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

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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.