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<v Speaker 1>At this time we will dismiss any children interested in being part of our junior church children's church downstairs, ages 3 to 6.

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<v Speaker 1>You can just go out these doors and follow the teacher downstairs.

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<v Speaker 1>We're in a sermon series in the Book of Acts on Sunday mornings and if you didn't get an outline, a sermon outline or a Bible, just raise your hand.

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<v Speaker 1>Our pastors would be happy to help you with either of those.

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<v Speaker 1>We're going to begin Acts chapter 6 today, so if you brought your Bible you can make your way there.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll be there in a minute.

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<v Speaker 1>I received, or I ran across, a letter recently.

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<v Speaker 1>A guy wrote to his pastor and here's what he said Dear Pastor, there are 150 members in our church, but 15 of them are elderly and frail.

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<v Speaker 1>That leaves 135 to do all the work.

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<v Speaker 1>However, eight are young people away at college, so that leaves 127 to do all the work.

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<v Speaker 1>But 55 of them are very busy businessmen and tradesmen, and that leaves 72 to do all the work.

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<v Speaker 1>However, 10 of them are young mothers with children, which leaves 62 people to do all the work.

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<v Speaker 1>But then again 29 of them have other important interests and are away from church, sometimes for months.

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<v Speaker 1>So that leaves 33 members to do all the work.

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<v Speaker 1>However, 18 of them are way too busy, too far away.

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<v Speaker 1>That leaves 15 people to do all the work and 13 of them say they've already done their fair share.

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<v Speaker 1>So, pastor, that leaves you and me, and frankly I'm exhausted.

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<v Speaker 1>Good luck to you, your faithful parishioner, henry.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, okay, today in the book of Acts, I'd like to talk about the ministry of the local church.

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<v Speaker 1>We left off at the end of Acts, chapter 5, when the apostles were flogged cat and nine tails, 39 times each of them, for telling people, preaching people, about Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died for sins and rose again.

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<v Speaker 1>They were flogged, they came back and they were glad that they could do that for the name of Jesus, but the apostles kept right on teaching that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

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<v Speaker 1>As a result, the text tells us that the disciples were increasing in number.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, today we're going to look at what happened when those disciples started being the church.

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<v Speaker 1>Follow along in Acts, chapter 6, read the first part, verses 1 to 7.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, at this time, while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

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<v Speaker 1>So the twelve apostles summoned the congregation of the disciples and said it's not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task, but we, meaning the apostles, will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

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<v Speaker 1>The statement found approval with the whole congregation and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith in the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus, nicanor, Timon, parmenas and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, and these they brought before the apostles and, after praying, they laid their hands on them.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know what?

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<v Speaker 1>The word of God kept on spreading and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, we're going to look at this passage today, acts 6, in three parts how the church grew, what hindered the church growth and the mark of a growing church.

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<v Speaker 1>First, how the church grew.

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<v Speaker 1>First, one tells us how the church grew and increased in numbers as disciples increased.

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<v Speaker 1>The church grew Don't miss it, the Greek word.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, you could ask what's a disciple?

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<v Speaker 1>The Greek word disciple basically means learner.

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<v Speaker 1>Greek word disciple basically means learner Come to being a technical term referring to a follower, learner, of Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>When we follow the biblical descriptions of a disciple of Jesus Christ, let me give you a brief summary Several aspects to a disciple we see in the scripture.

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<v Speaker 1>A disciple is someone who has believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

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<v Speaker 1>First, they have surrendered their life to Jesus Christ as Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>He's their master.

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<v Speaker 1>His word they will obey.

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<v Speaker 1>Third, they are baptized in his name.

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<v Speaker 1>They serve others in Jesus' name and begin the lifelong process of learning to follow Jesus by following his word.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, jesus had a lot to say about being his disciple.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me sum up a couple places where he sums it up.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually, luke, chapter 6 is one place I like.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's a good description.

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<v Speaker 1>He's talking to his disciples in Luke 6, 46 to 49.

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<v Speaker 1>He says okay, you believed in me.

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<v Speaker 1>Now why do you call me Lord, lord, and not do the things that I?

