Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit in the Church

Summary

In today's sermon, I explored the profound transformation that occurs within individuals and the church through the power of the Holy Spirit, as exemplified in Acts 2:42. We delved into the essence of what it means to be a church that truly lives out the mandates of Scripture, focusing on expository preaching, sound doctrine, and transformed lives. These elements are not just ideals but are the very foundation that our church stands upon, as reflected in our church sign and our daily practices.

We began by acknowledging the discomfort that often accompanies the concept of change, especially within the church context. It's crucial to recognize that change, when rooted in Scripture, is not only necessary but also a divine mandate. The early church, led by the apostles, was marked by a radical devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. This model guides us in shaping our church's practices and priorities.

Throughout the sermon, I emphasized the importance of sound doctrine. It is through the faithful exposition of Scripture that we come to understand who Jesus is and what He demands of our lives. This understanding is not merely academic but transformative, affecting every aspect of our lives and our community's life.

I shared personal reflections on the challenges and responsibilities of pastoral leadership, underscoring my reliance on God's sufficiency rather than personal adequacy. This perspective is crucial as we navigate the complexities of leading a church in conformity with God's will as revealed in Scripture.

As we look forward to the changes that God is calling us to embrace, it is essential to anchor these changes in the diligent study and application of God's Word. This approach ensures that our efforts are not merely human initiatives but a response to divine direction.

Key Takeaways:

1. Expository Preaching as a Foundation for Church Life
Expository preaching is not just a method of sermon delivery; it is a commitment to proclaiming God's Word in a way that is faithful to the text and transformative for the listener. This approach allows Scripture to speak for itself, challenging us and calling us to change in alignment with God's will. This is foundational for personal and communal transformation. [02:43]

2. The Necessity of Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is essential not only for knowing about Jesus but for truly knowing Him. It guards against the influences of false teachings and the subtleties of doctrines that deviate from biblical truth. In a world filled with spiritual noise, holding fast to sound doctrine ensures that we remain anchored in the truth of Scripture. [38:41]

3. The Role of the Church in Individual and Corporate Change
The church is not just a collection of individuals but a corporate body that must embody the change it preaches. This means that as individuals are transformed by the Holy Spirit, the church itself must also evolve to reflect more accurately the principles of Scripture in its practices and beliefs. [05:07]

4. The Impact of Personal Humility in Leadership
Recognizing personal inadequacy is not a sign of weakness but a strength in leadership. It drives reliance on God and His Word rather than personal capabilities or wisdom. This humility is essential for leading a church that seeks to be genuinely grounded in Scripture and led by the Spirit. [15:42]

5. Devotion to Apostolic Teaching as a Model for Today’s Church
Just as the early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching, so must we continually devote ourselves to the teachings of Scripture. This devotion is not passive but active, involving diligent study, faithful application, and a readiness to adjust our lives and church practices in alignment with God's Word. [41:03]

Chapters:

0:00 - Welcome
01:40 - Introduction to Acts 2:42 and Prayer
02:43 - The Importance of Expository Preaching
05:07 - Understanding the Need for Change in the Church
15:42 - Personal Reflections on Pastoral Inadequacy
19:40 - The Early Church’s Devotion to Apostolic Teaching
38:41 - The Critical Role of Sound Doctrine
41:03 - Continual Devotion to Apostolic Teaching
49:33 - The Sufficiency of Scripture in Church Life
57:16 - Practical Implications of Preaching and Church Leadership
01:09:20 - Closing Prayer and Call to Faithfulness

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Acts 2:42 (ESV) - "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
2. Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
3. Ephesians 2:19-20 (ESV) - "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."

### Observation Questions
1. What four activities did the early church devote themselves to according to Acts 2:42?
2. In Matthew 28:19-20, what two main actions are the disciples commanded to do?
3. According to Ephesians 2:19-20, what is the foundation of the household of God?

