Sermons

S.R. Acts 2:36-47

Introduction

1. Personal Questions:
   1. Who are you? Do you know?
   2. Why are you here? Have you decided?
   3. Where are you going? Are you sure?
   4. Who are you bringing? Have you tried?
2. When you hear the words “Personal Evangelism” what is your first response?
   1. Be honest.
   2. Is it negative? Or here we go again on this guilt trip.
   3. That’s the way I feel.
      1. I love to teach the lost, but when I hear those words I feel uneasy.
      2. Maybe it’s the quota system, Each one, bring one, Everyone, save one
      3. Or the “personal work” classes that force you into “door knocking”
      4. Please read the bulletin article. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God…”
3. Seeking the lost ought to be a major part of a congregation’s work, but the act of teaching the unbeliever is not the only important work of Christians.
   1. Paul reminded us (Rom. 12:4-8) that everybody has a part, but not the same part to play.
      1. “⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
      2. ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
      3. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
      4. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
      5. ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
   2. “Caring about someone who is lost is a result of the life within, not a means to obtaining that life.”
      1. In other words, we are evangelistic, not in order to become like Christ, but because we are like Christ (cf. Luke 19:10).
      2. We invite others to read the Bible with us, open their Bible and study with us because of a deep sense of their need and ours.
4. The narrative of the actions of the apostles is God’s record of “how to” in teaching others.
   1. As we read Acts we cannot help but be impressed with the growth of the church
      1. (Acts 4:4) “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”
   2. Let’s note some ingredients which led them to look to help.
5. They were a:

Outline

1. Praying People
   1. Luke mentions prayer at list 15 times in Acts
      1. Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
      2. Acts 6:4 “and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
      3. Are we praying for lost children, parents, neighbors, friends and brethren?
   2. Col. 4:12 “He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
2. Problem – Solving People
   1. Acts 6: 1-2 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
   2. Acts 15:1-2 “¹Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” ²This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”
   3. These Christians did not ignore internal problems.
   4. They sought solutions to the problems with teaching and relationships.
3. People in which Women Made Vital Contributions
   1. Women did not “teach or usurp authority over a man,” (1 Timothy 2:12)
      1. They did, however, participate in the great work of saving the lost and serving the saved.
         1. Lydia (Acts 16:15, 40) “¹⁵When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “ If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us…. “⁴⁰After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them.”
         2. Priscilla (Acts 18:26) “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”
         3. Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2) “¹I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. ²I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.”
   2. Ladies, thank you for reaching out with the good news
      1. Thanks to mothers who devote themselves to teaching their children.
      2. Thanks to those who are not mothers who are reaching the lost.
4. Respected People
   1. (Acts 2:47; “having favor with all the people” 5:13) “they were highly regarded by the people.”
      1. They were hated by their enemies and suffered persecution at times, it was not because they were belligerent and obnoxious people (1 Peter 4:14-16) “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
      2. In spite of persecution they…(Acts 5:41-42) “kept right on teaching”
   1. Maintained character above reproach (Eph. 5:3-4). “³But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; ⁴and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
5. Loving People
   1. Acts 20:36-37 “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”
   2. 21:12-14 “¹²When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!"
   3. Are we as kind to visitors?
6. Hospitable People
   1. Acts 2:46; 21:4; “After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days;”
   2. Rom. 12:10-13 “¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;… ¹³contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
   3. Matthew 9:10 “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”
   4. One of the best barrier – crushers is a common meal shared.
   5. We suffer spiritually, by all too often being “Home Alone.”
   6. Inviting visitors out for lunch or home for lunch – both work well.
   7. Opening your home to brethren and the lost is a great step in evangelism
7. Truth Seeking People
   1. (Acts 2 :42)
   2. When false doctrine arose they looked to God’s message (Acts 6; 15:2) to squelch the controversy.
      1. They searched for truth personally and sought to help others know that truth.
      2. One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
   3. “If you abide in my word, then are you truly my disciples and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
8. Conclusion:
   1. Teaching People are Seed Sowers
      1. Acts 8:4 “Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.” Vs. 5 “Proclaiming Christ to them.”
      2. Luke 8:14-15 “¹⁴The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”
         1. Roadside, Rocky. Thorny and Good.
         2. At least 75% of the seed was wasted on “failed evangelism.”
      3. “God never criticized the sower for wasting seed.”
   2. Please read the article on “Failed Evangelism”
      1. The only failed evangelism is that in which no seed is spread.
      2. Understand that over time and persistent rejection on the part of some we need to move on to new ground.
   3. Please welcome every person that comes looking. Please seek the lost?
   4. Let God and His powerful work give the increase. Just sow and water. (1Cor.3:6) “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
   5. (1 Cor. 3:13-18) “¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. ¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”