(Back to Basics – GBC – 5/26/02)
*Read: Acts 2:42-47
Everyone raise the left hand, look at the palm, imagine there is a "reset
button" there. Now take your right thumb and press the button.
Today I want to push the "Spiritual Reset Button". I want us to see the
need to get BACK TO BASICS. Some of us have forgotten what we are supposed
to be doing Biblically to insure spiritual growth and a consistent
testimony before the world and our families.
Some years ago, I made out a list of responsibilities for my children. I
don't know about you, but it seems that I am continually reminding my
children to do the basic things.....like:
Brush your teeth
Comb your hair
Put dirty clothes in their place
Take out the garbage
Well.... we adults can be just as irresponsible as our children. We can be
just as irresponsible in our spiritual lives if we are not careful.
IS GOD'S WILL, GOD'S WORD,
GOD'S WAY A PRIORITY FOR YOU?
AMEN???
CAN YOU SAY "AMEN" AND MEAN IT???
I want to sound a warning today. I want to alert the troops today. I want
to remind you of the BASICS of a successful Christian life.
I want us to REMEMBER – REPENT – RETURN… (PP)
REMEMBER – where we were, where we used to be, where we came from.
REPENT - of leaving the basics of the Christian life.
RETURN – to what we know is right, holy and biblical, to where we ought to
be in our Basic Christianity.
This is memorial day weekend.
Memorial Day is legal holiday, observed annually on the last Monday in May
in most of the United States. The day is celebrated in honor of the
nation's armed services personnel killed in wartime.
We honor and revere those who have given their lives’ for our freedoms. We
remember them today and honor them.
But not only to we want to remember these brave heroes this weekend, we
want to make memories (PP) for the generations to come with our own lives.
We want to give our children and grandchildren something worth remembering
about us.
I want us all to push the spiritual reset button and start again.
1. We must get back to BASIC CHRISTIANITY here at GBC.
2. We must remember where we came from.
3. We must remember Who our Savior is.
4. We must:
REMEMBER – REPENT AND RETURN! (PP)
I ask you to examine your life in the light of God's Word and rededicate
yourself to the basics.
Basic Christianity includes #1:
(PP)
I. KNOWING JESUS CHRIST AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR.
A. Jn. 1:12, 3:16, 36.
B. Rom. 3:10, 23, 5:12, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, 13.
C. I Jn. 5:13.
Plan of Salvation
Getting back to basics means….(PP)
II. READING THE BIBLE AND PRAYING EVERY DAY.
(Song – Read your Bible and Pray everyday… pray everyday, pray everyday.
Read your Bible and pray everyday and you will grow> grow> grow.
And you will grow> grow> grow. And you will grow> grow> grow.
Read your Bible and pray everyday and you will grow> grow> grow.) (PP)
Note the example of the….
A. The Pentecostal Church.
1. Acts 2:42 – "continually".
2. Acts 2:46 - "day by day", "daily".
B. The Early Church.
1. Paul exhorted Timothy to teach and study the Word.
a. II Tim. 2:2 – "and these things…"
b. II Tim. 2:15
1) "Study".
2) "a workman who does not need to be
ashamed"
3) "handling accurately the word of
truth".
2. Paul set forth clearly the importance of the Word -
II Tim. 3:16-17 – "all scripture…"
3. Paul told the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing -
I Thess. 5:17.
DO YOU STUDY THE WORD? OR DO YOU SPEND MORE
TIME IN OTHER SECULAR PURSUITS?
DO YOU PRAY DAILY?
C. Our Evangelical Heritage is built on a strong emphasis upon the
authority of scripture in our daily faith and practice and the importance
of prayer in the Christian life.
D. This Local Church (GBC) has a long tradition of stressing the
importance of daily Bible reading and prayer.
E. My own personal experience has been that the Bible and prayer will keep
me from sin or that sin will keep me from the Bible and prayer. (PP)
SOME TRADITIONS AND SOME OF OUR HERITAGE MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED, CHANGED
AND BROUGHT UP TO THE PRESENT BUT CLEAR BIBLE DOCTRINE DOES NOT
NEED TO BE CHANGED OR CHALLENGED.
IS THERE A STANDARD, NONNEGOTIABLE PRIORITIES,
IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FAMILY LIFE?
(PP)
Basic Biblical knowledge and understanding is at an all time low in our
nation. In one survey done by George Barna, most "Christians" did not even
know what: 1) The "great commission" is, 2) What an evangelical is, 3)
What John 3:16 is, 4) Or what the "gospel" is.
