Moraine Valley Church

Revitalized / Week 7

Revitalized / Week 6

Revitalized / Week 5

Revitalized / Week 4

Eating with Glad and Simple Hearts

Acts 2:46 February 20, 2022

I. Introduction:

A. I will never forget being at a concert many years ago with a Christian brother who

was a handsome man and always dressed to the nines

1. It was before the concert started and the auditorium was filled with people

sitting and talking, when this friend of mine stood up and pulled out his cell

phone and began to pretend he was talking to someone on the phone.

2. I said, “What are you doing?” His response to me was “it is all about seeing

and being seen!”

3. I was stunned but over time as I got to know this brother better, he was a

person who spent a lot of time, thought and money on appearances. I knew

him well but most people had no idea who the real him was – they only knew

the person he wanted them to think he was!

B. Let me give you another scenario where you ask a brother or sister in Christ a

direct question and expecting a simple straightforward answer. Instead you get the

run around as they dance all around what your question was with no clear answer

1. When they were done, you had no idea as to where they really were at and

feel that they were not being genuine or honest with you!

C. When it came to the early church these were not the kind of Christians you

encountered. Rather than being complicated and confusing people they were

simple people in the sense that they were who they really were with no pretenses

nor were any masks to wear and they very straightforward and honest with each

other.

D. That is another norm that is essential for MVC to get back to if we are going to be

a church that is vital in this area and revitalizing to those who are touched by the

people of MVC – people who are who they are and say what it really going on in

their hearts and minds.

1. We learned last week that for MVC to be the church God called it to be we

need to be gathering together regularly both in larger and smaller contexts

around the things of Jesus.

2. But v46 gives us a big window into what their relationships were like when

they gathered together.

• See if you can catch it as I read

II. Acts 2:46

A. Read v46

1. Did you catch it? – They ate with gladness and sincerity of heart.

2. Today I want to focus upon the second part where they met and ate with

sincere hearts.

3. Other translations use these words – generous hearts or simplicity of heart.

B. So I went to seven different Greek dictionaries to find out just what this word

means since it is used only one time in the New Testament, right here in v46.

1. It comes from a Greek word that means without a stone, free from rocks and

used in the sense of it being smooth or even ground so that you do not stub

your foot on a rock!

2. Six of those seven resources say that it is indicating a simplicity of heart.

Two talk of a singleness of heart.

3. Thus bottom line when they end up applying this Acts 2:46 says it was:

a) A humble simple heart and life

b) A humbleness associated with a sincerity and simplicity of life

c) A sincerity of heart

d) A simple and plain heart!

C. I think we see two ideas here that are connected to each other.

1. First, they were a people who were not distracted and unavailable because of

busyness with multiple things. Rather they were focused people who had a

single heart of devotion to the teaching of the apostles, the fellowship with

each other, communion and prayer!

a) For some of us that may mean we need to purge things out of our lives,

whether that be commitments or things in order to be people who can

live their lives focused upon the things of Jesus!

2. Secondly, they were genuine, real, honest and transparent people who did not

try to hide anything or to be someone they really were not!

a) They showed their true feelings/thoughts and expressed them in a simple

and honest way! Even when they were not pretty or broken!

D. Brothers and sisters, that was the norm in the relationships in the early church and

only those kind of relationships can make a church vital and revitalizing! They

were focused on Jesus and being real with one another in both life and

conversations!

III. How are you doing in that regard?

A. First and foremost, are you honest with yourself, even with all your brokenness

and flaws and living out the authentic you?

1. Do “you do you” no matter what others think or are you like my friend who

loved to put on a show in front of others to present an image of himself he

wanted others to see?

2. Do you speak the truth in love when it comes to expressing who you are to

others and where you are at today when others ask or do you repeat the most

used lie by Christians – “I am fine” when you are really hurting and dying

inside!

B. Do you have other believers in your life you can be totally yourself with, and

where you can be radically honest with when it comes to the good, the bad and

the ugly of your life?

1. I remember a number of years ago an older Christian man here at MVC asked

me “How you doing?” and I was really struggling at the time so rather than

doing the typical “I am fine” line, I decided to tell him exactly what was

going on in my life!

2. This man was shaken, he had no idea what to say, was sorry he ever asked

and got out of there as fast as he could!

3. Some cannot handle the truth and there are others with whom it is unwise to

share the truth. Those are the self-appointed Christian critics. They are more

concerned with confronting errors than making connections where they can

speak the truth in love to pour grace and wisdom into others!

C. Brothers and sisters if we are going to be a vital church of Jesus Christ in this area

and revitalized believers, it is going to take this kind of radical straightforward

humble and simple honest living and conversations with each other.

1. I love what Paul said about the way he lived in 2 Corinthians 1:12-13a

a) The way he lived his life, the way he conducted himself was not dictated

by the wisdom of the world and what the world likes or approves, but

rather it was full of godly sincerity and the grace of God

b) What he wrote to them was exactly what he meant to say. You did not

have to read between the lines and there were no hidden motives. What

he wrote was straightforward and exactly what he meant

2. Ephesians 4:15 tells us that the church grows up into Christ likeness and

becomes stable when we speak the truth in love. Read Ephesians 4:15

a) I believe in light of the context it is talking about a perfect blending of

truth and love both from our preaching up front and in our up-close

relationships with each other.

b) It has been said that truth without love is brutality, but love without truth

is hypocrisy.

c) Romans 12:9 says “let love be without hypocrisy.” That means our love

has no masks on and it is a representation of the real you!

IV. Application

A. I can honestly and repeatedly say that the deepest transformation points in my life

came not just from hearing the truth spoken in a sermon. But when someone who

knew me well and what was really going on in my life spoke the truth to me in

love – whether it be an instruction, encouragement, warning or rebuke.

1. I have had all of them, I needed all of them and my life was changed by all of

them.

