Necessities For Building a Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-7-2026

Acts 2:41-47

 

Introduction: 

A.  The Lord wants to build His church according to Matthew 16:18.  “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” It is the Lord’s desire to see the churches grow.  I understand what time it is, but God’s people need to be busy about the Father’s business.

 

B.  The Lord is the one Who will build the church.  Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 

C. But the Lord uses people to get the job done.  We need not sit back, do nothing, and expect the church to flourish.  Our job is to “be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 

 

D.  Many today think that what I am and will be preaching on the subject of the local church is “Hard Preaching,” but it will be subjects that should come naturally with a spiritual people.  The key is found in verse 41.  A saved membership that became obedient to the Lord!

 

E.  In order for a church to grow both physically and spiritually, some things have to be evident in the church.

 

IN ORDER TO BUILD A CHURCH THAT HONORS GOD, WE MUST HAVE what the first church in Jerusalem had.

 

1.  A Word Of God That Has Free Course And Is Glorified - 2 Thessalonians 3:1   Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  (Satan hates the church that makes much of the Word of God!  The religionist says that we are majoring on a minor while we are actually majoring on THE MAJOR!) 

 

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

a.  We Must Make Much Of The Word Of God - Psalms 138:2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 

b.  We Must Hear The Word Of God - Acts 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

 

c.  We Must Heed The Word Of God - Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

2.  A Willingness To Work - Nehemiah 4:6  So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 

 

Every piece of the “body” has a function, and if all do not work for the betterment of all, then part of the work of the church will not get done.

 

3.  A Burden For Souls - Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

 

4.  A Heart For Missions - 2 Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

 

5.  An Uncompromising Stand On Both Doctrine And Separation - 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 

6.  A Holy Membership - Ephesians 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

 

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

 

7.  A Fervency In Prayer And Supplication - Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

          1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

 

8.  A Fervent Love For Each Other - 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

 

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

9.  A Sacrificial Stewardship - Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

a.  Though God does not need our money, He chooses to use it to care for the church, the pastor, and missions.

 

b.  You do not tithe and give; the church bills go unpaid; the pastor must work a secular job; and the missions board would be blank! 

 

c.  And, if you are saved, God will not bless you!

 

2 Corinthians 9:6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Homecoming 2025 - Marks Of a Spiritual Church

Temple Baptist Church - 3-23-2025

Acts 2:41-47

 

Introduction: Homecoming 2025 marks 38 wonderful years in the best church I have ever known! I state this without reservation or apology. What a fantastic time we have had and continue to enjoy. Acts chapter 2 reveals the greatness of the first local church established after Pentecost.  38 years is half of my life!  Longer than Barbara and I have lived in one place.  A place that we call HOME!

 

A. Spiritual growth leads to spiritual maturity, which fosters spiritual characteristics, resulting in spiritual effectiveness. 2 Timothy 3:5 warns of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” as one of the signs of the last days. We are not only there but have been for some time.

 

B. Churches in the Bible Belt have deteriorated to the point that today, most newer believers have never known what it means to be part of a genuinely spiritual church. They were born amid decline and have not experienced the soul-saving revivals of the past. Decline usually occurs over a long period, and its characteristics and effects are not always recognized by those who grace the pews of the local church.

 

C. There is a saying among those born during the Revival Days of the South: “I was born in the fire and can’t stand the smoke.” Today’s “Christian” declares, “I was born in the smoke and can’t stand the fire!”

 

D. In the early years of the New Testament Church, we find the characteristics that the Lord urged the Church of Ephesus, in Revelation chapter 2, to return to. That first love that was so prevalent in Jerusalem after Pentecost. Multitudes were born again, and the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem was thriving.

 

E. It would benefit us to examine what happened in those early days that motivated these new believers to turn the world upside down for Christ. These characteristics must continue in our churches today.

 

1.  It Was A Church Was Marked By Real Conversions – vs. 41 

 

a. They gladly received his word. Most church members today want to be entertained, not converted. However, the average church member feels offended if you preach the Word with power and conviction! They would appreciate neither John the Baptist’s nor our Lord Jesus’ preaching!

