Calvary Church
Go Make Disciples - Part 4 - "The Church"
‘We see a growing church, meeting in many locations around the world, helping people to know Jesus, find community and make a difference.’
Locations & Times
Calvary Sunshine Coast
212 Crosby Hill Rd, Tanawha QLD 4556, Australia
Sunday 5:00 PM
Go Make Disciples
Part 4 - “The Church”
Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Chronologically, after Jesus ascended back to heaven, the events that followed are captured in a book of the Bible called “Acts”.
Jesus’ followers did as Jesus’ instructed – they went and made disciples, which in turn transformed lives, cities, nations, even empires.
Acts 2:42–47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
On Day One of the Church, when about 3,000 people respond to Jesus and were baptised, we don’t see those people then atomize scatter off into individual spiritual pursuits and private, personal relationships with Jesus.
Rather, they formed a new type of community. Not a department belonging to government. Nor a business belonging to an individual or a consortium. Not a family exclusive to people of one particular race or citizenry. This was something else entirely
What sprung up was a community of men and women, young and old, connected via their mutual faith and devotion to Jesus as Lord. Almost instinctively, they expressed their love for Jesus by gathering with other people who believed in Jesus too.
This is what happened on Day One of the Church, and it shows us the pattern and foundation for normal Christian life.
SEVEN THINGS THE CHURCH IS NOT
1. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A BUILDING OR AN INSTITUTION
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves…
The church is the community of saints.
‘Church’ is the word ‘Ecclesia’ which means ‘the assembly’.
The church is the community of people who’ve acknowledged Jesus as Saviour and Lord and want to live to honour Him!
2. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A TRIVIAL THING
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves…
In the Old Testament, God promised to Abraham that the nation of Israel would be the fountainhead through which God’s blessings would flow into the world.
Genesis 12:3
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
In the same way, the church is the fountainhead through which God’s blessing flows to the world.
It is the Church that Jesus promises to build (Matt 16:18).
It is the church that is the royal priesthood and holy nation, declaring God’s excellencies to the world (1 Peter 2:9)
It is the Church that is God’s kingdom community.
It is the Church that Jesus shed His blood for (Acts 20:28)
It is the Church that is the living body of Christ!
3. THE CHURCH IS NOT … JUST ANOTHER COMMUNITY CHARITY
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…
What unites the Church is not simply doing nice acts of charity. The church unites around teaching – a particular set of truths and teachings about Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:15
This is the church of the Living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
4. THE CHURCH IS NOT … AN EVENT I GO TO
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship…
Fellowship = koinonia
· “sharing in common”
· It’s a word to describe the mutuality that takes place in marriage.
· Mutual giving and receiving
Acts 2:44-45
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Romans 12:5
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Daryl Bock in his commentary on Acts writes:
“Much in Western culture drives us to an individualism that undercuts the development of this community. We are taught to have things our way and that being able to have our individual needs catered to is how to measure the success of an organisation. In our culture, our individual needs and rights come before any needs of the group. The biblical picture is not of what someone receives from the church, although one receives a great deal, but of what one gives and how one contributes to it. The portrait of the early church in Acts show that community and the welfare of the group were a priority. This attitude reflected spiritual maturity that allowed the church to grow. In the case of this earliest community, the believers’ preaching was matched by their community, making a powerful testimony for their mission. When the early church said that God cared, the care they gave their own demonstrated this.”
John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
5. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A ONE DAY PER WEEK THING
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread …
Some see this as a reference to the Lord’s Supper (communion), but more likely it’s simply referring to meals together.
Acts 2:46
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts …
6. THE CHURCH IS NOT … POWERED BY HUMAN RESOURCES ALONE
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
More than 25 times through the book of Acts we see the church praying. It’s impossible to go more than a few chapters without seeing the church as a community devoted to prayer.
Acts 2:43
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Charles Spurgeon
If a church does not pray, it is dead.
Charles Spurgeon
Prayer meetings are the throbbing machinery of the church.