2. I am so grateful for the people in my life with whom I can be honest and who

are honest with me so that as iron sharpens iron we can sharpen each other!

B. So where do we go from here? I thought I would have a brother here share with

us how that has worked for him. Meet my good brother Gilbert who is going to

share with us about a group he is in that seeks to be radically honest and genuine

with each other about their lives and walk with Jesus

1. Describe the purpose and nature of this group

2. What does a typical meeting look like

3. How has this group personally impacted your life and walk with Jesus

4. What would someone here at MVC need to do to start a group like this

V. Final word

A. Four questions –

1. Are you living your Christian life authentically so that who you are is what

other people see and come to know?

2. Do you have believers in your life who know who you really are and what

you really struggle with?

3. Do you have other believers in your life who are speaking the truth in love to

each other?

4. Do you give grace to other believers at their points of brokenness and radical

honesty or do you run from or avoid them. Do you brutalize them with truth

without love or do you love them without truth so as to be of no real help to

them?

B. Finally, we are going to do something that is not normal in churches or even here

at MVC.

1. With everyone seated, if you are in a place today where you are hurting or

struggling and can really use some other Christians with whom you can be

radically honest and would love their prayers or for them to speak into your

life would you raise your hand.

2. Brothers and sisters around them who know what brokenness and struggle is

like – would you take note of those who have their hands raised and would

you take a few extra minutes this morning after we dismiss by going to them,

listening and praying or speaking as God leads you to.

C. Gilbert closes us in prayer.

Revitalized / Week 3

God Does Amazing Things When His People Gather

Passage February 13, 2022

I. Introduction:

A. God does amazing things when his people gather together!

1. Not just gathering together to hang out and eat or to watch the Super Bowl

together but when they come together to do the life and mission of Jesus

together!

2. As we said before, you can be an individual believer but you cannot be an

individual church.

B. The Greek word for church is ekklesia.

1. Vines Dictionary says it is made up of two words joined together

a) ek – out of klesia – a calling = to call out of

2. In its most basic use it was a Greek political term that was in use for

hundreds of years before the Christian era. It referred to “a gathering of

citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly”

(Thayer)

3. louw-nida, another Greek word, the dictionary defines it this way: “an

assembly of persons constituted by well-defined membership” They go on

to say that in the New Testament it is an assembly of God’s people and may

be rendered as “a gathering of believers” He also say it implies they are

“interacting” with each other!

4. Bottom line when we come out from our normal routines and places of life,

gather together with, and interact together with other Christians around the

things of Jesus.

C. We learned last week that the church (we the believers, the church) is vital

because it is God’s chosen instrument to carry out His mission and to express the

life of Jesus in this world and to each other.

1. We also learned it is revitalizing because when we interact with other

believers whether it be of spiritual gifts or just the one another ministry of

Scripture it makes an impact upon us that revitalizes our spiritual lives.

D. We are going to learn this morning that gathering together regularly both in larger

and smaller contexts was a kingdom norm for the early church.

1. That is where we interact with each other and that is where amazing things of

God happen!

• Turn to Acts 2 where we see the birth of the church

II. Acts 2

A. We see at the start of Acts 2 that there were 120 people gathered together in one

place praying the thing that Acts 1:14 to which it says they were dedicated.

1. It was during that time of prayer when they were together that the church was

born as the Holy Spirit came to dwell within each one of them.

2. It was at that moment that the church of Jesus Christ was born and later that

day 3,000 souls were added to the church!

B. Then we see in Acts 2:42 -47 what the norm was for that newborn church, the

norm we are seeking to get back to after the cultural earthquake we have

experienced that has impacted our lives and church.

1. As I read Acts 2:42 note the four things they were devoted to, what they built

their lives around, what they persisted in. Read

C. Now we see in the verses that follow what that devotion to these four essential

norms looked like in real life

1. Read v44 – they were together, the believers were together – that simply

means a group of people, believers were with each other in one place at one

time!

2. Read v46 – note also that they gathered together day by day

3. Note that they gathered together around the things of Jesus!

a) Read v46a one mind in the temple means they were everyday going to a

big gathering at the temple where they were together in unity. we learn

in Acts that two key things happened at the temple everyday - teaching

(Acts 5:21,42) and prayer (Acts 3:1)

b) Read v46b-c. Secondly, we see that day by day they were in smaller

gatherings in their homes taking communion and openly sharing their

lives together around a meal!

D. Later on in Acts we hear about them gathering together to:

1. Pray (12:12)

2. Hear ministry reports of what God was doing (14:27)

3. Hear decisions from the leadership of the church (15:30)

4. Take communion and hear God’s Word (20:7-8)

E. Bottom line the norm of the early church was that they were together, they were

together often to interact with one another regarding the things of the Lord since

they were continually devoted to each other!

1. We can be revitalized as a church and as individual believers as we get back

to the eternal norms we see in the early church. - meeting together to

interact with other believers around the things of Jesus, gathering together

regularly in large gathering and smaller gatherings

• The book of Hebrews gives us an encouragement about the importance of gathering

as believers. Turn to

III. Hebrews 10:24-25

A. The background of the book simply is that Jewish believers were being tempted

and pursued to be drawn back into their old beliefs in Judaism. But the writer

was showing them the superiority of Jesus over any Old Testament saint, the

superiority of the new covenant over the old covenant and the superiority of one

time for all sacrifice of Jesus over the sacrifices in the Mosaic law.

B. Thus, they arrived at the point in the book where we see that because of the blood

of Jesus they/we are able to enter with confidence right into the presence of God.

Then he gives three major outcomes of this:

1. They could approach God in prayer with full confidence

2. They could hold onto the hope of Jesus return without wavering

3. Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds

C. The final half of this third application is what I want to focus on now

1. Read v24-25

2. Not forsaking our assembling together

a) Not neglecting nor abandoning our meeting together as believers.

b) In context of v24, it appears that these meetings are of the nature that

they are small enough to allow one another to make a significant

difference in each other’s lives. Close enough to each other to stimulate

each other.

c) For some all they know of church is coming to a 90 minute service on a

Sunday morning and partaking in the service in a manner that is no

different than sitting in the stands at a baseball game as they cheer from

the stands of the church with an amen here and there when something

they like happens!

