JERUSALEM, THE CAN DO CHURCH PART 10 of 10

TEXT- ACTS 2:42-47

INTRODUCTION

THIS MORNING IS THE LAST THEME DAY THAT OUR CHURCH WILL HAVE DURING 1993.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN EMPHASIZING THE THEME, "THE CAN DO CHURCH."

FOR ME THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCITING THEME AND ONE THAT HAS BEEN VERY PRACTICAL FOR ALL OF US.

WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF OUR PERSONAL OR CHURCH GOALS, WE HAVE AT LEAST TRIED AND ARE NOW DOING SOMETHING TO REACH OUR COMMUNITY.

THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN PREACHING ABOUT VARIOUS PEOPLE MENTIONED WITHIN THE BIBLE WHO I BELIEVE EXEMPLIFY A "CAN DO" ATTITUDE.

ONE RAINY EVENING A MAN WAS WALKING HOME AND DECIDED TO TAKE A SHORTCUT THROUGH THE LOCAL CEMETERY.  IN THE DARK HE STUMBLED OVER A MOUND OF DIRT AND FELL HEADLONG INTO A FRESHLY DUG GRAVE.  IT WAS A DEEP HOLE AND THE RAIN HAD MADE THE SIDES SLICK WITH MUD SO HE COULDN'T GET OUT.  AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB OUT AND YELLING HIMSELF HOARSE, HE FINALLY GAVE UP AND DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL DAYLIGHT.

SEVERAL HOURS WENT BY AND ANOTHER MAN CAME WALKING DOWN THE SAME PATH AND HE TOO FELL INTO THE SAME GRAVE.  AS HE STRUGGLED FRANTICALLY TO GET OUT, HE WOKE UP THE FIRST MAN AND WITH A MUD-COVERED FACE AND HORSE VOICE, HE SAID TO THE MAN WHO HAD JUST FALLEN IN, "IT'S NO USE. YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE."  BUT HE DID!!!

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN ACTS 2:42-47 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE CAN DO CHURCH."

AS WE EXAMINE THIS PASSAGE, WE FIND AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A "CAN DO" CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE.

HERE IN OUR TEXT FOR TODAY WE FIND THAT THERE WERE FOUR THINGS THAT CHARACTERIZE A "CAN DO" CHURCH.