FOUR VITAL EXPERIENCES OF THE CHURCH
ACTS 2:41-47
THERE ARE 4 VITALLY IMPORTANT EXPERIENCES WE SHOULD BE HAVING EVERY WEEK ....
The early church which had alot of problems — also were setting a pattern for us today to follow — how to have church —
A church that believes in and operates with God’s Power ....
That Power should have a Pattern ....
In this passage of scripture I SEE those 4 vital experiences we should be going after ...
[1] LEARNING EXPERIENCES
vs. 41-42; 46
There are several ways to receive Learning Experiences in our church ....
a] Preaching of the Word
n when the crowds heard the Apostles preach — people asked “What must I do to be saved?”
n when persecution came — the people continued to preach themselves — it wasn’t limited to a building where they met — it was done in their homes
b] Teaching of the Word
c] Singing of the Word
d] Submission to the church leaders
[2] RELATIONAL EXPERIENCES
vs. 42, 44-47
“If we don’t have our earthly relationships right, we can’t have our heavenly relationships right!”
Early Church Ate Together Alot:
a] BEST FELLOWSHIP
Don’t really know someone until you’ve eaten with them ...
b} JESUS SET THE PATTERN
Good tone to challenge one another & teach one another in a relaxed setting
c] CULTURAL PATTERN
People had spent time before their Christian conversions having fellowship together in their pagan temples ... KOINONIA — FELLOWSHIP — BUT IT GOES FURTHER THAN JUST GETTING TOGETHER — This type of fellowship means “FELLOWSHIP WITH A PURPOSE”
Fellowship that bound them together to reach the goals God had given them
Discipleship grew out of this time together — they were able to easily develop others to do the same for someone else ....
GROWTH will be the result whenever we take time to teachsomeone else to do what we already know how to do!
[3] RELATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH GOD
Alot of people would have been very uncomfortable in the Early Church today — God would totally mess up their bulletins or schedules or routines to move His Way during their time together
WHY?
Prayer was THE PRIORITY IN THE EARLY CHURCH — today no one really wants to pray, they just want to be prayed for ....
Somebody’s got to be willing TO PRAY
— WHICH REALLY IS ALL OF US
Our true “Relational Experiences With God” comes out of our own prayer time alone and with others!!!
[4] WITNESSING EXPERIENCES WITH NON-CHRISTIANS
vs. 41, 44, 47
Day By Day They Were Seeing Souls Being Saved — WHY? — Because Every Believer Was Out In The Community Sharing Jesus With Non-Believers ....
Early Church Believers were not concerned about their blessing from God — BUT — they were more concerned about “Being A Blessing” to others with expecting nothing in return from it — they wanted to “Show The Love Of Jesus In Practical Ways” — that’s why people responded to them wanting to know about “Their Jesus”
WHAT IS A CHURCH:
Never a place — It’s a people!
Never a building — It’s a body!