3. As is the habit of some

a) It appears that it was a problem at that time that people were not

intentional nor consistent in meeting with other believers. In addition,

some totally abandoned it all together.

b) That is clearly a problem today as statistics of churches in general state

that before Covid most people attended church about two times per

month. After Covid, WSJ – reported recently that in-person church

attendance is roughly 30% to 50% lower than it was before.

4. But encouraging one another

a) We need to encourage, urge believers to get together with other believers

in a small group context and going to the corporate church, whether that

is a home church or in a church building!

b) Note that this urging does not come from the pastors or elders but rather

from each other. Responsibility is on each one of us as a body and not

sit back and wonder why the elders or pastors did not call.

5. All the more as we see the day drawing near –

a) This instruction is all the more important as we see the return of the Lord

drawing near.

b) Those who understand what the Bible says about the end times and the

signs that it is near know how important this exhortation is to us in these

days

c) We need each other all the more, as this world will be tougher and

tougher for Christians as the return of Jesus draws near.

• So how are you and I doing in gathering together with other believers?

IV. Application

A. Let us do a self-evaluation. Give yourself a score between 1 and 10 – 1 terrible

and 10 great

1. Gathering with other believers in a larger corporate setting? 1-10

2. Gathering with other believers in a smaller personal setting? 1-10

3. Interacting with other believers in those settings around the things of Jesus?

1-10

4. My Christian experience is an everyday experience with other believers 1-10

5. In light of this evaluation, what next step you believe God would have you

take?

6. Share with someone what you feel is the area you are strongest and weakest

and what next step God would have you take.

Revitalized/ Week 2

The Church: Vital and Vitalizing

Passage February 6, 2022

I. Introduction:

A. We have all heard “a picture is worth 1,000 words!” That simply means that

when we see something we can better understand what they mean than just trying

to describe them by words.

1. Let me give you an example of that!

a) If I was to tell you that our grandchildren had a great time at Disney

when we took them there – that would lead your mind to think it was a

fun time.

b) But these two pictures help you better capture the heart of just how great

it was for them!

(1) Tinker Bell

(2) Dance party

B. The Bible uses metaphors for the same purpose so we can better understand the

truth

1. In many ways a metaphor is simply a word picture that help us describe

something. It puts the idea into high definition and adds color to it as it states

that one thing is another thing.

2. It help us catch a glimpse of God’s truth in a fresh way that even 1,000 more

words cannot give us!

C. This morning I want to touch on one of the biblical images/metaphors for the

church that help us better understand just how vital the church is and how it adds

vitality to our lives!

1. We are seeking to revitalize our lives and our church after the cultural

earthquake we experienced over the last few years

2. By getting back to the kingdom norms and practices that we find in the early

church when it was a newborn baby in Acts 2!

D. Before I give you that image let me give you a few reminders about the church so

we have a little bit of context to put the images into.

1. The church is not a building made up of bricks but it is saved people of flesh

and blood.

2. The church has a mission

a) Upward to God – to bring Him glory

b) Inward to other believers – to build each other up and care for each other

c) Outward to the lost – to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to them.

Even to the uttermost part of the earth.

E. The image I want us to look at this morning is a body. The church is the body of

Christ.

1. Jesus is the head and all the believer make up the body of Christ.

2. Numerous times in the New Testament we see references to the church as the

body of Christ.

3. Here is one that says it directly. Ephesians 1:22-23

• Today I want to show us that the church, the body of Christ is both vital and

vitalizing! So let’s start by seeing that …

II. The church is vital –

A. Let me start by establishing what I mean by vital!

1. To me a lot of people use vital and important synonymously. But vital is

about three notches above important.

2. Illustration of the fall

a) A number of years ago I fell off a ladder while I was painting and I

severely separated my shoulder. Very serious and very painful

eventually ended up with surgery.

b) A year later I was in Oaxaca when a woman fell off a ladder, separated

her shoulder and had a heart attack. As painful and serious as a

separated shoulder can be, if you do not keep the heart going the

shoulder really does not matter.

c) While the shoulder is important you still can live on with it separated.

One the other hand the heart is vital, if the heart does not continue to

work your life is done.

B. The church is not important but it is vital because it is the body of Christ!

1. Stop and think with me for a moment about what a body is.

2. We learned not long ago in a series that we are made up of three parts.

a) Spirit – that is where the life is and connects us with God

b) Soul – that is where our unique personality is and connects us to other

people

c) Body – that is our earth suit that allows us to connect with the material

world we live in.

3. The spirit and the soul use the body to express themselves. The body is the

external material visible instrument through which our internal immaterial

invisible life expresses itself in this world

a) It is simply the instrument which we live our life through!

b) It is the part of us that people can see and identify us by.

C. Thus the church, as the body of Christ is vital because it is God’s chosen means

by which the life of Jesus Christ is expressed in this world.

1. Turn and read Ephesians 1:22-23

2. Then he switched images from the body to a building but we see the same

idea that the church is the place where God’s presence is today, His dwelling

place, and His current temple! Read Ephesians 2:21-22

D. The invisible and internal spirit of Jesus now lives in and through His people!

1. We are what people see and identify Jesus with for the good or for the bad

dependent upon how we live!

2. Like the song by Casting Crowns says “If we are the body why aren't His

arms reaching?

Why aren't His hands healing?

Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

E. The church is vital because we are the ones God brings glory to Himself through,

we are the ones He builds and cares for each other through, we are the ones He

brings the gospel to the lost world through we are the ones that the very life of

Christ is expressed in this world!

