Greater Community
by Raymond Sloan
October 14, 2026 · Cornerstone Apostolic Church (Chattanooga, TN)
Kind: teaching
Scripture: Acts 4:23-32, Acts 4:32

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/raymond-sloan--greater-community-2
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Welcome to our midweek university. Um, last month, I know last week, Brother Sam talked, if you did not get Where did those papers go that were there? If you didn't get one of his examples, feel free to take one. He made some copies. Uh, Brother Sam started off the midweek university for the month. And basically, bottom line was was, "Are you trustworthy? Are you are you trustworthy?" Boy, that's a large word because all the needs and wants and and u things that people that humanity deal with many times. Um well, I don't want to I don't want to get in trouble here, but a lot of times we're just simply selfish. Is that fair? Is that a fair statement? Does anybody else think of everyone else before you think of you?

That's a hard question to say. I mean to answer, isn't it? The fact is is that um as we grow as a church body, we are indeed a community. We have common goals. We have common ideas. We are unified in our efforts, which is basically the definition of a community. As trusted individuals, let's say it that way, we then begin to build relationships one with another. As we do that, how many in here are comfortable around your church family? Is that is that a okay question? How many of you are more comfortable with your church family than with your natural family? There's probably several. How many How many don't even like your church family? Thank you, Seth. We were we we're glad we're glad that it's a mutual feeling, right?

Um, I I will say when I have the opportunity to come and gather with you guys, my I'm I'm excited about that. I'm thrilled to see how your week is and what's going on because I know that you make a difference in my life. Now, sometimes it's a bad difference, but uh it is a difference. One of the things that I want us to understand as I get into this session tonight, I I'll I'll watch the clocks in case somebody's worried about the time going. Um, when we gather together here on earth, 6314 East Brainard Road, I I want you to remember something, guys. This is not the end all. This is not what it's all about, but this is basically this is a uh an invested part of your inheritance.

It's it's a slight dip into the sea of love that God has for you. And the fact remains is that if we want to make heaven our home, I say this often, but it will not simply happen. It cannot accident. As our pastor used to say growing up, nobody will wake up in heaven and wonder where they are. Huh? Some of you might wonder that you made it. And I'm joking. Uh or that the one next to you, whoa, we have wait. Yeah. Uh, the fact is a few questions about Let's I'm g I'm gonna start big. CAC. All right. What? Help me out here. What are some strong points of our church family? Shout them out. Strong point. Lincoln, what are you doing? Get in here. Leadership. Okay. Strong point. Leadership. Thank you. Someone else. Love. Love. Absolutely.

Someone else. The spirit of the Lord is here. Spirit of the Lord. What else? Strong point. Come here. The drum. The drum cage. Yeah. Someone else. Family. For family. Very good. Someone else. What is a strong point? Acceptant. Acceptant. Very good. Someone else. Anyone? Friendly. Friendly. Okay. Anyone else? Plenty to do. Anyone else? Motivated. Mo. Okay. Anyone else? encouraging. Okay. All of these that you're saying apparently apparently the one that you said means something to you when it may be encouraging, motivating, it's always something to do, whatever. And it's probably because you see the value of it. What would it be like if we are indeed a loving church? What would it be like to be in a church that doesn't love you?

Seth, tell us what it's like to be and I'm joking. Picking on the corner over there. All right, I'm going to ask then the harder question. What are some of our weaknesses? I think that's fair. Anyone? Communication. Communication. Yeah. What else? What's a weakness? I didn't say it was all wrong, busted, and broken. It's just a weakness. What's a weakness? I agree with that. Anyone else? I'd say plenty plenty to do in that sometimes it seems a little excessive. Okay. That's a weakness because it gets spread thin. Is that all right? Anyone else? That all? Come on, guys. Probably our biggest weakness is the drums. Again, I how many how many enjoy talking about your strengths? How many enjoy talking about your weaknesses?

You know what I'm saying? But we all recognize the fact that we have both. Church family is the same thing. As an individual in this family, in this community, as brother Seth reminded us, then what do you as an individual? What is your part? What do you do? What do you bring to the table when it comes to this community? What is your invested talent or your invested ability? Come on. I dare you to say it because we'll shoot it down. I'm joking. I'M JOKING. HARD WORK. NAH, YOU DON'T WORK HARD. I'M JOKING. What What do you bring to the table? Is that Is that a fair question? Prayer. Prayer. Very well. Anybody else? Do we need prayer? Absolutely. Okay. Someone else. What? Seth's going to say all this. Is that what you was going to say? Yeah.

