WELCOME TO TODAYS WORSHIP

Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Gods People

Acts 4:32-33
32 Now

the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

 John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Matt 10:40 He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me. Wherever people have been evangelized and churches have been planted...it always results in CHANGED LIVES. God has promised that this will happen! When people receive the True and Living God it changes them and their surroundings forever!
One historian has written: No civilization has ever risen any higher than Its religion, and no religion has ever risen any higher than its concept of God.

All of us live pretty normal lives If he can convince us that and will continue to do so. we personally make no contribution for good... Fame or fortune may not hes got us demoralized! come to us... but we all get an opportunity to make our lives count. Once the Devil gets us convinced that our lives are insignificant, he wins!

 WHEN WE BECOME CONVINCED THAT WE COUNT FOR SOMETHING... LOOK OUT!

Because we are Children of God...we make a difference! Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

L00K AT THE IMPACT THEY MADE ON THEIR WORLD (ACTS 2:14-47)

Of those 3000 on Pentecost that began to immediately grow in numberFew of them had any money, or fame or position...They were just ordinary people!

AND LOOK AT WHAT THAT EARLY CHURCH HAD GOING AGAINST IT...
A hostile culture (Judaism), A hostile government (Rome), And all the other forces Satan could wield. WATCH HOW THEY GREW UNDER PERSECUTION!

BUT LOOK AGAIN

IF WE FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE...JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN DO!! Within a relatively short period of time, the number of men had grown to about 5,000 (Acts 4:4)....

Additions turned in to multiplications---Acts 5:14 Acts 6:7 Acts 9:31 Acts 11:21 & 24 Acts 12:24 Acts 13:49 Acts 16:5 Acts 19:20

Would you agree? They really made a difference

Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

CONCLUSION: 1) The happiest people I know are people who walk the thin line of having things--because you have to have things--without being attached to them. 2) Being a Christian is being a giver...NOT A TAKER! 3) We cannot become better at giving if were so ATTACHED to our money and our THINGS that we cant let go of them. 4) Its no coincidence that the word MISERY begins with MISER 5) Misers hang on to things forever, and they end up miserable 6) Every successful businessman understands that his greatest asset is NOT his product or his equipmentits PEOPLE!!!

7) Companies that invest in building people become successful. 8) So do churches. We are in the People Business with Jesus!! 9) Businesses succeed on a large scale when they grasp the concept that people are more valuable than THINGS! 10) So do churches!