Ecclesia

Peers

Columbine…Columbine…

Hitler…Hitler…

The Blind Side…The Blind Side…

How have people molded you?How have people molded you?

How have people molded you?How have people molded you?

How have they kept youHow have they kept youFrom being who you were From being who you were

Created to be?Created to be?

Jesus died Jesus died because of because of our brokennessour brokenness

Jesus died Jesus died for for our brokennessour brokenness

The cross was God's ideaThe cross was God's idea

To restore relationship To restore relationship with the Fatherwith the Father

To begin restoring To begin restoring the brokenness in usthe brokenness in us

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Engage…to heal, restore, make wholeEngage…to heal, restore, make whole

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Represent…Jesus to a watching worldRepresent…Jesus to a watching world

The challenge with Representing:The challenge with Representing:We have to care more for We have to care more for God's leading than for theGod's leading than for the

Opinions of Men Opinions of Men

The Acts Effect…The Acts Effect…

A man named Ananias, with his wife A man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

and with his wife's knowledge and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the he kept back for himself some of the

proceeds and brought proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it only a part of it and laid it

at the apostles' feetat the apostles' feet

Ananias and SapphiraAnanias and SapphiraCare what people think:Care what people think:

They want the approval of menThey want the approval of men"Supersaints!""Supersaints!"

But Peter said,But Peter said,“Ananias, why has Satan filled “Ananias, why has Satan filled

your heart your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself and to keep back for yourself

part of the proceeds of the land? part of the proceeds of the land?

While it remained unsold, While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? did it not remain your own?

And after it was sold, was it not And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that at your disposal? Why is it that

you have contrived this deed you have contrived this deed in your heart? in your heart? You have not lied You have not lied

to man but to God.”to man but to God.”

When Ananias heard these words, When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. he fell down and breathed his last.

And great fear came upon And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men all who heard of it. The young men

rose and wrapped him up and rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried himcarried him out and buried him

The wife as well…The wife as well…

God is mean!God is mean!

God is mean!God is mean!

They were willing to doThey were willing to doWhatever they neededWhatever they needed

To have the acceptance of peopleTo have the acceptance of people

When the young men came in When the young men came in they found her dead, and they found her dead, and

they carried her out and buried her they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. beside her husband. And great fear And great fear

came upon the whole church and came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.upon all who heard of these things.

Now many signs and wonders were Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people regularly done among the people

by the hands of the apostles. by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in And they were all together in

Solomon's Portico. None of the rest Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held dared join them, but the people held

them in high esteem.them in high esteem.

God isn't exactly seeker-sensitiveGod isn't exactly seeker-sensitive(And his people aren't hiding it)(And his people aren't hiding it)

And And more than ever more than ever believers were believers were added to the Lord, added to the Lord, multitudesmultitudes of both of both

men and women…men and women…

By NOT worrying about people-pleasingBy NOT worrying about people-pleasingBut by following JesusBut by following Jesus

……so that they even carried out so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and the sick into the streets and

laid them on cots and mats, that as laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow Peter came by at least his shadow

might fall on some of them. might fall on some of them.

Head-trip for Peter-Head-trip for Peter-The praise of people could ruin him!The praise of people could ruin him!

Peter's Fall= betrayal, Peter's Fall= betrayal, embarrassing, epic failembarrassing, epic fail

What would people say?What would people say?

Peter's Fall= betrayal, Peter's Fall= betrayal, embarrassing, epic failembarrassing, epic fail

What would people say?What would people say?

If he worries about peopleIf he worries about peopleHe stops following JesusHe stops following Jesus

Or lies about the pastOr lies about the past

Peter's Fall= betrayal, Peter's Fall= betrayal, embarrassing, epic failembarrassing, epic fail

What would people say?What would people say?

God redeems his fallGod redeems his fallIt becomes preparationIt becomes preparation

For handling fame without arroganceFor handling fame without arrogance

The people also gathered from The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, the towns around Jerusalem,

bringing the sick and those bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and afflicted with unclean spirits, and

they were all healed.they were all healed.

But the high priest rose up, and But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, all who were with him (that is,

the party of the Sadduceesthe party of the Sadducees), and ), and filled with filled with jealousyjealousy they arrested they arrested

the apostles and put them the apostles and put them in the public prison.in the public prison.

Never underestimate theNever underestimate theTreachery of those who care moreTreachery of those who care more

For what people think of themFor what people think of them

Than for what is trueThan for what is true

The apostles in prisonThe apostles in prison

God never says "Figure it out"God never says "Figure it out"He says "Trust me"He says "Trust me"

But during the night an angel But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors of the Lord opened the prison doors

and brought them out, and said, and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple “Go and stand in the temple

and speak to the people and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” all the words of this Life.”

