Acts 15:22-35
(sermon outline for Sunday March 22)
Historically, biblically, and currently, God guides communities of believers.
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us….
Acts
- God normally provides divine guidance to communities of believers, rather than individuals.
The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its prime sustainer and most glorious inhabitant.
- God guides communities with multiple catalytic influences.
Individual guidance must yield to corporate guidance. There must also come a knowledge of the direct, active, immediate leading of the Spirit together. I do not mean “corporate guidance” in an organizational sense, but in an organic and functional sense. Richard Foster
- Teachings of the Bible
- Leadership of the Holy Spirit
- Spiritual discernment
- Visionary and prophetic leadership
- When individuals submit to God’s guidance for the community, good things happen.
- Individuals within community make better marriage and family decisions.
- Individuals make wiser business decisions.
- Spiritual harmony exists within a diverse community.
- Spiritual momentum accelerates and awakens the dormant.
- Spiritual gifts support the overall mission of the community.
- The effectiveness of the group is exponentially greater than the effectiveness of the individuals.
- The community looks more like the body of Christ.
Just as God guided ancient communities of faith, God will guide us in making decisions….wisely and together.
