The COVID-19 Church: Character in a Crisis

Pericope: Acts 2: 42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who 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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved

Sermon Text: Acts 2: 46 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,

The COVID-19 Church: Character in a Crisis

Point 1: Courage. 2 Cor 11: 25-27 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea , 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.;….

Point 2: Competence.  Acts 22:3 3 … I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

1.  Still be generous

                                         i.    Luke 21:2-4 (NKJV) 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

                                       ii.    2 Chronicles 31:10- 10 and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”

2.  Stay on course

3.    Seek help with your budget

Point 3: Cost  Paul traveled the world, but it was not free.     

Point 4: Core.  Gal 2: 14 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

a)  The earth's solar system (core of the sun gravitational pull)

b)  You when you exercise

Life Application:

1.  Connect with the LifeGroup (be intentional stay in covenant for strength)

2.  Trust God - he designed you to lead in this moment

3.  Give your life to Christ in this crisis