1. "The Great Commission"
Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8
2. "Evangelicals"
Evangelicals are persons who are "marked by their devotion to the sure
Word of the Bible; they are committed to the inspired Scriptures as the
divine rule of faith and practice. They affirm the fundamental doctrines
of the Gospel,
including the incarnation and virgin birth of Christ, His sinless life,
substitutionary atonement, and bodily resurrection as the ground of God's
forgiveness of sinners, justification by faith alone, and the spiritual
regeneration of all who trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ".
(Carl F. H. Henry)
3. "John 3:16" - Quote it.
4. "The Gospel" - I Cor. 15:1-4. (*Course: Basic Bible Beliefs)
#3 ... Back To Basics.... (PP)
III. BE AT CHURCH FOR ALL REGULAR SERVICES EXCEPT FOR SICKNESS OR
NECESSARY WORK.
A. The Pentecostal Church.
1. Acts 2:42 - "continually".
2. Acts 2:44 - "were together", communion, unity, time spent together.
(Community = common-unity)
3. Acts 2:46-47 - "day by day", "daily".
B. The Early Church was exhorted to assemble themselves.
1. Heb. 10:25.
Hebrews 10:25 - not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit
of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day
drawing near.
a. Corporate worship is not an elective but a required course.
b. The "ecclesia" was and is a called out assembly of believers. The
"ecclesia" or church met together at regular times to worship the Lord and
to be instructed in His word.
2. Do not loose the importance of the Local Church body...the corporate
worship, meeting together.
ILLUSTRATION (PP)
Mom fixes a great meal. She labors eight hours in the kitchen preparing a
well balanced meal so her children may be feed and have a delicious time
of fellowship and nourishment....... but alas, Johnny, Suzy and Billy do
not come to the feast. They have other plans...they have other
priorities... they pick up a hamburger... a bag of chips or just drink a
soda to get by. .... Yes, Mom is disappointed and ultimately the children
are not nourished properly.
Compare this scenario to the Local Church. The Pastor spends hours
planning, studying and praying over the "menu" for the sheep. He does his
best to prepare a balanced diet so the sheep can grow and be properly
nourished but .... alas, Johnny, Suzy, and Billy do not come to receive
the teaching.
Oh yes, they show up now and then... they make it when they can.... that
is when their is no ballgame, no family function, no other overriding
priority.
C. Our Evangelical Heritage is based upon a strong emphasis upon the Local
Church.
1. Perhaps you don't like for me to tell you this but, most of the
problems that I deal with in private counseling could be overcome or
eradicated by consistent attendance in church,
careful attention to the messages and personal
application of the Biblical principles expounded from this pulpit.
2. What are you teaching your children about spiritual things with your
attitude and lack of consistency. THINK ABOUT IT!!
3. We must as parents, as adults establish some
NON-NEGOTIABLES to maintain consistency and build character.
4. Some have developed the erroneous attitude that once a week is enough
to be in church... please find that in scripture for me.
Admittedly, we have no scripture to prove that Wednesday night and two
services on Sunday are the sacred pattern, but we do have THE PENTECOSTAL
CHURCH and other New Testament Churches for our example.
They met continually, daily.
5. Some may say, "Well, they didn't have as much to do as we do." Then I
ask, are we doing the right things..???... WE ARE BACK TO SPIRITUAL
PRIORITIES, BIBLICAL BASICS. Please, please, push your reset button today
and see where you are Biblically.
6. We have 168 hour in the week. Is it too much to expect that we spend 6
hours in "assembly" with our local body?
(Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening)
* I am afraid that for many of us our SECULAR PRIORITIES
have over-ridden our SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES.
Many may give lip service to their spirituality outside of the church
walls, but I ask you to honestly take inventory.... are you consistently
and conscientiously carrying out your spiritual responsibilities?
D. This Local Church has had a long tradition of preaching the importance
of attending habitually the services of THIS church.
* Perhaps some are new in the faith and are just now establishing your
SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES....that's fine. Look with me in scripture and stand
on the word. Get the basics down now.
E. My personal life experience has been that a strong emphasis upon
attending all regular services has offered me stability and consistency.
*Ask yourself some stinging questions....... (PP)
1. How much time do you spend in front of the tube?
How much time do you spend in Bible reading and prayer?
2. How much time do you spend working overtime?
How much time do you spend in Christian service?
3. How much time do you spend in sports activities?
How much time do you spend in church services?
