Hands Up, Face Down
Acts 2:47;Revelation 4-5:14
Skip Heitzig
Acts 2 (NKJV™) | |
47 | praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. |
Revelation 4 (NKJV™) | |
1 | After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." |
2 | Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. |
3 | And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. |
4 | Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. |
5 | And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. |
6 | Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. |
7 | The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. |
8 | The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" |
9 | Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, |
10 | the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: |
11 | "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." |
Revelation 5 (NKJV™) | |
1 | And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. |
2 | Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" |
3 | And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. |
4 | So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. |
5 | But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." |
6 | And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. |
7 | Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. |
8 | Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. |
9 | And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, |
10 | And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." |
11 | Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, |
12 | saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" |
13 | And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" |
14 | Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. |
New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
When you go to a doctor's office you are typically asked, "So, what brings you here?" The answers may range from having a sore throat to something far more serious. The same is true of coming to church. Not everyone comes for the right reason: to worship. The first earthly church was committed to it and the church in heaven will continue it. Let's get some Scriptural pointers.
The Church. Who really needs to be a part of it? Why should we belong to something so archaic and so narrow? The culture around us seems to ask this question relentlessly, but what is the answer? Pastor Skip Heitzig presents a series of reasons why the church, as Christ established it, is so vitally important to the Christian walk. From God's original intent for His church, to the ways in which He uses us today, and the reasons why people attend and leave the church, this series emphasizes the importance of the Church and the need to revere it as divinely established.
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Date | Title | Watch | Listen | Notes | Share | Save | Buy | |
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3/22/2009 completed
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The Church? Who Needs It Acts 1:12-15;2:1-13 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary I'm a churchman. I freely confess that. Yet I'm also painfully aware that the culture around me incessantly asks the above question when it comes to the church: Who needs it? Why should I belong to something so archaic and so narrow? In the next several weeks, I'd like to take a fresh look at us--the church of Christ--and answer this question. Today, as we begin our series, let's jump right in and deal with this question head on: Who needs the church and why? |
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3/29/2009 completed
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Hey, Look Who's Starting a Church! Matthew 16:13-18 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Church was God's idea. It's His plan. Jesus Christ is the founder, architect, builder, owner, and director of the church. Today we look at the first mention of the church in the Bible and consider our spiritual origins. As we listen into a conversation between Jesus and His followers, let's also rediscover our spiritual roots as the people of God. You'll discover that in New Testament terms, both Christian and church are synonymous--one implies the other. |
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4/26/2009 completed
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The Church Jesus Would Attend - Part 1 John 17 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The church is not a place; but it is a people. The church is not where you worship; but it is you who worship. Jesus laid claim on the church; it belongs to Him ("I will build My church"). So what does He want His church to be like? What things should characterize us overall as a church? In short--what kind of church would Jesus attend? In His longest recorded prayer, the Lord longs for four characteristics that are to mark God’s people. Today we look at the first two. |
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5/3/2009 completed
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The Church Jesus Would Attend - Part 2 John 17 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Church-shopping and church-hopping have long been one of American Christians' notable patterns. Most want a church that suits them, helps them, and pleases them. But since Jesus paid for it, it's His church (Acts 20:28). So what does He want from us as a group? What should the collective people of God be like? What ingredients and activities ought to be part of our makeup as a congregation? In short--what kind of church would Jesus attend? |
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5/10/2009 completed
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The Art of Going to Church Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary If you're reading this, chances are you've come to church! But why are you here? What is your intention? Don't get me wrong, we're glad you're here today in this place of worship. But for a moment, think about your motivation and your experience--why you've come and what you'll do while you're here and even afterwards. There really is a right way and a wrong way to come to church. Let's consider the words of Solomon--the ancient Preacher. |
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5/17/2009 completed