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is expository preaching considered foundational for church life, as discussed in the sermon? [02:43]
2. How does sound doctrine protect against false teachings and ensure that we remain anchored in the truth of Scripture? [38:41]
3. What role does personal humility play in effective pastoral leadership, and why is it important for leading a church in conformity with God's will? [15:42]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal study habits. How can you devote yourself more diligently to the apostles' teaching as described in Acts 2:42?
2. The sermon emphasized the necessity of sound doctrine. Are there any areas in your life where you might be influenced by teachings that deviate from biblical truth? How can you address this? [38:41]
3. Change can be uncomfortable, especially within the church. How can you personally contribute to a positive and scripturally grounded change in your church community? [05:07]
4. The pastor shared his reliance on God's sufficiency rather than personal adequacy. How can you apply this principle of humility and reliance on God in your own leadership roles or responsibilities? [15:42]
5. The early church was devoted to fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. How can you actively participate in these practices within your small group or church community? [19:40]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of transformed lives. Can you identify a specific area in your life that needs transformation? What steps will you take to align this area with God's Word? [49:33]
7. How can you support your church leaders in their efforts to lead the church in conformity with Scripture? What practical steps can you take to encourage and uphold them in their roles? [16:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Expository Preaching for Transformation
Expository preaching is a powerful tool that allows Scripture to speak directly, challenging and transforming listeners. This method of preaching is not merely about delivering sermons but about unveiling the truths of the Bible so that they can directly impact the lives of the congregation. By faithfully adhering to the text, expository preaching ensures that the message delivered is the message intended by Scripture, fostering a deeper understanding and a more genuine transformation in the lives of the listeners. This approach is foundational, as it aligns the church's teachings with God's will, promoting growth and change within the community. [02:43](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVY_ibfczc&t=148s)

2 Timothy 4:2-4 ESV: "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reflection: How does expository preaching challenge you personally in your spiritual growth?

Day 2: The Critical Importance of Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is essential for a deep, true understanding of Jesus Christ and for guarding against the pervasive influence of false teachings. In a world brimming with spiritual distortions, holding fast to sound doctrine anchors the believer in the truth of Scripture. This commitment to doctrinal purity ensures that the church remains a beacon of truth in a confused world, offering clear guidance based on the teachings of the Bible. Sound doctrine is not just about knowledge but about forming a relationship with Jesus that is based on truth and deep understanding. [38:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVY_ibfczc&t=2306s)

Titus 2:1,7-8 ESV: "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us."

Reflection: In what ways can you personally uphold and propagate sound doctrine within your community?

Day 3: The Church's Role in Reflecting Scriptural Principles
The church is called to be more than a gathering of individuals; it is to be a dynamic body that reflects the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in both individual and corporate life. As members of the church are transformed, the church itself must also evolve to more accurately embody the principles taught in Scripture. This involves a continuous reevaluation of practices and beliefs to ensure they align with biblical mandates, thereby fostering a community that truly lives out the teachings of Jesus. [05:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVY_ibfczc&t=292s)

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV: "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: What is one change you believe God is calling your church to make, and how can you contribute to this change?

Day 4: Humility as a Strength in Leadership
Recognizing personal inadequacy is crucial for spiritual leaders. This acknowledgment leads to a reliance on God rather than on personal capabilities, fostering a leadership style that is grounded in humility and directed by the Holy Spirit. Such leaders are better equipped to guide their congregations in a manner that is faithful to Scripture, ensuring that church practices and teachings are not swayed by human wisdom but are directed by divine guidance. [15:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVY_ibfczc&t=927s)

James 4:6, 10 ESV: "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a spirit of humility in your own leadership or service within the church?

Day 5: Continual Devotion to Apostolic Teaching
Just as the early church was steadfast in its devotion to the apostles' teachings, modern believers are called to a continual, active devotion to Scripture. This involves not just passive reading but diligent study, faithful application, and a readiness to adjust personal and communal lives in alignment with God's Word. Such devotion ensures that the church remains rooted in the truth and equipped to face contemporary challenges with biblical wisdom. [41:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVY_ibfczc&t=2448s)

Acts 17:11 ESV: "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to enhance your daily engagement with Scripture?

