NJ - Fully Devoted Follower

Nathan Jones

We are The Church • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

0 ratings

· 6 views

Notes

Transcript

We are the church

WELCOME:

Good morning and welcome to Oasis Church! I am so glad you have made it here today, to encounter the presence of God.

Welcome to Oasis Church Moura and those joining us online.

If you are visiting with us, we welcome you and look forward to chatting with you after our service.

FOUNDATION COARSE

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

14 Days of Prayer / Boot Camp

Join a team, we look forward to serving with you.

Connect Life

Our Word for this year is: EQUIP

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

I believe in the church,

We are the church,

I know Jesus is the answer for the world, He saved me

People find Jesus through the local church.

I am believing that we will see people come to relationship with Jesus every day

LET’S PRAY:

Father, we love you and thank you for who you are, we ask that you speak to us daily through your word, we open our hearts and lives, praying that you have your way in us. Bless your people today in Jesus’ name Amen.

I have titled my message: Fully Devoted Follower

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Point 1

Devote yourself to studying the Word

We need to devote ourselves to the word of God, (Boot Camp) studying it, applying it to our lives. Be open about it, have conversation and be teachable.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Timothy 4:10–15 NKJV

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

I want you to realy think about this:

WHAT HAS GOD CALLED YOU TO?

WHAT IS HIS CALL ON YOUR LIFE?

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The believers gave themselves to pursue:

The apostles’ teaching.

The word devoted means they persisted in or they continued steadfastly in.

They gave time, effort, attention, consideration, effort to the apostles teaching.

The teaching of Old Testament Scripture

The recounting of Jesus’ teachings which at this early point were still only in oral form.

They couldn’t get enough of Scripture; they were consumed with getting more and more.

They recognized that the apostles knew what they did because they had heard Jesus personally, they had spent time with Him, listening to Him, as He expounded the OT and explained the truth of His life and death and resurrection.

And there in the middle of the supernatural events of Pentecost and what followed, the apostles taught God?s Word; they helped the new converts make sense of what was going on and to get anchored in God’s revelation of Truth.

Peter Preaches Jesus - 3000 people saved

People say, ’"I can’t teach anyone." Or, "I can’t share Christ, I don’t know enough".

(Holy Spirit)

Point 2

Purpose doing life together

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

To be a follower of Christ is to love one another. To live and do what He did. To do life together.

All through the Scriptures we see an emphasis on one another.

We are to honour one another (Romans 12:10).

We are to live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:6).

We are to serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

We are to correct one another (Revelation 3:19).

We are to pray for one another (James 5:16).

We are to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).

We are to work together for the spread of the Gospel (Philippians 1:3-5).

We should build one another up by teaching God’s Word to one another. We are to be open and accountable to one another.

Point 3

Be like Jesus

Becoming like Christ is a process and doesn’t just happen automatically.

In Jesus’ day, followers of Christ were called disciples. In the Bible, we read about 12 men who took Jesus and their relationship with God very seriously.

So what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? A disciple of Jesus is someone who organizes their life around three basic goals:

1. Be with Jesus 2. Become like Jesus 3. Do what He would do if He were you

Read that again.

1 John 2:6 NLT

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

So that’s exactly what we want to help you do.

We want to help you learn how to be with Jesus,

become like Jesus,

and do what Jesus would do.