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Guest (Male): It used to be a compliment to say someone is a God-fearing man or a God-fearing woman. We don't hear those terms today. And yet the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God means that we are in awe of His presence, His holiness, His righteousness.

Guest (Female): On today's PowerPoint, Dr. Graham brings a message about who we are and what we're called to do as the body of Christ. Now, here's Dr. Graham with his message, Connect.

Jack Graham: Take your Bibles and turn to Acts the second chapter, the second chapter of the Book of Acts in your New Testament. For the past seven or eight years, I, along with members of our Graham family, have chosen one word that becomes our word for the year. It is just a word that represents the focus of life in that year. The overall overarching theme, focus, intent, and motivation of my life for one year. One word, one year.

I've had various words like stronger, kindness, and abide was one year. I would encourage you to do the same. One word can be so simple, and it can just be that one thing. I write it down, I put it in my journal, and I put it in places that I can see it just to remind me of that focus for the year. So all my goals, all my resolutions, the things I want to do, the things I want to change, and so on, come under the heading of that one word. Again, it is a great process in your life.

My word is Connect. I put it in the form of a verb because it is my intent to connect with God. I want my faith to grow deeper and stronger. I want my relationship with God, like the Apostle Paul, who was a strong believer and yet he kept pushing. He said, "I press on to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ." I want to know Him more and more. He said that is my desire. I want to know the Lord more and more in my life, to connect with Him at a higher and deeper level.

I want to connect with my family and friends. God has given me a wonderful family and friends, and we don't take these for granted. So related to my connections in life, I want to make sure that I'm taking care of those relationships. Relationships, this is life, and the rest is details, it's said. It's true. So family and friends, I want to make sure that I'm taking care of my relationships in life. Connect as never before, making sure that we as a company of family and friends are moving forward.

And then not only to connect with family and friends but connect with others outside of my current friendships or relationships. I want to grow these, and in particular, I want to grow my witness with those who do not know Christ. I want to invite people into my life who don't know the Lord. Over this past year, I can look back and I see how God added into my life so many wonderful new people and friends that encourage me, and I trust I encourage them. But I want to see that in a more intentional level in my life. So connecting with others, and I have a plan as to how I'm going to do that. I'm not going to just think about it. God's given me some ways that I can do that specifically.

And then I want finally to connect the connected. One of the things that I can do at a place of leadership is to make sure that other people are getting connected with other people. As a pastor, as a shepherd, this is one of my ambitions, if you will, is to use the connections that God has given me to connect others with the gospel and with the kingdom of God and with God's church. So that's my word: Connect.

We see this regarding the church in Acts chapter two. We're going to look at this scripture because it is a classic example of who we are and what we're to do as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. A bit of background here: Chapter two of Acts contains the day of Pentecost, the experience when the promise of Jesus was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit came in, the people went out, and the entire world was turned upside down ultimately.

On the day of Pentecost, when the apostles were infused and filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to witness of Christ and the resurrection and preach that message of salvation that Peter delivered. Once a coward, now courageous, boldly filled with the Spirit, he's standing before all, even the enemies of Christ and the gospel, and he's proclaiming Christ. As a result, revival came, the first revival. It was the birth of the church. The birthday of the church is Acts chapter two, and 3,000 people on that very first day were born again into the family of God. And they all stood up and they said, "I got saved." I hope you can say that.

So what happened is described in verse 41. What happened then, what happened next, and what should happen now. The New Testament church was a great church and was described as great on numerous occasions. It's actually the word mega, great. The church was great and throughout the centuries has been great, but we need to be praying, "God, make your church great again" because we have a great responsibility in front of us. How does that happen? Well, we don't go forward until we go back.

Verse 41 says, "So those who received the word were baptized, and there was added that day, connected that day, about 3,000 souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship," that's connection, "breaking of bread," connect, "and prayers," connect. "And awe came upon every soul," that's connection, "and many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles, or through the apostles. And all who believed were together," connected, "and had all things in common," connect. "And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing them the proceeds to all," that's connect, "to all and all who had need. And day by day, attending the temple," connecting together, "and breaking bread in the homes, they received their food with glad and gracious hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added, the Lord connected to their number day by day, day after day, those who were being saved. Those who were saying, 'I got saved.'"

