What Does a Real Church Look Like? | Acts - The Church on Mission

Pastor Brent Patrick answers the question, "What Does a Real Church Look Like?"
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Sermon Notes:
Two questions to consider: 1) Do you want to be a part of a real church? ... 2) Is our church (Gateway) a real church?
And from Acts 2:41, we see the birth of the church! ... And not only the birth of the church, but we are shown what a real church looks like (vs. 42-47)!
A real church has evidenced devotion.
Acts 2 - 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)
Dr. John MacArthur - “Those elements are the unique expressions of the life of the church, and they are the means of grace by which the church becomes what God wants it to be.”
A real church has spiritual character.
Acts 2 - 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (ESV)
The life of the first church was so pure ... so holy ... so genuine ... and spiritually powerful that everyone, whether inside or outside the church, kept feeling a sense of awe.
As a result, the church had a powerful testimony among the unsaved Jews, not only because of the miracles done by the apostles but also because of the way the members of the fellowship reverenced the Lord and each other.
A real church has faithful service.
Acts 2 - 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. ... (ESV)
What an attractive group of people they were ... there was a realness to their transformed lives.
So, what’s the result of their evidenced devotion, their spiritual character, and their faithful service?
Acts 2 - 47 ... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)
So unified, joyful, and Spirit-filled were these believers that their very existence was a powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel!