New Testament Church Series

ASSEMBLY OUTREACH
(excluding individual outreach)

by J. Spender on MAY 20th, 1984
Permission to transcribe and to distribute the messages in this series had been obtained from
the speaker who retains all rights to these messages.
(Notes from the message)

INTRODUCTION

BIBLE READING : John 13

(John 13:17 KJV) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Happiness does NOT come from right knowledge. If you know them, the DO them to be happy.

P. Fleming : "The formation of the church is the glorious task which God hath occupied in our day."

This New Testament series was conducted to answer questions to young people and visitors who ask, "Why do these people meet as they do?"

This place is non-denominational - all born-again believers. We're not in competition with any church. We don't ignore our convictions just to have crowds. We believe in plurality of elders, the practical exercise of the priesthood of the believers, ministry by all the saints, worship, our complete absolute coherence in the unity of the body.

Principles may be right but a right heart is just as important. God will not accept right principles in place of a right heart.

Similarly, a right heart cannot be without right principles. We need to keep His commandments. E.g. baptism is commanded even though it is just an outward sign. The Scripture has the last word. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!

Basic Principles in the New Testament

Remember ...

A. God is the first and greatest missionary seeking the lost

E.g. God sought Adam; God came to man in the Person of Christ. Sinners never called for help. It's always God who takes the initiative.

The New Testament letters are really missionary letters to missionary churches - assemblies with a concern for the lost. Woven in the fabric of these letters is outreach.

B. Matthew 28 ... The Great Commission (i.e. the commandment of Jesus) was given to individuals

The third point of "teaching them all things" is the responsibility of the church. (We have an individual responsibility also.)

C. The assembly is a place to build up and to equip and to send out

If we're not seeing anyone saved, turn to the Bible, study it and let it judge us.

There is no precedence in the Bible for a gospel meeting ... outreach is always a going out and bringing the gospel to an unbeliever in the world where they are.

D. It is evident from a study of the book of Acts that the work of evangelism was carried out simply; in complete dependence upon God for guidance (Acts 8:26, 16:6-10) and without church campaigns, elaborate missionary organizations, fund raising, promotions, etc.

How the early church (about 120) grew into thousands is presented in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. This is not an impossibility even now. A study of Acts shows "multitude(s)"/"multiply" used frequently, and there are at least nine passages showing great conversion numbers. And the common line / the basic ingredient is there IS trouble, problems, trials, judgment, hardship!!

Compare the travail of the soul with travail during labor in child-birth. Therefore travail will yield fruit in the soul.

Questions to consider :

  1. What provoked this trouble?
  2. What is the trouble / discipline ...?
  3. What is the response?
  4. What is the statement of growth?

This message will look at the nine passages of Acts in some detail.

THE STATEMENT OF GROWTH AS SEEN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

1. ACTS 2:41-47

(Acts 2:41 KJV) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
(Acts 2:42 KJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Acts 2:43 KJV) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(Acts 2:44 KJV) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(Acts 2:45 KJV) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(Acts 2:46 KJV) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(Acts 2:47 KJV) Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Note verse 47 ... the statement is "PEOPLE ARE ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY".

What provoked this? The coming of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of gifts. The Christians had a message and were out making that message known. The Christians were not sitting quietly. They WENT OUT to the people.

(Acts 2:37 KJV) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(Acts 2:38 KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Acts 2:39 KJV) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
(Acts 2:40 KJV) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Note Peter's answer to "What can we do?" This can be termed by some as judgmental. It is not really gentle answer, but a STRAIGHTFORWARD answer, and blunt. "REPENT and be baptized" "KNOW you are lost" etc. ... and there's a response and they continued in fellowship. See verse 42.

2. ACTS 4:31-36

(Acts 4:31 KJV) 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.
(Acts 4:32 KJV) 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.
(Acts 4:33 KJV) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(Acts 4:34 KJV) 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,
(Acts 4:35 KJV) And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
(Acts 4:36 KJV) And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

The result : a man healed and a witness. The church underwent persecution (they had trouble!) and they had a PRAYER MEETING and a TIME OF FELLOWSHIP.

The early church was not afraid of trials and persecutions just to see growth. Their lives weren't comfortable. Would Christians keep away from a church because the day was nice? How about persecutions of the church in Eastern Europe? These people will not want to change place with American Christians because DUE TO PERSECUTIONS there's growth! American Christians are too comfortable - too complacent. Growth will only happen if we will tell the unsaved of Christ! Forsake a lovely "lazy" day! Care enough to tell!!

3. ACTS 5:11-14

(Acts 5:11 KJV) And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
(Acts 5:12 KJV) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
(Acts 5:13 KJV) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
(Acts 5:14 KJV) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

JUDGMENT fell on Ananias and Sapphira but that didn't repel people. Due to hardship, there was sharing and fellowship amongst God's people.

NOTE: You CANNOT separate verse 14 from the verses before it! There is

If we really want spiritual fruit, there must be travail. There must be preparation / labor!!

4. ACTS 6

(Acts 6:1 KJV) And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
(Acts 6:2 KJV) Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
(Acts 6:3 KJV) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
(Acts 6:4 KJV) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
(Acts 6:5 KJV) And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
(Acts 6:6 KJV) Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
(Acts 6:7 KJV) And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
(Acts 6:8 KJV) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
(Acts 6:9 KJV) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
(Acts 6:10 KJV) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
(Acts 6:11 KJV) Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
(Acts 6:12 KJV) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
(Acts 6:13 KJV) And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
(Acts 6:14 KJV) For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
(Acts 6:15 KJV) And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

GREAT GROWTH IN THE WORK provoked great numbers of disciples multiplied. There's a cycle ... growth causes problems which in turn can mount into a crisis (and what are we going to do about a crisis?) which if dealt with firmly will lead to more growth.

Note verse 1 and verse 7 and the verses in between : Trouble occurred! Growth cycle repeated because of trouble!! That is, there can never be a church with no problems - people come from diverse backgrounds. But we should not ignore these problems.

There is always going to be some group which will moan and groan, and these must be dealt with in a righteous way!

Note that the deacons were all Greeks! and they did a good job!

5. ACTS 8 - 10

6. ACTS 9:31

(Acts 9:31 KJV) Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

CHURCHES, not just believers, were multiplied! Saul had been persecuting the church, got saved, and wanted to be with the Jerusalem church. BUT there was a problem - all were afraid of him! (Note that there were problems in the early church.) Now how the problem was handled - Barnabas took Saul in and spoke a few words of commendation (instead of going away with Saul to another church).

7. ACTS 12:24

(Acts 12:24 KJV) But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Expansion was provoked by persecution (James was killed) and the church prayed and God smote Herod. God wants to intervene but He's hindered because we seek vengeance in our own way. Consider Romans 8:28

(Rom 8:28 KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Let us go to God in prayer!

8. ACTS 16:5

(Acts 16:5 KJV) And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Other churches also similarly increasing in number! ... not just the Jerusalem church.

Chapter 15 relates some trouble about keeping the law of Moses. These problems brought about the Jerusalem Council and (in Galatians) the answer was : Faith alone saves. And all were asked to keep these decisions. Therefore divisions were definitely caused as true doctrine is not always peaceable - it divides!

9. ACTS 19

There were a lot of problems but the Christians kept on and because of this, many believed and confessed!

(Acts 19:20 KJV) So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

What caused problem? :-

Every trial / trouble in the work or assembly is an opportunity in disguise. Let's not be discouraged, but go to God in prayer and God will give the increase!

| Referring Page |