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
2 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
2 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.
9 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
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