4. What things are most important in your life?
Those are the things that you invest the most time and money in.
Which things have priority in your life?
NOTE:
1. Matt. 6:33.
2. Rom. 12:1-2.
3. I Cor. 10:31.
#4 ..... BACK TO BASICS .... (PP)
IV. CALL AT LEAST ONE OTHER CHRISTIAN PER WEEK TO ENCOURAGE HIM/HER.
A. The Church of Pentecost - Acts 2:45 - READ.
B. The Early Church.
1. Gal. 6:2 - "bear one another's burdens".
2. Eph. 4:29, 32 - edify one another, be kind to one another.
3. I Thess. 5:11 - "encourage one another".
C. As evangelicals we can be slack in this area. We must fulfill the
Biblical mandate.
D. We must demonstrate our love for God and others. We must care for one
another, encourage one another.
E. I have found in my own life, some of the greatest blessings have come
through my efforts to encourage others in the Lord.
#5 ..... BACK TO BASICS .....(PP)
V. GIVE AT LEAST 10% (THE TITHE) OF MY INCOME THROUGH GBC.
A. The Pentecostal Church - their example in giving.
1. Acts 2:45.
2. Acts 4:34-35.
B. The Early Church.
1. The Corinthian Church - I Cor. 16:1-2.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 - Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I
directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of
every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that
no collections be made when I come.
2. The Macedonian Church - II Cor. 8:1-5.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 - Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the
grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in
a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty
overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that
according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their
own accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation
in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they
first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
3. Note the Biblical Principles given to the early church.
a. Phil. 4:15-19 - Give and have Promise (19).
Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
b. II Cor. 9:6-7 - Give and have blessings.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also
reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 7
Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or
under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
* Remember that many of these early believers were converted Jews. They
had given to and through the temple, the old testament system of worship.
They gave as much as 30% of their income to the Lord under the law. They
already had an established pattern.
* Now in the New Testament, under grace, how much more should we give in
gratitude to our Lord and Savior?
c. Mal. 3:8-10 - Here we have the O.T. minimum standard of giving, tithes
and offerings.
Malachi 3:8-10 - "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say,
‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 "You are cursed with
a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 "Bring the
whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house,
and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for
you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it
overflows.
These offerings were to be brought to the "storehouse" or temple. The New
Testament equivalent of the temple is the Local Church, the "ecclesia"
with its organization and leadership as set forth in scripture.
ARE YOU AT LEAST GIVING THE TITHE THROUGH THIS LOCAL CHURCH?
C. Evangelicals have always put heavy emphasis upon giving. For this
reason, we have been able to send missionaries around the world and
establish strong churches at home.
D. GBC has set forth clearly in the constitution that each member is to
give regularly for its support. Are you doing what you agreed to do when
you became a member?
E. I have personally found that giving the tithe, (10%) of our income, has
meant personal blessing for me and my family. I began tithing when I was a
teenager and have practiced it consistently ever since.
We have, at different times in our lives, been so blessed of the Lord so
as to give as much as 30% of our income to Him.
YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD? II Cor. 9:6-7 (p. 9 – b.)
#6 .... BACK TO BASICS ..... (PP)
VI. WITNESS TO AT LEAST ONE LOST PERSON PER WEEK THROUGH WORD, TRACT OR
DEED.
A. The Church of Pentecost - Acts 2:47.
B. The Early Church & The Great Commission/Gospel/John 3:16.
1. Mk. 16:15.
2. Matt. 28:19-20.
3. Acts 1:8.
4. See the many examples of people being saved in Acts.
5. Note the commands in the epistles to preach the Word.
C. The Evangelical movement has always been marked by the lost being
saved. We have continually promoted soul-winning and all kinds of
God-honoring evangelism.
D. One of the purposes of GBC as stated in our constitution is to carry
out the great commission of Matt. 28:19-20.
E. I have personally led many souls to Christ and am always seeking ways
to witness in the community.
#7……. BACK TO BASICS….. (PP)
VII. HAVE FAMILY DEVOTIONS 5 DAYS A WEEK.
A. The Church of Pentecost.
1. Acts 2:42
2. The O.T. pattern for this Jewish church - Dt. 6:6-8.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 - "And these words, which I am commanding you today,
shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your sons
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the
way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 "And you shall bind them
as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
B. The Early Church.
1. The command of Paul - Eph. 6:4.
Ephesians 6:4 - And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but
bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
2. The example of Timothy - II Tim. 3:14-15.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 - You, however, continue in the things you have learned
and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; 15 and
that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to
give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
C. Evangelicals have not always stressed the importance of family
devotions as they should have. Our zeal to win the world has sometimes led
us to loose our own children.