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<v Speaker 1>When I say Hello, are you my disciples?

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<v Speaker 1>As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I'll show you what they're like.

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<v Speaker 1>They're like a man building a house who dug down deep and lay the foundation on a rock.

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<v Speaker 1>When a flood came, the torrent struck that house and could not shake it because it was well built.

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<v Speaker 1>But the one who hears my words and does not do anything with them, doesn't put it into practice, is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

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<v Speaker 1>The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

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<v Speaker 1>Then fast forward to after Jesus died and he rose again.

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<v Speaker 1>He has one last word to say to his disciples before he ascends to heaven, and he says this Matthew 28, 18 to 20.

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<v Speaker 1>And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

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<v Speaker 1>Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, then teaching them to observe all that.

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<v Speaker 1>I commanded you and I am with you always, even to the close of the age.

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<v Speaker 1>So that's a disciple, and we're told.

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<v Speaker 1>When the disciples increased, the church grew.

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<v Speaker 1>The next thing we must ask well, how does a person become a disciple of Jesus, and how do we make disciples what Jesus is talking about there?

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<v Speaker 1>How do we make disciples of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, this is what we can learn from the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 1>This is what they did.

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<v Speaker 1>It helped them increase.

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<v Speaker 1>The first thing we learn from the book of Acts is that in order for the church to grow by making disciples, people must first hear God's word and the gospel to believe in Jesus as their Savior.

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<v Speaker 1>Now I've got these on the slides.

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<v Speaker 1>I want you to see the pattern so far in the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 1>There's a connection between when people heard the word of God, preached and taught, and those who believed and were saved.

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<v Speaker 1>They became part of the church.

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<v Speaker 1>We start at Acts 2.42 in the Pentecost First verse, verse 42, they were the people who believed, were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching the word of God and fellowship, the breaking of the bread and prayer.

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<v Speaker 1>Verse 47 follows that by saying Praising God, they were having favor with all the people and the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss the connection Preaching the word and adding to their number those that are being saved.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the first thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Look at Acts 4, verse 2.

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<v Speaker 1>The captain of the temple garden, the Sadducees, came up to them being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming Jesus, the resurrection from the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>Look at verse 4.

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<v Speaker 1>But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of men came to five thousand Preaching the word, hearing it, believing.

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<v Speaker 1>Now we're increasing.

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<v Speaker 1>Look at Acts 4, verse 31.

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<v Speaker 1>When the disciples had prayed, the place where they had gathered was shaken.

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<v Speaker 1>They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak the word of God with boldness and all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women were constantly being added to their number.

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<v Speaker 1>One more to bring us to date Acts 5.42, the last chapter we looked at.

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<v Speaker 1>And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus is the Christ, 6.1.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know what?

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<v Speaker 1>Now, at this time, the disciples were increasing in number.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss a connection Preaching, teaching the word of God, results in people believing and learning about Jesus and becoming his disciple.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a clear connection, what they're doing in the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 1>That's why the disciples did not want to stop preaching the word.

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<v Speaker 1>As the people heard the gospel of Christ and believed, the church grew, it increased.

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<v Speaker 1>Next question by the way, this is all introduction to the sermon.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually, how do people hear.

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<v Speaker 1>What do we learn from the book of Acts?

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<v Speaker 1>How do people hear the word of God and the gospel?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, just read the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 1>We see two things.

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<v Speaker 1>That answers that question.

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<v Speaker 1>In Acts 5.42, here it is.

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<v Speaker 1>And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus is the Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>First, people heard the word of the gospel when the church assembled together to worship in the temple.

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<v Speaker 1>They heard it.

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<v Speaker 1>They invited their friends to come.

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<v Speaker 1>They invited their friends to come.

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<v Speaker 1>They did.

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<v Speaker 1>But notice also secondly, people heard the word of God as people shared the gospel personally as they went from house to house.

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<v Speaker 1>That's how they did it.

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<v Speaker 1>That's how people heard.

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<v Speaker 1>Note chapter 6, 1 again.

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<v Speaker 1>Notice what it says.

