What Makes A Great Church?

Introduction

I conclude that a great church is made up of great people, faithful to the ministries in which they fit. We want you to be consistent in your church attendance because ministries function to their greatest quality when Christians give God all they have. The work of a church is hard to maintain without each person present every Sunday doing what God called them to do.

I. Saving Grace Was Upon Them, vs. 33.

A. Saving Grace Will Cause Us To Testify, vs. 33.

…with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection… vs. 33. Notice the phrase with great power; the word great indicates a volume, number or strength. In other words there were a lot of people involved in it. The word apostles means a delegate or one sent forth. Grace is the power; listen closely! We are the people; grace is the power and I believe if each of us would find a place in ministry there would be great power going out from our church.

Not only do we see saving grace will cause us to testify but also:

B. Saving Grace Will Cause Us To Fortify, vs. 32.

…the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul… vs. 32. There’s no power like the power of a group of people talking good about something! Most people, 87%, will visit a church during a regular service because someone invited them or because they’re hearing good things about the church. Nothing has any greater power then a fortified church. …one heart…one soul… vs. 32. It may seem strange or impossible but I truly believe that if just 50% of us left here today and began to talk about the resurrection of our Lord and how our great church worships Him we’d see visitors and new members every week. Notice the phrase …the multitude of them that believed… vs. 32. Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. These believers fortified themselves and worked together and WOW! People started coming from everywhere!

Not only do we see that saving grace was upon then but also:

II. Saving Grace Was Uplifting Them, vs. 34.

A. They Gave Of Their Substance, vs. 34.

Neither was there any among them that lacked… vs. 34. I love this verse! You want to know what I know; if we had twice as many in attendance today we could do twice as much to reach a lost and dying world. If everyone gave instead of just a few we could do twice as much again. There would be no lack and all of our ministries would be supplied! I can’t imagine what would happen if all

God’s people caught the vision. Saving grace causes us to be a great church and causes us to look beyond ourselves. Not only do we see they gave of their substance but also:

B. They Gave Of Themselves, Acts 5:28-29.

…We ought to obey God rather than men., vs. 29. This isn’t the word of the church; this is the word of God that makes a great church. I’m not it; the music leader isn’t it; the youth leader isn’t it; the staff…we aren’t it; we’re part of it and so are you! Without you none of these ministries work. This is a great church because we serve a great God!