• And not only is the church vital but it also

III. The church vitalizing

A. By vitalizing I mean it gives vitality! Vitality is that state of having abundance or

intense activity.

1. It is a life that is full of exuberance, liveliness, robust, vibrant, vigor. Simply

there is a bounce and energy, gusto and zip to your spiritual life

2. When a life is full of Jesus and the graces He brings to us it cannot help but

be a life of vitality!

B. One of the greatest graces or gifts that God gives to us is the church. We (you

and me) cannot live the fullness of life that God intends for us unless we are both

contributing to and receiving of the graces that God intended to flow the church,

that is you and me the believers!

C. I want to just mention two practical ways we experience God’s graces and

blessing through the body

1. Spiritual gifts – the supernatural abilities that the Holy Spirit gives us to

minister to one another!

a) 1 Corinthians 12 teaches us that each one of us has a spiritual gift or two,

and they are all different gifts and to different degrees by design for God

to work through us for the common good of the body

2. One anothers – simply this means that we return to each other in due measure

these things with which God calls us to bless and minister to each other.

a) Here is a sampling of some of the one anothers

3. Do you not think that if we lived with each other experiencing the

supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives and church and impacting

each other with the one anothers it would add vitality to our church and lives?

D. Finally we are deeply dependent upon one another and the proper functioning of

each member

1. Read Ephesians 4:15-16

2. Illustration this about the body with my drop foot.

a) My foot does not work properly because of my back and not my foot!

(1) The arthritis in my back squeezed against the nerves that control

my foot and destroyed them.

(2) Then as my foot would not work properly it has impacted my hip

on that side which ends up throwing off the hip on the other side.

(3) I think you get the point of how the whole body is dependent upon

the other members for the health of the body!

b) That means that the person sitting in the first row of the main floor is not

functioning properly or fully it will impact the person sitting in the last

row of the balcony.

3. You matter to the body and your full participation with the body of Christ at

MVC has a large impact upon the church’s ability to carry out the three fold

mission God has created the church for and also to the vitality or the

abundance of life that each believer at MVC will experience!

IV. Communion

A. Interesting that we always connect communion with remembering the death of

Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10 tells us there is another thing that communion, reminds

us, as it becomes that picture that is worth 1000 words.

1. Listen as I read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

2. Did you catch it? It pictures for us the fact that the many of us members

individually make up one body!

B. As we learned last week it is important not just to know these truths but to believe

them and do them. But I think Romans 12:3 shows us an attitude that will stand

in the way of anyone doing what we learned today.

a) Read Rom 12:3-4

2. This verse is directly connected to living as a body and reveals to us the

foundational attitude that must be in place!

a) Humility - recognizing our need for others whom God has gifted as

much as He has gifted me!

b) Pride, self-sufficiency, independence destroys body life

3. If our attitude is anything like Romans 12:3 not only will the rest of this

series have little impact upon you but also God’s vital church, yes even MVC

which was created for His glory, the believers’ edification and the lost’s

salvation will be less effective and the vitality of yourself and each believer

here will be impacted!

C. Reflect

Revitalized/ Week 1

Intro - Revitalized: Coming Back to Life in Christ

Acts 2:42-ff January 30, 2022

I. Introduction:

A. On Tuesday, March 20th 2012 at 12:02 I was sitting in the room of a building on

large mountain in Oaxaca Mexico along with Chad Negly, Eric Bihl and Joel

Brassfield when the building began to move back and forth and the lights hanging

from the ceiling were strongly swaying back and forth. I remember it being so

strong I grab on to something to make sure I would not fall out of my seat.

1. We were just a bit over 100 miles away from the epicenter of a 7.4

earthquake that took place on the boarder of Oaxaca and Guerrier.

2. I remember a few hours later talking to Eric about it and I said “Wow, I

have never been in a building that swayed back and forth like that before!

3. Eric’s response woke me up to the size of what just happened. – “Pat, it

was not the building that was swaying back and forth it was the mountain that

was swaying back and forth and everything on the whole mountain!

4. I remember later seeing pictures from near the epicenter and the severe

damage that the earthquake caused.

B. January 20, 2020 a foreshock to a soon coming major cultural earthquake hit the

United States, when the CDC confirmed the first case of Covid-19 in the state of

Washington.

1. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-

19 a pandemic.

2. At some point this cultural earthquake became a full blown 8.0 on the Richter

scale leaving an upheaval and many, many aftershocks that keep readjusting

our culture to new norms that we are all still trying to learn to navigate.

C. As we navigate these new days after this major cultural earthquake there are

some new norms that are not healthy which impact our lives, friendships,

families, communities and even our churches in a negative way!

1. As individuals people are feeling fatigued and foggy! It has impacted them

physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and relationally. Add to that

anger, anxiety, broken dreams, disappointment, and grief!

a) For some you it feels like you were 100 miles away from the epicenter

for others it feels like the epicenter happened in the center of your heart

or family!

2. As for our culture one negative impact we have seen from this major cultural

earthquake is what they are calling the great resignations. An economic trend

in which employees voluntarily resign from their jobs in mass, and it began

in early 2021.

3. As for the church it appears that the great resignation has reached all the way

into the church, not just MVC but churches all around the country are

reporting this!

a) Many have stopped attending services personally or getting involved in

or serving in ministries and even vital relationships that were life

transforming in small groups or other means have taken a hit.

(1) Some have legitimate or wise reasons for this but others have

gotten into the habit of the ease of doing church online and even

ministries by Zoom.

b) Even people who have come back to get involved in these are still

feeling isolated and disjointed from each other and the church at large.

More than one has told me that they are not re-engaging like they did

before Covid, either with ministries or people!

D. New norms and new habits about church have been formed that are hurtful to

individuals’ lives, families, and the communities around us who desperately need

the church to be the church.

1. All of that to say that the church is vital, as it is the body of Christ, God’s

ordained instrument through which the life of Christ comes to the world

around us in general but also to each one of us individually.