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<v Speaker 1>At this time, while the disciples were increasing in number what time?

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<v Speaker 1>What's he talking about?

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<v Speaker 1>When is this?

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<v Speaker 1>They were increasing in number we just read when they were preaching the gospel, gathered for worship and talking to their neighbors.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, it's important to remember this.

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<v Speaker 1>This is not something we do.

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<v Speaker 1>We're not converting anybody.

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<v Speaker 1>It's the Holy Spirit that does that job.

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<v Speaker 1>We're just the messengers.

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<v Speaker 1>We're just the witnesses.

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<v Speaker 1>People who have trusted in Christ realize his actual spiritual presence in us.

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<v Speaker 1>We're witnesses to that, that he's alive, risen from the dead and enters every single heart that believes in him.

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<v Speaker 1>But we need to remember we're not the ones causing any change in anybody's life.

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<v Speaker 1>We're just the messenger.

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<v Speaker 1>It's God in his spirit who causes the growth when people encounter his word and the Spirit makes it alive to them.

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<v Speaker 1>Paul says in 1 Corinthians, 3, 6 and 7, I planted, meaning I planted the seeds of the word of God, the gospel, in people's lives.

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<v Speaker 1>I told them about it.

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<v Speaker 1>Apollos watered.

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<v Speaker 1>He came alongside and gave more explanation, more discussion about it.

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<v Speaker 1>He's watering those seeds, but God causing the growth.

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<v Speaker 1>So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters really is anything.

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<v Speaker 1>We're just messengers.

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<v Speaker 1>God who causes the growth ultimately.

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<v Speaker 1>We can't forget that Now the church grows here, when disciples in the church make more disciples through sharing the gospel and God's word.

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<v Speaker 1>Paul reflects on the progress of the gospel in Colossae when he writes to them the letter to Colossians.

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<v Speaker 1>In chapter 1, verses 4 to 6, paul says you know we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all God's people, the faith and the love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>About what you've already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you.

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<v Speaker 1>In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, just as has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood.

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<v Speaker 1>Here's the whole core of the gospel you understood God's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>It's not how good you're going to be, to get into heaven or to be in his kingdom, it's Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>He died for us and rose again.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, anyone who believes in him receives him by grace.

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<v Speaker 1>As the early church began to grow.

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<v Speaker 1>Now here's the heart of the sermon.

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<v Speaker 1>That's all.

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<v Speaker 1>Introduction.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, being the church, that's what we're going to talk about.

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<v Speaker 1>Here's where chapter 6 goes.

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<v Speaker 1>As the early church began to grow, they do encounter a number of hindrances to their growth to stop it.

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<v Speaker 1>Hindrances, by the way, that are still with us if we care to be aware of it.

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<v Speaker 1>So what do we learn here that hinders the growth of the church?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, let's first start with the ultimate hindrance.

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<v Speaker 1>Probably behind all other hindrances, the spiritual forces of darkness are very real, very present among us.

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<v Speaker 1>We know the devil tried to stop Jesus at the beginning, middle and end of his life in ministry.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know what?

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<v Speaker 1>When Jesus confounded the powers of darkness at the cross and rose again, the devil failed.

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<v Speaker 1>And now we're told he couldn't stop Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>You know who he's after now the church Revelation 12, 17,.

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<v Speaker 1>John says, referring metaphorically to Satan, as the dragon and the woman, israel.

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<v Speaker 1>So the dragon was enraged with the woman.

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<v Speaker 1>They, long story short, gave birth to the Messiah with Israel and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>That's you and me so far, if you've been listening.

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<v Speaker 1>In the book of Acts, the devil tried to stop the church's growth by persecution, in Acts 4.

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<v Speaker 1>Tried to stop it by moral corruption within the church, in Acts, chapter 5.

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<v Speaker 1>It by moral corruption within the church, in Acts, chapter 5.

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<v Speaker 1>And now, I believe, the devil tries to stop the church from growing due to internal strife.

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<v Speaker 1>That's huge.

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<v Speaker 1>Acts 6, 1.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, at this time, while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose out of nowhere.

