GOD’S PATTERN FOR A CHURCH (Acts 2:22-26, 33-47)
Our lesson today is about “God’s Pattern for a Church.” I believe this is important for us to understand because a New Testament church—a Spirit-filled, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring church—is a mighty tool in the hands of a holy God. And God’s pattern is found right here in the book of Acts.
Now, I believe in my heart that God is giving the church one last mighty urge for the revival of all revivals before the night of all nights comes. I also believe that the world is looking at us one more time. They have tried everything—every form of government; every kind of leader; every excess of pleasure; everything that money can buy, that hearts desire, that minds can conceive—and they have found that nothing satisfies. And they are wondering one more time, do we have the answer? And the answer is yes! But when they look at us, I wonder what they’re going to see.
Nietzsche was a cynic, an atheist; an ungodly, lascivious man. He looked at the church; he considered Christianity. Do you know what he said? He said, “If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, then you’re going to have to look a little more redeemed.” Now, you think about it. This world gets their idea of Jesus Christ not from the Word of God—because they don’t read it; they get it from us.
In today’s lesson, I’m going to give you a description of a church triumphant. Now, I believe that we could all agree that a Christian church exists for the purpose of magnifying Jesus through worship and the Word, and moving believers in Jesus toward maturity and ministry, and making Jesus known to our neighbors and the nations. And the overarching theme of our church should be Making Jesus Known.
Click on the play button to hear a message that tells us that by God’s grace and for God’s glory, we need to be in the business of making Jesus known by living supernaturally. We cannot do it naturally; but there’s enough power in heaven. If we’ll wait for the anointing, if we will learn the Word of God, if we will be obedient, then we can see our world impacted for Jesus Christ.
This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.
Amen.