August 13, 2023
13 “… however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,”
Acts 5:13b-14 (NASB1995)
The Idea
Why were they no longer adding to their number daily; rather, they were continually multiplying?
The answer: CONVERGENCE
When 6 Converge:
1. We are Called as a Community of Witness
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”
Acts 5:20 (NASB1995)
30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Acts 5:30-32 (NASB1995)
2. We are Re-Created into Community of Fire and Spirit
2 “And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”
Acts 2:2-4 (NASB1995)
7 “They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
Acts 2:7-11 (NASB1995)
3. We are Committed to be a Community of Healing And Restoration
6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Acts 3:6-8 (NASB1995)
4. We are Becoming a Community of Compelling Boldness
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13 (NASB1995)
5. We are a Transformed Community of Radical Generosity
34 “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”
Acts 4:34-35 (NASB1995)
6. We Live as a Community of Genuine and Credible Faith
11 “And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
13 … the people held them in high esteem.
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,”
Acts 5:11-14 (NASB1995)
The Effect: We are a Community, Unstoppable
41 “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Acts 5:41-42 (NASB1995)
Our Covenant:
We are called as a community of witness
We are re-created as a community of fire and Spirit
We are a community committed to restoration and healing
We are a community of compelling boldness
We are a transformed community of radical generosity
We live as a community of credible and genuine faith
Then We will be a Community, Unstoppable.
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