Daily Religion - An Everyday Religion - Acts 2:38-47 - Outline & Audio

Biblical references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible. Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James version of the Bible.

Daily Religion - An Everyday Religion - Acts 2:38-47

Introduction:

1. In our world we hear much about the expressions “Sunday clothes” and “everyday clothes”

2. There are some people who have a sort of a “Sunday religion” and not an “everyday religion”.

3. They merely put their religion on and off with their Sunday clothes.

4. With some people Christianity is a social thing only; to them the church is no more than a “Sunday club”, just a place to go on Sunday.

5. The religion of Jesus Christ is more than a “Sunday go to meeting religion”

6. Under the law of Moses they had daily services and sacrifices:

Exodus 29:38-39, "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight."

Exodus 30:7-8, "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations."

7. These things were written for our edification:

Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

8. We who are Christians constitute a priesthood:

1 Peter 2:5, "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

9. We, too, are to offer daily sacrifices unto God:

Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

10. What does having a daily religion involve?

Body:

I. Daily Prayer.

1. Under Judaism incense was offered to the Lord daily.

Exodus 30:7-8, "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations."

2. Incense was a type of prayer:

Revelation 5:8, "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

3. Daily needs mean daily prayer to the faithful Christians:

Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"

4. Thus Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

Luke 11:3, "Give us day by day our daily bread."

5. David prayed daily to the Lord:

Psalm 55:17, "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice."

Psalm 88:9, "My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You."

6. We, too, must have a daily prayer life.

II. Daily Bible Study.

1. Jesus said, in

John 5:39, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."

2. Paul said, in

II Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

3. How often should we do these things?

4. The noble Bereans serve as a good example:

Acts 17:11, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

5. Our children attend school five days during the week for nine months out of the year to learn arithmetic, grammar and geography. Yet we seem to think that we can go to Bible school one hour a week and learn enough Bible to keep us faithful.

6. We cannot “grow in grace, and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) without a daily study of God’s word.

III. Daily Evangelism.

1. Jesus said,

Matthew 26:55, "In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me."

2. The church grew bountifully because of it’s aggressive and daily evangelism:

Acts 2:46, "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart"

Acts 5:42, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

3. One might say but I have to make a living. We should try to teach those with whom we work. Some of the apostles were called while they were working:

Matthew 4:19, "Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

4. Hand someone a good tract.

5. Paul said, in

Acts 20:31, "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."

IV. Daily Exhortation

1. Christians are to exhort one another:

Hebrews 3:13, "but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

2. We are to exhort those who have been overtaken in a fault:

Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

3. We need to help the weak:

Romans 15:1, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves."

1 Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."

4. It is too often the case that those who are weak in the faith are left to sink are swim, yet we are our brother’s keeper.

V. Daily Ministration.

1. The first disturbance in the church arose over the Hebrew widows being neglected in the daily ministration:

Acts 6:1, "Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution."

2. You and I need groceries, clothing and shelter every day; the widows and the orphans need them just as often.

James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

3. Bear one another's burdens:

Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 2:10, "They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do."

1 John 3:17-18, "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

4. We should be known for our benevolence.

VI. Daily Cross-Bearing.

1. Jesus said, in

Luke 9:23, "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"

2. Jesus was made to be the perfect sacrifice for us through suffering:

Hebrews 5:8-9, "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"

3. We love to sing “The Old Rugged Cross”, but do we like to bear it?

4. Many wear a cross around their necks, or place one on the steeple of their church buildings, but when that becomes an emblem of suffering or sacrifice, they are not too eager to bear it.

5. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:38, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

VII. Daily Results

1. Acts 2:47, "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

2. Acts 16:5, "So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily"

3. We should strive to have daily additions.

Conclusion:

1. Our religion ought not be so flimsy that it couldn’t stand everyday wear and tear.

2. We need to make sure that our religion is an everyday practice.

3. If you not a Christian, then you need to start your daily cross bearing by:

(1) Hearing, Romans 10:17

(2) Believing, John 8:24

(3) Repenting, Luke 13:3

(4) Confessing, Matthew 10:32-33

(5) Being baptized, Acts 2:38

4. Then one is to be faithful daily to God.

Don Treadway, May 2003

New Site at GJCOC.us!

