Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Importance Of Being Connected

  


This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 11th 2021 by Colin D via zoom. For the audio please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.


Acts chapter 20 is about Paul meeting the Ephesians. He met with them, preached the Gospel and he was seeing them for the last time. So it was special.

 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. – Acts 20:20

Here we see that Paul taught them publicly and from house to house. This means people were meeting publicly as well as in homes.

In this chapter, we see the heartbeat of God – Save the lost, make disciples.

This sermon is a 2-part sermon. Today we’re going to look into the first part.

The heartbeat of God is: Save the lost, make disciples

How do we work it out at Word of Grace church?

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. – Mark 16:15

Jesus said these words himself. It is very important to preach the gospel.

The other day we heard about Tara’s uncle’s death. Her uncle and aunt were on their way to attend their son’s birthday. Unfortunately, they met with an accident and her uncle passed away. This happened suddenly. Nobody expected this. But the good news is that Tara’s uncle was a believer. We know that he is with Jesus now. Her aunt is still in the hospital.

It is imperative that we proclaim the gospel. On Friendship Sunday, we are going to share the gospel. The challenge of proclaiming the gospel is this –

Here is a task for you – Go to a cemetery and raise any one person from death. The fact is you have been given the task. Last week, we looked into – Go and preach to the dead men and women and proclaim the gospel. We can’t do it alone. We are powerless.

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. – 1 Corinthians 1:21

We are spiritually dead. But Jesus says, “When you preach my death and resurrection, the dead will come alive”

We need to be obedient.

What else can we do?

1.       Pray for open doors

2.       Pray that you may proclaim the gospel clearly

3.       Ask for labourers

 

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. – John 17:20-21

When we do something, Jesus will do something for us.

You got to be one, united with other believers.

The times have changed. In my family, we watch movies in different rooms on different computers, we Swiggy different food.

But when we stay united as believers, the world will believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

46 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, - Acts 2:46

The believers continued to meet together every day. It was not once a week but everyday. Where did they meet? They met in temple courts and homes. Both are important for us.

Today, we are launching something called Micro GYMs – You + 4 to 5 people.

Our aim, as a Micro GYM is to grow in love with one another and equip ourselves to reach out to unbelievers.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27

Each one of us is a part of the body of Christ. Each part is made up of cells. Disease starts with the cells that are unhealthy. If cells are healthy, then it’s yeast which would be for good.

Word of Grace church is divided into 11 cells. In these cells, you will grow in love for one another.

What are the benefits of being a part of these micro - Gyms?

1.      1 Connection – It connects you to the body of Christ.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27

Lone ranger – There’s no lone ranger in Christians. We have many 'one another' commands to obey and we cant obey them if we are alone.

2.       2 Growth

We study the Word together. This leads us to grow in Word and knowledge in Christ.

3.       Prayer is powerful in groups

Our prayer becomes powerful when we do it in small groups.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. – Matthew 18:19

4.       3 Support

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

We can get emotional, spiritual and practical support in these small groups.

5.       4 Opportunity to practice unselfishness

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. – Romans 15:2

We will get many opportunities to practice love, care for one another and practice unselfishness.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35

 

10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. – 1 Thessalonians 3:10

 

What does God expect?

It is okay to have differences. But you will grow in love for one another.

  As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. – 1 Thessalonians 4:1

 We have a choice to make. We can either live to please God or displease him. The choice is ours.

 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. – 1 Thessalonians 4:9

 Some of us may already be practising love and care. But we need to grow more in it.

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  – 1 Peter 4:8

 This is the purpose of Micro GYMs –

1.       Love one another

2.       Please God

3.       Proclaim the gospel

  Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

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