We have looked before at the commissioned church and the continuing church as characteristics to look for when choosing a church to attend. Now we will look at the convinced church. In Acts 4, the church was preaching the gospel of Christ. They were following the commission and continuing in the practices which they knew were right. Now they were experiencing persecution. It was at this time that the church needed to be convinced. Now what did they need to be convinced about, and what do our churches, in turn, need to be convinced about?
1. They were convinced of their Messiah--Acts 4:8-10
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Though I am not a Jew looking for a Messiah, to these apostles, that's who Jesus was. He was promised from the beginning of time. He was the one who fulfilled all the prophecies given in the Old Testament. These disciples were convinced that the man they were following was the one who they needed to follow.
QUESTIONS:
1. Is this church one-hundred percent convinced in Jesus Christ being the Messiah, the Son of God?
2. Would this church and pastor ever consider turning to another Messiah as its Lord?
2. They were convinced of their Message--Acts 4:18-20
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Peter and John, when brought before the religious leaders had a predicament. They had been threatened and told to never preach in the name of Jesus Christ. But Peter and John made a decision. They made sure in their hearts that they would not waver, no matter who told them to stop preaching. They were convinced that they should obey God more than they should obey man. They were also convinced that they needed to tell all of what they had seen Christ to and heard Christ teach. They were convinced that their message needed to go forward. What about our church?
QUESTIONS:
1. Has this church changed the message that it teaches from God's Word?
2. Would this church and pastor ever consider changing the message that it teaches?
3. They were convinced of their Methods--Acts 4:23-24, 31-35
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
When Peter and John were released by the religious leaders and came back to the church, the two men told the church everything that had happened. Notice what they did after that in verse 24--"they lifted up their voice to God with one accord"--and in verse 31--"and when they had prayed." They kept the methods that they had used before right then and there after hearing the threats of the religious leaders. Then in verses 32-35, the continued the other methods that they had done before. They were convinced that the methods that they had used before and had worked still worked. Where does that leave the church today?
QUESTIONS:
1. Do I agree with the methods this church uses?
2. Will this church keep strong the core methods found in Acts 2:42-47?
3. Will this church waver in its methods when challenged by the world or will it stay strong and as separate as it needs to be?
We have now finished part 3 of this series of characteristics to consider in choosing a church. We have one more part remaining, which looks at a different part of the church than we have looked at to this point.
1. Photo credits: www.godtube.com/watch/?v=YKKWGPNX
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