Series: Together For The World

In this sermon from Acts 20, Mike Maglish shares what the early church did to observe communion.  It was a very important part of the early church. It was a corporate act.  We still observe communion to this day. Jesus told us to break bread together. So we do. Paul explained to the church in Corinth how to take communion and how not to take communion and why.  We will examine what biblical communion is, and how we should observe it today.  The bottom line? The broken body and shed blood of Jesus should be taken in a worthy manner. 

Growing in our faith isn't always easy. In fact it can be very difficult. Sometimes it means going through difficult times. Sometimes it means facing things you really don't want to face. The early church made a commitment to growing together. When things were not the best, the early church depended on a faith that was unique. The focus was on the Holy Spirit and overcoming, together.

Ministry is so much better when we're together. Opposition to the gospel is never easy to deal with. However, when we are with other believers and filled with the Holy Spirit we are better prepared. We have all been "stuck" before in our lives. This sermon is a reminder to all of us that through the Power of the Holy Spirit we can be unstuck. In fact, we can be unstoppable.

What does boldness look like?  In this sermon we look at what biblical boldness is.  In Acts 13:42-52 we find Paul and Barnabas being persecuted by the religious leaders of the day. They wanted to silence Paul and Barnabas. They did everything they could to run Paul and Barnabas out of town.  Paul and Barnabas were lead by the Holy Spirit. And they responded by speaking the truth in love, regardless of the risk.  We, too, can be bold in sharing the Gospel!  

In this sermon from Acts 12 we learn what it means to seek God for EARNEST PRAYER. The word for that is ENTREAT. Going to God, asking diligently for a different outcome. When was the last time you entreated God with other believers? Did you see a clear answer from God? First, James was put to death by Herod Agrippa. Then, Peter was arrested and put in prison. "But God's people were praying." Those simple words changed the outcome of the situation by the power of God.

God wants relationships to be reconciled, always. Yet it may not always happen as quickly as you think. And spiritual growth happens in the interim. The Early church knew something about this. There was a tension among the Jewish Christians and the Gentiles. This was seen heavily in the relationship between the Jewish Christians and the Samaritan Christians. Racism and other things that divide us are reconciled at the Cross, if we can let Him mold us and guide us.

The early church was being persecuted because they were sharing the message of Jesus. They were STANDING TOGETHER on the truth of the Gospel. This is the reason to be persecuted, not for just being obnoxious Christians who's comfort is being threatened. We often want to see a miracle so we can go back to our comfortable lives. But why should we ask for a miracle? It shouldn't be for our own comfort but for the GOSPEL to be preached. In the midst of pain and death we experience life and experience it more abundantly. He wants us to experience all life has to offer. We should pray for God to help us understand that, not for an easier life.

The early church was SHARING TOGETHER to meet one another's needs. This was not socialism, it was not mandated by the church, it was a movement of the Holy Spirit.

This sermon from Acts 3 shows the importance of worshipping together. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is about sharing Jesus everywhere we go with everyone we come in contact with. Peter and John worshipped by sharing Jesus and watching the Holy Spirit heal a paralytic. Then, in front of the same people who killed Jesus, they boldly proclaimed Christ. Finally, they REPORTED on the things God had done when they arrived with the other believers. Together, they prayed for boldness, to continue proclaiming Christ even in the face of persecution.