2. As a result of this cultural earthquake and its many aftershocks many

people’s lives, marriages, families and even the communities we are living in

are being hurt and in some cases falling apart without the strong healthy

godly influence of the church touching their lives.

E. So this morning we (I say we because this series is a joint effort between myself,

Pastor Mike Locke and Pastor Josh Weaver as we all feel the importance and

weight of this series at this time), we are going to begin a series we are calling

Revitalized: Coming Back to Life in Christ!

1. Purpose of the series – a call back to life, a reawakening, or a revival,

restoration back to abundant life that Jesus has for believers and being the

vital church, that God has supernaturally birthed by the Holy Spirit and

founded upon Jesus Christ!

2. So are going to look at Acts 2 as our foundational passage in this series.

a) The reason for that is that in order to become revitalized we are not

trying to discover new normal or new practices for our lives as Christians

or as the church but rather we must get back to the eternal kingdom

normal and practices we saw God built right into the DNA of the early

church.

b) Acts 2 is the northern point of the compass that can lead us through these

turbulent and confusing days that have knocked many of us personally

and as a church off course to get us back to the abundant life in Christ

and being the vital church that God has created for his glory and ours and

the world’s benefit!

c) Acts 2 is the normal when it comes to the Christian life and church!

• Turn in your Bibles to...

II. Acts 2:42

A. In this section we are going to see what naturally happened when the church was

born!

1. I say naturally because at this stage of the church these were not things that

they were so much taught they were supposed to do, but more so what sprung

out of them because of their new birth with the indwelling Spirit and the birth

of the church.

a) Just like a new born baby is not instructed to breathe or cry or move,

they just do it, so the church just did these!

B. As I read Acts 2:42 know this is what happened in the weeks and months that

followed right after the church was born

1. First, we will see in v42 what they devoted themselves to then in v43-47 we

will see what their life together looked like as the first church!

2. Read v42-43. Miracles were taking place through everyone… is that what it

says? No through the apostles

C. First let’s look at the things that they devoted their lives to. The things the built

their lives around, these are the things they poured their energy into, these are the

things they persisted in and refused to let other things or lesser things stop them

from doing them.

1. The apostles’ teachings – it is interesting to note that while the whole Bible,

all of God’s Word was important to them, they had a special devotion to the

teaching or the doctrine that came from the apostles!

a) For us that would be the New Testament about Jesus Christ, His birth,

life, death, burial, resurrection and the ascension and future return along

with what all those mean to us!

2. The (Greek) fellowship – fellowship is a much stronger word than just

hanging together but rather that they were partners of one another who shared

a common life and mission together, therefore they needed to spend a lot of

time together.

3. The breaking of the bread –I think this is specifically the celebrating of

communion together as it talks about the breaking of bread – this indicates a

very specific kind of breaking of bread.

a) I think if it was regarding just eating together, something they did do

often it would just saying they were breaking bread rather than the

breaking of break

b) Later in this passage I do not think they would separate them or feel to

the need to repeat them if they were the same thing!

4. The (Greek) prayers – again the definite article is used and it’s not just to

prayer but to the prayers.

a) That could refer to the fact that they had certain times each day they

prayed together, which we see in Acts or as some believe they had

certain content they prayed.

b) Either way, the point is that they prayed and they prayed a lot together

and not just by themselves

D. Now we will note the things that naturally happened in their life together as a

church as a result of devoting themselves to these four vital practices!

1. V44-47 gives us a picture of what that church looked like in practice on a

daily basis. The early church was not just a Sunday church but a daily

church!

2. Read

3. We see in here a community of people who built deep relationships with one

another and generously served each other’s needs with whatever resources

they had, they gathering together regularly, and they grew together as they

studied God’s Word, prayed, worshipped, and took communion together,

along with telling others about Jesus.

III. Conclusion

A. In the weeks to come we will be looking closer at all these important practices

and natural results that sprung forth in the early church that can help revitalize us

and the church as we return to the way life was designed to be in Christ!

This week – read, study and meditate over and over on Acts 2 and be radically honest

regarding how much your life and your church MVC matches up to DNA of the original

church.

Lets Get Real / The Holy Bible / Week 5

The Bible

Various Passages October 17, 2021

I. Introduction:

A. We are hitting a major turning point in our series about truth, which we are calling

‘Let’s Get Real’ because we learned that truth means reality; a reality you can rely

upon and build your life upon.

1. We also have been looking at how people look at truth in this post-modern

world we live in today because Proverbs 14 teaches us that the better we

understand our culture the easier it will be for us to know what to do and the

wiser we will be on how to live and impact others

2. Our whole series began through a verse that was part of our agenda at a board

meeting 1 Chronicles 12:32

a) This is a section of Scripture where God was telling us who the different

groups of people where who supported King David and what they did for

him.

b) The men of Issachar understood their times and they knew what Israel

should do.

c) Sounds like these men were special consultants for David as they had the

special ability to take their times and God’s Word and know exactly

what they needed to do!

B. Well so far in this series we have gained some understanding about our times, so

today we are going to transition in this series to the second half of that verse and

better understand God’s Word, the other thing that the men of Issachar evidently

knew so we can know what we need to do in these days.

1. My goal is not to pull out specific instructions that we need to apply today

but to better understand the source of truth– the Word of God, the Bible, the

word of truth!

2. A reality we can rely upon and build our lives upon, a reality that can stand

through the storms of life

• We will start with what the Bible says about itself. Then we will build upon that each

week. Let’s start with the

II. Claims of the Bible

A. Just to let you know up front, today there will be many power points because we

are going to be looking at many different passages and we will be moving quickly

through them. Again, you may want to download the notes off the web page midweek

and look at these passages again for yourself.

