Church Needs

I've used an old illustration that I think is close to when I originally heard it of a U.S. Treasury Agent who would study a genuine U.S. currency bill so that he could easily detect a counterfeit bill. We would do well today to study (2 Tim. 2:15) the genuine, inspired & preserved Word of God in order to detect any false teaching, other "gospels", etc.! Please understand...my  "E's" that are coming in this article must have a BALANCE! I.E., there is worth within these "E" points, yet I caution the reader to the IMBALANCES I see within our churches!  Reader...YOU need to read, evaluate, decide and adjust if necessary these "E's" and..you're welcome to disagree even though it won't affect my position, nor will it result in any criticism of your opinion.

I begin with the GENUINE, the Scriptures, so that you may evaluate even detect any variations, deviations from them. IN ACTS 2, filled with the Holy Spirit Peter, preached in 2:21-"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Peter proceeds with the ONLY Gospel that saves..man's faith in the death, burial, & bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ in 2:22-24. Note 1 Cor. 15:1-4. The communication of the Gospel is a must priority! Yet, there must then be a conviction of sin brought about by the Holy Spirit! 2:37-"Now when they HEARD this they were PRICKED IN THEIR HEART and said...WHAT SHALL WE DO?" Peter answered in vs 38- Result? Conversion! 2:41-"Then  they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls"  Praise the Lord! Professions---WITH a genuine POSSESSION of the Lord Jesus Christ! Great! "The great commission reached completion!"  Completion?  OH! Folks, salvation is only the beginning of a new life in Christ, thus, any conversion of souls MUST entail a continuation of GROWTH!  What's the first 3 words of 2:42--"And they CONTINUED..."  Any conversion without continuation should stir a professor to question any origination of salvation! "Therefore if any man be in Christ he IS a new creature: old things ARE passed away, behold ALL THINGS BECOME NEW." (2 Cor. 5:17) 

NOW..here's your EARLY CHURCH and its priority practices! 2:42 to 47--READ PLEASE! The teaching of God's Word; fellowship IN the Gospel; observing the Lord's supper; prayer!  It was a God-fearing church! (Missing today, by the way!)  A unified church; a caring and sharing church; a worshiping church! RESULT?  A growing, Spirit-filled-Christian, church!  2:47b-"...and the Lord ADDED to the church daily such as should be saved." The spiritual priorities, practices, people are evident...WHY CAN'T WE STILL LEARN FROM THEM!!  SO...to come in series form, a comparison of the simplicity of the early church priorities, WITH the complexities of the present-day church and how it centers upon the SELF OF MAN with its plans, programs, promotions to satisfy the WANTS of the church-goer!  Next installment, our 1st "E" of ENVIRONMENT and how the church has prioritized it for the "needs and wants" of the congregation!  For now...STUDY the GENUINE...STUDY ACTS & the priorities and progress of the early church!

-Roger Hickernell