Pastor Lee Meng Cham Acts 2:41 47
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:41 47
The authenticity in our relationships is founded upon our sure hope, our shared faith, and our sacrificial love.
* WE POSSESS A SURE HOPE
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.... 47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
* WE POSSESS A SURE HOPE Our Falling from Glory Our Restoration to Glory
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:27 29
* WE POSSESS A SURE HOPE Our Falling from Glory Our Restoration to Glory
* WE PRACTISE A SHARED FAITH
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.... 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
* WE PRACTISE A SHARED FAITH In Christ, Our COMMUNION: UNITY In Christ, Our CENTRE: IDENTITY
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:14 18
* WE PRACTISE A SHARED FAITH In Christ, Our COMMUNION: UNITY In Christ, Our CENTRE: IDENTITY
* WE PREACH A SACRIFICAL LOVE
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
* WE PREACH A SACRIFICAL LOVE Biblical or Cultural Christianity?
Cultural Biblical Be the best for one s sake Be the best for other s sake Personal fulfillment Pleasing God Worship the God we prefer Worship the God who is This world oriented Kingdom of God oriented We are the ends We are the means Jesus belongs to me! I belong to Jesus! Christ exists for man s sake Man exists for Christ s sake Keep the church for the lovable Build a church for the unloved Serve the prominent Serve the invisible
* WE PREACH A SACRIFICAL LOVE Sacrificial or Superficial Engagement? Biblical or Cultural Christianity?
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
* WE PREACH A SACRIFICAL LOVE
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* WE PREACH A SACRIFICAL LOVE A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34 35
AUTHENTICITY In CHURCH: We Possess a SURE HOPE We Practice a SHARED FAITH We Preach a SACRIFICIAL LOVE Acts 2:41 47
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Our Father who loves us with an everlasting love, we praise and thank You that while we were unworthy, ungodly, and Your enemies, You showed Your greatest love to us by sending Jesus to die in our place.
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT In Christ, You considered us Your needful neighbours, and brought us close to Yourself, reconciling us through His death on the cross.
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT We rejoice that it was for freedom that Christ has set us free in order that we can learn, unlearn and relearn what it means to love ourselves holistically and healthily, in body, soul, spirit, and mind, without fear of failure or rejection or distortion.
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Yet we confess that we struggle daily to put into practice the Commandment to love our neighbour as ourself, to die to self, to seek the betterment of another, and to love as You have loved us.
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Yet we pray for the presence and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to remind and enable us to offer Your love through us to our spouses, children, parents, families (both biological and spiritual), friends, colleagues, course-mates, and
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT even those who are not for us. We know that You, O LORD, will help us, for love comes from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God, because God is love.
CORPORATE PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. We are able to love because You first loved us! All this we ask and pray in Jesus Name! AMEN.