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<v Speaker 1>It arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews.

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<v Speaker 1>By the way, these Hellenistic Jews and Hebrew Jews are all believers in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss this.

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<v Speaker 1>Look at the significance of the timing of this complaint.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, at this time when the church was growing, do you realize?

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<v Speaker 1>Internal divisions can slow and stop the growth of any church, the growth of any church, even as we see today.

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<v Speaker 1>And it started inside the church with what the text says a complaint.

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<v Speaker 1>I love the Greek word for complaint, it's a great little word Gagismas.

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<v Speaker 1>Gagismas, the word was used to describe the children of Israel in the Old Testament when they go gizmos against Moses in the wilderness because they didn't get what they wanted.

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<v Speaker 1>Several times it's used to the children of Israel in the Old Testament.

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<v Speaker 1>So let me ask you are you, gaudismo, singing anybody, anything?

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<v Speaker 1>Be careful.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, instead of focusing, you see, on the preaching of the word and making disciples, the apostles of the church were distracted by somebody's need not being met.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, facing this issue feeding the widows, by the way, who were impoverished, was a very legitimate need.

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<v Speaker 1>That's not the issue.

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<v Speaker 1>The reason the need wasn't being met was because of internal strife within the church.

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<v Speaker 1>There were two groups of disciples in this church who didn't get along, I could add.

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<v Speaker 1>They weren't acting like disciples, followers of Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>No, the first group of Christians were Jews who were born in Israel, the natural-born Jews who came to Christ, their Messiah.

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<v Speaker 1>The second group of Christians were Jews who immigrated to Israel, came to know Christ, and they spoke Greek.

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<v Speaker 1>The natural-born Hebrews who came to Jesus spoke Aramaic.

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<v Speaker 1>You've got to know, even before they became Christians, there was a cultural rivalry between natural-born Jews and immigrant Jews who had moved back to Israel.

00:22:19.453 --> 00:22:22.673
<v Speaker 1>It existed in the culture.

00:22:22.673 --> 00:22:35.469
<v Speaker 1>I wonder how many things exist in our culture that have impact in the church, creating divisions, complaints.

00:22:35.469 --> 00:22:47.034
<v Speaker 1>The host hosu Be too many to name the natural born Jews looked down on the immigrant Jews as second class citizens.

00:22:47.034 --> 00:22:55.933
<v Speaker 1>The natural born Jews didn't want their Hebrew culture, occupied, corrupted by Greek influences.

00:22:55.933 --> 00:22:57.135
<v Speaker 1>It's as simple as that.

00:22:57.135 --> 00:22:59.140
<v Speaker 1>Occupied, corrupted by Greek influences.

00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:02.131
<v Speaker 1>It's as simple as that.

00:23:02.131 --> 00:23:09.471
<v Speaker 1>And Acts 6-1 tells us that this cultural difference manifested itself as internal strife within the church.

00:23:09.471 --> 00:23:18.429
<v Speaker 1>A complaint, a gizmos arose Within the church.

00:23:18.429 --> 00:23:50.762
<v Speaker 1>The disciples still have a lot to learn about following Jesus, Because I'm telling you right now, the devil will use internal strifes, complaints, disagreements to literally stop the church from growing Right in its tracks, distracting it from its main mission to preach the gospel.

00:23:50.782 --> 00:23:51.865
<v Speaker 1>And we've witnessed it right here in our own church.

00:23:51.865 --> 00:23:52.265
<v Speaker 1>We have.

00:23:52.265 --> 00:23:53.948
<v Speaker 1>I've seen it.

00:23:53.948 --> 00:23:57.292
<v Speaker 1>But God listen.

00:23:57.292 --> 00:24:07.553
<v Speaker 1>This is the good news that God used the problem in the church in Acts 6 to foster new ministries to help.

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:23.482
<v Speaker 1>The apostles realized that this cultural dispute over that it needed it was distracting them from preaching the gospel and praying, so they proposed a solution.

00:24:23.482 --> 00:24:35.808
<v Speaker 1>The apostles could not handle the growth in the ministry without help, couldn't do it.

