Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, May 15,2016 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister What Makes A Church A Great Church? Acts 2: 42-47 (NKJV) Please turn with me in your Bibles to the Book of Acts, chapter two. And let's read verses 42-47. ACTS 2:42-47 (NKJV) 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 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. 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. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
INTRODUCTION In this message we are going to consider a very important question and that question is, What Makes A Church A Great Church? I L L U S T R A T I O N One year a certain denominational church sent in its annual report to the denominational headquarters. The report read as follows: -Number of members added by baptism- 0 -Number of members added by transfer- 0 -Number of members added by letter- 0 -Number of members dismissed by letter 5 -Number of members who died 3 -Amount given to home missions $0 -Amount given to foreign missions $0 Then down at the bottom of the report there was this handwritten note from the preacher. Please pray for us that we might continue to be faithful til the Lord comes again. ************* I have been in the Lord's Church my entire life. I have been a member of several different Churches. I have ministered in five Churches, and held revivals in a lot of different Churches. And after almost sixty one years I can testify that what they say is true, THERE REALLY IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT CHURCH. Every Church has AN IMPERFECT PREACHER preaching to a bunch of IMPERFECT PEOPLE who are being led by IMPERFECT LEADERS. Every Church has STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES. Every Church EXCELS IN A FEW THINGS and FAILS IN A LOT OF THINGS.
But while NO CHURCH is perfect, it is very obvious that some churches FLOURISH while others FLOUNDER. Some churches thrive, while others struggle or even die. What is the secret? What makes a Church a GREAT CHURCH? - Is it HAVING A GREAT PREACHER? - Or GREAT WORSHIP SERVICES? - Or A GREAT ATTENDANCE? - Or A GREAT CHURCH BUILDING? - Or GREAT PROGRAMS? Here in ACTS 2 we are given a portrait of the LORD'S CHURCH when she was about as close to perfect as she has ever been. This is the original New Testament Church before there were any denominations or divisions. Now I want you to consider something. This Church had... NO Church building NO Bible College Educated preacher NO Associate Minister or Youth Minister NO Youth Program NO Family Life Center NO Praise band NO Choir NO Sound System NO Video equipment NO Hymn Books NO Church sign NO Sunday Bulletin And yet this was the fastest growing, most evangelistic, most dynamic Church in all the New Testament.
As we go back to our scripture text here in ACTS 2, I would like to point out FOUR THINGS that made the early New Testament Church a Great Church. And we would be wise to follow their example. ******************* First of all.. I. They Made A GREAT COMMITMENT (v.42) 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1. I want you to notice those two words continued steadfastly. And they continued steadfastly... 2. To continue steadfastly means they were deeply devoted or deeply committed. Notice the FOUR THINGS they were deeply committed to. (A) First, they were deeply committed to THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE Remember when Jesus gave His apostles The Great Commission He commanded them to... Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19,20 NKJV)
of These early Christians didn't just make a decision to repent of their sins and be baptized on the Day Pentecost, they made a deep commitment to keep growing and keep learning more and more about this Jesus to whom they had given their lives. And the way they did this was to assemble with other Christians on the first day of every week to listen to the apostles preach and teach them everything Christ had taught them. (B) Secondly, they were deeply committed to FELLOWSHIP When we think of fellowship we think of carry-in dinners, casseroles, and covered-dishes. Fellowship meant much more to those early Christians than simply eating a big meal after Church on Sunday. Some translations include the little word the before fellowship. They were deeply committed to the fellowship. If you will look down at verses 44, 45 it will give you a clearer understand of what fellowship meant to those early Christians. 44 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. Fellowship to those early Christians meant a willful and joyful surrender and sacrifice of their personal belongings for the good of the whole fellowship the whole Church so that no one would go without food, clothing, or shelter. NOW that would take great
commitment wouldn't it? One has to wonder how big our Churches today would be if everyone had to empty out their bank accounts, and their closets, and their pantries for the good of everyone in the Church. So they were deeply committed to THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE, and to THE FELLOWSHIP (C) Next, they were deeply committed to THE BREAKING OF BREAD In the New Testament the breaking of bread is used in two different ways. One usage of breaking of bread refers to a common meal like eating in someone's home. The other usage of breaking of bread refers to the partaking of the LORD'S Supper. It is this second usage, that is referred to here in v. 42. They were committed to a weekly observance of the Lord's Supper In remembrance of the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection. ILLUSTRATION: I was talking with Neil Wheeler, a dear friend of mine this past week. Neil is a field representative for Waypoint Church Partners out of Virginia, a group that helps establish new Churches and strengthen existing Churches throughout Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and upper east Tennessee. Neil told me I would be shocked at some of our bigger Independent Churches of Christ that have stopped observing the Lord's Supper each week because they don't want to offend non-christians or Church seekers. Isn't that sad? Since when did the feelings of non-christians determine our practices in the Lord's Church?
