Complete Sermon Notes
Hindrances to Spiritual Growth
INTRO: Preaching can hinder or help
Personal Application and References God’s Word 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Expound [teach] 29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you…”
Convict [growth is painful] 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Give the Answer [even when it hurts] 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
* The “gift” is His abiding presence at conversion – but not all believers receive the fullness of the Spirit.
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Charles Stanley – read pages 116 117 in Stanley’s book
NOT OVERWHELMINGLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Hindrances to Spiritual Growth:
A Vital Church Grows ACTS 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
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Be saved – “Come out from” the perversion.
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Be filled – “Come out from” the perversion. – Hinders Growth –
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
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Receive – to take what is being offered.
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Failure to OBEY – to be baptized can hinder spiritual growth.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
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The Model Service: Teaching, Fellowship [iron sharpens iron], Communion [remembering and thankfulness], and Prayers [no doubt worship].
Avoiding church hinders spiritual growth. Some say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” True, but you won’t grow spiritually either.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
If you don’t fear God it will hinder spiritual growth.
Proverbs 28:14, “How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”
Psalm 145:19, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
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They sold their excess – excess can prevent spiritual growth.
2 Cor. 8:13 paraphrase, “Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.”
1 Cor. 16:1-2 (NKJV) “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
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The temple was GOD’s house – they met in the outer court. But could not conduct a service.
The best church model is opening homes as well as a general meeting area.
Anton Bosch – in the chapter “pattern or principle” in Building Blocks of the Church ” In Ephesus, Paul had a bible school in a lecture room or hall which presumably would normally be used for teaching philosophy.
Disunity prevents growth – “So continuing daily with one accord” –
We have to work hard at it because the flesh is working hard against it.
1 Cor. 1:10 [NIV], “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
A Lame Man Healed
ACTS 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
There is no other name that Saves, Heals, or Sets Free
- Rise up and walk through your challenge