Is Yes, sir. What What do you bring to the table? LA last month we we did we went specifically into you and your context, your constitution, um your connections, if you will, and how you as an individual have gifts and talents and callings that others may or may not have. You probably share some with others. So, all of us, suffice it to say, we bring something to the community. You got your Bible tonight? Let's try to use it some. Let's say Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. If it's on your phone, go ahead, dig it out, too. I'll trust you. You're not surfing the web. Acts chapter 4. While you're turning to verse 23, I'm going to set the context before verse 23. Acts two, there's an outpouring. Streets fill up. There's revival.

3,000 some odd folk are were literally turned over speak in tongues. there there there's a revival just snap crackle pop just boom right there you got all these thousands of folk out in the streets they're celebrating um Pentecost and after that when you get into chapter three what happens who's going where then Peter said unto them no come on chapter three they went where to the gate. They were going where? To the temple. To for the hour of prayer. Remember that? And a silver goat. Ain't got nari, but what I got? You have it. That's the redneck version, right? And the guy jumps up. So at that point, Acts three, you start reading a story of how that the religious folk of that day got upset. This dude should be busted still.

He's laid out there the whole we have walked over him thousands of times and now somebody has you ready for it earned it. They asked him questions. They went and got his parents. Anybody remember this story? And everybody said and this guy's poor guy saying, "Look, I I want all I know is this. I was laying out there. I was expecting to get some." Boom. This thing happened. I jump up. God's good. Here I am. That am I right? I mean, I paraphrase, but then they get upset and angry and they say, "What are we going to do with these guys?" But the end of chapter three, very interesting.

And end of chapter 4, what you'll find out is basically the religious folks said to them, "Listen, sh go away and don't say nothing about any of this to anybody." That's pretty stern. So, they did not listen. Verse 23. Ready for it? Somebody read quickly verse 23. When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. Think Hang on a second. Acts 4 verse 23. Say it again. You were right. You're right. When they were released, they went to their friends. Stop. Where did they go? No. Say it, Seth. No. They went to their company community. They left all of the stuff that was being said about them in their environment. Listen carefully. It says they went to their own company.

They went to their friends and all the chief priests and elders said to them and they they explained it. Somebody had go keep reading 24 somebody. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art God made heaven and earth and all 25 somebody. Anybody read? Come on. 25 26. The kings of the earth stopped up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against 27 someone very good. 28 to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel 29 30 All right. The front two rows read 31 somebody. When they had prayed that the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God. 32 front row.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any of them that of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. So this is somebody finish the word common community. These guys had gone to the temple to pray. The miracle had transpired. No way to question was it real or not. No way. And all the witnessing that had gone on. This is so cool to me that the only thing that the chief scribes and Pharisees and the elders and all the religious of the day, the only thing they could say is go home. And these guys, they they don't go to the house. They don't go whine. They don't go file a lawsuit. They don't go complain to somebody.

They go to their friends, their community, and said, "Guys, you will not believe what just transpired." I see I I'm using this story tonight to make a a point here if I the multitude verse 32 says of them that believed were of one heart of one soul. Listen to this. Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had all things common. What happened to this group of humans? It's written right. I just read it. What happened? Keep going. What happened? It says it right there. You're on the right track, sis. Keep going. You're You're painting the picture. They shared an experience. Keep going. Bandro, would you stop that? What? Yeah. Besides that one. Oh, now there's a word I'm looking for.

It's It's written right there. Keep going. Oh, you're close. What is it? Oh, he was there's a word in there. Somebody read verse 32. Huh? Yes. Brother Presley, read verse 32 for us. Go. Yeah. And the multitude of them that believe were part of stop. The multitude of those who believed what was going on at the temple at the hour of prayer, according to what was just read, they believed and were of one heart and one soul. Keep going. Neither said of any of them that of the things which he possessed was his own. Oh, look what happened. Whoa. They said this stuff I got not mine anymore. We fa to get it out.

I'm telling you, when we ever understand the value of community, apostolic authority in a community, we will then understand that this is not an arm wrestling match. This is not a rock paper scissors. This is not a nanny nanny boo. Look what I got and what you don't have. Cuz when they saw what happened, let me ask you guys a question. Has God ever done a miracle in our midst? Anybody? Has he? How did you feel when it happened? Wait, to someone else? Excited? Huh? What? What if you were still in your need? It's a challenge, huh? Come on.

Uh we'll get brother Rob will get up on missions Sunday and he'll read a report 246,712 received the Holy Ghost in XYZ place AND WE'RE LIKE WOW THAT'S WONDERFUL and we don't have any do I don't get mad to you but you can in fact somebody may actually even vocalize it. I don't have no pony at my party. Mama don't love me much. Jesus is mad at me. I've been praying for it. It still had to happen. I'm not making fun of you. I'm telling you, if we'll ever learn the value of agreeing with what God is doing and say one to another, the Holy Ghost has changed and transformed us. Not only that because he changed us, we are heart our hearts now believing and we are connected to one thought now and that one thought is Jesus Christ him crucified.

Our lives are changed. One day we're going to heaven and the stuff we have won't matter. I'm going to paint a picture here before I go forward. It's 7:23. Y'all still okay? um your your your good friend gets a better job than you and you applied for the same job, huh? Are you still okay with that? Yeah. Everybody in this class go they get a new car and you yours is an old beater or they get a car that you probably will never be able to get or you got something going on in your life that they don't. God's better to them than he is to you. It's in your mind. Come on. Jealousy don't run away from you. If your cup is full of the Holy Ghost, jealousy can't get in there. Somebody say amen.

Well, what happens to the community is when we actually believe, Lord, if you can bless anybody, bless them. Because in so blessing them, you are blessing me. Right? I rejoice. Yes. When you rejoice. Y'all might not know this, but I cry when you cry. I weep when I'm sad when you're sad. Why? Because we're in a community. We're in this together. The the fact still remains that the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, listen, you shall receive power after that. Somebody help me. That Holy Ghost upon uponing youing is something that changed you. Notice the coolest thing about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is not determined by your education, by your political stand. It's not determined by how much money you have.

It's not determined by what skin color you are, what language you speak. That's the coolest thing about God's spirit. I have watched him fill somebody that didn't have two dimes to rub together and hadn't had them for years. I have watched people that lived on dirt floors receive the gift of the Holy Ghost thrilled to death that that day they had something to eat. And then I've seen people that are spoiled and they're eating steak and biscuits and wondering why the biscuits not got the right kind of butter. Listen to me carefully. If we as the community, allow me to say it this way. CAC is not the only community. Heaven's going to be so cool. All the languages there. Won't that be neat? Huh? I won't understand none of them. Will you?

I I Boy, I'm gonna get sidetracked. What is my time clock here? I don't know why. I just want y'all to know that I'm looking at a clock. When you get to heaven, what what what language will be spoken there? English. They speak American. Anybody? Anybody? Heavenly Lang. Whoa. Whoa. Keep going. Oh. Now, if that's the case, what what will we be saying? Oh, well, hold on. If that's the case, then all of our little idiencies and idioyncrasies and all of our little hang-ups and all of our hurts and habits and junk that we've been dealing with. Is that ever going to be mentioned on the streets of glory? So why we worry so much about how to say it here? Come on.

If we can ever become a greater community, this Chattanooga city won't hold the power of a risen savior as it sweeps through these these streets. That's the truth. That's the truth. The first generation church was not the most powerful church because the former reign and the latter reign are going to happen at the end. That's going to be the powerful church. Amen. Right. Amen. That's good teaching right there. Here's the fact. The miracle that transpired in that particular day as they went into the place to pray, that lame man was from the community. Okay? He was healed and made whole. Bible says he jumped up, ran, he ran straight to the lottery office and bought a ticket. No, he ran straight to the Mexican restaurant and bought a taco. No.

What did he do? He ran into the temple. I have wanted to come into this community my whole life because I've been in that community. Amen. And now I'm in here acting a fool. for Jesus. And the church got mad. Anybody here, you know, do not, whatever you do in the next 30 seconds, do not look left or right. Do not elbow somebody. But have you ever thought to yourself when somebody's blowing a gasket in church shouting, "I wish they would stop. They're embarrassing me." Oh, some of y'all looked around. Sarah, I told you not to do that. that lame. I'm gonna tell you what, if I was laying my life and I was healed, Katie bar the door, we're going to have some worship. Why? Because I once was lost. I once was blind. I once was broken.