We can get so busy solving We can get so busy solving Our own problemsOur own problems

That we miss seeing God work in our livesThat we miss seeing God work in our lives

““Go and stand in the temple Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people and speak to the people

all the words of this Life.” all the words of this Life.”

That might be kind of dangerous…That might be kind of dangerous…

And when they heard this, And when they heard this, they entered the temple they entered the temple

at daybreak and began to teach.at daybreak and began to teach.

Set free to go, stand, speakSet free to go, stand, speakFor For other'sother's benefit benefit

Even thoughEven though some might not like it some might not like it

Now when the high priest came, Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they and those who were with him, they

called together the council, called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, all the senate of the people of Israel,

and sent to the prison and sent to the prison to have them brought. to have them brought.

But when the officers came, they But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, so they returned and reported,

“We found the “We found the prison securely locked prison securely locked and the and the guards standing at the doors, guards standing at the doors,

but when we opened them but when we opened them we found no one inside”we found no one inside”

Who is that for?Who is that for?

Now when the captain of the temple Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard and the chief priests heard

these words, they were greatly these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering perplexed about them, wondering

what this would come to.what this would come to.

And someone came And someone came and told them, and told them,

“Look! The men whom you “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in put in prison are standing in

the temple and teaching the people”the temple and teaching the people”

Then the captain with the officers Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not went and brought them, but not

by force, for by force, for they were afraid they were afraid of being stoned by the peopleof being stoned by the people

What's missing?What's missing?

Then the captain with the officers Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not went and brought them, but not

by force, for by force, for they were afraid they were afraid of being stoned by the people of being stoned by the people

What's missing?What's missing?"God, what do you want??"God, what do you want??

Original Motive: Envy of the ApostlesOriginal Motive: Envy of the ApostlesActions dictated by: Fear of the PeopleActions dictated by: Fear of the People

These These are the guys in prison…are the guys in prison…

And when they had brought them, And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. they set them before the council.

And the high priest questioned them, And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not saying, “We strictly charged you not

to teach in this name, yet to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem here you have filled Jerusalem

with your teaching, and with your teaching, and you intend to you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” bring this man's blood upon us.”

What's their concern?What's their concern?

The killer doesn't want to be The killer doesn't want to be Known as a killerKnown as a killer

That makes him dangerousThat makes him dangerous

But Peter and the apostles answered, But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God “We must obey God rather than men.rather than men.

To the degree I seek to please menTo the degree I seek to please menI will refuse to follow GodI will refuse to follow God

The only way we can representThe only way we can representJesus and his churchJesus and his church

Is to care more for what God saysIs to care more for what God saysThan what people sayThan what people say

The God of our fathers The God of our fathers raisedraised Jesus, Jesus, whom you killedwhom you killed by hanging him on a by hanging him on a

tree. God exalted him at his right hand tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, as Leader and Savior,

to give repentance to Israel to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. and forgiveness of sins.

And we are witnesses to these And we are witnesses to these things, and so is things, and so is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit,

whom God has given to whom God has given to those who obey him”those who obey him”

Acts 5:1-32Acts 5:1-32

Ananias/SapphiraAnanias/Sapphira: Lie to impress believers: Lie to impress believers

Religious LeadersReligious Leaders: All actions dictated by: All actions dictated by"What People May Think""What People May Think"

Imprisoned by the opinions of menImprisoned by the opinions of men

ApostlesApostles: Free to follow God: Free to follow GodRegardless of what anyone thinksRegardless of what anyone thinks

*Even if it could mean torture or death*Even if it could mean torture or death

The difference?The difference?

The difference?The difference?

And we are witnesses to these And we are witnesses to these things, and so is things, and so is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit,

whom God has given whom God has given to to those who obey him”those who obey him”

The Holy Spirit is the differenceThe Holy Spirit is the difference

The Holy Spirit fills and empowersThe Holy Spirit fills and empowersThose who obey GodThose who obey God

Instead of pleasing peopleInstead of pleasing people

Who is shaping and molding you?Who is shaping and molding you?

If it encourages you towards GodIf it encourages you towards GodWelcome it!Welcome it!

If it imprisons youIf it imprisons youStand against itStand against it

By the Power of God's SpiritBy the Power of God's Spirit

Do I know Jesus?Do I know Jesus?

Am I filled with God's Spirit?Am I filled with God's Spirit?

the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, whom God has given whom God has given to to

those who obey him”those who obey him”

What matters more:What matters more:

What people think of me?What people think of me?What God calls me to?What God calls me to?

AmbassadorsAmbassadors

- Not my home- Not my home- Not my values- Not my values- Not my future- Not my future