D. We have offered the daily bread for years now... do you read it with
your family or do you have another format for family devotions?
E. Some of our greatest blessings have been during our family devotion
times. We share our problems and needs. We pray for one another. I have
the opportunity to teach my children the ways of God and my children have
the opportunity to measure my life in relation to scripture. My wife can
share biblical insights with us and we all draw from one another's
personal walk with the Lord.
Conclusion
Author Lloyd C. Douglas used to tell how he loved to visit an old man who
gave violin lessons because the teacher had a kind of homely wisdom that
refreshed him.
One morning Douglas walked in and said, "Well, what’s the good news
today?"
Putting down his violin, the teacher stepped over to a tuning fork
suspended from a cord and struck it a smart blow. "There is the good news
for today," he said. "That, my friend, is the musical note A. It was A all
day yesterday, will be A next week and for a thousand years." (PP)
Consistency of character is important for us as citizens, as Christians
and especially as parents. We need to show a consistent godly example to
those around us. (PP)
Listen to these comments about children:
The time to start correcting the children is before they start correcting
you.
—Homer Phillips
The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey
their children. —Duke of Wellington
You cannot change your ancestors, but you can do something about yourself
and your descendants.
"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I
have six children and no theories." (Lord Rochester, 1675)
A young student of child behavior frequently delivered a lecture called
"Ten Commandments for Parents." He married and became a father.
The title of the lecture was altered to "Ten Hints for Parents." Another
child arrived. The lecture became "Some Suggestions for Parents." A third
child was born. The lecturer—so the story goes—stopped lecturing.
Consistency of character is important for us as citizens, as Christians
and especially as parents. We need to show a consistent godly example to
those around us. (PP)
REMEMBER – REPENT AND RETURN! (PP)
FOLKS LETS GET BACK TO BASICS.
How is your Christian character today?
What kind of testimony are you giving to those around you?
WILL YOU PUSH YOUR RESET BUTTON TODAY?
WILL YOU REDEDICATE YOURSELF TO
SOME NONNEGOTIABLE STANDARDS FOR YOUR LIFE?
WILL YOU MAKE THESE SEVEN GOALS
A PART OF YOUR LIFE?
Acts 2:42-47
Pastor Mike Padgett
Will you push your "SPIRITUAL RESET BUTTON" today?
Has God's will become an OPTION... NOT a PRIORITY in your life?
What is meant by each of the following words or phrases?
1. "The Great Commission" 2. "Evangelicals"
3."John 3:16" 4. "The Gospel"
Basic Christianity .......
I. READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY EVERY DAY.
A. The example of the church of Pentecost - Acts 2:42, 46.
B. The early church - II Tim. 2:2, 15, 3:16-17.
C. The fundamental evangelical heritage.
D. The local church tradition.
E. Personal experience.
II. BE AT C_________________ FOR ALL REGULAR SERVICES EXCEPT FOR SICKNESS
OR NECESSARY WORK.
A. The example of the church of Pentecost - Acts 2:42, 44, 46-47.
B. The early church - Heb. 10:25.
C. The fundamental evangelical heritage.
Most problems can be solved in the church context.
Establish some NONNEGOTIABLES > consistency - character.
Develop spiritual priorities not secular priorities.
D. The local church tradition.
E. Personal experience - Matt. 6:33, Rom. 12:1-2, I Cor. 10:31.
III. CALL AT LEAST ONE OTHER CHRISTIAN PER WEEK TO
E_______________________ HIM OR HER.
A. Acts 2:45.
B. Gal. 6:2. Eph. 4:29, 32, I Thess. 5:11.
IV. GIVE AT LEAST 10% (THE TITHE) OF MY INCOME THROUGH MY LOCAL CHURCH.
A. Acts 2:45, 4:34-35.
B. I Cor. 16:1-2, II Cor. 8:1-5, Phil. 4:15-19, II Cor. 9:6-7, Mal. 8-10.
V. WITNESS TO AT LEAST ONE LOST PERSON PER W________________ THROUGH WORD,
TRACT OR DEED.
A. Acts 2:47.
B. Mk. 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20, Acts 1:8.
VI. HAVE FAMILY D______________________ FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
A. Acts 2:42, Deut. 6:6-8.
B. Eph. 6:4, II Tim. 3:14-15.
