Changed Lives Changed Community; Pt 2: Fellowship

Transcription

1 Changed Lives Changed Community; Pt 2: Fellowship Michael Silva / January 15, 2017 Opening: It s the beginning of a New Year and I hope that you have been thinking about something things you can change to make this a better year. 1. Joke: Speaking of making changes and embracing something new a) A Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest were good friends. b) At a picnic one day, the priest was eating a ham sandwich. i) You know, he said to his friend, this ham sandwich is delicious. I know you re not supposed to eat ham, but I don t understand why such a good thing would be forbidden. When will you break down and try it? c) To which the rabbi replied, At your wedding. d) Ham sandwiches and marriage were new things the rabbi and priest were willing to try. 2. But how about you? Have you thought about some new things that will help you grow in your walk and relationship with the Lord this year? a) Two weeks ago we spent time considering: Romans 12:1 2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. b) Only changed and transformed people can change and transform a community. c) And I believe that we are called to help change and transform our community for Christ i) Therefore we must first be changed and transformed in order to changes and transform those around us. 3. One of my favorite shows when I was a little kid was the Incredible Hulk TV show. a) Bill Bixby was Dr. David Banner and Lou Ferrigno was the Hulk. b) David was a brilliant scientist, who when he lost his temper turned into the Incredible Hulk. i) He would undergo an incredible transformation and in his transformed state he could perform great feats. c) The problem was, David couldn t control the Hulk.

2 Page 2 i) While there was still good deep down inside of the Hulk, he was also dangerously destructive. ii) Therefore, Dr. Banner tried to contain the Hulk by controlling his temper. d) To be honest: We all watched the show because we wanted to see the Hulk come out. i) We loved and cheered when the Hulk came out. ii) We liked when the Hulk came out because he had power we wish we had, just minus the green skin tone and uncontrollable rage. Right?! 4. While we can t change into the Hulk like David Banner, we can be transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work. a) And the aim of my sermons this month entitled Changed Lives Changed Community focuses on how we can live changed/transformed lived God s glory and our good. Transition: 1. Calvary Chapel Chino Valley was the very first Calvary Chapel I ever attended. a) We went with my dad who at the time lived in the Inland Empire in SoCal. b) On the wall at CCCV were these words: Word Worship Withness Witness. c) The word withness won t pass through your spell-checker, but this word is no mistake. i) It represents Fellowship or Koinonia in the original Greek. 2. Fellowship is not just social time at church. a) Koinonia is what transforms a church goer into a church member. i) Instead of going to church, they realize they are the church. 3. What is the goal of koinonia: relationships that foster and fuel changed/transformed lives through spiritual growth. Let's read our passage: Acts 2:40-47 (NKJV)i and pray. 1. What has happened contextually? The book of Acts picks up right after Jesus s resurrection. a) Jesus has revealed Himself to the disciples to confirm the fulfillment of the prophecies of His being resurrected from the dead. i) But then Jesus ascended into heaven. Page 2

3 Page 3 b) The Holy Spirit has come and filled the small group of about 120 believers, which prompts Peter to boldly preach his first message proclaiming Christ. Acts 2: And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation. 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 1. The word of God is preached and incredible church growth results: a) From 12 men to 120 disciples to 3,000 who were added that one day. b) When the people of God preach the word of God in the power of God, the result is a mighty work of salvation. 2. We need to believe that this type of multiplication can happen here too. a) We need to believe that God has a plan for us individually and collectively. b) We need to be looking for that plan and His purposes. c) We need to believe that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Eph 3:20) Acts 2:42 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1. Here are the four pillars of the early church and the life verse for Calvary Chapel churches around the world. a) Apostles doctrine The Word of God. b) Fellowship Koinonia, the topic we will be focusing on in our message today. c) Breaking of bread Dual meaning: i) Sharing a meal together there is just something special when you share in a meal together. ii) Taking communion Remembering Jesus and keeping Him first. d) Prayers Prayer is the secret silent weapon of the church. 2. For our time together today, we will be focusing on Fellowship Koinonia. Page 3

4 Page 4 Acts 2:43 and signs were done through the apostles. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders 1. wonders and signs resulted of being filled with the Holy Spirit, as recorded in the beginning of Acts 2. a) The power of the church is in living transformed lives that are filled with the Holy Spirit. i) The Holy Spirit is in the world convicting people of sin and their need for Christ. (1) We say the Holy Spirit is With you in this operation. (2) John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ii) The Holy Spirit is In the life of born-again believers. (1) When you get saved, the Holy Spirit takes residence in you. (2) 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? iii) The Holy Spirit can fill you or baptize you with power from on high. (1) This is what we need to meaningful worship and acts of ministry, this filling or baptism of the Spirit. (2) Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, b) This is what we need if we are to be effective in our new location. i) We need to be filled with His Holy Spirit to do His work in our community. Acts 2: Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 1. These two verses are a picture of what true koinonia is sharing and caring for one another. 2. The phrase in common comes from the Greek work Koina a form of the word Koinonia. a) They not only shared their things with one another, they shared life together with one another. 3. The phrase One another appears 89 times in the New Testament Page 4

5 Page 5 a) Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 4. Why is koinonia needed? a) Because this world is a hard place to live in. i) Sin, persecution, failing health, and the likes makes it difficult. ii) But we don t have to go at it alone. b) To the degree in which we connect well our witness increases. i) I want our church to reach many, which means we need to be connecting regularly, deeply. Acts 2:46-47a 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. 1. When does Koinonia happen? Daily. a) Real Koinonia can t be truly cultivated only once a week. We need regular times of connecting to grow. 2. Where does Koinonia happen? a) At church the temple in our passage. i) This represents large corporate group gatherings. b) In our homes house to house in our passage. i) This represents small group gatherings. 3. NFL team illustration. This is what the team does together a) 6am breakfast in team cafeteria calories are counted. b) 7am weightlifting while coaches meet. c) 8am Special teams meeting d) 9am All-Team meeting e) 10am O/D meetings f) 12pm practice g) 2 pm lunch together Page 5

6 Page 6 h) 2:30pm media interviews i) 3pm weight lifting j) 4pm O/D meetings k) 5pm team dinner l) 6pm coaches meeting i) Saturdays 3pm report to hotel (1) 7pm chapel service (2) 8:45pm snack (3) 11pm curfew/bed-check m) Part of the reason NFL players play at such a high level of performance is because of all the time they spend together practicing and helping one another. 4. Elements of Fellowship: a) Openness b) Genuineness c) Repentance i) Sin hinders relationships. ii) Husband and wives prayer. 1 Peter 3:7 iii) The basis of our relationship is God, so if our relationship with God is disrupted then it only makes since that our relationship will be out of wack as well. d) Forgiveness 5. True Fellowship cultivates a fertile ground for growth. It s a safe place to a) Deal with Problems: Part of fellowship is in addressing the unhealthy elements that hinder growth. b) Grow in Purity: I want to be like those I hang around. c) Receive Protection: we look out for one another. Acts 2:47b being saved. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were Page 6

7 Page 7 1. As that group of believers lived out transformed lives with one another the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 2. What is the goal of koinonia: relationships that foster and fuel changed/transformed lives through spiritual growth. Conclusion: What s the big take away from this passage? 1. To live truly changed/transformed lives we must enter into true Koinonia with one another. 2. Will you commit yourself in the Lord to take fellowship in your life to a new level? Invitation: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. i All scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. Page 7