B. The writers of the Bible claim it is God’s very words

1. It is called the Word of God

a) Ephesians 6:17 – the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God – and we

saw Jesus use that when he was tempted by the devil as every time Satan

came at him Jesus backed him off by saying - “it is written”

b) 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – clearly states that the word was both accepted by

these people and affirmed by Paul to really be the Word of God and not

the word of men!

c) 1 Peter 1:23,25 – first called the Word of God then it is called the Word

of the Lord

2. When prophets spoke and their words, which have been recorded in the

Bible, they repeatedly said, “thus says the Lord.” So the words recorded are

the very words that the Lord had them say.

3. 2 Timothy 3:16 is probably the strongest verse supporting that these words

come directly from God. Turn and stay there!

a) Read first 6 words

b) Actually, the Greek word for scripture means writing, and it is used to

refer to the written word of God, the Bible.

c) The Greek word for inspired literally means God -breathed. These

words written in Scripture have come from the very depths of God

(1) (breath to illustrate)

(2) God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in

such a way that what they wrote was the very word of God.

(3) We will come back to inspiration in another message.

4. This all means the Bible truly is the Word of God and makes the Bible unique

among all other books.

C. The Bible also claims that its words are truth, reality you can rely upon, that you

can build your life upon, which is the point of this series.

1. It is called the word of truth - 2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:18

2. It also claims what it says is truth -John 17:17; 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 119:160

- God’s words all add up to truth, the sum total of truth, the full meaning all

of His Word is truth!

3. Bottom line, if God is truth and these words are His words then they need to

be words of truth

D. The Bible makes claims about the creation of the universe, the nature of the God

and man and where this world is going.

1. Since the Bible is truth, that means the Bible is the most important book in

the history of mankind and holds the answers to the most important questions

in life:

a) Where did I come from?

b) Why am I here?

c) What happens to me after I die?

d) What is going on in this world?

• So now that we know that the Bible claims to be the Word of God and the truth!

Let’s look at some of the

III. The benefits and power of the Bible

A. When I think of the benefits of the Bible

1. I cannot help but go to 2 Timothy 3:16 –17. Still there? Read

a) V16 - profitable for teaching (the way we should go) reproof (tells us

when we are off the way) correction (tells us how to get back on the

way) training in righteousness (trains us so we can stay on the way

without falling!)

b) V17 - all this so that we would be adequate and equipped for every good

work.

(1) adequate means we have all we need to do what God wants us to

do

(2) equipped – completely furnished with the tools we need

2. Turn to 1 Peter 2:1-2

a) After telling us at the end of chapter 1 that we are born again by the

Word of God, now here he tells us that we grow spiritually by the Word

of God just as a baby grows from the milk they receive from their

mother!

3. We know from Ephesians 6 and the example of Jesus in Matthew 4 it is the

sword we need to defeat the work of the devil in our life.

4. Also in this book, we find all of God’s promises – the commitments that God

has made to us to help us through various difficult situations and personal

needs we have.

5. Freedom for your soul and life is found by staying in this book, especially

freedom from the bondage of sin - which entangles us and steals life from us

–John 8:31-32

6. In this book we learn of Jesus – our savior and lord, our guardian and

shepherd, our life who actually is everything we need in every situation in

which we find ourselves – He is our all in all. John 5:39

B. I could go on and on about the benefits of the Bible but let me share a bit of its

power.

1. Hebrews 4:12– alive, active, sharp, piercing, judging

2. Jeremiah 23:28-29 says it’s like grain, like fire, like a hammer

3. Ephesians 5:26 tells us it has the power to cleanse

4. Romans 12:2 – has the power to transform

5. Romans 10:17 – faith comes by hearing the Word of God

6. John 17:17 – it sanctifies us – bottom line that means it breaks the power of

sin and Satan in my life and builds more of the life of Jesus in me

7. Bottom line, we should not be surprised by the power of God’s Word. If God

is omnipotent – a big theological term that simply means that God has

unlimited power and authority, then His words would be powerful as well.

• So today, we are just introducing the Bible to ourselves, as there is so much more we

need to address on this topic in weeks to come.

IV. Conclusion

A. We have learned that

1. These words are the very words of God Himself

2. These words are truth – no surprise there if the God of truth was to speak

words would you not expect them to be words of truth – reality upon which

that you can rely and build your life!

3. We learned these words are beneficial to us both in our relationship with God

and in our personal lives

4. Finally, that these words are powerful – powerful life changing words from a

powerful life changing God!

B. So my final exhortation to you today is from 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – performs its

work within us. Turn to it read it

1. When you hear this book proclaimed or when you read it or listen to it for

yourself; recognize, receive and respect it for what it is – not the word of

men, but for what it really is, the Word of God

2. Secondly, do not try to squeeze God’s Word into your schedule but build

your schedule around God’s Word first then plan everything else. Read it,

listen to it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it (simply means to think deeply

and repeatedly about it) because it performs numerous powerful life changing

works at the core of our being for those who believe it!

a) I recognize for some of you young moms or home schooling moms who

think I am out of touch with the real world – I would encourage you to

take a verse or two a day and write it on a 3x5 card and carry it around

with you. Glance at it repeatedly during the day when you get just a

moment. Thirty 30 second glances and reflections are like 15 minutes in

God’s Word!

Lets Get Real / Truth in Our World Today / Week 4

Truth in Our World Today

Various passages October 10 2021

I. Introduction:

A. Read Proverbs 14:6,33

1. Simply the better you understand something, the easier it will be for you to

know what to do and the wiser you will be!

2. So the better we understand our culture:

a) We will better understand why people say what they say and do the

things they do today.

b) We will be wiser in contending for the faith

c) We will be wiser to navigate these times without being squeezed into the

mold of the world

d) We will be wiser on how to impact others.

B. We stated the first week that we are living in a very unique time as many have

lived in two different cultural eras, which in many ways can be defined not by age

or generation but more by the way, we perceive the world and particularly the

way we think about truth. These two eras are called modern and post-modern

• So I am going to start by simply reading to you a 30,000-foot view of the summary of

my study of these. I would highly encourage you to download these notes from our

webpage later in the week.

