Congregation and Pastor Devoted (Acts 14:21-26)
Gary McManus, 10/04/2015Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Celebrating Thirty Years of Devotion
Jesus’ mission was here before.
Jesus’ remains and we remain on the mission.
Jesus’ mission will be here. . .
whether or not. . .
devotion= “faithfulness to something to which
one is bound . . .by a sense of what is right or appropriate
The book of Acts shows the work of the church
and the leaders of the church.
The church leaders are DOING those things we believe
that church leaders should do—preaching,
going to the people. . .strengthening . . and encouraging.
AND these leaders provide for more leadership.
Because
1) Jesus intended the CHURCH. (Matthew 16:18)
(not Paul and Barnabas’ church)
a) Believers should not go it alone.
WE. . .
b). . . then they appoint Elders.
Because? . . .to look after the FLOCK. . .
and keep the flock together.
2) MORE leadership, because the church does not
and cannot depend on them alone (Paul and
Barnabas).
We TOO must go through hardship. . .
Any clues?
History shows us. . .
With God’s help, and by His grace,
we have already come through much.
We together have followed Paul’s instructions
(1 Corinthians 16:15-18).
(Stephanas is NOT Stephen.)
Corinth, baptized by Paul (though Paul didn’t care
who baptized whom.)
WE all belong to Jesus Christ.
Stephanas is praised for his DEVOTION.
. . .devotion to service to the SAINTS.
Consider this very BIBLICAL value. . .service
. . .devotion. . .faithfulness. . .work and toil
in DEVOTION to service for Jesus.
These are not worldly qualities are they?
Our culture. . .our society IS missing something. . .
we are missing those who are DEVOTED
And yet the Apostle Paul's words stand after 2,000 years:
Romans 12:10 :
Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
A little word study. . .Greek and English.
Devote is related to the word VOW.
That is what it is to be devoted . .
.to center ones attention or activities on Jesus’ and
Jesus’ people. Amen
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