Listen, the religious leaders of the day had no idea what to do with that community. None. None. They couldn't stop them. In fact, when when when Peter and John come to their their to their community, they went to their friends as mentioned. Guys, y'all ain't going to believe this. Put on some coffee. We got to talk. Imagine imagine Peter and John telling this story. And then what happened? And then and then and then I and then he said go and uh well what if they were real exuberant? That have been so cool to watch them. And then they were all doing this. Some of y'all, you know, it was just really neat to watch. Uh I mean my heart was just overwhelmed with joy and peace and stuff, you know. Tell me I'm lying.

I'm I'm afraid sometimes that we won't be guilty for being overjoyed with stuff. See, I know who I was. I knew who some of you guys were. You weren't worth shooting. But the Lord said, "I love you." And somebody prayed a prayer of faith in your life and changed you. and you became part of the community of Jesus name believers. You it ought to thrill your soul. Every breath you take, every sneeze you sneeze, every blink of your eye, every beat of your heart, you ought to be thrilled to death that the Lord loves you. Come on. And when when you're asked to pray for somebody or believe for the miraculous for someone else, you know, one of the biggest thieves of your victory is selfishness.

Lord, if you can do it for them, I need you to do it for me. And the Lord's like, okay, why don't you rejoice because I did it for them and watch what happens. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say remember that old son. Yeah. Okay. Here here's the thing. When they went to their own company, their friends, there's something that transpired at that particular place. They heard the voice of God working in their life. And then they raised their voice to the Lord God which made heaven and earth, sea, and all that is in it. They talked about him and the the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things. The the kings of the earth stood up. Rulers gathered together against the Lord, against Christ, all these things.

But the Bible says that these guys rejoiced because of what God had done through them. I don't really know. And this again, this will be one of the questions that we'll ponder at the forum of heaven. Hey, Peter, it's just a question. I'm probably the only one. Uh, yes. Go ahead. Moderator there, Andrew. Say yes. Go ahead. Why did you say silver and gold I don't have, but what I have I give to you. Why did you start that with that phrase? Why didn't you just say, "What I have, I give to you." Come on. You guys think the Bible is just written because it's cool. No, there's a reason for every word in there.

And I look at that and I wonder sometimes Peter and and John, they were definitely going into the house for prayer and the man lifted his hand. You know the story, expecting to receive an alm. And an alm at that point was what? Yeah, it was a short version of almonds. No, it's almond butter. It's almond. It's his home. It's his home. And Peter then immediately says, "Look, I don't have silver and gold, but what I have, I'm going to give to you." Hold on a minute. Break. We just read that the believers were selling stuff and bringing possessions and giving it to the apostles. didn't we? So, I wonder if Peter had two or three coins in his pocket. Whoa. Controversy. Contradiction. Huh? Listen carefully. I am convinced this is not an accident.

It didn't matter if Peter, John, either one of them could have had a million dollars in their pocket. That was not the point. Point was is when they looked at this man, revival broke out because they said, "You don't need this. We've got things common." I wonder sometime Well, y'all y'all going to get me sidetracked. It's at 7 something, so we're on time. Uh what if it would have just been Peter or just John? Would it have been the same? Hang on to me, man. Hang on to me. Don't let me go. Would it have been the same? I think sometimes we fight battles by ourselves. Agreed. I know I do. But bro, there ain't nothing nothing stronger when two of us agree.

And I'm convinced that Peter might have stepped over that guy, but John stood there and went, "Hey, Peter, anybody in here married? Raise your hand. It's okay. Don't feel bad, men. Help me. Men, you're you're about you. You're You're walking along and there's this puppy that's turned on the side of the road. You're just ready to keep walking. But who's the one next to you? What is she saying? All of a sudden, what do you do, men? No, you don't. the point. Okay. All right. Wait, wait, wait. Then let's back up. I'm going to bring it close to home just for brother Daniel's sake. You're walking by and your grandbaby standing there. Come on. All of a sudden, here's the point.

There have been times in my life, yes, multiple times, yes, that I was ready to walk by, but the one next to me said, "Baby, can we do something? What do you think about this?" And I'd pause. And something about unifying my efforts and her efforts changed the situation. Listen to me carefully. I'm convinced that the community that Peter and John represented that day was agreeing on something. If we could ever understand the value of agreeing with those in the community. Come on. This is not a look at us. This is not a how big we are. This is literally Lord, we've got to be a greater community because if we'll get our act together, powerful things can happen. Powerful things can transpire.