II. Cultural eras

A. Modernism began in the mid-17th century with the rise of the age of

enlightenment - an age of reason where human understanding was used to define

the universe.

It was an intellectual movement that believed human reason and science gave us

access to truth, with the ultimate goal that knowledge of the truth would better

humankind. They could now ‘correct’ and ‘improve’ the political and social

condition of humankind.

Thus, the individual would no longer be at the mercy of religious and secular

authorities of the middle ages who dictated people what was true, primarily long

held traditions!

B. Postmodernism found its beginning more in the 60’s and 70’s

It is more an attitude towards truth claims than it is a generational thing. It began

in response to the failure of the modernist to provide this new and better society.

After two world wars, nonstop social revolutions, civil unrest and the cold war

modernity was declared dead by the academic world!

It was marked by questioning of reason, skepticism, radical uncertainty,

celebration of difference, and the reassessment of modern principles.

The modern age was marked by different large-scale theories, “grand narratives” -

one ultimate truth that could explain the totality of human experience. The

postmodern age was one of “micro-narratives” that focused on context/relativism,

subcultures, and diversity, none of which can claim an ultimate truth.

What is reality/truth? Rather than being an absolute objective truth, accessible by

rational procedures and experimentation, reality was relative and depended on

subjective experience. Truth is not something we discover out there that is beyond

us but rather something we construct. There is no absolute truth

The hallmark of postmodern thinking is the rejection of absolute truth. The three

byproducts of that are pluralism relativism, and tolerance

If anyone does not buy into these three byproducts then they are considered to

have left their brains at the door. If there is no absolute truth then all truths

are equally valid.

• Before we go on, we need to understand some...

III. Key definitions about truth

A. This is important because to be able to contend for the faith we need to

understand the words that are being used today in the battle for truth. Most of

them are not common to us but to understand them opens up a deeper

understanding about what truth and reality are

B. Following are the PBP pocket dictionary 2nd edition definitions regarding truth –

(see flyer)

1. Truth – what is real, that which correspond with reality.

2. Absolute – true for all people in all places at all times independent of any

outside factors.

3. Relative – truth is not fixed for all but is individually determined dependent

upon a person’s unique situation.

4. Objective – truth based on how things really are whether we agree with it or

not.

5. Subjective - truth based on a person's perspective, feelings, opinions and

circumstances whether it is real or not.

6. Exclusive – truth that is limited and excludes others.

7. Pluralism – Two or more differing or opposing views that are equally valid

and true.

8. Construct –every individual, group or subculture is free to create their own

reality/truth.

9. Material – the material world and its laws. Materialism or naturalism is the

belief that nature is all there is.

• Now with a better understanding of these words next I tried to make a chart that puts

the ideas of truth together through the lens of the modern and postmodern era and the

eternal era of God!

IV. Summary chart of truth

V. The problem as I see it

A. We see this kind of postmodern thinking all over our culture today. But my

biggest concern right now is how it has hit three major institutions of culture – the

media, politics and education. I believe it has hit both sides of the aisles in

different ways whether you are watching Fox News or CNN or you are a

Republican or Democrat.

B. Many of these institutions are constructing truth. They do it through what they

call talking points –

1. This is what we are going to talk about and this is what we want people to

believe.

a) So they talk about their talking points whether they are true or not and

almost always just half the truth at best – that which sides with their view

and never the whole truth.

2. Those who do not side with our truth are bullied, vilified, shamed or

cancelled.

3. Which shuts down all intelligent conversations, getting to what really is the

truth and what is real enough that we can build our life upon it!

C. The goal is no longer communicating the facts or what is true but rather

communicating their agenda! Bottom line – the loudest voice or the voice with

the most people behind it wins!

1. Here is the problem with that (pp) “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong

doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s

accepted by a majority.” Booker T. Washington

2. People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts! Original

source uncertain but repeated by many

• So with this going on in our culture how can anyone depend upon what they are

hearing in a way they can build their life on it?

VI. Final app

A. So that brings us back to what we have learned over the last few weeks. God and

His Word are the only reality upon which we can rely upon to build our lives.

1. In a day and age where us common folk do not have access to all the facts

and only hear what people want us to hear and believe to be true and there are

so many contradictions we are hearing …

2. We need to make God’s Word the source where we can find truth we can rely

upon and build our lives upon!

3. The only “no spin” zone in the world that we can depend upon to build our

life upon is the Word of God!

4. Read Psalm 1:1-3. Read and speak as God gives utterance

B. I want to close this morning by giving you some books that can help you gain a

better understanding into the things we have talked about the last four weeks.

1. Another Gospel – Alisa Childers – use to be in the group Zoegirl. She tells

the story of how her faith was nearly destroyed by a progressive pastor and

how God walked here through that time and taught her the truth.

2. The Truth War – John Macarthur - basically John’s commentary on the book

of Jude and how it applies to truth in a postmodern age.

3. The Ever loving Truth – Voddie Bauchman – talks about how a 21st century

Christian can stand faithful and be a voice for truth in a postmodern world

Lets Get Real / A Cultural War / Week 3

A Cultural War

Various Passages October 3, 2021

I. Introduction:

A. We learned last week that truth basically means reality, something that is so real

you can depend upon it, you can bet your life on it. Thus from this definition we

have given the name to this series “Let’s Get Real”

1. So let’s get real this morning. What is really going on? What is so true and

so real that I can build my life on it?

2. Do you want to get real? I need to warn you that this morning may be a bit

like the movie A Few Good Men where Jack Nicholson speaking to Tom

Cruise said (video from movie)

a) Nicholson “you want answers?”

b) Cruise: “I want the truth!”

c) Nicholson: “you can’t handle the truth!”

B. Sometimes Christianity does not make you feel better but actually makes life

harder rather than easier. That is hard for some people to handle! But this reality,

this truth is something you can build your life on and depend upon! So let’s get

real!

