SERMON OUTLINE:
• (1). Joy in Worship (vs 42 & 46-47).
• (2). Joy in Teaching (vs 42a)
• (3). Joy in Fellowship (vs 44-45).
• (4). Joy in Evangelism. (v 47b)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• When missionaries in the northern part of Alaska, where the Eskimos live,
• Were trying to get the Bible translated, they had some difficulty.
• When you go to translate the Bible in any culture,
• There’s a difficulty in translating some words,
• Because cultures and languages don’t always have the same words.
• ill: (Isaiah 1:18) “White as snow….white as cotton wool”
• There was no word in the Eskimo language for joy.
• And as they were trying to translate joy, biblically, they drew from experience.
• And as they watched the Eskimos,
• They saw that the happiest, the most joyful moments in those Eskimo village,
• Were in the evening when they fed their sled dogs.
• They’d go out, and the dogs would yelp and wag their tails and get all excited.
• And so, out of that experience, they pulled the word for joy: "wagging their tails."
• When you translate our verse Eskimo style, it says,
• "I bring you good news, all people will wag their tails.".
Note:
• You gave me the title ‘overflowing joy’
• But if you examine the text, the word, ‘joy’ does not appear in the passage.
• The nearest we get to it is verse 46b, “with glad and sincere hearts”
• Now if you are glad about something, you are happy and pleased about it.
• So glad can be an alternative word for joy.
Ill:
• In Greek language of the New Testament, the word for joy is ‘chara.’
• This describes a feeling of inner gladness, delight or rejoicing.
• This inner gladness leads to a cheerful heart,
• And a cheerful heart leads to cheerful behaviour.
• We see this joyful behaviour expressed by these Christians in four ways.
(1). Joy in Worship (vs 42 & 46-47).
• We are told that the early church was a ‘worshipping community’.
• We see that worship expressed in three simple ways,
“they devoted themselves to … (1). the breaking of bread (communion) (2). and to prayer’
(3). and to ‘praising God.”
• So, these Christians expressed their worship three simple ways,
• We are also told that they, ‘devoted themselves,’
• These Christians made worship a priority,
• Notice verse 46: they met together ‘every day.’
• That tells me they enjoyed, they found joy in worshipping together.
Ill:
• One thing I have learnt over the years as a Christian,
• Is that everyone’s take on worship is different.
• If you ask a Pentecostal; an Anglican; a Brethren, a Methodist; a Baptist.
• Their answers will all probably differ.
• If you ask a young person, or an older Christian,
• Once again their answers may very well be different.
• However, you define it; or whatever your take or viewpoint is.
• One thing is I think we would all agree on,
• Worship is important and should be a priority in the life of every Christian.
Ill:
• 3 Minute Theology 5.4: ‘What is Worship?’
• YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xoTiigkidzs
Ill:
• Francis Chan, is an American Protestant author, teacher, and preacher.
• One Sunday after he preached, he stood by the exit door of the Church.
• One member of the congregation walked by and said to him,
• “Pastor I did not like those songs we sang this morning!”
• He replied, “That’s ok, because we were not worshipping you!”
• Our worship is focused on God, it may be expressed in a variety of ways and even styles,
• But if we lose sight of God, then we will lose the joy in our worship.
(2). Joy in Teaching (vs 42a)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”
• We are told that the early church was a ‘learning congregation’.
• N.I.V.: ‘They devoted themselves to the Apostle's teaching’.
• K.J.B.: “they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine”
Ill:
• Preachers and sermons are often the butt of jokes,
• Some of us get criticised for our long sermons,
• e.g. How do you make a Trevor James sermon 30mins long? Ans: Cut it in half!
• Some preachers get criticised for the dullness of their sermons.
• e.g. Story of the preacher who stopped half way through his sermon and said to a woman,
• “Is your husband asleep, wake him up!”
• She replied, “You sent him to sleep, you wake him up!”
Quote: Robert Louis Stevenson:
• The Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer.
• Once wrote in his diary: “I have been to church today and I am not depressed.”
• TRANSITION: These people found joy in the Bible teaching,
• Evidence of that is “They devoted themselves” they had “regular attendance” (N.L.T.).
• “Every day they continued to meet together” (vs 46)
• Sadly, I know Churches where they struggle to get some people out once a month!
Note:
• That Bible teaching is first on the apostle Peters’ list,
• Because no matter you are in your spiritual development,
• i.e. A new Christian or a seasoned veteran.
• Everyone needs sustenance to grow and to keep on, keep on growing.
• ill: Babies need milk; ill: adults need meat - the Bible supplies both.
• Teaching is first on the apostle Peters’ list,
• Because teaching is our spiritual food and without food we don’t survive.
• e.g. Physically we find that a good diet helps to maintain our strength and fitness,
• It also helps to promote a healthy immune system.
• And spiritually that is true,
• We all need a balanced spiritual diet,
• One that develops our spiritual strength and fitness and protects us from attack,
• When we listen to the Word of God we need our souls to be fed,
• And our hearts and wills to be challenged and encouraged?
Christianity is a taught religion.
