Open the Doors to the Church.

Outline for a sermon preached on June 18, 2017, entitled “Open the Doors to the Church.”

INTRODUCTION

1. A stroll through Acts 12.
2. Serving God is not always easy (Acts 12:1-4).
3. Prayer should be the first response of the church (Acts 12:5).
4. You can trust your God! (Acts 12:7).
5. God takes care of His children! (Acts 12:8).<
6. God can deliver people! (Acts 12:7 & 10).
7. It is easier for God to get people out of chains than into the church (Acts 12:12-14).
8. The Pattern: Acts 9:13-15, 10:13-14, 15:1; Romans 14:1 & 15:7.

OUTLINE

1. Preoccupation (Acts 12:12).
   1. We get so busy doing church work that we forget the work of the church.
   2. Pray for an opportunity to be the church.
2. Expectation (Acts 12:14).
   1. The church was not expecting Peter to show up at church.
   2. The saints expect wrong things of the sinners.
   3. The sinners expect wrong things of the saints.
3. Isolation (Acts 12:13 & 16).
   1. We distance ourselves till we can no longer touch them.
   2. In five years most Christians are thoroughly “Christianized.”
   3. We must build a front porch on the church.
4. Stagnation.
   1. God did something new here.
   2. The church becomes outdated and therefore irrelevant.
   3. Antiques made while you worship.

CONCLUSION

1. PRAYER.