P.O. Box 307408, Gahanna, Ohio 43230 • Meeting at 7816 Havens Road, Blacklick, Ohio

10/05/2012

New Site at TheGJCOC.com!

Daily Religion - An Everyday Religion - Acts 2:38-47

Introduction:

1. In our world we hear much about the expressions “Sunday clothes” and “everyday clothes”

2. There are some people who have a sort of a “Sunday religion” and not an “everyday religion”.

3. They merely put their religion on and off with their Sunday clothes.

4. With some people Christianity is a social thing only; to them the church is no more than a “Sunday club”, just a place to go on Sunday.

5. The religion of Jesus Christ is more than a “Sunday go to meeting religion”

6. Under the law of Moses they had daily services and sacrifices:

Exodus 29:38-39, "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight."

Exodus 30:7-8, "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations."

7. These things were written for our edification:

Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

8. We who are Christians constitute a priesthood:

1 Peter 2:5, "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

9. We, too, are to offer daily sacrifices unto God:

10. What does having a daily religion involve?

Body:

I. Daily Prayer.

1. Under Judaism incense was offered to the Lord daily.

Exodus 30:7-8, "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations."

2. Incense was a type of prayer:

Revelation 5:8, "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

3. Daily needs mean daily prayer to the faithful Christians:

Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"

4. Thus Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

Luke 11:3, "Give us day by day our daily bread."

5. David prayed daily to the Lord:

Psalm 55:17, "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice."

Psalm 88:9, "My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You."

6. We, too, must have a daily prayer life.

II. Daily Bible Study.

1. Jesus said, in

John 5:39, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."

2. Paul said, in

II Timothy 2:15, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

3. How often should we do these things?

4. The noble Bereans serve as a good example:

Acts 17:11, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

5. Our children attend school five days during the week for nine months out of the year to learn arithmetic, grammar and geography. Yet we seem to think that we can go to Bible school one hour a week and learn enough Bible to keep us faithful.

6. We cannot “grow in grace, and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) without a daily study of God’s word.

III. Daily Evangelism.

1. Jesus said,

Matthew 26:55, "In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me."

2. The church grew bountifully because of it’s aggressive and daily evangelism:

Acts 2:46, "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart"

Acts 5:42, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

3. One might say but I have to make a living. We should try to teach those with whom we work. Some of the apostles were called while they were working:

Matthew 4:19, "Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

4. Hand someone a good tract.

5. Paul said, in

Acts 20:31, "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."

IV. Daily Exhortation

1. Christians are to exhort one another:

Hebrews 3:13, "but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

2. We are to exhort those who have been overtaken in a fault:

Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

3. We need to help the weak:

Romans 15:1, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves."

1 Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."

4. It is too often the case that those who are weak in the faith are left to sink are swim, yet we are our brother’s keeper.

V. Daily Ministration.

1. The first disturbance in the church arose over the Hebrew widows being neglected in the daily ministration:

Acts 6:1, "Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution."

2. You and I need groceries, clothing and shelter every day; the widows and the orphans need them just as often.

James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

3. Bear one another's burdens:

Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 2:10, "They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do."

1 John 3:17-18, "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

4. We should be known for our benevolence.

VI. Daily Cross-Bearing.

1. Jesus said, in

Luke 9:23, "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"

2. Jesus was made to be the perfect sacrifice for us through suffering:

Hebrews 5:8-9, "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"

3. We love to sing “The Old Rugged Cross”, but do we like to bear it?

4. Many wear a cross around their necks, or place one on the steeple of their church buildings, but when that becomes an emblem of suffering or sacrifice, they are not too eager to bear it.

5. Jesus said,

Matthew 10:38, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."