're here. 00:44:57.319 --> 00:44:58.679 What about after you leave here? 00:44:59.339 --> 00:45:00.899 Are you still committed to one another? 00:45:01.419 --> 00:45:03.179 That's what we're talking about on Sunday nights right now. 00:45:09.179 --> 00:45:11.239 If you've done all those things, if you've met the prerequisites, 00:45:12.279 --> 00:45:14.579 are you devoted to the preaching of the Bible? 00:45:14.579 --> 00:45:19.000 Are you continually devoted to this partnership? 00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:24.059 Do you take seriously ordinances that God has given? 00:45:25.500 --> 00:45:26.639 Do you pray? 00:45:27.860 --> 00:45:29.119 None of this is perfect. 00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:32.059 All of us have space to grow. 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:37.059 The question is, in what area do we need to focus first? 00:45:38.219 --> 00:45:39.859 That may be different for each one of us. 00:45:40.319 --> 00:45:41.119 Probably is. 00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:45.920 But let's stay continually devoted to the things. 00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:46.690 Well, let's take a look at 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