Quotes

1. "I preach the word of God yeah I'll find out let me listen to a couple of your sermons because you may be preaching about the word or you may be just teaching about the word but are you following 2 Timothy 4 preach the word exhort reprove rebuke if I can listen to a couple of sermons by a pastor and I don't feel rebuked he's not done anything according to 2 Timothy 4 I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits out there and I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits in pastoral ministry they're great teachers I've said this before what is preaching preaching is to move it's not just to teach yes we need to teach but people need to be moved are your people moved by your preaching if they're not you're not preaching the word you might be teaching about the word I think you might have good intentions but let me help you preach the word because that's one thing that we saw God work in here at NBCH I still see God working in the preaching of the word here at NBCH I would ask him what's your prayer life like why do you need to know my prayer life I need to revitalize the church you're called to preach the word you're called to pray what's the church prayer life like the early church was devoted to prayer what's your fellowship like are you dedicated pastor to the fellowship are you like I'm out here the congregation is over there and they need my help or are you among the body because pastor you need to be among the body you're part of the fellowship look I'm just another dumb sheep that God has called leave this church I'm an under shepherd not the chief shepherd I do all those things because that's what the word of God says and what that dying church needs is to hold to the sufficiency of the word of God but they're looking for other ways and I bet you most of those people would probably hang up the phone and say well he can't help us that's fine I'm just not smart enough to come up with my own ideas but God's given me some great ones in his word we've left the sufficiency of scripture with church revitalization I think with books but I would say probably 9 out of 10 books I don't know if they have bookstores anymore I don't go to them but in a bookstore or online" [58:20](Download clip | | )

2. "And for that reason, a very good reason, we are somewhat averse to change, right? We definitely don't want to see that change. And I say amen. No, we don't want to change anything about losing the gospel or losing the word of God. Some churches changed by becoming seeker-sensitive. I hate to say it, but instead of teaching the sheep, they've begun to entertain the goats. They've become an entertainment place rather than a place that proclaims the word of God. And we're averse to that change. Amen, I'm averse to that change. Amen. That cannot happen under my leadership anyway, as I have oversight of Norton Baptist Church. Some churches have changed, and they've done it very poorly. I have witnessed some of that from a distance, but witnessed it. Where some churches have implemented change, and they were not patient, and they were not kind, and they were not loving. And they didn't explain it to everybody. They just said, hey, aren't you excited about the changes we want to make? And everybody's going, why are we changing? And they've done it very poorly. And so we're averse to change for that reason. And I think we should be averse to change for that reason. Like, of course people have done change poorly without kindness and love and concern. We might fear losing tradition. Now, on this one, I'll challenge you a little bit more. Now, we don't want to change just to change. So I understand that aspect. But sometimes we just hold on to our tradition. But is tradition that important to us that we shouldn't change? I have traditions in my own life that may be. I had a tradition. I had a tradition of watching the Packers every Sunday morning. Every Sunday afternoon, not morning, but Sunday afternoon. That changed because I realized the Packers weren't idle for me. And that tradition had to go away. Because that tradition revealed that there was an idol in my heart, and I would not give up that idol. So God eventually led me a place where I said I have to repent and throw away the idol. You know, I have to tear down that idol in my life. And I praise God that I changed that tradition. Some traditions need to die. Some might say this church was founded on certain principles. By godly men. And so those principles don't change, so the church shouldn't change. And I understand that. I do understand that. And I think some of these are very valid concerns. And I believe wholeheartedly that change should never be implemented for the sake of change. We should never implement change just because we need something new and fresh. I preach every Sunday, every Sunday, in and out, the Word of God, which has been around. For, well, completed, compiled about 2,000 years. I mean, it's been around for longer than that. But I mean, we have helped. And I'm not changing that. I'm going to continue to preach the Word of God that's been around for a long time. I'm not talking about that type of change. In fact, I would say it this way. The change I would call this church to would be out of the Word of God. Would be out of the Scripture. That is the change I have. I always called us to. Is that we need to change based on the Word of God. We all think that individually, but I think we might get nervous if we talk about the church corporately. And say, the church corporately also must conform itself to the Word of God. But I want you to know this. I am committed to change only as the Word of God would speak to us to change. I have no interest in implementing Sean's ideas. And Sean's strategies. I don't even have any. I'm just not an idea person. Probably that's part of the problem with that. But, so I don't have much for strategies. I think another problem is I'm just not smart enough to come up with strategies." [09:45](Download clip | | )

