Preached by Chris Broom, 11/12/2006

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Acts, Part 1: Building a Great Church - Outline

This is part one of a four part series.

Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission
- Jesus has all authority
- Must know what it means to be a disciple
- Teach them to obey everything
- A disciple must show you how to be a disciple.

Acts 1:1-3
- Acts is written by Luke.
- Jesus rose and spoke about the kingdom for forty days.

Acts 2:22-24
- Peter uses the “keys” to the kingdom that Jesus gave him in Matthew 16:19
- How do you build a great church? Preach the resurrection and that you killed Jesus.

Acts 2:36-41
- You crucified Jesus

Acts 2:47
- When you obey the Great Commission and preach the message, people come to believe.
- See also the church growing numerically in Acts 4:4 and Acts 5:14

Acts 6:1-7
- The church grows and some people are overlooked. That is likely to happen in a fast growing church.
- The responsibility to take care of needs is delegated to spiritual and wise men.
- As numbers grow, more people need to serve.

Acts 9:31
- Grew in numbers, fear of the Lord

Acts 11:21-24
- A great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 12:24
- Word of God continued to increase and spread
Acts 13:49
- Word spread through whole region

Acts 14:1
- Great numbers come when disciples go out and speak effectively. Every member is responsible for this.

Acts 14:21
- Preached and won a large number of disciples

Acts 16:5
- Strengthen in faith, grow daily

Acts 17:6
- Troublemakers. Turned world upside down (RSV)

What was the church like (Acts 2:42)?
- Devoted to apostles’ teaching, fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- Filled with awe

Acts 4:5-13
- You need great boldness if you want to build a great church.
- Tell people that they crucified Jesus.
- If you are with Jesus, you are different. People notice your courage, even authorities.
- This happens when you are taught to obey. That’s discipling: imitation.
- Don’t let criticalness keep you from learning.

Acts 4:15-19
- Even non-Christians knew that not preaching would kill the church.
- Must preach. Don’t be choked out by worries.

Acts 4:32-37
- Believers were of one heart. They shared everything.
- It takes great sacrifice to build a great church.

Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira
- Don’t lie to God.
- Sin has consequences.

Acts 5:12-14
- Those that didn’t want to repent didn’t go near the church. Those that wanted to live righteously joined them.

Acts 7:51-60
- Steven preaches boldly, but first he served (Acts 6) God’s people.
- Don’t be afraid to be bold.
- Be open to a rebuke. Don’t be stubborn.
- Jesus is seen standing by God by Steven. They kill Steven, Saul gives approval, but Steven still has a heart for the people, just like Jesus.
- Is your heart being like Jesus?
- Make a decision to repent and devote yourself to being a disciple and being discipled.

To build a great church:
1) Obey the Great Commission.
2) Preach the Great Message.
3) Use great boldness.
4) Make great sacrifices.
5) There will be great awe and fear because of righteousness.
6) There will be great persecution.
7) But in the end, we will turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ.

Categories: First Principles, Sermons