 

b. They wanted to be baptized, so there was no need to run them down and beg them.

 

c. They assembled at the appointed times. There was no need to send the deacons out to find out why they were not in church. Today’s church is characterized by unfaithful membership! Occasional attendance seems to suffice!

 

2.  It Was A Church Marked By Spiritual Growth – vs. 42

 

a.  They loved and learned doctrine. 

 

1)  They gladly received it.  They esteemed the Word of God more that their necessary food.  Job 23:12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

 

2)  They rightly divided it.  They were doctrinally correct. Revelation 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

 

b.  They loved and knew God’s men. 

 

1)  They loved them - Galatians 4:15  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

 

2)  They spend time with them - 1 Thessalonians 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

 

c.  They loved and spent time with each other.

 

1)  They loved one another - 1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

 

2)  They spent time with each other - Acts 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

 

3.  It Was A Church Marked By Prayer – vs. 42

 

a.  They prayed often - Acts 1:14  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

 

b.  They prayed fervently - Acts 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 

4.  It Was A Church Marked By Unselfish Giving – vs. 43-45

 

a.  They gave of themselves - 2 Corinthians 8:5  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

b.  They gave of their finances - 2 Corinthians 8:3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

 

5.  It Was A Church Marked By Unity – vs. 46

 

a.  They had unity within the church - 1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

b.  They had unity among themselves - Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

 

Ephesians 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

6.  It Was A Church Marked By Worship – vs. 47

 

a.  Their praising was vocal - Psalms 98:4  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

 

1 Kings 1:40  And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

 

b.  Their praising was uniform - Psalms 150:6  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

7.  It Was Marked By Soul Winning – vs. 47

 

a.  Soul winners must be trained - 1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

b.  Soul winners must be available - Matthew 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.     

       

Conclusion:  May the Lord help us to be a spiritually effective church in these last days.  May the Lord help us to allow our children to know what church should be all about.

Corinth

Temple Baptist Church - 2-12-2025

1 Corinthians 1:1-3; Acts 18:1-11

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The author of the book is the Apostle Paul. (1:1, 16:21).

 

B.  The place of he was writing from was. Ephesus. (16:8).

 

C.  The time of his writing.  Possible in the spring of 57 A.D., shortly before the Jewish feast of Pentecost (16:8), during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1-41).

 

D.  Three things make the Corinthian Church stand out to me.

 

1.  The Carnality of the Corinthian Church.  Fifteen of the sixteen chapters were an open rebuke of said carnality!

 

2.  The Maturity of the Corinthian Church, found in 2 Corinthians, as they got the things that were wrong right.  They did not get mad, they got right!

 

3.  The Love that the great Apostle Paul had for this carnal church.  It was the only church epistle where Paul signed it this way: 

 

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  (24)  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24) 

 

E.  To understand the carnal condition of this “baby” church, full of new converts,  we need to look at Corinth in Paul’s day.

 

F.  The Background of Corinth: Corinth was situated on the Isthmus of Greece (called Achaia in the Bible) between the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea, above the Mediterranean Sea. About 50 miles to the east was the city of Athens.

 

1.  Isthmus - a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.

 

2.  This made Corinth possibly the most important trade city in its day. 

 

a)  Bridge between two major trade routes to the east because of the proximity of two seas to cross.

 

b)  A great port for trade ships as they could easily unload on one side and load on the other side of the isthmus, making trade goods easily accessible going east to west or west to east.

 

G.  The Corinth of Paul's day was relatively new. 

 

1.  The old Corinth (which was famous and powerful in the days of the Peloponnesian War) was burned in 146 B.C. by the Romans.  Because it was a city devoted to the gods, a hundred years were required to pass before the city could be rebuilt. 

 

2.  In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar rebuilt the city, populated it with a colony of veterans and freedmen, and named it Julia Corinthus.  It soon became a very important commercial center.

