Strengthening The Established Churches

Driving home: That the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is both central and indispensable in the accomplishment of the saving purposes of God. The church is not peripheral. The church is not optional. The church is not dispensable and …

Martin uses the imagery of a circle (representing the church) with arrows (representing activities) to visually organize the six participial phrases describing the church's purpose: Godward worship (upward), mutual edification and benevolence (inward), and evangelism, planting, and strengthening churches (outward).

activities are expressed in our Constitution. Six participial phrases, and rather than just lay them out, one, two, three, four, five, six, I have chosen to organize them using the imagery of a circle and its arrows. And I hope, maybe I'm just being overly optimistic, I would hope that by now the members of this church could, if I had the blackboard up here and I just called on any one of you who've been here for the previous eight sermons, I would hope you'd be able to come up and reproduce the image of God. I'm going to give you with my hands and my mouth. The circle represents the church. T...

3:49 - 4:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin examines Acts 2, showing the apostles' immediate commitment to teaching the 3,000 new converts, and Acts 6, where they addressed the distribution to widows, demonstrating…

Martin vividly describes Peter's experience on Pentecost, noting that his lips could still 'feel the vibrations of the words of oaths and maledictions' from denying Christ, highlighting the miraculous power of God working through an imperfect vessel.

Now put yourself in the place of the apostles. You have seen this amazing work of God in which in a few hours more is done to bring people into saving attachment to Christ than in all of Christ's three years of public ministry. What an amazing thing. And to think he did it through one whose lips could still, as it were, feel the vibrations of the words of oaths and maledictions in the court when he denied his Lord.

15:03 - 15:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Following the cessation of Saul's persecution, Acts 9:31 describes the church having peace and being edified. Martin highlights Peter's active role in 'going throughout all parts'…

Saul of Tarsus, initially described as a 'dragon' breathing out threatenings and slaughters, is transformed by God's grace into a 'lamb who bleats Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,' illustrating the dramatic nature of his conversion and its impact on the church.

Being edified, built up, and walking in the fear of God, of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. There's a generic statement. With the ending of this concentrated persecution, not all persecution, not all opposition, but this concentrated persecution that flowed out from this one described as like a dragon in mythical tales, breathing out, threatening and slaughters, the fire and smoke coming out of his nostrils. God changes that dragon into a lamb who bleats.

25:54 - 26:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Following the cessation of Saul's persecution, Acts 9:31 describes the church having peace and being edified. Martin highlights Peter's active role in 'going throughout all parts'…

Martin quotes Pastor Seton's phrase 'a little throwaway' to describe Acts 9:32, where Peter goes 'throughout all parts,' emphasizing that even seemingly minor details in Scripture are significant and Spirit-directed.

Look at verse 32. And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. Here's what our friend, Pastor Seton, calls a little throwaway.

27:09 - 27:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Acts 11 shows the Jerusalem church sending Barnabas to Antioch, who then brought Saul, and together they spent a year teaching and strengthening the church. This ministry resulted…

Martin distinguishes between a 'floodlight' and a 'spotlight' to explain how the Holy Spirit selectively highlights certain aspects of apostolic ministry in Acts, focusing intensely on church strengthening rather than exhaustive details.

there were sessions in the synagogue where possible. No doubt there were evangelistic forays into that region, if we can read into this what we know of Paul and his associates elsewhere. But in this selective account, the Holy Ghost has taken this floodlight, no, this concentrated spotlight. There's a difference between a floodlight and a spotlight.

32:01 - 32:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

When exhorting the disciples to persevere, Paul reminds them of his stoning at Lystra, where they had gathered around him, making the call to endure tribulation concrete and personal for his hearers.

You've come to faith. You know the joy of faith as it lays hold of Christ and the full salvation in Him. You've seen some of the liabilities of faith. You're the guys gathered around me when the stones were being rained down on my head and I was left for dead.

39:23 - 39:38 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin points out the repeated use of the Greek verb 'episterizo' (strengthen) in Acts 15, 18, and 16, arguing it became a technical term for apostolic church-strengthening labor…

Paul's refusal to take John Mark on his second missionary journey is explained with the analogy of wanting to know 'who's at my side in the trenches' and 'that they shoot the gun in the right way,' emphasizing the need for reliable companions in ministry.

Barnabas wanted to take John, his little nephew, and Paul said, no, he thinked out, he caved in, he quit, he turned tail under pressure, let him sit around a while more and prove himself before I'm going to go out and have him as my buddy. I want to know who's at my side in the trenches. I want to know that they shoot the gun in the right way.

44:19 - 44:37 Read in full sermon

Driving home: They are letters calculated to strengthen existing churches.

Martin criticizes modern church seminars that 'make merchandise of the Word of God' by offering expensive weekend events on topics like marriage enrichment, contrasting this with the true purpose of the epistles.

Come in your weekend seminar. Of course, if you register early, it only costs you $150. After the deadline, it'll cost you $179. Making merchandise of the Word of God.

53:45 - 53:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: What a terrible thing to discover it in the waning years of my life. And go to my grave repenting. That I spent my life for something other than that which God is committed to.

Martin quotes David's response to Michal's scolding for dancing before the ark ('you ain't seen nothing yet baby, I should be yet more vile'), using it to express his own increased enthusiasm for God's work in strengthening the church, despite potential criticism.

But in the language of David. When Michal got all hot and bothered. And upset because he was dancing before the ark. He said you ain't seen nothing yet baby.

60:10 - 60:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon concludes with four applications: instruction and indoctrination in the apostolic pattern, encouragement and commendation for Trinity Church's commitment to church…

Martin describes pastors attending conferences as 'beaten, and bruised, and discouraged, spiritually,' feeling like Elijah, who thought he was alone. This illustrates the need for fellowship and invigoration to return to their churches as better pastors.

Not physically. Losing their bearings. Beginning to feel like Elijah. That I ought to be.

66:37 - 66:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Be excited at the prospect of more church planting and strengthening endeavors, instinctively asking what it will mean to the heart of Christ for His sheep in other places.

The story of Uzzah steadying the ark and being struck dead is used as a warning against well-intentioned but unbiblical actions, emphasizing that 'sincerity of motive does not negate the culpability of action' when it comes to God's work.

often it seems so good. It seemed good to us to steady the ark. The ark is God's place of special dwelling. He dwells above the ark. Don't let it fall. He touches it and God kills him. Sincerity

69:05 - 69:18 Read in full sermon