There was such an explosion of evangelism in the city of Jerusalem in those early days of the church that ultimately upwards to 100,000 people came to personal faith in Jesus Christ, maybe more. And not only salvation but then steadfast discipleship that moved them forward in the faith. What you have here is the embryonic version of the church, the beginning of the church. If we're going to go forward, as I said, we need to go back. With all the ideas that people concoct or conceive about how we're going to grow, how we're going to reach people, just go back to the first century in order to see how we reach 21st-century people for Christ.

In this connection, three things. One, we are connected in membership, through membership. I'm going to just get to that this morning. I had three points, but I only have one. But just say also that they continued and we continue in maturity, growing in our faith. And then we connect through mission, on mission for the gospel of Christ. But let's just look at that first one: Connect through membership, a committed membership. That's what was happening here.

The church was made up of people, and they counted each one because each one counted. 3,000 people came to profess faith in their Christ. Somehow they were added up, they were added in, and this became the beginning, the membership of the church. We count numbers because people count, and we have a membership because we believe it's vitally important, and it's New Testament Christianity to make sure people are enfolded and embraced and included in the church, that people are in and all in. But before we're all in, before we're connected, several things need to happen. Here's the evidence. One, these early believers were converted. Notice again back up in verse 41. So those who received the word were baptized, and there was added that day 3,000 souls.

They did four things. They received the word, which means they believed on Jesus. What word? The word of God, the testimony of Jesus. At the core, at the center of this church is the proclamation of the word of God, the gospel of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. While through the years of the church, even here, we see strategies change, programs change, and methodologies change, and yet one thing remains the same and must remain the same as long as this church exists, and that is our message and our mission never, ever, ever changes. It is the mission of Jesus Christ, and it is the message of the gospel. That's how people come to faith in Jesus Christ when they hear the gospel. They gladly receive the word. They were convicted of their sins and they were converted to Jesus Christ. They openly confessed Christ in baptism, and they were added to the church.

So these four things: receive the word, repent of your sins when they were convicted, stabbed to the heart of their sin and need of salvation. They said, "What must we do?" And Peter said, "Repent and be baptized because of the remission of sin." So receive His spirit, repent of your sin, receive the word, and respond with baptism with a public declaration and demonstration of your faith in Christ.

Guest (Female): July 4, 2026, will be a day of great celebration for the 250th birthday of our great country. However, there has never been a more important time in our 250 years as a nation where we need God to move in power and heal our land. That's why I'm inviting you to join Dr. Graham in a prayer challenge for our nation. To join, simply text CRY to 59789. Again, text CRY to 59789.

Remember that your support of PowerPoint Ministries helps bring the truth of Jesus Christ to people around the world. Every day, we hear from listeners who are searching for answers, longing for peace, and discovering hope through God's word, often for the very first time. Your generosity keeps that message going out. As our thanks for your gift today, we'd love to send you Dr. Jack Graham's book, The Jesus Book, a powerful guide to help you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ. Text MAY to 59789 to give your gift and request your copy. Again, text MAY to 59789. Now, let's get back to today's message, Connect.

Jack Graham: Secondly, a committed people. So they continued, verse 42 says, steadfastly in the apostles' teaching or doctrine, the teaching of the Bible. Fellowship, breaking of bread, which was most likely the Lord's Supper, but it could have meant communal meals where they shared meals together. So much of the fellowship of God's people, even Jesus and His disciples together, was around a table. And in prayers. You see, conversion is just the beginning. When you are saved, then that process of growing in your faith, the doctrinal term is sanctification. You're becoming more and more like Christ. That happens as we are discipled. Again, small groups and one-on-one Bible study, the teaching of God's word from the pulpit, from the pastors and the leaders.