• Jesus spent three years teaching and preparing his disciples,
• His last words, the great commission (Matthew chapter 28 verse 20),
• He told them to… “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
• We see those instructions being carried out here in Acts chapter 2,
• We will see that instruction taught to Christians in the New Testament letters.
• Christianity is a taught not caught.
(3). Joy in Fellowship (vs 44-45).
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
We are told that the early church was a ‘caring flock.’
Quote: Author Ruth Fowke in her book, ‘Coping with Crises’ writes,
“The Church must be above all a caring community. It must accept people as Christ Himself accepts them, which is just as they happen to be.”
• The early Church was much more than a place where people came to worship,
• Learn, and then leave.
• It was and still should be,
• A place that provides occasions for us grow closer to one another.
Note:
• Please note the word 'all'.
• It's used three times - twice in verse 44 again in verse 45.
• Of course, no one was forced to gather with the other Christians:
• But these people wanted to be together for friendship, encouragement and support.
• This early Church family showed genuine care for each other.
• They met together regularly (vs 46)
• And they also met one another’s practical needs (vs 45).
What strikes you when you read these verses is the common, shared life.
• It’s all bound up in verse 42 in the word “fellowship.”
• They even held their possessions in common trust,
• The principle being that they practically supported each other when needs arose.
• So that if anyone had a need,
• They would gladly sell what they had to give to the one who had the need.
• This is a community of people who are committed to one another.
• That is an important part of the life of the church, it’s mutual commitment.
Note:
• As far as I know this is the only place in the New Testament,
• Where Christians held their possessions in common trust,
• So, we take it as a great expression of fellowship. Not something we are all called to do.
• But, the New Testament does teach us to meet each other’s need practically.
• e.g. Acts chapter 6 verse 1 (widows) & 1 John chapter 3 verse 17 (poor).
ill:
• An example in our own Church,
• A member who just had an operation and unable to move around,
• A single mum with a teenage daughter.
• We took the daughter to ‘Cook Shop’
• And paid for her to fill her freezer with good quality frozen meals.
• So, she could look after her mum and not be worried about the finance.
• One example of meeting a need.
(4). Joy in Evangelism. (v 47b)
• We are told that the church is an ‘out-reaching body of people’.
• ‘And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’
Note:
• There is something from the book of Acts,
• That we as 21st Century Christians appear to have forgotten or even reversed;
• The Church that is gathered is worshipping,
• And the Church that is dispersed is evangelizing!
• ill: Sign on exit door of Church, “You’re about to go out into the mission field”
Now here is my point,
• These Christians did not come to church to win the lost!
• They came to church to worship, to learn, to have fellowship,
• And then… they dispersed to evangelise.
• They first experienced a right relationship with God and then with each other,
• And the side effect of this was that people were ‘added to their number daily’.
• They were added, because these people involved God in their everyday lives,
• They evangelised,
• And we see that illustrated many times throughout the book of Acts, here are just a few.
- in meeting needs. (Acts 3:6)
- in speaking God’s word with courage and performing signs and wonders. (Acts 4:29)
- in preaching in public and in homes. (Acts 5:42)
- in the daily delivery of food to the poor. (Acts 6:1)
- in being led by God’s Spirit to seeking individuals. (Acts 8:26)
- in reaching out to all kinds of people. (Acts 10:1-2)
- in sending out teams of workers. (Acts 13:2-3)
- in encouragement. (Acts 14:23)
- in keeping the right attitude. (Acts 16:25)
- in studying God’s word. (Acts 17:11-12)
- in speaking with love and without fear. (Acts 18:9)
- in sharing their own story with others. (Acts 24:1 - 25:19)
Now obviously, I am not in any way against using our buildings for evangelism,
• But it seems to me that New Testament evangelism was never limited to the church facilities,
• In fact it occurred there least of all.
• The church was primarily the place where the ‘saints’ met and not the ‘sinners’.
• The Christians were empowered by good worship, good teaching, and good fellowship,
• And then they went back to their homes, jobs, and neighbourhoods to evangelise.
Quote:
• Years ago, I came across a quotation from someone called David Winter,
• My apologies to him as I have no idea who he is or was, but his words ring true.
"Eloquent speeches, visual aids, films, seminars and discussion groups are, after all, no substitute for the daily, unspectacular witness of the rank-and-file Christian. If that witness is consistent and open, then no improvement in tactics or strategy will better it as a means of winning people for Christ. If it is not, then no evangelistic programme, no matter how ambitious or sophisticated, will make the slightest impact. That is a lesson we have been slow to learn".
• Sometimes we ‘undersell’ ourselves and the impact of a life lived for Christ,
• I am reminded of the words of Lyman Beecher, (Presbyterian minister 1775–1863),
• Who often said that the reason he was blessed to see so many converted under his ministry,
• Was that he had,
• ‘so many pulpit reflectors, who lived out and diffused everywhere the gospel.’.
In Conclusion:
• These Christians enjoyed genuine worship (vs 42 & 46-47).
• These Christians enjoyed good teaching (vs 42a)
• These Christians enjoyed practical fellowship (vs 44-45).
• And that prepared and motivated them to evangelise. (v 47b)
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=qrQqco2FmroTOUuILQblNRDrCN91HgXO
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/VbWolclEwoo