00:24:35.808 --> 00:24:48.833
<v Speaker 1>So they proposed that the church choose seven Holy Spirit gifted men to help out, meet this need.

00:24:48.833 --> 00:24:51.042
<v Speaker 1>And you know what the congregation said.

00:24:51.042 --> 00:24:51.787
<v Speaker 1>You're right.

00:24:51.787 --> 00:24:54.066
<v Speaker 1>Where do I sign up?

00:24:54.066 --> 00:25:06.311
<v Speaker 1>What's interesting is the apostles chose seven and among them were men from both cultures.

00:25:06.311 --> 00:25:31.989
<v Speaker 1>And Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew We'll talk about him in a minute and they're going to make sure that the needs of those widows are being met so we can continue to carry on the gospel ministry, the preaching and teaching of God's word in the temple and in house to house.

00:25:31.989 --> 00:25:34.185
<v Speaker 1>We've got to cover this.

00:25:34.185 --> 00:25:36.730
<v Speaker 1>There are definite needs here.

00:25:36.730 --> 00:25:41.259
<v Speaker 1>We've got to cover this.

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.608
<v Speaker 1>There are definite needs here.

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:45.084
<v Speaker 1>Jesus' disciples were willing to start serving.

00:25:45.084 --> 00:25:49.221
<v Speaker 1>That meant the church could continue to grow, and it did.

00:25:49.221 --> 00:26:09.402
<v Speaker 1>For the church to be healthy, growing, disciples need to be willing to serve to help, not just receive to help.

00:26:09.402 --> 00:26:12.404
<v Speaker 1>That brings us to the last point today, a mark of the growing church.

00:26:12.404 --> 00:26:16.950
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to read the last part of this passage, beginning in verse 7.

00:26:16.950 --> 00:26:21.114
<v Speaker 1>The word of God then kept on spreading.

00:26:21.114 --> 00:26:24.557
<v Speaker 1>The number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem.

00:26:24.557 --> 00:26:32.803
<v Speaker 1>A great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith right after they got help Verse 8,.

00:26:32.803 --> 00:26:35.590
<v Speaker 1>And Stephen was one of the seven chosen.

00:26:35.590 --> 00:26:37.565
<v Speaker 1>I'll serve.

00:26:37.565 --> 00:26:40.684
<v Speaker 1>Want me to wait on tables?

00:26:40.684 --> 00:26:41.587
<v Speaker 1>I got that.

00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:50.669
<v Speaker 1>Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

00:26:50.669 --> 00:27:10.188
<v Speaker 1>But some men, what was called the synagogue of the freedmen these are Jews, not Christians, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians and some Sicilian Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen, but they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.

00:27:10.188 --> 00:27:19.224
<v Speaker 1>Then they secretly induced men to say we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

00:27:19.224 --> 00:27:28.800
<v Speaker 1>And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the council.

00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:39.355
<v Speaker 1>Now we're seeing another desperate satanic strategy to stop this thing.

00:27:39.355 --> 00:27:42.507
<v Speaker 1>It's going to get real hard.

00:27:42.507 --> 00:27:46.949
<v Speaker 1>Dragged him away before the council.

00:27:46.949 --> 00:27:53.571
<v Speaker 1>They put forward false witnesses who said this man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the law.

00:27:53.571 --> 00:28:03.305
<v Speaker 1>For we've heard him say that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.

00:28:03.305 --> 00:28:12.084
<v Speaker 1>And, fixing their gaze on him, all who are sitting in the council saw his face like the face of an angel.

00:28:12.084 --> 00:28:17.308
<v Speaker 1>Stop Now.

00:28:17.308 --> 00:28:22.513
<v Speaker 1>In the coming weeks, do you realize?

00:28:22.674 --> 00:28:25.116
<v Speaker 1>Luke spends two whole chapters on Stephen.

00:28:25.116 --> 00:28:45.121
<v Speaker 1>There's a reason for that and we'll continue next time talking about one of them, but anyway them.

00:28:45.121 --> 00:28:45.583
<v Speaker 1>But anyway.