The early New Testament Church was deeply committed to THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE, TO FELLOWSHIP, TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD, and next... (D) They were deeply committed to THE PRAYERS Notice it says PRAYERS (plural) not PRAYER (singular) They were deeply committed to the prayers. Jewish historian JOSEPHUS tells us the early Christians met for prayer three times a day. No matter where they were. No matter what they were doing, they would stop and pray. Usually these prayer times would last about one hour. Can you imagine how dynamic and powerful our Churches would be today if we stopped to pray for an hour three times each day? ILLUSTRATION In his book Confronting Casual Christianity Charles Stanley gives some very grim statistics: -The average Sunday School in American churches has less than 66 in attendance. -The average Worship attendance in American Churches is 84. - And less than 50% of those listed on a Church membership roll book attend worship services on a regular basis. Less than 50%. 3. Is it any wonder why so many of our Churches in America are struggling or even dying? A GREAT CHURCH HAS A
GREAT COMMITMENT! Secondly II. They Relied Upon A GREAT POWER Acts 2:43 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ILLUSTRATION: Imagine you re driving down the highway and you see these four guys pushing a car down the highway. They are covered in sweat and obviously exhausted. You pull up beside them and say, Fellas, are you having car trouble? NO, the engines fine! Well are you out of GAS? NO..we ve got a full tank! You ask, WELL, WHY DON T YOU JUST START UP THE CAR AND DRIVE IT? They say, WE WOUL RATHER USE MAN POWER THAN HORSEPOWER! NOW YOU WOULD THINK THOSE GUYS FELL OUT OF THE DUMB, DUMB TREE AND HIT EVERY BRANCH ON THEIR WAY DOWN WOULDN'T YOU? 1. One reason why so many of our Churches today are lifeless and powerless and passionless is because they are operating off of man's power instead of the power of God's Holy Spirit. They never ask for the guidance of God's Holy Spirit in their decision making. They never seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in what direction the Church should go. 2. It is as though we are scared to death of the HOLY SPIRIT as though if we allow the Spirit to lead us and direct us and empower us we are going to become just like the Pentecostals or Charismatics. 3. Brothers and sisters, THE HOLY SPIRIT is not a Pentecostal thing or a Charismatic thing or a Holy Roller thing the HOLY SPIRIT is the living, breathing presence of GOD within GOD'S PEOPLE, and the Church is powerless to do
GOD'S WORK without His help! *Without the power of the HOLY SPIRIT my preaching is nothing more than empty, hollow words. *Without the power of the HOLY SPIRIT our worship is nothing more than a cold, lifeless religious ritual. *Without the power and direction of THE HOLY SPIRIT our Church just wonders aimlessly with no sense of direction or purpose. *Without the power of the HOLY SPIRIT any work we attempt to do in the name of the LORD is an exercise in futility. 4. The early New Testament Church relied upon the awesome power of God's Holy Spirit and as a result they saw GOD do great and wonderful things in their Church. 5. If a Church is to be A GREAT CHURCH she must rely upon the awesome power of GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT! They Made A GREAT COMMITMENT They Relied Upon A GREAT POWER Now thirdly...
III. They Shared A GREAT LOVE (v.44-46) 44 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. 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, 1. Jesus says in John 13:35 (NKJV) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. 2. The early New Testament Church in Jerusalem truly loved one another as exemplified in their selfless sacrifice for the good of everyone. 3. This was a Church where no one was more important than anyone else. This was a Church that wasn't torn apart by inward strife, or selfish ambition, or power struggles, or cliquishness. 4. These people loved one another...they prayed for one another...they encouraged one another...they bore one anther's burdens...they comforted one another in times of sorrow...they forgave one another in times of failure and disappointment...they served one another in humility...and they honored one another with a mutual respect. 5. You see, a Church can have a great preacher, and great worship services, and great programs, and a great building, but if the people don't have a great love for one another its not a great Church. They Made A GREAT COMMITMENT......They Relied Upon A GREAT POWER...They Shared A GREAT LOVE
And finally... IV. They Enjoyed A GREAT HARVEST (v.47b) v.47b And the LORD added to the Church daily those who were being saved. 1. This Church took the Lord's Great Commission very seriously! Bringing more lost souls into the kingdom was their number one priority. 2. What happens when each and every one in the Church takes his or her responsibility to tell others about JESUS seriously? What happens when every person in the Church shares Christ with his or her relatives, and neighbors, and friends, and even total strangers? 3. We see what happens in these early chapters of Acts. In Acts 1:15 there were 120 followers of Christ shortly after Christ ascended. In Acts 2:41 three thousand were added to their number on the day of Pentecost. Skipping down to Acts 2:47 we see the Lord added to the Church DAILY those who were being saved. They didn't have one or two baptisms a week...every single day more and more people were accepting Christ. By the time you get to Acts 4:4 we see 5,000 more were added to the Church, and that was just the number of men. And by the time you get to Acts 6:1 the Church has gone from adding to multiplying.
4. This is what happens when God's people take the Great Commission seriously. A Great Church enjoys a GREAT HARVEST! **************************************************** C O N C L U S I O N I'm sure you have seen that DIRECT TV commercial with a modern suburban family dressed like the cast of Little House On The Prairie that settle for cable rather than DIRECT TV. Little Sonny Boy asks Pops why they have to put up with cable's lower customer satisfaction while the folks next door enjoy DIRECT TV. Pops says, Well son, we're settlers, and that's what settlers do. I'm afraid many of our Churches today have become Settlers. We have settled on half-hearted commitment...we have settled on average...we have settled on mediocrity and status quot. Christian Hope, let's not be settlers. We don't have to be a giant mega-church of thousands to be great. We must simply do GOD'S WORK...GOD'S WAY...TO GOD'S GLORY! THAT'S WHAT MAKES A CHURCH A GREAT CHURCH!