One problem that we're facing as churches across America, in particular, is that even regular, committed church attenders are attending church services less often and with less involvement and time. Carey Nieuwhof wrote an article he called "Ten Reasons Even Committed Church Attenders Are Attending Church Less Often." I'm going to mention very quickly eight of the ten that he mentioned because I believe they apply to us. Here are the reasons why I'm not talking about people who rarely come, but regular members and attenders are attending less.

Numbers say something like two, maybe three times a month max. It used to be back in the day 20 years ago, some of us can remember when you came to church three times a week minimum: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night. Now if we get people to church services three times a month, we think we're doing well. Why is that? Well, here are some reasons. Number one: Greater affluence. Just to put it crassly, we've got more money, we've got more options. The greater affluence that we have, I've seen it through the years. In tough times, it seems that people show up at church more faithfully. When times are rolling, then people find other things to do. They're here and there.

Greater affluence, and that may lead to the others that I'm going to mention. Secondly: Higher focus on kids' activities. Because we have more money and more options, one of those options is children's sports and children's activities. The third reason: We've got more time to travel and more money to travel. And so we got lake houses and we got beachfronts, and we take vacations more often. When I grew up, I know I sound like a dinosaur now, but when I grew up, I mean if we left the county line, we were having a big day, all right? And we rarely took vacations. Maybe your family did, we didn't. We couldn't afford to do it. But now we take all kinds of vacations, and we've got spring break.

And then when did fall break happen? Now we have fall break and we have Thanksgiving break and Christmas break and New Year's break and spring break and summer break, and we're on break and we're on vacation and we're in and out and out and in. More travel, it's a way of life. Four: Blended and single-parent families. This is a cultural shift because not every child is with the same parent every weekend. And so children can be with a parent who goes to church on one weekend and a parent that does not go to church or in a blended family, and again, it creates some dysfunction in that family spiritually when they're not together as a family in church. It makes it more difficult.

You have single parents, single mom, single dad. We salute you as a single mom and a single dad. You have such a difficult assignment to be both parents to a child. Many of you are working overtime, single mom, you're doing two jobs, you can't even get to church because you're trying to take care of your family. That's a fact. Blended families and broken families have created distinct disadvantages for churches in these days.

Online options is another one. We appreciate so much, I'm looking right into the camera right now, at our online group and you're watching, and I pray you're worshipping and you're in the word with us. But it's not the same as being here. Some of you can't get here, of course, you live in other places. It's good when we're away from home, you can tune in at any time, Prestonwood Live. We have several thousand people each week who are with us online, and that's a brand-new thing that's really increasing in the last two or three years in particular, and we're embracing that as a church and we're going to go after that. But having said that, the online option is not the same as being here.

We live in the most connected generation in terms of technology than ever before. And yet we're being told the studies are coming in, people are more isolated, more alienated than ever before. We need one another. That's the church. But online options are affecting churches today. I mean, think about it. You maybe have had a late Saturday night, you come in, it's a cold wintry morning on Sunday morning, and your alarm rings and you're getting ready to, thinking about going to church and you say, "It sure would be nice just to get a cup of coffee and watch Jack preach online."

Here's one: The cultural disappearance of guilt. Now, this is not a recommended reason for coming to church, guilt. But the fact is people don't feel guilty about missing church these days. You know, some of us, if we grew up and we didn't make church for a week or two in a row, I felt guilty about that. Again, not a great motivation. It should not be our guilt but the goodness of God that brings us together. But the fact is it's just different. People, you know, they don't think about being guilty. They miss church, I don't care, doesn't matter. Never feel guilty about it, never feel, maybe the biblical word is convicted about it. Just not convicted about my need for God's church and God's people.

And then self-directed spirituality. I don't think that's on the screen, but I would say that there are a lot of people that just consume religious information online and otherwise. They don't think they need the church to get it. But number eight is a failure to see a direct benefit. We live in a selfish selfie generation. The question is, you know, why would I do that? Why would I spend two or three hours in a church service or in a Bible study? What's the point? What's the need? Many people today in an increasingly unchurched, de-churched culture just no longer see the need for church. But remember, I'm not talking about the unchurched or the de-churched. I'm talking about so many regular attenders who just say, "Well, you know, it's not that important whether I'm there or not. I'm not getting that much out of it." So out.

