THE POWER AND PLAN TO CARRY OUT THE WORK OF CHRIST
The Power And Plan To Carry Out The Work Of Christ
Miles Seaborn
Acts 1:1-Il
Introduction:
The incredible thing is that the first Christians, who made up the first church, accomplished so very much with so very little. Stop and think what the average church depends on today. For example, we depend on or- ganization. Some churches think that if they don't revise the bylaws and the constitution at least once a year, God can't do anything. The early church had no constitution. They built their organization as they went along, and yet God used them in a remarkable way.
We depend on trained leadership. I believe in trained leadership. I have taught in a Bible school and semin- ary, and I thank God for the training I received in schools. But the apostles were ''unlearned and ignorant men.'' (4:13) That means they had not graduated from the accepted rabbinical schools. The early church did not have the kind of trained leadership that we would demand today, and yet see what the church accomplished
Think about finances. Many churches feel they cannot do anything unless they have a huge budget or very generous donors. Peter said, ''Silver and gold have I nond.'' (3:6). They got together as Christians and shared what they had so that no believer would have any need.
Some Christians today feel that the church must have political power. There certainly is nothing wrong with dedicated Christians getting involved in government. But woe unto that church or that organization that depends on government for its success! The early Christians had no political power. In fact, they were political enemies of the government. They were arrested. They were beaten. They were persecuted. They were hounded from place to place, and yet see what they accomplished ! The early chu-rch did not have the kind of organization or buildings or budgets or
Power/2
kind of organization or buildings or budgets or trained leadership or political connections that we have. So what was- ...
Miles Seaborn
Acts 1:1-Il
Introduction:
The incredible thing is that the first Christians, who made up the first church, accomplished so very much with so very little. Stop and think what the average church depends on today. For example, we depend on or- ganization. Some churches think that if they don't revise the bylaws and the constitution at least once a year, God can't do anything. The early church had no constitution. They built their organization as they went along, and yet God used them in a remarkable way.
We depend on trained leadership. I believe in trained leadership. I have taught in a Bible school and semin- ary, and I thank God for the training I received in schools. But the apostles were ''unlearned and ignorant men.'' (4:13) That means they had not graduated from the accepted rabbinical schools. The early church did not have the kind of trained leadership that we would demand today, and yet see what the church accomplished
Think about finances. Many churches feel they cannot do anything unless they have a huge budget or very generous donors. Peter said, ''Silver and gold have I nond.'' (3:6). They got together as Christians and shared what they had so that no believer would have any need.
Some Christians today feel that the church must have political power. There certainly is nothing wrong with dedicated Christians getting involved in government. But woe unto that church or that organization that depends on government for its success! The early Christians had no political power. In fact, they were political enemies of the government. They were arrested. They were beaten. They were persecuted. They were hounded from place to place, and yet see what they accomplished ! The early chu-rch did not have the kind of organization or buildings or budgets or
Power/2
kind of organization or buildings or budgets or trained leadership or political connections that we have. So what was- ...
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