 

3. With a population of 400,000 and being a prominent center of commerce in the Mediterranean world, it was a place for all sorts of vice.  An example of its immorality was found in the temple of Venus (Aphrodite), which hosted 1000 priestesses dedicated to prostitution in the name of

religion. 

 

4.  The city's close proximity to the city of Athens probably added to the problem of intellectualism.  As noticed in the epistle, such an environment had its effect upon the church in Corinth.  It is amazing that a church existed at all in such a city.  Only God!

 

H.  The Background of the Church at Corinth:  The establishment of the church occurred during Paul's second missionary journey.  It is recorded by Luke in Acts 18:1-18, which can be divided into three sections:

 

1. Abiding with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers; reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath (Acts 18:1-6).

 

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;  (2)  And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.  (3)  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.  (4)  And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.  (5)  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.  (6)  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 

 

 

2. In the house of Justus, abiding there and teaching for a year and six months (Ac 18:7-11)

 

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.  (8)  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.  (9)  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:  (10)  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  (11)  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

          3) An incident before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia (Ac 18:12-18)

 

And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,  (13)  Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.  (14)  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:  (15)  But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.  (16)  And he drave them from the judgment seat.  (17)  Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.  (18)  And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

 

J.  These newborn babes in Christ were adversely affected by the immoral environment and thus the church was affected.

 

K.  Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in order to correct sinful practices and to refute false doctrine.

 

1.  Chapter 1 - Paul dealt with division in the church.

2.  Chapter 2 - Paul dealt with Intellectualism.

3.  Chapter 3 - Paul dealt with carnality.

4.  Chapter 4 - Paul dealt with stewardship and faithfulness.

5.  Chapter 5 - Paul dealt with immorality.

6.  Chapter 6 - Paul dealt with lawsuits and the sanctity of the body.

7.  Chapter 7 - Paul dealt with family problems.  Marriage to widows.

8.  Chapter 8 - Paul dealt with offending the brethren.

9.  Chapter 9 - Paul dealt with taking care of God’s men.

10.  Chapter 10 – Paul dealt with tempting the Lord through sinfulness.

11.  Chapter 11 – Paul dealt with submission to authority.

12.  Chapter 12 – Paul dealt with ignorance concerning spiritual gifts.

13.  Chapter 13 – Paul dealt with brotherly love.

14.  Chapter 14 – Paul dealt with the misuse of tongues.

15.  Chapter 15 – Paul dealt with heresy concerning the resurrection.

16.  Chapter 16 – Paul dealt with problems concerning giving.

 

HOW DID THIS CHURCH GET SO WORLDLY?

 

1.  There was the problem with both the pulpit and the pew.

 

a.  Verse 1.  Paul establishes his position and authority.  “Paul, called to be an apostle”  One sent forth with orders – authority.  I don’t know who the pastor was, but there was a total breakdown of authority and godly example so necessary for the welfare of a church.  People learn by seeing and hearing.

 

b.  They had a pastor but evidently there was no authority - 1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

1)  He failed to take the oversight – to watch over and protect from sin and Satan.

 

2)  He failed to feed – to ground them in God’s Word.

 

3)  Or, they had a pastor, and they failed to listen to him - 1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

4)  I do not believe that it was the third option because when Paul wrote to them, they listened and responded.

 

5)  The key to the church’s success was the faithfulness of the pastor and pulpit.

 

6)  The pastor is to be first an example, then he can effectively preach to the congregation.

 

1 Corinthians 11:1   Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

2.  Therefore, there was a problem in The Church – vs. 2  “the church of God”  They were divided, suing one another, committing sin against one another and their own bodies, etc.

 

a.  In the Church we see unity instead of disunity – “church”  a called out assembly.  Called out of the world to worship and exhort one another.

 

John 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

b.  In the Church we see purpose - Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

          1)  To evangelize

 

          2)  To instruct

 

3.  We See The Conversion – vs. 2  “called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours”  Saints-a most holy thing - purity-service  Not called to go to heaven, but called to be saints.

 

a.  It was a changing conversion - Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

b.  It was a common conversion - Romans 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

 

Romans 10:12   For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.