12-06-09 PM - God's Plan for Our Church

Click here to download: GOD’S PLANS FOR OUR CHURCH

Pastor Joe Pickens

Acts 2:41-47

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. – Acts 2:41-47

Church needs to be…

1. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GET SAVED

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all.
Acts 2:41

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  Matthew 28:19

2. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE BECOME DEVOTED DISCIPLES

Acts 2:42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer.

DEVOTED TO DOCTRINE
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. – 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

DEVOTED TO FELLOWSHIP
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25

DEVOTED TO REMEMBRANCE
On the first day of the week, we gathered to observe the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching; and since he was leaving the next day, he talked until midnight. – Acts 20:7

DEVOTED TO PRAYER
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. – Romans 12:12

3. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN AWE OF GOD
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
Acts 2:43
The dictionary describes “awe” as: an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely or powerful.

They were filled with awe and said among themselves, "Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?" – Mark 4:41

Luke 7:16 tells us Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, "A mighty prophet has risen among us," and "We have seen the hand of God at work today."

4. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED
And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. – Acts 2:44-45

5. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNITED
Acts 2:46-47a 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.

– it is the word “together.”

6. A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GET SAVED FREQUENTLY
- And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. – Acts 2:47b

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so that the number of believers totaled about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
Acts 4:4
And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. – Acts 5:14


 The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Acts 6:7

The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers.

The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
 Acts 11:21

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And large numbers of people were brought to the Lord. – Acts 11:24

But God's Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers. – Acts 12:24

I believe the point is quite obvious – God wants His Church to grow.

12-06-09 AM - The Senses of Christmas: The Sight of Christmas

Click here to download: THE SIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

Pastor Joe Pickens

1. I SEE ANGELS WHO KNOW THEIR PURPOSE

Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened,
10 but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!
12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” –

2. I SEE SHEPHERDS WHO HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Luke 2:15- 20
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
18 All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished,
19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.
20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

3. I SEE A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS HIGHLY FAVORED

That's a paraphrase of what the angel told Mary. "Son of the highest, he'll sit on the throne of his father, David; he'll rule forever; he'll be called the Son of God."

4. I SEE A PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLED WITH HOPE

PROMISE: (To Abraham) "I will continue this everlasting covenant between us, generation after generation. It will continue between me and your offspring forever. And I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. – Genesis 17:7
FULFILLMENT: God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that it doesn't say the promise was to his children, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his child—and that, of course, means Christ. – Galatians 3:16

PROMISE: The LORD swore to David a promise he will never take back: "I will place one of your descendants on your throne. – Psalms 132:11
"For the time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will place a righteous Branch on King David's throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is his name: `The LORD Is Our Righteousness.' In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. – Jeremiah 23:5-6
FULFILLMENT: "And it is one of King David's descendants, Jesus, who is God's promised Savior of Israel!” – Acts 13:23
This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David's royal family line. – Romans 1:2-3

5. I SEE YOU REFLECTED IN THE EYES OF GOD

"This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul." – Luke 2:34-35

- Jesus said: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." – Matthew 20:28

Lord help us to make this holiday about your presence rather than our presents

Happy Birthday Jesus.