3. "I preach the word of God yeah I'll find out let me listen to a couple of your sermons because you may be preaching about the word or you may be just teaching about the word but are you following 2 Timothy 4 preach the word exhort reprove rebuke if I can listen to a couple of sermons by a pastor and I don't feel rebuked he's not done anything according to 2 Timothy 4 I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits out there and I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits in pastoral ministry they're great teachers I've said this before what is preaching preaching is to move it's not just to teach yes we need to teach but people need to be moved are your people moved by your preaching if they're not you're not preaching the word you might be teaching about the word I think you might have good intentions but let me help you preach the word because that's one thing that we saw God work in here at NBCH I still see God working in the preaching of the word here at NBCH I would ask him what's your prayer life like why do you need to know my prayer life I need to revitalize the church you're called to preach the word you're called to pray what's the church prayer life like the early church was devoted to prayer what's your fellowship like are you dedicated pastor to the fellowship are you like I'm out here the congregation is over there and they need my help or are you among the body because pastor you need to be among the body you're part of the fellowship look I'm just another dumb sheep that God has called leave this church I'm an under shepherd not the chief shepherd I do all those things because that's what the word of God says and what that dying church needs is to hold to the sufficiency of the word of God but they're looking for other ways and I bet you most of those people would probably hang up the phone and say well he can't help us that's fine I'm just not smart enough to come up with my own ideas but God's given me some great ones in his word we've left the sufficiency of scripture with church revitalization I think with books but I would say probably 9 out of 10 books I don't know if they have bookstores anymore I don't go to them but in a bookstore or online" [58:20](Download clip | | )

4. "And for that reason, a very good reason, we are somewhat averse to change, right? We definitely don't want to see that change. And I say amen. No, we don't want to change anything about losing the gospel or losing the word of God. Some churches changed by becoming seeker-sensitive. I hate to say it, but instead of teaching the sheep, they've begun to entertain the goats. They've become an entertainment place rather than a place that proclaims the word of God. And we're averse to that change. Amen, I'm averse to that change. Amen. That cannot happen under my leadership anyway, as I have oversight of Norton Baptist Church. Some churches have changed, and they've done it very poorly. I have witnessed some of that from a distance, but witnessed it. Where some churches have implemented change, and they were not patient, and they were not kind, and they were not loving. And they didn't explain it to everybody. They just said, hey, aren't you excited about the changes we want to make? And everybody's going, why are we changing? And they've done it very poorly. And so we're averse to change for that reason. And I think we should be averse to change for that reason. Like, of course people have done change poorly without kindness and love and concern. We might fear losing tradition. Now, on this one, I'll challenge you a little bit more. Now, we don't want to change just to change. So I understand that aspect. But sometimes we just hold on to our tradition. But is tradition that important to us that we shouldn't change? I have traditions in my own life that may be. I had a tradition. I had a tradition of watching the Packers every Sunday morning. Every Sunday afternoon, not morning, but Sunday afternoon. That changed because I realized the Packers weren't idle for me. And that tradition had to go away. Because that tradition revealed that there was an idol in my heart, and I would not give up that idol. So God eventually led me a place where I said I have to repent and throw away the idol. You know, I have to tear down that idol in my life. And I praise God that I changed that tradition. Some traditions need to die. Some might say this church was founded on certain principles. By godly men. And so those principles don't change, so the church shouldn't change. And I understand that. I do understand that. And I think some of these are very valid concerns. And I believe wholeheartedly that change should never be implemented for the sake of change. We should never implement change just because we need something new and fresh. I preach every Sunday, every Sunday, in and out, the Word of God, which has been around. For, well, completed, compiled about 2,000 years. I mean, it's been around for longer than that. But I mean, we have helped. And I'm not changing that. I'm going to continue to preach the Word of God that's been around for a long time. I'm not talking about that type of change. In fact, I would say it this way. The change I would call this church to would be out of the Word of God. Would be out of the Scripture. That is the change I have. I always called us to. Is that we need to change based on the Word of God. We all think that individually, but I think we might get nervous if we talk about the church corporately. And say, the church corporately also must conform itself to the Word of God. But I want you to know this. I am committed to change only as the Word of God would speak to us to change. I have no interest in implementing Sean's ideas. And Sean's strategies. I don't even have any. I'm just not an idea person. Probably that's part of the problem with that. But, so I don't have much for strategies. I think another problem is I'm just not smart enough to come up with strategies." [09:45](Download clip | | )

