VISION 2008
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Acts
2:41-47 Those who accepted
his message were baptized, and about three thousand were
added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to
the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone
was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs
were done by the apostles. All the believers
were together and had everything
in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to
anyone as he had need.
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
THAT WERE BEING SAVED.
At
Pentecost 1) the believers waited 2) the Spirit came, 3) the
gospel was proclaimed, 4) people responded, and 5)
LIFE CHANGED
WHERE DID THEY MEET?
In the
temple courts (church meetings) House-to-house (small
groups)
WHEN DID THEY MEET?
Everyday
WHAT DID THEY DO? (What can we
old people do?)
1) They devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching (DOCTRINE)
and to the fellowship (WORSHIP),
to the breaking of bread (COMMUNION)
and to PRAYER. Luke 12:47
– much given/much required
LEARNING “THE
BENEFIT THAT BREEDS RESPONSIBILITY”
COMMIT TO SHOWING UP!
2) All the
believers
were together and had everything in
common.
DECIDING ”THE
INGREDIENT THAT GENERATES OWNERSHIP”
Being on
the team, contributing positive ideas, keeping the peace,
FAMILY MATTERS! BOARD MEETNGS! COMMITTEES!
3) Selling
their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need.
DOING
“THE ACTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE TRUE FAITH”
(James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word
but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his
face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who
looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues to do this, not forgetting what he has
heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he
does.)
GET
ON A TEAM, “see a need and fill it!
4) CARING “THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES CHURCH GROWTH”
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.
The importance of personal,
interactive care for each other
DIRECTORY: Call someone every day!
A NEVER-ENDING VISION:
(Asked at this time in 2005)
What steps do we need
to take to assure that we … move ahead – step-by-step – in
the never-ending (‘til Jesus comes) vision of seeing
“the Lord add to our number daily those who are being
saved?”
John 15:6
If anyone
does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is
withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire,
and they are burned.
John 15:8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;
so you will be My disciples. (FRUIT BEARING =
PRUNING-CHANGE!)
Our
churches are not like the early church. The Lord is not
adding to our number daily those who are being saved.
ABChurch is not young, not rich, not even very big (none of
our local churches are!)
THE KEY: “They ALL
participated ALL THE TIME
House to house (Small
groups+Churches!) AND in the “temple courts”
OBJECTIVES FOR 2008
1)
Our understanding of the “church” enlarged
(why do it all?)
2)
Ministry of small groups enriched
Double the number of small groups (“House-to-House”)
Redefine “small group”; apply the four ingredients to all
groups
Double the number in small groups (“House-to-House”)
Follow the early church model;
“pray the Lord of the Harvest
3)
More of us will be engaged in ministry and mission
Double the number in active ministry in the church (“Temple
Courts”)
“Everyone”; “All the believers”; enjoying the favor
of all …
RESPONSE
FORM
“They (ALL) devoted themselves…”
(Key word: “devoted”)
1
Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor
is not in vain in the Lord.”
THE LORD ADDED… Proverbs 16:9
“A
man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
