The Church
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Notes
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Turn to and read Acts 2:41-47. Pray.
The church has taken a beating over the past 6 months. In a recent article, the headline read...
COVID has taken its toll on believers, churches – and the Church
COVID has taken its toll on believers, churches – and the Church
The articles reads, in part...
A noted researcher reports that COVID, its associated restrictions – and people's reaction to those restrictions – could mean one in five churches in the U.S. might have to close their doors.
Financial strain and dwindling attendance could shutter up to 20% of churches in the U.S., according to Dave Kinnaman of Barna Group. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Kinnaman said pastoral confidence is sinking and virtual or online services will likely keep many attenders from returning, in person, to their church.
Another article is titled...
One in Three Practicing Christians Has Stopped Attending Church During COVID-19
One in Three Practicing Christians Has Stopped Attending Church During COVID-19
Beginning in October, our Connection Groups will be participating in a study of the local church. Given all that has transpired over the past many months, I believe that it important - necessary - for us to be reminded of that fact that the local church is still God’s plan for reaching the world and transforming lives one at a time.
Tonight, let’s look at a familiar passage of Scripture for a few moments...
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Even though Peter had just preached to a crowd that include many who were hostile, there were still many - 3,000 in fact - who gladly received the message which he preached.
While we live in a hostile world, we need to remember that there are still many who will gladly receive the message of salvation if we will be faithful to proclaim it!
After these 3,000 souls received Jesus Christ as their Savior, they publically identified with Jesus Christ through baptism and then publically identified with the 120 disciples. We see this same process demonstrated by the Apostle Paul after he was saved.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
We continue to follow the same pattern: An individual receives Jesus Christ as their Savior, they publically identify with Jesus Christ through baptism, and then that individual is encouraged to publically identify with this local assembly of believers. We call that church membership. And, I will say, that every church always has a number of individuals who attend but never publically identify with the local church. I would encourage such individuals to do just that - publically identify with this local church, South Charlotte Baptist Church.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Who is “they?” It is the 3,120 individuals from vs. 41. It was the members of the local church in Jerusalem.
A church is a local group of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission.
What did “they” do? They “continued stedfastly.” Continued steadfastly means to persevere, to remain constant, to carry on without wavering.
As the statistics have pointed out: “One in Three Practicing Christians Has Stopped Attending Church During COVID-19.”
I will have to admit that I have struggled with this. I don’t know who is not attending because they are sincerely worried about COVID-19. I don’t know who is not attending any longer simply because COVID-19 gives them a good “reason” not to attend. I do know that regardless of the reason, I want to love these individuals and their families. I don’t want them to think that I am neglecting them but I will have to admit that it is difficult to maintain those relationships “virtually” without any “in-person” contact.
Acts 2:42 states that this local church continued steadfastly in 4 areas:
The Apostle’s Doctrine
The Apostle’s Doctrine
Doctrine is important. That is why, in response to COVID-19, we stopped everything, but we continued on with the preaching of God’s Word. There are a lot of things that we, as a church, can do without, but there is one thing that we can’t do without and that is the preaching of God’s truth! If we did away with the preaching of God’s Word I can confidently say that we would no longer have a church!
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Next, they continued steadfastly in...
Fellowship
Fellowship
They faithfully assembled themselves together. Acts 2:46 tells us that they met together daily!
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
This has been one of the struggles for many pastor - myself included. During COVID-19, it has been found that younger generations of Americans – even though they are at lower risk of having any serious complications from the coronavirus – have been skipping church at greater rates than older generations. Now, I am not going to “guilt trip” any person into physically attending church. Nor am I going to use the pulpit to “shame” people into physically attending church. However, I am not going to shy away from the truth that the Bible teaches that the local church should faithfully meet together - in person.
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Hebrews 10:24-25
King James Version Chapter 10
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I will also make no apologies for saying that “virtual” church cannot replace the real thing of meeting in person.
In one of the articles that I referenced earlier, it states:
"Respondents who have stopped attending church during COVID-19 are less likely than their peers who are still attending the same church during the pandemic to agree with the statement, 'I am not anxious about my life, as I have an inner peace from God.'"
[In other words]...going to church tends to significantly increase good feelings – such as inner peace – and decrease bad ones … including boredom and insecurity.
This is one reason why, beginning on Sunday, October 4, we will begin many of our Connection Groups once again. We need the personal interaction that is provided within the context of the local church!
Next, they continued steadfastly in...
Breaking of Bread
Breaking of Bread
From my study, it seems likely that the early church not only ate together, but that they would end each mean with an observance of the Lord’s Supper. Either way, taking part in the Lord’s Supper is a vital part of the life of any local church family. And, unfortunately, you cannot partake of the Lord’s Supper “virtually.”
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
The Bible does not specify how often we should celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Jesus Christ only observed the Last Supper once with His disciples. It seems that the early church in Jerusalem may have observed the Lord’s Supper on a daily basis. Some churches practices it on a weekly basis; some on a monthly basis; some on a quarterly basis, etc. 1 Corinthians 11:24 simply says, “as oft as ye drink it.” We have typically observed the Lord’s Supper on a quarterly basis. However, due to COVID-19, we were unable to observe the Lord’s Supper at Easter which was when we would have next observed it.
While we may not be able to observe the Lord’s Supper in the same fashion as we have done in the past, it is still possible for us to safely observe the Lord’s Supper and I will be speaking with the deacons, tonight, about scheduling our next observance of the Lord’s Supper.
Last, they continued steadfastly in...
Prayers
Prayers
The early church - this church in Jerusalem - was a praying church. It was made up of praying Christians!
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:24, “And they prayed...”
Acts 6:6, “…and when they had prayed...”
Acts 12:12, “…where many were gathered together praying...”
Acts 13:3, “And when they had fasted and prayed...”
The Apostles simply led the early church to do that which Christ had led them to do…Pray!
E.M. Bounds, whom I mentioned this morning, wrote:
“What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer.”
I encourage all of our church family to attend the mid-week service. This past week it was a joy to see the church praying as we got back to the practice of spending time in prayer together as a church family.
I will end the message tonight with a quote from Warren Wiersbe, a preacher and Bible teacher that many of you may recall, who passed away last year...
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Power from Heaven! (Acts 2)
The Christians you meet in the Book of Acts were not content to meet once a week for “services as usual.” They met daily (Acts 2:46), cared daily (Acts 6:1), won souls daily (Acts 2:47), searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and increased in number daily (Acts 16:5). Their Christian faith was a day-to-day reality, not a once-a-week routine. Why? Because the risen Christ was a living reality to them, and His resurrection power was at work in their lives through the Spirit.