00:28:45.583 --> 00:28:48.856
<v Speaker 1>In Acts 6, 8 to 15, luke zeroes our attention on Stephen.

00:28:48.856 --> 00:28:49.420
<v Speaker 1>Why does he do that?

00:28:49.420 --> 00:29:05.019
<v Speaker 1>He's not only going to be the first Christian martyr, but he is also a reflection of the marks of a disciple in a healthy, growing church.

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:10.286
<v Speaker 1>The mark of a growing church is a growing Christian, a disciple.

00:29:10.286 --> 00:29:18.128
<v Speaker 1>Christians who love the Lord, who love the Word of God, want to hear it, want to tell it.

00:29:18.128 --> 00:29:21.607
<v Speaker 1>Growing Christians grow churches.

00:29:21.607 --> 00:29:28.748
<v Speaker 1>Right after mentioning how this church started to grow, again, luke mentions Stephen.

00:29:28.748 --> 00:29:36.306
<v Speaker 1>Again, there's a connection, I believe, with the devil's design Started growing again.

00:29:36.306 --> 00:29:38.987
<v Speaker 1>Internal strife didn't stop it.

00:29:38.987 --> 00:29:43.788
<v Speaker 1>All right, I'm going to the next level.

00:29:43.788 --> 00:29:45.692
<v Speaker 1>Come back for it.

00:29:45.692 --> 00:29:46.301
<v Speaker 1>Luke.

00:29:46.903 --> 00:29:57.832
<v Speaker 1>Those singles singles Stephen out as, I think, an exemplar of what a disciple of Jesus is and is all about.

00:29:57.832 --> 00:30:00.605
<v Speaker 1>That's why he's mentioned.

00:30:00.605 --> 00:30:08.411
<v Speaker 1>He's an exemplar of a disciple of Jesus and a growing Christian.

00:30:08.411 --> 00:30:15.492
<v Speaker 1>A disciple is not just someone who believes and professes Jesus.

00:30:15.492 --> 00:30:34.448
<v Speaker 1>A disciple is someone who's believed in Jesus, is filled with the Spirit and is learning and growing and is serving the body of Christ, meeting the needs of the body, exercising their gifts that they've been given.

00:30:34.448 --> 00:30:39.727
<v Speaker 1>Like Stephen, a disciple is someone you're going to see it.

00:30:39.727 --> 00:30:47.191
<v Speaker 1>He's completely surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, completely Like Stephen.

00:30:47.191 --> 00:30:52.244
<v Speaker 1>A disciple is someone who's happy to share their faith in Jesus, anybody who will listen.

00:30:52.244 --> 00:30:59.997
<v Speaker 1>Stephen is the exemplary disciple and Luke pulls him out for us to see.

00:30:59.997 --> 00:31:07.259
<v Speaker 1>Stephen is the exemplary disciple and Luke pulls him out for us to see.

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:14.371
<v Speaker 1>And the ministry of disciples is essential for the church to grow.

00:31:16.381 --> 00:31:27.010
<v Speaker 1>Even when Stephen was being falsely accused and maligned, you realize, you hear, that he kept himself locked in to his Lord Jesus Christ.

00:31:27.010 --> 00:31:30.188
<v Speaker 1>Life was going to get very hard for him.

00:31:30.188 --> 00:31:32.584
<v Speaker 1>How did he do it?

00:31:32.584 --> 00:31:33.026
<v Speaker 1>You'll see.

00:31:33.026 --> 00:31:36.730
<v Speaker 1>But right here we get a hint in verse 15.

00:31:36.730 --> 00:31:41.671
<v Speaker 1>He kept his eyes locked on the Lord Jesus.

00:31:41.671 --> 00:31:52.648
<v Speaker 1>Now, while they, it says, were fixing their eyes on Stephen, stephen was fixing his eyes on Jesus.

00:31:52.648 --> 00:32:05.563
<v Speaker 1>That is the mark of a true disciple, even when life is about to get very hard, and it is.

00:32:05.563 --> 00:32:08.989
<v Speaker 1>Stephen will eventually die for his faith in the Lord, which we'll see.

