The Church is Born - TOR4

So what was it like back during the birth of the New Testament church? Should our church today look like the one in Acts?
Tuesday night we finished part 4 in our study of Acts called The Original Revolution. Jeff preached through Acts 2:14-47 and gave us much to consider regarding how we are to share the message of Christ and how we are to relate to one another within the body.

Below are the "take home points" from Jeff's message.

1. Not looking for Jesus throughout the Bible is not reading the Bible as a Christian should.

• It’s more than okay to look for Jesus in all 66 books of the Bible
• You shouldn’t be able to have sweet fellowship with a Jewish Rabbi over an OT Bible study – something should be missing
• Probably your main struggle with the OT is that you’re not searching for Jesus in it

2. Read the Gospels regularly

• You should have a working knowledge of the Gospels
• Read John with themes in mind
• Look up OT quotes found in Gospels and NT

3. The reason people leave Jesus out of the OT or NT is their religion is Moralism or Legalism

• Jesus was and is not a legalist
• Obedience for Jesus is always from the heart
• Jesus taught the Law of Love

4. You need to work at talking about Jesus more

• Our sin competes against loving him
• Talking about Jesus takes faith
• It is easy not to talk about Jesus – It’s easy to change the subject

5. Talking TO Jesus jumpstarts talking ABOUT Him

6. Talking about Jesus with others will change lives

7. It can be the most loving action to call someone to repent and the most unloving action not to

8. Your commitment to your church body [like to Christ] must be All or Nothing

• A lacking blasé commitment to your church community will hurt you – breeding consumerism and/or cynicism
• Half-hearted swimming ultimately causes you to drown
• A fiery whole-hearted sacrificial commitment makes it REAL - spawning joy and devotion to others and to Jesus

9. Expect God to add people to his church

• For some the Gospel will be very attractive
• For some whole-hearted community will be very attractive

Listen to the message