Sermon by Bruce McCallum 12 March 2017

2. 1. THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH
Acts 1:5 (NIV)
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

4. Acts 1:12-15 (NKJV)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which
is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had
entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying:
Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and
Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas
the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with
His brothers.15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and
twenty), …..

7. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
…. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

9. 2. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was
filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by
the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in
common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all
the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were
being saved.

10. • They 'broke bread' – remembered & celebrated commUNITY
• They 'fellowshipped' – Built one another up
• They 'prayed' - constantly communing
• They kept growing
• They gave generously
• The Presence of God was powerfully there

12. 3. WHAT DID SATAN DO?
1 Corinthians 1:11 (NIV)
My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed
me that there are quarrels among you.

13. 1 Corinthians 6:8 (NIV)
Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do
this to your brothers.

14. Romans 12:18 (NIV)
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace
with everyone.

15. 1 Corinthians 11:18 (NIV)
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as
a church, there are divisions among you, and to some
extent I believe it.

16. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another - and all the more as you see the
Day approaching.’

17. Galatians 5:15 (NIV)
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out
or you will be destroyed by each other.

18. THE TRINITY
Why a Trinity?
If God were ONE person, there could be POWER.
If God were TWO persons, there could be LOVE.
But God is THREE . . . and with the Trinity, there is now
commUNITY.