"If the Church Would Be The Church"

42And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved - Acts 2:42-47


Last weekend, I listened to my favorite Presbyterian preacher (Dr. Sinclair Ferguson) preach on the Acts 2:42-47, entitled "The Church's Birth Marks"*.

Towards the end of Dr. Ferguson's sermon he basically states that people would be more attracted to the church, "if the church would be the church", that is if the church would focus and rely on what God intended it to be instead of relying on gimmicks, misappropriated contextualization of biblical truth,and programs, for evangelism than the right growth may come about (v.47). Dr. Ferguson states that God intended the church to be 1) devoted to the apostles' teaching (THE BIBLE) (v.42), 2) devoted to having deep fellowship with one another (v.44 and v.46), which results in radical sacrificial love (v.45-46), and 3) devoted in having all these activities centered around the worship of God (v.47), then people would be attracted to the church.

I am encouraged, especially with the young FPCers, that they are being the church, that is they take serious the study of the Word of God and having deep fellowship with each other, while worshipping the living God.


* You can find the entire sermon here:

http://www.firstprescolumbia.org/Media/Audio/audio.asp