The following is a general outline of the last sermon given at Hill Country Church on Sunday, August 14, 2011.
· Awe (other places ‘fear’)
o An awakening to the truth, and a reverence for God (not fright or terror)
o Also used at Luke 7:11 where Jesus raised the dead man in the middle of the funeral procession. They glorified God.
o Every soul would be the 3000 that were saved that day. You cannot have an aweness for God and not be renewed
o Where is our sense of awe and wonder?
· Wonders and signs
o This was a witness to those that Peter and the apostles were telling the truth.
o Specific to the apostles. They were doing wonders and signs that had no other explanation, which led to awe or fear of God.
o Signs and wonders for today?
§ Healings
§ Transformed lives
§ Cessation of the Spirit?
§ Revival?
o Are we afraid of the Holy Spirit? Will God move in a place that simply gives lip service to God?
Verse 44: And all who believed were together and had all things in common. (worship)
o And all who believed
o Not all those present during Peter’s sermon were transformed.
o A proper teaching and preaching of the gospel will not always produce disciples.
§ Persecution
§ Indifference
§ Hostility
o Were together
o Corporate worship (membership in a local church)
o Cannot be alone in corporate worship
o All things in common
o What matters to a Christian?
o Where was the concentration?
§ When do you notice commonality? When you are looking to yourself and comparing.
o Strangers that are Christian. Instant bond?
Verse 45: And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (generous)
o Selling their possessions and belongings
o Has been interpreted as communal living. Incorrect verb usage along with Church history.
o Not coerced into selling, but freely doing so
o Distributing proceeds to all
o Those in the church
o Outside of the church
o As need arose
o Good works
o Matt. 5:16
o Eph. 2:10
o Titus 2:14
o Mark 10:44 (servant church)
Verse 46: And day by day, attending the temple together, breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (witnessing and fellowship)
o Day by day
o The new disciples met every day either at the temple or in private homes
§ Before the persecution by the Jews
§ Witnessed to Jewish brothers and sisters
§ Fellowship happened in private homes (another argument against communal living)
o Breaking bread
§ Could refer to both normal meals with the Lord’s Supper afterward (following the example of the Last Supper)
o Glad/generous hearts
§ Attitude of believers
Verse 47: praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (light, growth)
o Praising God
o Continuous action that happened all the time
o Favour with all the people
o Even the lost. Why?
§ Generous
§ Disposition
§ United
§ Caring
§ Loving
o Judaism was plagued by division and segregation, all law-no grace
o The Lord added
o He will build His church, not us
§ 1 Peter 2:2
o Growth occurs when the church acts like the first church
What does that mean for Hill Country?
o Filled with the Spirit
o Community to look at us as attractive and different
o Meaningful membership
o Includes dedicated study, building up the body, community involvement
o Pharisaical? Luke-warm Christians? Un-involved Christians?
o Generous
o Money
o Time
o Grace
o Light and growth
o Get involved
o Invite others
o Love our enemies, call out for His sheep
Conclusion: Ship analogy. We have an opportunity here. Let’s glorify our God in our community, to one another, let’s go in the right direction and pray God grows His church so that He may be glorified.
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If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email or call us. Please visit our website at hillcountrychurch.ca, email us at hillcountryreformed@gmail.com, or call 403-932-0519.
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