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PARTNERSHIP - ONE PLUS ONE = ? K63bPV07

Acts 3:1-10

Today we are pausing to celebrate 45 years of PVCC’s existence. Many folk have contributed over the years to make this congregation possible. We want to thank those who had the vision that makes it possible for us to assemble today. But we also recognize that the past is prologue and we can’t live in the past.

Earlier this year we shared a renewed vision for PV as "The Connecting Place." One facet of this vision is to connect people to service. We are the first to recognize that when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ, and God adds us to the church, we are to live a new life a…have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:3-5 NLT

This new way of living means our lives are no longer focused on self, but on the Lord. He calls us to team up with Him in the task of sharing His love with a lost world.

An old timer loved golf and could still hit the ball, but couldn't see where it went. One day the pro told him, "Charlie, I've got the right partner for you. Tom's about your age and he's got eyes like a hawk." When the 2 old fellows went out, Charlie wondered why Tom would want to play with him. On the 1st tee, Charlie hit a long drive, then said to him: "Did you see where it went?" "Yes, but I forgot."

Our Theme: partnership. What happens when one person links up in partnership with God? One + one doesn't equal two - it multiplies when that one is God.

Henry Varley, "The world is yet to see what God will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully consecrated to God!" D.L. Moody heard that and it changed his life. He set out to be that man. Born in poverty with a mother who was a widow. All they had was the clothes on their back. Moody was so bad he flunked membership class in church! They let him join but said he didn't know much about God. He surprised them when he sold his business at 30 to go out to preach. After his first sermon in his church a man told him he could best serve God by being silent the rest of his life. Another one said "you offended me by your bad grammar." Moody agreed and said, "you seem to have good grammar, what are you doing for God?" He said, "I'm a man. It lies within me whether I will or I will not make this full consecration to God. I will do my best to be that man!" He shared the gospel with over 100 million people. When linked with God 1 + 1 doesn't = 2. Peter and John are interrupted on the way to pray. What type of person does God use to bless others?

I. PEOPLE WHO aRE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. vs 1

A. The priority of prayer. Putting the Lord first.

1. 3:00 in the afternoon. Doing the right thing.

2. Peter had denied the Lord and felt estranged from the others. John was the one who loved. Peter messed up and John made sure Peter was loved. They were together a lot in Acts.

B. The prominence of obedience.

2 exasperated company executives were discussing a scatterbrained office boy who had a habit of fouling up important errands. "How long has he been with us, anyway?" asked 1. "He's never been with us, He's been against us from the start."

1. Obey Him and he will bring to you the right people at the right time for the right reason so you can be effective for Him.

2. Some are never used by God - others are blessed by him. The difference? Obedience - God uses obedient/faithful people.

II. PEOPLE WILLING TO BE INTERRUPTED. vs 2-3

A. The power of availability.

1. God uses busy people who love people but aren’t not too busy to be interrupted.

2. Peter and John are about to pray and a poor beggar cries out.

For a choleric personality like Peter it would be tough because cholerics are goal- oriented. Peter was all business. He needed a lesson and God sent a beggar to show him. John probably said, "Its OK Peter, we can watch and pray."

B. The primacy of people. (We want to help people be connected)

1. God uses men who put people 1st and walk slowly through the crowd

2. The church is in the people business. Some people don't like people. Charlie Brown, "I love mankind, its just people I can't stand."

3. Put people above programs, procedures, and policy.

4. Jesus died for people - only people will survive this earth.

III. PEOPLE WHO PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS. VS 4.

A. The place for ministry – a perceived need.

A couple were in Chicago for the weekend. She wanted to visit a posh department store about a dozen blocks from their hotel. Her husband hailed a cab. "The lady wants to go to Neiman Marcus," he told the driver. The cabby looked over his shoulder, "And the gentleman?" he asked. "Does he want to go to the bank?" – Peter didn’t have a bank account, but that didn’t stop him from ministering to the man.

1. They perceived the man as very needy and started to minister.

2. Givers are not people with less needs than others. They are people who believe its is more blessed to give than receive.

B. The paralysis of excuses. What might Peter and John have said?

1. "We'd love to help, but we're going to church". Any prayer that doesn't involve commitment and action isn't what God wants.

2. "I know you have a need, bless you...we will pray for you."

3. "Why is it every time we come to church we have to do all the work around here."

4. "This beggar is stinking up the place." Sometimes we may think, "Isn't it terrible we have all these needy people around here?" But remember, the Church isn't a museum for Christians, it is a hospital for sinners.

5. "Sunday is my day of rest, I don't come to contribute, I come to consume and be a spectator".

· While we are here some of the small children are in the nursery, while others are in the church park or other kids venues. That’s great, they are learning on their level about Jesus. But don’t forget, someone is giving up their worship time to serve. We always need more volunteers.

· Today someone unlocked the doors and turned on the lights. Others got the bulletins ready during the week. Our communion was ready because someone prepared it. You are seeing things on the screen and hearing me because of folk in the sound room. Every worship service requires about 35 volunteers serving somewhere.

· The church is a volunteer organization do you take your turn? If everyone who worships at PV did just what you do, how much ministry would occur?

6. "Why is it every time we come to church someone asks for money?"

· We come to receive spiritual food, we come to take, not give.

· He's asking for silver and gold, we're all out so I'm not responsible.

7. Because they were partners with God they didn’t make excuses but did what they could.

Charles Osgood told about 2 ladies who lived in a convalescent center. Each had suffered a stroke. Margaret's left side was restricted, while Ruth's right side was damaged. Both of these ladies were accomplished pianists but had given up hope of ever playing again. Then the director of the center sat them down at a piano and encouraged them to play solo pieces together. They did, and a beautiful friendship developed. What a picture of the church's need to work together!