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On Your Mark, Get Set…GROW! - Part 1 Acts 2:42 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary What did the very first church look like? If we can answer that question, we can determine two things: First, we will be able to see the model we are expected to follow as a church. Second, we will be able to see why we need the church, since these things speak to core needs that we all have. The first church in Jerusalem was a learning church, a caring church, a worshipping church and a generous church. Let’s consider the first mark today, and the place that apostolic teaching and preaching had on the very first assembly. |
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5/24/2009 completed
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On Your Mark, Get Set…GROW! - Part 2 Acts 2:42 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary "Fellowship"! How many times have you heard that word since you've been a Christian? But do we use it in the right sense and do we practice it in the right way? Let's take a topical tour of this word in the context in which it appears here in Acts. We discover that not only was the first church a learning church; it was a caring church. This is one of the strongest factors for your own personal spiritual growth, so let's see how it's to be done. |
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5/31/2009 completed
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On Your Mark, Get Set…GROW! - Part 3 Acts 2:42 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The third characteristic of Breaking Bread seems like it doesn’t fit in a list of the four most important priorities of a church. Of all the possibilities for essential core values, why is eating so central a practice? What does breaking bread really mean and is it still to be a primary focus for modern Christians? Today we will both study this and then practice it together. |
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6/7/2009 completed
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On Your Mark, Get Set…GROW! - Part 4 Acts 2:42 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The first church in Jerusalem had lots of things missing from it—charters, committees, strategies, financial resources and buildings—things that many today would deem as vital. But it had great power! Why? We can only surmise that it is because they tapped into the source of power through prayer. Prayer was part of the very fabric of the church. It was basic and foundational… and it was effective. What would happen to our church if we were all devoted to this discipline? |
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6/14/2009 completed
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When Christians Are Generous Acts 2:44-45 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary To find out what God intended His people to be like, we have to go back to the Spirit-led church in the book of Acts. As we take a fresh look at their style, structure, and service, we get the full picture. This group wasn't a bunch of independent isolationists who met once a week. They were generous toward one another and sought to meet the social and economic needs of people in their spiritual family. Because they were so open-hearted, they were also open-handed. |
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6/21/2009 completed
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Soul Winning Acts 2:47 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Jesus said that He would build His church. But how does He build it? What means does He use to call people out of the world and into His church? The answer is simple: Evangelism. As the early church (and any church) shined it's light by proclamation and by practice, people left the darkness. In fact in the first stages of the church, unlike today, "joining the church" and "being saved" were equivalent statements. Let's see how the first church did evangelism. |
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6/28/2009 completed
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How to Build a Beautiful Body 1 Corinthians 12:3-22 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Advertisers know that a trim and beautiful physique helps sell products. Think of what that means in a spiritual sense. Can a spiritually fit and beautifully functioning local church attract people to Christ? Jesus said that He would build His church. So do we have any part in that? Since Paul compared the church to a physical body, is there anything that individual members can do to help beautify it? Let's look at four principles that will help us do exactly that. |
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7/5/2009 completed
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Avoiding Church Splits Philippians 2:1-4 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary The early church grew by addition and multiplication. It seems the modern church prefers to grow by division: one group splintering off on its own only to replicate that cycle again and again. The Christian community at Philippi was a vibrant, growing church but it was experiencing a period of disharmony. A split between two personalities was threatening the integrity of the church’s testimony. Here we learn how such a split can be avoided. |
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7/26/2009 completed
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The Deacon-Possessed Church Acts 6:1-15;Acts 20:1-36 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Yes, this message's title is a play on the words demon-possessed. Deacons were among the church's earliest leaders and so were elders. Leadership is needed in every sphere of life from governing a nation, managing a business, growing a marriage, and superintending a church. Jesus called the church His church, so no single person or denomination can lay claim to it. But how is the church to operate as an organization? And how is it that some deacons and elders stop being helpful and humble and become downright hurtful? |
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8/2/2009 completed
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You're On a Mission-From God! Acts 1:8 Skip Heitzig |
Info Message Summary Please don't turn off to this message! It's going to be about missions. Lots of Christians immediately respond to world missions by saying, "That's not for me!" I think God would disagree. Getting the gospel of Jesus Christ out to the whole world is our "Family Business." In this final message on the church, lets consider why that is and how that works. |
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