1. First, there is a whole spiritual world and many spiritual beings that are real

but they are all invisible.

2. That spiritual world touches our lives, our church our nation, and our world

and is behind many of the struggles and problems we have experience in all

of these arenas.

a) Turn to and read Ephesians 6:11-12

b) We see in v12 that there is a struggle going on and it is not against other

humans but ultimately against spiritual invisible beings, bad angels,

demons whose desire is to destroy our world and us.

c) We see here in v11 that Satan has schemes to try to get us to fall. He has

many methods but one of his primary tricks is deception. Getting us to

believe a lie.

3. Jesus calls Satan the father of lies, - read John 8:44bff

a) Deception is the primary means he uses – read Revelation 12:9

b) That means Satan is working to get us to believe a lie! Something that is

unreal and not dependable, an illusion that if you build your life on it, it

will crumble.

C. We learned last week that Jesus is the truth! The ultimate, dependable reality and

truth!

D. Thus, we have a spiritual war that is going on both in the heavenlies and here on

earth between God and Satan, and we are right in the middle of the battlefield.

1. Satan wants to control us by his lies and use us as his instrument of lies to

further his agenda

2. God wants to control us by His truth and use us as instruments of truth to

further His agenda!

E. God has provided for us powerful spiritual weapons for this spiritual battle for

truth. Turn to 2 Corinthians 10:3

1. The context of this chapter was that false teachers were trying to discredit

Paul and what he taught. So it was out of this context Paul writes what he

says next.

2. Read v3-4 We see two things here

a) While we are humans of flesh, the war we are in is not a human war but

a spiritual war.

b) Secondly, the weapons that God has provided for us are spiritual and

powerful for destroying strongholds/fortresses

3. Now note in v5 that He tells us what are the strongholds/fortresses that He is

destroying with these powerful spiritual weapons. Read v5

a) Simply this is a battle for truth

b) A battle against anything, any teaching, philosophy, ideology, belief

system even every single thought that is contrary to God and His Truth.

F. That is the real world we live in and the real battle we fight for our families, our

church, our nation and ourselves. That truth is so real you can build your life

upon it. You are living in the middle of a battle for your mind; truth and lies are

the primary weapons!

• So today and next week I want to help us better understand this battle for truth in light

of the postmodern world we live in

II. Postmodern

A. Many have called this war for truth a cultural war because the battle rages

primarily in the seven institutions of culture.

1. Those institutions are family, religion, government, arts, media, education,

and economy.

2. A cultural war happens when worldviews clash in the institutions of culture.

Especially when one group who runs the institutions puts pressure upon other

groups to accept their views! Dr Marcus Warner

3. Dr Warner goes on to say historically Christians have only been involved in

two of the cultural institutions (family and religion) and because we have not

been involved in the other five we are losing the battle for the culture!

4. As a result, many of the perspectives of our postmodern world stand in direct

opposition to a truth centered biblical worldview!

B. Voodie Bachman says the hallmark of postmodern thinking is the rejection of

absolute truth – truth that is true for all people in all places at all times.

1. The three by products of that are pluralism, relativism, and tolerance.

2. Next week we will deal more with absolute truth, so today I just want to deal

with the three byproducts.

C. Pluralism simply means there can be two or more differing or opposing views that

are equally valid and true.

1. That is why irrational thinking is not a problem in this day.

2. We struggle because the laws of logic tells us that truth cannot contradict

itself, but the postmodern world is comfortable with and even celebrates

contradictions in reasoning and logic.

3. Many believe this has grown out of the industrialization of our big cities as

people of differing cultures, ethnicities, colors and religions have come in

from all over the world to get work.

a) Thus, the culture we live in now is pluralistic.

b) Air travel and the internet have allowed the world to shrink so we have

many interactions with people who are very different from us.

4. Thus, many differing views exist together in one place at the same time

making our culture a pluralistic culture.

5. So the people we try to minister to, believe there are many different and

opposing truths that are equally true and valid!

D. Relativism means truth is not fixed for all people but is individually determined

dependent upon a person’s unique situation and beliefs.

1. So if each person’s, each sub culture’s and each group’s situation and beliefs

are different, and if there is no absolute truth then truth is in constant flux and

all truths are valid and equal!

2. Thus, relativism and pluralism go hand and hand. That is why you hear from

people today “that may be true for you, but it is not true for me!”

E. Tolerance

1. Tolerance used to mean bearing with, accepting, and treating with respect

someone who has a different view than you

2. Today tolerance means you not only accept and treat with respect someone

who differs but you must embrace and celebrate their views. It demands that

we value these views to the degree that we value our own and if we do not we

are intolerant.

3. We must speak the truth in love; both must be present and not one without

the other!

4. We must be ready to accept the rejection received for that as a badge of honor

in the kingdom of God and be more concerned with what God thinks than

what they think! Now we all must face that internal battle with ourselves!

III. Application

A. I love what Doctor Warner says about how we can engage in this war and act like

Christians.

1. Love your enemies and do good to them (relational)

2. Oppose wicked spirits and pray for revival (spiritual )

3. Validate, listen and validate first then speak the truth in love (conversational)

4. Engage with cultural institution (cultural) – we need more Daniels and

Josephs in these days!

5. Then he goes on to say when we do this we may not save the world or even

some relationships, but we will make inroads into some people’s lives with

relational breakthroughs

B. Turn to Colossians 2:13-15

1. As I read note that Jesus at the cross, when he shed His blood disarmed and

defeated Satan. Read v13-15

2. Listen to Revelation 12:10-11

3. It is the blood of Jesus that defeats and disarms the enemy.

C. As communion is taken today would you get real by consider the war you are

really in and where Satan has duped you with his lies. Then thank Jesus for

shedding His blood. Then apply His blood by faith against the enemy where he

has duped you, your mate, your children, your church, your nation!