How do you care for the church?

Over the last few weeks in Acts we have been discovering a number of ways we can care for the church.

1. Pray

In Acts 4:23f, we discovered it was the natural reaction of the believers to pray to God.  They do so in good times to say thank you.  They do so after being persecuted for their faith, and ask for boldness.  As they pray, thing happen - the ground shakes, they are filled with the spirit and speak the word of God boldly. The church grew through prayer.  More people believed in Jesus and joined the church.  They grew in love for each other too, as God's grace powerfully and continually worked in them.

2. Give

In Acts 4:32f, we saw that God blesses his people, to enable them to bless others.  He asks us to share all that we have - time, money, resources.  We are to do so generously, not fearfully.  We are to do so sacrificially.  We are to do so freely - it's our choice, how much we give.

3. Strive to be holy

In Acts 5:1-11, we have seen that God takes sin seriously.  And so should we.  We do not love him, or care for his church, if we fail to take sin seriously.  If we shrug it off and say it's OK, it's just the way I am.  If we think that, it doesn't really hurt anyone.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Our sin stinks.  It chokes the life out of the church.  So we must seek to choke the life out of it.  Strive to be holy.  Hate sin.  Don't ignore it, or joke about it, or turn a blind eye to it.  God is passionate for the purity of his church.  And if we care at all for the church, we should be too!

4. Worship

This one sews the rest together.  It is as we worship, that we are transformed.  We become what we worship.  We reflect his glory.  So if we care for the church, gaze on Jesus.  Look at his glory.  Become more like him. As you do so, you will hate sin more; become more generous and prayerfully trust him. So look at him.  Don't dare look away from him.  Treasure him above all things.  Worship him, daily.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    John 1:14

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory   2 Cor 3:18