IV. PEOPLE WHO USE WHAT THEY HAVE. vs 6.

A. The positiveness of desire. Givers find a way.

1. Two "buts". A bad news/good news response.

· But I don't have silver and gold - discouraging.

· But what I have I will give - encouraging.

2. Givers find a way to give. There are 2 kinds of people: lifters/leaners.

V. PEOPLE WHO REALIZE god is THEIR reSOURCE. vs 6

A. Peter and John realized a number of things about God:

1. God's power - his ability to give.

2. God's provision - his willingness to give.

3. God's partnership - He gives to us to give through us.

4. God never deals direct, he deals through people: Noah, Moses

B. The participation of receptors.

1. In this Partnership God supplies man shares. God is the creator, man is the channel. God pours it in, man passes it on. We receive then give.

2. We are in trouble when we feel –

· INDEPENDENT: we think we are the source and supply.

· INADEQUATE: we think there is no source and supply.

VI. PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO TRY AND TRUST GOD. vs 7-10

He says, "trust me." God wants to make up the difference.

VII. PEOPLE unwILLING TO RECEIVE GLORY FOR themselves. vs 11-12

The key thing as we serve in the spirit of Christ is that we point people to God.

Conclusion: God gave through Peter and John because they were willing to give what they had. How about you?

Fill our your Trust Account Transfer.

God has entrusted you with something.

Put down the name of someone God wants you to give something to - not money. Maybe it’s your time, a phone call, a card, a hug, a listening ear. Baby sit for a young couple, bake some chocolate chip cookies, rake some leaves, shovel snow.

Partner up with God and discover how He will multiply the blessings.

The following exercises are designed to assist you in applying today's sermon to your life. You may wish to do them individually, with your family or in a group setting.

OPEN: Share your "story with some others.

When was the last time you jumped for joy?

DIG: Look into the Bible's "story" to discover insights that will help your understanding. Take turns answering the following.

1. If you were in the cripple's shoes, what would you write as a diary entry for a typical day? How would he be different after this encounter with Peter and John? What do you think he would write in his diary after the events here?

2. What does verse 1 tell us about the spiritual character of Peter and John? What thoughts about your life does their example raise?

3. What possible excuses might Peter and John have offered to evade any responsibility? Would they have been justified in doing so?

4. What evidence is there that Peter and John were aware of the presence and power of God?

5. What character qualities do Peter and John reveal by their actions that we would be well to emulate?

REFLECT: Here you apply the "story" of the scripture to your own life; to take personal inventory and share with others what you will do about what you have learned.

1. You're the editor of the "Jerusalem Post". Compose a newspaper headline for the events of our text. Be creative!

2. Put yourself in place of each of the following. How do you think you would have felt and responded based on your past responses to similar situations. a) The crippled beggar

b) Purposeful Peter c) John, Apostle of love d) The watching crowd: 1) when the man approached the apostles 2) during the exchange with the apostles 3) after the miracle.

3. The miracle of healing the crippled beggar was a costly one in many respects. Survey the rest of Acts 3. Summarize what happened that was costly.

4. The main lesson from this text that was emphasized in the sermon is that stewardship isn't restricted to money and material things. In what ways other than monetarily can you "give" as God's steward?

5. Have you experienced someone, whom you did not know, coming up to you to ask you for money or other help? How did you respond and why did you respond in the way you did?

6. Do you generally think in terms of you living your life in partnership with the Lord? If so, how does it affect you? If not, how do you think it would change things?

 

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Use your "Trust Account Transfer" this week to express your loving care for someone dear to you.

Additional Insight: A Lifestyle of Stewardship

Stewardship is my management of what God has provided me for His glory. I will manage what He has given me when I realize it all belongs to Him, including my life, my abilities and talents, my time and material resources.

Whoopie Goldberg said she wanted her life to have purpose. That is a common human longing. We want to count for something. All the fame, wealth and attention of the world won't satisfy the desire for significance. Solomon said, "God has set eternity in the heart." Only a life rooted in Christ has eternal purpose. A life that finds the secret to making the most of what one has been given is one filled with joy, purpose and significance.

Why do some people succeed and others don't? Alan Loy McGinnis answered that question identifying 6 traits of "average people" who excel.

1. Excelling servants learn self-discipline. They develop their talents with patience. They study and prepare.

2. Excelling servants bring out the best in people. (I Corinthians 12:7) If we seek to build up anyone, it should be our brethren, not ourselves.

3. Excelling servants build a knowledge base. There is no talent that cannot be improved with study and practice. All service can become more helpful with increased knowledge.

4. Excelling servants develop special skills. Different kinds of skills can enhance each other. I'm glad I learned to type in High School. But you wouldn't be too excited to come and watch me.

5. Excelling servants keep promises. The biblical word is faithfulness. We are to keep our commitment to the Lord and His people.

6. Excelling servants bounce back from defeat.

We need to settle the issue, who owns what I possess? When Jesus becomes Lord of my life...I become a successful steward!

Some keys to becoming a sensible steward are discovered in Luke 12:13-40. Read that passage then reflect on the following truths to help you be a sensible steward in partnership with the Lord.

1. Weigh your responsibilities in light of your blessings, vs 13-21

2. Wait on God to meet your needs because you have put Him 1st. vs 22-34 Note: If you give yourself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.

3. Watch for the Lord's return because your values are based on eternity. vs 35-40

4. Work until the Lord returns because you are faithful to His commission.

God has given each one of us abilities, talents and opportunities, and He means for us to use them in serving the world whether that be as teachers, preachers, factory workers, business men, home makers, students, etc. The main thing is that we use to the utmost what He has given to us as His partners to bring Him glory.

Remember:

Only one life, it'll soon be past;

Only what's done for Christ will last.