Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19970803.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part VI: The Spiritual "Nuts and Bolts" Of The Church Ministry That God Blesses
(Acts 2:41-47)
  1. Introduction
    1. Much is being written and discussed at seminars and conferences today on what it takes to have a Church ministry that God really blesses. Some feel a bus ministry is the key, or an extensive counseling work or door-to-door evangelism is best while others focus on new worship formats, music, etc.
    2. Acts 2:41-47 presents what the Early Church in Jerusalem did, and how God richly blessed it by adding to the church daily those who were being saved, Acts 2:47. We can study the dynamics of that ministry to arrive at a Biblical basis for a Church Ministry God blesses:
  2. The Spiritual "Nuts and Bolts" Of The Church Ministry That God Blesses, Acts 2:41-47.
    1. Item One - The Church's leaders were occupied with studying and presenting the Scripture's truths:
      1. The apostles, the Church's spiritual leaders, taught the people Scripture, Acts 2:41.
      2. This function involved their preoccupation with studying and presenting that Word, Acts 6:2, 4.
    2. Item Two - The people were regularly occupied with responding to the Word given by these men:
      1. On a regular basis, the people spent their time heeding the apostles' teaching, Acts 2:41b.
      2. In so doing, the Word's affect led to spiritual fellowship in corporate worship and informal settings:
        1. There is no word, "and" between the word, "fellowship" and the phrase "to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (NIV), showing that the last two activities are in apposition to fellowship. Thus, this fellowship consisted of the communion (which might have included a "love feast" at the time, cf. 2 Pet. 2:13) service and prayer in worship. They broke bread from house to house, a picture probably of informal gatherings of fellowship, Acts 2:46.
        2. Thus, two key functions marked this Church: its people were in the apostles' doctrine, and they were also fellowshipping with one another around the truths of those doctrines, B.K.C., N.T., p. 360.
    3. Item Three - As a result of this, the body blossomed in every way under God's blessing, Acts 2:43-47.
      1. As a result, everyone kept sensing awe at what was going on in the body, Acts 2:43a.
      2. As a result, the Lord was empowering the apostles with demonstrations of the Spirit's power and authenticating and leading signs among the listeners, Acts 2:43b.
      3. As a result, the body was so unified that people willingly shared with one another of their possessions to meet the shortages in the body, Acts 2:44-45.
      4. As a result, worship gatherings and informal home gatherings continued with mutual joy, sincerity of heart and praise to the Lord, Acts 2:46.
      5. As a result, the outside world noticed, liked what they saw, and were attracted to the Gospel so that many were being saved on a daily basis, Acts 2:47.
Lesson: The truly divinely-ignited Church is one where the (1) LEADERS take seriously their need to spend time in the Word, and spend their opportunities teaching and preaching to present the WORD, and (2) where the PEOPLE make heeding and applying that Word to their hearts and lives a primary and regular part of their lives. (3) As a result, worship, fellowship and dynamic demonstrations of the Lord's leading and great power automatically appear, and unity, joy, love, good works flow. (4) When the body thus becomes appealing, outsiders notice and want IN on it, and come to Christ!

Application: If a Church is not functioning with God's blessing, either the (1) LEADERS must reexamine how well they are IN the Word and are GIVING it, or the (2) PEOPLE must examine how well they are attending to hear, and heeding and applying tha t presented Word, or (3) BOTH parties need improvement in these their respective areas of function! (4) The rest, including effective programing, evangelism outreach, unity and joy with abundant signs of divine blessings are matters of God's resultant blessings when these OTHER elements are in place!