Sermon Notes for Year-end Service 12/29/2013 (Acts 2:42-47)
Let's be Thankful for our Growth
1) Clarifying our focus (42)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2) Learning what it means to fear God (43)
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
3) Experiencing greater unity (44,45)
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
4) Joyfully walking with God and other people (46,47)
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Summary
In reading the passage of scripture that was chosen for our first sermon in 2013, we recognize that by God's grace, we have grown this year. The essence of a church is not in being a human organization, but in being Jesus' followers as members of God's family. If we stop following Jesus, we can call ourselves a church, but we are no longer the body of Christ. We have experienced growth in a variety of areas this year, however small. Let's be thankful for the blessing of growth and continue to serve God and seek his will as we welcome the new year.
For Discussion
1) What are the areas in which we grew this year?
2) Let's share how we've been blessed this year.
Let's be Thankful for our Growth
1) Clarifying our focus (42)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2) Learning what it means to fear God (43)
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
3) Experiencing greater unity (44,45)
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
4) Joyfully walking with God and other people (46,47)
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Summary
In reading the passage of scripture that was chosen for our first sermon in 2013, we recognize that by God's grace, we have grown this year. The essence of a church is not in being a human organization, but in being Jesus' followers as members of God's family. If we stop following Jesus, we can call ourselves a church, but we are no longer the body of Christ. We have experienced growth in a variety of areas this year, however small. Let's be thankful for the blessing of growth and continue to serve God and seek his will as we welcome the new year.
For Discussion
1) What are the areas in which we grew this year?
2) Let's share how we've been blessed this year.