The early Christians and Christians who are committed to the cause of Christ upon their lives, they're not looking for a fast-food service church. They're looking for a church where together we can grow and go with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Committed. Very quickly, this membership was convicted. Verse 43 says, "Then fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." When you see the hand of God moving, you're motivated to be present. You know God could do something that you've never seen before. And in the fear of the Lord, that means we are awestruck in the majesty of His presence.

It used to be a compliment to say someone is a God-fearing man or a God-fearing woman. We don't hear those terms today. And yet the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God means that we are in awe of His presence, His holiness, His righteousness, His greatness. They were in awe of the Almighty. And in the fear of God, they were convicted together. They were convicted, they were committed, they were converted, and yes, they were connected.

Connected. Verse 44, they believed and they were together, and they had all things in common. He spoke of the breaking of bread and fellowship. That's the word, the New Testament word in the language of the New Testament, it's uniquely Christian word: Koinonia. Do you hear the word coin or coins in there? Koinonia. Paul actually used this word to describe the stewardship of the people in Corinth in the distribution and the partnership they had in the ministry of the church. Fellowship in giving, but beyond our giving, it is our growing together, our giving together, our sharing together, and yes, our loving together. What did Jesus say? You shall know they're Christians by their love. By this shall all people know that you are mine, that you love one another.

There is a love here that is inexplicable, unexplainable. We're together not because we joined this church like we join a club or an organization. This is not an organization to join, it is a family to share. We believe together, belong together. We're bonded together, we're blessed together. We are family. This is our church home, it's our fellowship, it's our family. And fellowship is in serving. You say, "Well, I don't have much fellowship." Start serving with a group of people that are also serving with you. Go on a mission partnership with a group. Go across town on an endeavor to reach lost people in another community. Get together with Christians and work together in some way. So fellowship is not just, you know, having a party after church. You can have fellowship in that. We like to party and there's plenty of places around here for hospitality, that's why we created them. But real fellowship, real koinonia, is that sharing of life and love and labor together. This is what they did.

And don't wait to be befriended, but to be a friend and to reach out to people around you. Engage in the fellowship of God's people. You'll be much more likely to be a faithful member and attender and participant if you're engaged at that level. The benefit is the blessing of God upon your life.

Guest (Female): We want to thank you for being a part of the mission of PowerPoint Ministries. Every day, through the support of friends like you, the message of Jesus Christ is reaching people across television, radio, and digital platforms around the world. So many people today are searching for answers, longing for peace, and looking for something to still hold on to. And your support helps point them in the one who offers all that and so much more: Jesus. As our thanks for your gift this month, we'd love to send you Dr. Jack Graham's book, The Jesus Book, a powerful guide to help you move beyond simply knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him through His word. Text MAY to 59789 to give your gift and get your copy. Again, text MAY to 59789.

July 4, 2026, will be a day of great celebration for the 250th birthday of our great country. However, there has never been a more important time in our 250 years as a nation where we need God to move in power and heal our land. That's why I'm inviting you to join Dr. Graham in a prayer challenge for our nation. To join, simply text CRY to 59789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?

Jack Graham: I pray that you love the church, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it. Make sure that because Jesus is the love of your life, that you also love His bride, the church. And not just you, but those around you. Invite people who need to know Jesus to your church. It's amazing what a simple invitation can do and will do. Every Sunday, I'm introduced to people who come on the arm of a friend or at the invitation of a neighbor. Many of these, their lives are totally changed by the power of the gospel, the power of Jesus Christ.

If you don't have a church home, we would invite you to Prestonwood. Just go to prestonwood.org, prestonwood.org, and all the information regarding our services is there. But if you have a church, make sure you show up and are not just showing up, but participating and worshipping and singing and sharing your faith through the ministry and mission of your local church. God bless you as you make the commitment to worship Christ, to serve Him through your local church, and begin attending this coming Sunday.

Guest (Female): And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint, we'll send you Dr. Graham's book, The Jesus Book. Just text MAY to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how you can apply God's wisdom to the choices you face. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.