Pastor Dan Southern 3/6/05

Centreville Community Church

Title: A Place of Community

Text: Acts 2:37-47

Matthew 5:18 Psalm 119:89

Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 4:12

Exodus 6:7 Galatians 6:10

Ephesians 2:19 1 Peter 2:9

l. THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY.

The word church is the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ “a calling out, (the called out one), a community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both.

………Strong’s Expanded dictionary of Bible Words,

Greek Dictionary, p.1068, Nelson Publishing

Nashville, Tenn. 2001

A. We are those who are called.

John 17:16 2 Corinthians 6:17,18

Called out of darkness 1 Peter 2:9

A holy calling 2 Timothy 1:9

Called according to God’s purpose Romans 8:28

A heavenly calling Hebrews 3:1

A high calling Philippians 3:14

Called to fellowship with Christ 1 Corinthians 1:9

Called for holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:7

Called for liberty Galatians 5:13

A calling of peace 1 Corinthians 7:15

Calling of eternal glory 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Called to eternal life 2 Timothy 6:12

B. We are those who are cleansed.

Hebrews 9:22 1 Corinthians 6:9

1 John 1:9

C. We are those who are chosen.

Deuteronomy 7:6 Ephesians 1:4

1 Peter 2:9 Acts 9:4

Galatians 1:15 Acts 9:15

ll. THE CHURCH AS A COMMUNITY OF COMMON GROUND.

A. It has a shared faith. Acts 1:14

B. It has a shared fervor or fire. Acts 2:1-4

C. It has a shared fellowship. Acts 2:42

‘koinonia’ – partnership, participation, “having in common”

a. participation in the knowledge of the Son of God

b. sharing in the effects of the blood of Christ, the body of Christ, as set forth by the emblems in the Lord’s Supper

D. They shared their food. Acts 2:46; 6:1-2

lll. THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY WHERE THE GRACE OF GOD IS CULTIVATED.

A. It is a place of conviction. Acts 2:37

B. It is a place of conversion. Acts 2:41

C. It is a place of consecration. Acts 2:42

lV. THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY WHERE GRACE COMPELLS THEM. Acts 1:8

V. THE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY THAT ENJOYS THE COMMUNION OF THE LORD. Acts 2:46