5. "I preach the word of God yeah I'll find out let me listen to a couple of your sermons because you may be preaching about the word or you may be just teaching about the word but are you following 2 Timothy 4 preach the word exhort reprove rebuke if I can listen to a couple of sermons by a pastor and I don't feel rebuked he's not done anything according to 2 Timothy 4 I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits out there and I think there's a lot of hollow pulpits in pastoral ministry they're great teachers I've said this before what is preaching preaching is to move it's not just to teach yes we need to teach but people need to be moved are your people moved by your preaching if they're not you're not preaching the word you might be teaching about the word I think you might have good intentions but let me help you preach the word because that's one thing that we saw God work in here at NBCH I still see God working in the preaching of the word here at NBCH I would ask him what's your prayer life like why do you need to know my prayer life I need to revitalize the church you're called to preach the word you're called to pray what's the church prayer life like the early church was devoted to prayer what's your fellowship like are you dedicated pastor to the fellowship are you like I'm out here the congregation is over there and they need my help or are you among the body because pastor you need to be among the body you're part of the fellowship look I'm just another dumb sheep that God has called leave this church I'm an under shepherd not the chief shepherd I do all those things because that's what the word of God says and what that dying church needs is to hold to the sufficiency of the word of God but they're looking for other ways and I bet you most of those people would probably hang up the phone and say well he can't help us that's fine I'm just not smart enough to come up with my own ideas but God's given me some great ones in his word we've left the sufficiency of scripture with church revitalization I think with books but I would say probably 9 out of 10 books I don't know if they have bookstores anymore I don't go to them but in a bookstore or online" [58:20](Download clip | | )

6. "And for that reason, a very good reason, we are somewhat averse to change, right? We definitely don't want to see that change. And I say amen. No, we don't want to change anything about losing the gospel or losing the word of God. Some churches changed by becoming seeker-sensitive. I hate to say it, but instead of teaching the sheep, they've begun to entertain the goats. They've become an entertainment place rather than a place that proclaims the word of God. And we're averse to that change. Amen, I'm averse to that change. Amen. That cannot happen under my leadership anyway, as I have oversight of Norton Baptist Church. Some churches have changed, and they've done it very poorly. I have witnessed some of that from a distance, but witnessed it. Where some churches have implemented change, and they were not patient, and they were not kind, and they were not loving. And they didn't explain it to everybody. They just said, hey, aren't you excited about the changes we want to make? And everybody's going, why are we changing? And they've done it very poorly. And so we're averse to change for that reason. And I think we should be averse to change for that reason. Like, of course people have done change poorly without kindness and love and concern. We might fear losing tradition. Now, on this one, I'll challenge you a little bit more. Now, we don't want to change just to change. So I understand that aspect. But sometimes we just hold on to our tradition. But is tradition that important to us that we shouldn't change? I have traditions in my own life that may be. I had a tradition. I had a tradition of watching the Packers every Sunday morning. Every Sunday afternoon, not morning, but Sunday afternoon. That changed because I realized the Packers weren't idle for me. And that tradition had to go away. Because that tradition revealed that there was an idol in my heart, and I would not give up that idol. So God eventually led me a place where I said I have to repent and throw away the idol. You know, I have to tear down that idol in my life. And I praise God that I changed that tradition. Some traditions need to die. Some might say this church was founded on certain principles. By godly men. And so those principles don't change, so the church shouldn't change. And I understand that. I do understand that. And I think some of these are very valid concerns. And I believe wholeheartedly that change should never be implemented for the sake of change. We should never implement change just because we need something new and fresh. I preach every Sunday, every Sunday, in and out, the Word of God, which has been around. For, well, completed, compiled about 2,000 years. I mean, it's been around for longer than that. But I mean, we have helped. And I'm not changing that. I'm going to continue to preach the Word of God that's been around for a long time. I'm not talking about that type of change. In fact, I would say it this way. The change I would call this church to would be out of the Word of God. Would be out of the Scripture. That is the change I have. I always called us to. Is that we need to change based on the Word of God. We all think that individually, but I think we might get nervous if we talk about the church corporately. And say, the church corporately also must conform itself to the Word of God. But I want you to know this. I am committed to change only as the Word of God would speak to us to change. I have no interest in implementing Sean's ideas. And Sean's strategies. I don't even have any. I'm just not an idea person. Probably that's part of the problem with that. But, so I don't have much for strategies. I think another problem is I'm just not smart enough to come up with strategies." [09:45](Download clip | | )

7. "I preach the word of God yeah I'll find out let me listen to a couple of your sermons because you may be preaching about the word or you may be just teaching about the word but are you following 2 Timothy 4 preach the word exhort reprove rebuke if I can listen to

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?