Acts 2:40-47. Man’s greatest earthly threat is death because the greatest eternal threat is God and His judgment against sin. Therefore man’s greatest ultimate need is the gospel which in turn means that man’s greatest earthly need is a healthy a church. So let’s consider one final implication. The greatest earthly need of the church is unity. 

The Songs of Ascent conclude with a final exclamation of praise to God. Psalm 134 offers a succinct call to lift our voices in praise and adoration because of the greatness and goodness of God. How should we respond to this first Sunday back together? Consider two simple instructions.

1. We offer blessing to a God of greatness
2. We receive blessing from a God of goodness

The world needs a church that opens back up ready with a plan to be a faithful church. How should the church operate in a COVID-19 world? We can honor God as His people and be a benefit to the world when we are... 

Faithful churches are driven by the Great Commission – We can simplify this principle even further to say that faithful churches are composed of disciples who make disciples. This is the mission, the task assigned to Christ’s church. Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:4-8 assert this central mission for the church. But how do we fulfill this mission? 

An effective mission has at least seven components to it, all of which are found in this very text. It simplifies the expectations we should have when it comes to church. We should be willing to strip away those things that do not serve this mission and the features of this mission. So we are a faithful, God honoring, world blessing church when we identify and fulfill seven features of the mission 

We can experience true intimacy with God and growth in Christlikeness when we develop a better habit of reading, studying, and applying the Bible. How can we build a better Bible habit? We build a better habit when we love the Word, trust the Word, and use the Word.

Today we turn our attention to the second principle...Faithful churches are driven by the Great Commission – We can simplify this principle even further to say that faithful churches are composed of disciples who make disciples. This is the mission, the task assigned to Christ’s church. Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:4-8 assert this central mission for the church. But how do we fulfill this mission? 

1 Timothy 3:16-17; other selected Scriptures. We can experience true intimacy with God and growth in Christlikeness when we develop a better habit of reading, studying, and applying the Bible. How can we build a better Bible habit?