7. THE CHURCH IS NOT … SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HER EXISTING MEMBERS
While it’s true, the church provides great encouragement and strength for the people within the church community – it does not exist just for insiders.
Acts 2:47
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Part 4 - “The Church”
Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Chronologically, after Jesus ascended back to heaven, the events that followed are captured in a book of the Bible called “Acts”.
Jesus’ followers did as Jesus’ instructed – they went and made disciples, which in turn transformed lives, cities, nations, even empires.
Acts 2:42–47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
On Day One of the Church, when about 3,000 people respond to Jesus and were baptised, we don’t see those people then atomize scatter off into individual spiritual pursuits and private, personal relationships with Jesus.
Rather, they formed a new type of community. Not a department belonging to government. Nor a business belonging to an individual or a consortium. Not a family exclusive to people of one particular race or citizenry. This was something else entirely
What sprung up was a community of men and women, young and old, connected via their mutual faith and devotion to Jesus as Lord. Almost instinctively, they expressed their love for Jesus by gathering with other people who believed in Jesus too.
This is what happened on Day One of the Church, and it shows us the pattern and foundation for normal Christian life.
SEVEN THINGS THE CHURCH IS NOT
1. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A BUILDING OR AN INSTITUTION
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves…
The church is the community of saints.
‘Church’ is the word ‘Ecclesia’ which means ‘the assembly’.
The church is the community of people who’ve acknowledged Jesus as Saviour and Lord and want to live to honour Him!
2. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A TRIVIAL THING
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves…
In the Old Testament, God promised to Abraham that the nation of Israel would be the fountainhead through which God’s blessings would flow into the world.
Genesis 12:3
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
In the same way, the church is the fountainhead through which God’s blessing flows to the world.
It is the Church that Jesus promises to build (Matt 16:18).
It is the church that is the royal priesthood and holy nation, declaring God’s excellencies to the world (1 Peter 2:9)
It is the Church that is God’s kingdom community.
It is the Church that Jesus shed His blood for (Acts 20:28)
It is the Church that is the living body of Christ!
3. THE CHURCH IS NOT … JUST ANOTHER COMMUNITY CHARITY
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…
What unites the Church is not simply doing nice acts of charity. The church unites around teaching – a particular set of truths and teachings about Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:15
This is the church of the Living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
4. THE CHURCH IS NOT … AN EVENT I GO TO
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship…
Fellowship = koinonia
· “sharing in common”
· It’s a word to describe the mutuality that takes place in marriage.
· Mutual giving and receiving
Acts 2:44-45
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Romans 12:5
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Daryl Bock in his commentary on Acts writes:
“Much in Western culture drives us to an individualism that undercuts the development of this community. We are taught to have things our way and that being able to have our individual needs catered to is how to measure the success of an organisation. In our culture, our individual needs and rights come before any needs of the group. The biblical picture is not of what someone receives from the church, although one receives a great deal, but of what one gives and how one contributes to it. The portrait of the early church in Acts show that community and the welfare of the group were a priority. This attitude reflected spiritual maturity that allowed the church to grow. In the case of this earliest community, the believers’ preaching was matched by their community, making a powerful testimony for their mission. When the early church said that God cared, the care they gave their own demonstrated this.”
John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
5. THE CHURCH IS NOT … A ONE DAY PER WEEK THING
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread …
Some see this as a reference to the Lord’s Supper (communion), but more likely it’s simply referring to meals together.
Acts 2:46
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts …
6. THE CHURCH IS NOT … POWERED BY HUMAN RESOURCES ALONE
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
More than 25 times through the book of Acts we see the church praying. It’s impossible to go more than a few chapters without seeing the church as a community devoted to prayer.
Acts 2:43
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Charles Spurgeon
If a church does not pray, it is dead.
Charles Spurgeon
Prayer meetings are the throbbing machinery of the church.
7. THE CHURCH IS NOT … SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HER EXISTING MEMBERS
While it’s true, the church provides great encouragement and strength for the people within the church community – it does not exist just for insiders.
Acts 2:47
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
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