Do any of you believe that people can receive the Holy Ghost outside of the church family? Absolutely. You believe that? you honestly believe that. If that's the case, then maybe that's something that you need to begin to pray about. Lord, help me to agree with someone that powerful things can happen and they don't have to just happen in these four walls. I'm convinced you can pray for your coworker sitting at her desk and the spirit of God can envelop that office. I'm convinced of that. My wife and I know new young people, they're old now, but students in school made fun of picked on, not understood, apostolic young ladies. Somebody on the bus made fun of her. Hey, you're one of those. Really? What?

You're one of those crazies that go to church and all that speaking tongues and all that stuff. Hey, what? What? Show us some of that tongue. This is true testimony. Show us some of that tongue. She said, I believe I will. reached up, put her hand on his head, he started speaking in tongues and the bus. You tell that's true story. Now, that don't happen every day. And some of us sit back and go, "Whoa, that'd be cool." Would it? How would you answer when the camera showed up because that's what we'd be looking for? Stay with me. Stay with me. Here's my question. I got about 10 minutes left. What drew these people together? This community that we just read about in Acts, what drew them together? Faith. What else? Experience. What else?

Hunger. What else? Holy Ghost. Holy Ghost. The spirit of God drew them together. Okay. Where did they come from? Is that right? What was their motivation? Why were they doing what they were doing? Was that enough? For what? To do the things. Yeah. H how did the rest of the world look at them? Did they? History reveals to us that the first century church, twothirds of the population's lives have been changed by the Holy Ghost power. True story. Do your history. What if twothirds of Chattanooga was full of the Holy Ghost? Baptized in Jesus name. Wouldn't it be cool to go into Walmart and everybody say, "Woo! Glory." Oh, come on. Some stopping. Yeah. I just come in and get some eggs, too. How y'all doing? We're good. Yeah. Don't drop the tea.

Yeah. I got Okay. What would it be like? See, that's that sounds so silly. Why? Because our Holy Ghost imagination sometimes we would rather box it up because it's easier to control. The first church community, let's call it, the book of Acts, they were literally walking in the power of God. They were known for that. In fact, they were first called Christians in this time frame. Why? Because they had been with Christ and their attributes were mirroring his. When was the last time you were called a Christian? That happens all the time. You're one of them Christian. You're a Christian. I'm a Christian, too. Yeah. You mean you have it on a shirt. I am a Christian. a mighty mighty Christian. Sorry, Handy Danny here.

But do we really understand what it means to be Christlike? Does it mean to be Christlike? Saying, "It's the hour of prayer, I'm going to go to church, and if somebody has a need, I'm going to pray for them in the name of Jesus Christ. Rise up and walk." What would it be like if all hundred plus of us on Sunday came in with unified faith, a community of believers that believed that knowing Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to us, and we came in and demonstrated that demonstrated it. Uh there was when I started the class and I did that intentionally earlier. What do you what is what do you what is right about our church? What do you think we do right?

And there were several of you that said loving church, motivated church, uh got good leadership. All the things that you said, you are individually saying what the body can say. We do not have a perfect church, but we sure believe in one another. And we are unified in our efforts. If somebody gets up and says, "There's a need here, and I believe God can heal it and take care of it," we are willing to do that and unify our efforts. Does anybody here believe still in the miraculous move of the Holy Ghost? Raise a hand. identify. Anybody? I'm asking. Anybody? Is there anybody in the room? It is 7:40. Anybody in the room have any faith tonight? Raise your hand. Let me know. Anybody here have faith? What is your faith for? What is that faith for?

To exercise it. use it to believe more and more, more and more. I would not embarrass anybody at all, but I feel this in the Holy Ghost right now. Community, will you pray for Kira? Can they pray for you? I believe God can restore her right now. Right now. Stay where you're at. They're coming to you. Go right now. Every bit of faith you've got, go pray for her. Come on, exercise faith right now. Come on. There's a physical need. Come on, young people. You need to be involved in what God's doing. Come on, pray right now. Come on, every voice. Every voice right now. Jesus. Jesus, we believe, Lord, the miracle can happen right now. You can restore her. You can restore her, Lord.

You can make her completely whole in the Come on, somebody believe it for her. Come on, believe it in Jesus name. God, you can take away the pain. Lord, you can put it all back together, Lord Jesus, correctly. Come on community, pray. Pray. Come on, young folk. Reach to heaven in the name of Jesus. Come on, pray. Intercede Jesus. We're calling on your name. We're believing you, Lord, right now. In the name of Jesus. Community tonight. Lord God, we are together, unified. Come on. Faith right now. Faith. Exercise faith. Jesus, we pray the prayer of faith right now. Thank God you can do the miracle right now. Jesus.