Plugged In Part 2 Acts 2:42-47

Intro: Growing up – Didn’t do much camping – never gone Back packing

A) College Pastor – Lantern – Propane Canister

Almost set the Forest on fire !

B) Saw First hand – What happens when you add fuel to a Fire.

C) Acts 1 Fire Ignited: Church Birthed and Set ablaze

1) Baptized in the HS – Peter Preached 3,000 saved

The Church was Born.

D) That fire that was ignited – needed to be fanned

1) Tonight consider how they added fuel to the fire.

Acts 2:42-47

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles..

There were 4 things that the early believers continued in that added fuel to the fire

A) They continued steadfastly

1) in the apostles Doctrine

2) In Fellowship

3) Breaking of bread – Communion

4) Prayer

B) Now it is easy to look at this list and think – There are a lot of Churches and people who continually do those things – Not on Fire like the early Church

C) Not making the same impact as the early Church – and yet they are continuing steadfastly in …….

1) They Pray – go to Church – study the Bible

D) What is missing ?

Continued Steadfastly: They Devoted themselves or one translation – They gave themselves to ……..

A) Don McClure – Men’s retreat: Abe – Isaac – Fire the wood – where is the Sacrifice

B) Easy to have happen- Fire the wood – the Program – No Sacrifice –

C) We have our routines – But the HS was looking for Vessels to fill –

D) They gave themselves to that

1) More than a routine – Passion

Activity without Adoration = Burnout

A) Mary & Martha – Martha Busy –

B) Distracted with much serving: -

1) One thing is needed Mary has chosen

C) Me – in Oregon – My Heart

The early Church gave themselves to the study of the Word! - The Apostles Doctrine: TEACHING

Early Church didn’t dabble in the Word – they were Devoted to it.

Josh 1:8

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

“A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

Acts 20:32

"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Fellowship: Sharing in Common

A) Not casual going to the movies together

B) Speaks of stirring one another up in the Lord

C) Friends who stir you up

1) Challenge you –

Christians are Like Redwood trees

A) Think about the redwood tree:

B) Redwood trees appear invincible, but in reality, a relatively mild wind can topple one.

C) You see, above the surface, redwoods seem strong, but their root systems are very, very shallow.

D) That is why they always grow in groves.

1) Their strength comes from interlocking their roots with other redwoods.

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [ All things in common ?] 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Breaking in Bread: Communion:

A) Children of Israel crossed the Jordan

B) Memorial at Gilgal – Rocks

1) Reminder of what the Lord had done

C) Reminder that the God who parted the waters of the red sea and the Jordan was going before them

1) He would go before them into the land of Promise

As Christians Calvary is our Gilgal

A) Reminder of what Christ did for us in dying for our sins

B) Ignites the fire of God’s love for us

C) Reminder – Died also rose – He is with us

D) The devoted themselves to Communion

1) Wasn’t a ritual – but a vital part of recognition they knew who they belonged to

E) They knew where there power came from!

SO they gave themselves to the Word

Fellowship

Communion

Prayer

Prayer:

Dependence

Devotion

Dynamic

This was the Practice of the early Church – kept the fire going

A) Some have suggested – because this was new

B) Honeymooners but it didn’t last –

C) Acts comprises 30 yrs –

1) What they were doing in Ch. 2 – Continues thru ch.28

Church of Ephesus – Left their first love

1) Remember ……

2) Repent

3) Return – Do first works