00:32:08.989 --> 00:32:11.773
<v Speaker 1>We'll look at that as we continue.

00:32:11.773 --> 00:32:12.694
<v Speaker 1>You know what.

00:32:12.694 --> 00:32:16.897
<v Speaker 1>We may not die for our faith, like Stephen did, but you know what we can do.

00:32:16.897 --> 00:32:19.194
<v Speaker 1>We can live out our faith in faith like Stephen did, but you know what we can do.

00:32:19.194 --> 00:32:22.844
<v Speaker 1>We can live out our faith in Jesus like Stephen did.

00:32:24.207 --> 00:32:44.056
<v Speaker 1>Now, don't misunderstand me, but what I'm seeing here in the book of Acts is the early church grew, not not by ad campaigns, marketing tools, church growth seminars, none of that.

00:32:44.056 --> 00:32:50.108
<v Speaker 1>It grew thousands turning their lives over to Jesus.

00:32:50.108 --> 00:33:01.775
<v Speaker 1>God added to their number those who are being saved when they began to live as disciples of Jesus, meeting the needs of the body, sharing the gospel, preaching the word.

00:33:01.775 --> 00:33:08.192
<v Speaker 1>The growth of the church is a supernatural result of Jesus' disciples being Jesus' disciples.

00:33:08.192 --> 00:33:23.299
<v Speaker 1>And as the disciples kept increasing, that was because of the supernatural effect of God's word was having in their lives through the Holy Spirit.

00:33:26.230 --> 00:33:29.400
<v Speaker 1>So let me ask you this question are you a disciple of Jesus?

00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:35.512
<v Speaker 1>How do you know if you're a disciple of Jesus?

00:33:35.512 --> 00:33:51.046
<v Speaker 1>Well, consider this have you believed in Jesus as your Savior, he who died for your sins on the cross and then God raised him from the dead to give you eternal life?

00:33:51.046 --> 00:33:54.988
<v Speaker 1>Have you believed in him?

00:33:54.988 --> 00:34:08.291
<v Speaker 1>If you haven't and would like to, you can come down front after the service and see me or Pastor Dennis or one of the servants we have here.

00:34:08.291 --> 00:34:10.545
<v Speaker 1>We'd love to talk to you about it.

00:34:10.846 --> 00:34:11.809
<v Speaker 1>Maybe you've got questions.

00:34:11.809 --> 00:34:20.891
<v Speaker 1>If you have believed in Jesus, have you been baptized in Jesus' name?

00:34:20.891 --> 00:34:24.487
<v Speaker 1>In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that's what Jesus told us to do.

00:34:24.487 --> 00:34:27.829
<v Speaker 1>If you want to make a disciple, let's start by baptizing them.

00:34:27.829 --> 00:34:35.210
<v Speaker 1>Let's start by immersing them in water, which makes absolutely no sense except to get wet.

00:34:35.210 --> 00:34:39.610
<v Speaker 1>But they do it because I said to that's a disciple.

00:34:39.610 --> 00:34:49.507
<v Speaker 1>If you have not and would like to again, come down and tell us.

00:34:49.507 --> 00:34:53.246
<v Speaker 1>We'll get you started.

00:34:55.382 --> 00:34:56.266
<v Speaker 1>Are you a disciple?

00:34:56.266 --> 00:34:58.561
<v Speaker 1>Well, are you?

00:34:58.561 --> 00:35:01.630
<v Speaker 1>What is your relationship to God's Word?

00:35:01.630 --> 00:35:03.601
<v Speaker 1>You heard what Jesus said earlier.

00:35:03.601 --> 00:35:09.389
<v Speaker 1>Are you listening and applying it or just letting it go?

00:35:09.389 --> 00:35:14.503
<v Speaker 1>You know how you can tell if you are.

00:35:14.503 --> 00:35:18.492
<v Speaker 1>Is the next time something really bad happens in your life.

00:35:18.492 --> 00:35:20.766
<v Speaker 1>Do you have the foundation there?

00:35:20.766 --> 00:35:29.068
<v Speaker 1>Are you still standing up solid on that foundation, or is it all crumbling apart and you're a mess?

00:35:29.068 --> 00:35:41.826
<v Speaker 1>That's linked to the heart for God's word, to know it, learn it and do it.

00:35:41.826 --> 00:35:43.630
<v Speaker 1>That's a disciple.

00:35:43.630 --> 00:35:45.440
<v Speaker 1>Now.

00:35:46.182 --> 00:35:50.045
<v Speaker 1>Peter talks about this in his first letter, chapter 2, 2, and 3.

00:35:50.045 --> 00:35:53.148
<v Speaker 1>He says to believers they're like newborn babies.

00:35:53.148 --> 00:36:06.731
<v Speaker 1>Christians, baby Christians long for the pure spirit, using the metaphor of a baby, long for the pure spiritual milk of the word so you can grow.

00:36:06.731 --> 00:36:24.628
<v Speaker 1>If you've tasted the kindness of the Lord Now, if you haven't been doing that and you would like to again meet us down here after the service, we'll be happy to get you started with some things you can do.

00:36:24.628 --> 00:36:27.693
<v Speaker 1>So are you a disciple?

00:36:27.693 --> 00:36:29.021
<v Speaker 1>Have you believed in Jesus?

00:36:29.021 --> 00:36:30.364
<v Speaker 1>Have you been baptized?

00:36:30.364 --> 00:36:42.137
<v Speaker 1>Are you in the scripture, absorbing, pulling it in absorbing, pulling it in listening?

00:36:42.137 --> 00:36:46.978
<v Speaker 1>Four have you surrendered all parts of your life to the Lordship of Jesus?

00:36:46.978 --> 00:36:54.568
<v Speaker 1>Remember, jesus said to those who believed in him why do you call me Lord and you don't do what I'm telling you?

00:36:54.568 --> 00:36:58.405
<v Speaker 1>That doesn't compute, it does not make sense.

00:36:58.405 --> 00:37:07.987
<v Speaker 1>If you haven't done that, meet down here.

00:37:07.987 --> 00:37:28.847
<v Speaker 1>Are you finally serving the Lord in the church, using your gifts, your talents, your resources to help, to help share the gospel, to help make disciples, to help meet needs?

00:37:28.847 --> 00:37:30.565
<v Speaker 1>They're all over here.

00:37:30.565 --> 00:37:36.407
<v Speaker 1>We can't do it all.

00:37:36.407 --> 00:37:51.313
<v Speaker 1>The ministry suffers, so be in prayer for us as a church.

00:37:51.313 --> 00:38:04.992
<v Speaker 1>But this is what I'm pulling out of what being the church means as we enter Acts, chapter 6, and it will continue.

00:38:04.992 --> 00:38:15.786
<v Speaker 1>We'll keep learning Wow, this is the early church, this is how it started, this is how it grew, this is what they did.

00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.505
<v Speaker 1>Let's pray, father, thank you.

00:38:20.505 --> 00:38:23.309
<v Speaker 1>Thank you for your church.

00:38:23.309 --> 00:38:28.719
<v Speaker 1>You tell us that you purchased it with the blood of Jesus himself.

00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:31.559
<v Speaker 1>We belong to you, we're your people.

00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:41.405
<v Speaker 1>The scripture tells us thank you that you have promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against your church, and we ask for your help.

00:38:41.405 --> 00:38:43.788
<v Speaker 1>We need your help.

00:38:43.788 --> 00:39:00.891
<v Speaker 1>Just as the first disciples had to learn how to be your disciples, sold out for for him in the gospel, learning and obeying your word and growing in grace and the knowledge of him who saved us, so we too need to keep learning what that means.

00:39:00.891 --> 00:39:05.769
<v Speaker 1>Help us, lord, let your spirit guide us as individual believers.

00:39:05.769 --> 00:39:13.909
<v Speaker 1>And if there's someone here who never started that process of being born again by believing in Jesus.

00:39:13.909 --> 00:39:20.391
<v Speaker 1>May they start today and I give all this to you, lord and pray this in Jesus' name Amen.