What are Our Responsibilities

Acts 2:41-43

Scripture Reference

Acts 2:41-43 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Introduction

What are our responsibilities as Christians and as members of a New Testament local church? Dr. Terry LeQuieu preached from Acts 2:41-43 and showed how the first church demonstrated the responsibilities of saved people: they were saved, separated, steadfast, sanctified, and spectacular. These qualities flowed from a life transformed by the gospel and produced visible effects in the community. In this message we will follow his exposition and apply it practically for young adults and all believers: what God expects of us personally, what the church expects of us corporately, and how a holy life produces power for service.

“I’m going to preach a message to you entitled what are our Responsibilities? What are our responsibilities? Let’s go ahead and pray.”

Quote from Preacher

This opening line from Dr. Terry LeQuieu sets the tone: the sermon is an intentional, biblical look at the duties and marks of those who belong to Christ and His church. The preaching will be rooted in Scripture, practical for daily life, and aimed at producing spiritual growth and responsible church membership.

Outline

Saved People — the foundation of responsibility
1. Know your new identity: Salvation is the prerequisite for Christian responsibilities. Acts 2:41 begins, “they that gladly received his word,” meaning they believed and were born again.
2. Personal faith, not pedigree: Dr. LeQuieu reminds us “God does not have any grandchildren.” Being born into a Christian home is not the same as trusting Christ personally (2 Corinthians 5:17).
3. The thief on the cross as example: Salvation is by faith, not by baptism or human works (Luke 23:42-43).
4. Application for the young adult: If you are unsure of your salvation, stop and deal with that first. Nothing else you do for Christ counts spiritually until you are His.
Separated People — the first public step of obedience
1. Baptism as picture and proclamation: Believer’s baptism illustrates death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). It is an outward, public testimony of an inward change.
2. The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38): He professed faith and immediately was baptized — baptism follows saving faith.
3. Separation means staining the world less: It is not isolation from people; it is separation from sin and dedication to Christ.
4. Practical note: If you have trusted Christ and not been baptized, make a plan. If you were baptized before conversion, consider believer’s baptism as an act of obedience.
Steadfast People — rootedness in doctrine and fellowship
1. Doctrine first, practice follows: Acts 2:42 lists “the apostles’ doctrine” first. Solid teaching is the root that stabilizes believers (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. Fellowship and the tie that binds: Genuine Christian fellowship knits hearts together — it is relational and sacrificial (Acts 2:42).
3. Breaking of bread and worship: The Lord’s Supper and shared meals were means of unity and remembrance.
4. Prayer as a throne-centered habit: Corporate and private prayer keeps the church dependent on God (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
5. Growth pathway for young adults: Attend more than Sunday morning — invest in Bible studies, midweek services, small groups. Depth beats surface Christianity.
Sanctified People — holy living and the fear of God
1. Meaning of sanctification: Being set apart and cleansed so God can use you (Psalm 4:3; 1 Peter 2:9).
2. Fear came upon every soul: A healthy, reverent awareness of God’s presence affects conduct (Acts 2:43). This fear is not mere terror but godly awe that produces obedience.
3. Church standards matter: The early church repelled sinful practices; sanctification includes corporate discipline (1 Corinthians 5).
4. Why sanctification is urgent for young adults: Culture minimizes holiness. Pursuing holiness wards off destructive habits and prepares you for meaningful ministry and Christlike influence.
Spectacular People — God’s power accompanies purity
1. Purity precedes power: Acts 2:43 shows “many wonders and signs” following a pure, committed church.
2. Pipeline metaphor: Confession and holiness keep your spiritual conduit clear; sin clogs and diminishes power (1 John 1:9).
3. Power validated the message: Miracles in Acts authenticated the apostles’ ministry and drew attention to the gospel.
4. Practically: Seek spiritual power through consistent devotion, obedience, evangelism, and holiness — not gimmicks or programs.
Practical emphases drawn from the passage
1. Church membership entails responsibilities: Being added to the church (Acts 2:41) brought immediate expectations: baptism, attendance, doctrine, fellowship, prayer, and holy living.
2. Growth requires commitment beyond convenience: Regular involvement in teaching ministries (weeknight Bible studies, discipleship classes) builds depth.
3. Community impact: A changed life will be noticed — sometimes it draws people in, sometimes it repels those unwilling to change.
4. Safeguarding the church: Unity is not uniformity of opinion; it is unity under Christ and truth. Guard doctrine and discipline lovingly but firmly.

Summary

Dr. Terry LeQuieu’s message from Acts 2:41-43 outlines five clear responsibilities we share as Christians and as church members: to be saved (genuine faith), separated (believer’s baptism and holy living), steadfast (rooted in doctrine, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer), sanctified (set apart and cleansed, living in the fear of God), and spectacular (manifesting God’s power through purity). The first church did not invent these principles; they practiced them, and the result was a vibrant, powerful witness that added souls to the Lord daily. The same responsibilities apply to us today. If we will reclaim biblical truth, earnest fellowship, consistent prayer, godly living, and public profession, God will bless and use us for His glory.

“If God spoke to your heart, that means there’s something God wants to do in your life. God spoke to you. You, as a child of God, listen and heed the word of God and his speaking in your heart and do what he’s told you to do this morning.”

Quote to Ponder

This closing invitation from Dr. LeQuieu reminds us that preaching is meant to stir obedience. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, respond quickly and humbly — that is where transformation begins.

Application for the Week

Practical, actionable steps you can take this week to live out the responsibilities taught from Acts 2:41-43:

Examine your salvation
1. Action: Spend 10–15 minutes in quiet devotion this week asking God to confirm your salvation. Read Romans 10:9-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. If unsure, speak with a pastor or a mature believer and if needed, pray to trust Christ now.
Obey believer’s baptism if unbaptized
1. Action: If you have trusted Christ but never been baptized by immersion as a believer, call the church office or speak to the pastor and schedule baptism.
Deepen your doctrine and attendance
1. Action: Commit to attend at least one midweek Bible study or small group this month. Start a daily Bible reading plan — even 10–20 minutes a day — and use a simple Bible reading guide or the church’s recommended plan.
Engage in meaningful fellowship
1. Action: Intentionally introduce yourself to one new person at a service; invite someone for coffee or a meal. Seek to build one gospel-centered friendship this month.
Reinforce your prayer life
1. Action: Create a short, repeatable prayer list: family, church leaders, unsaved friend, personal repentance. Pray those items daily. Bring at least one current request to the midweek prayer time and follow up with the person you prayed for.
Live a sanctified life
1. Action: Identify one area of compromise (speech, entertainment, relationships) and make a practical step to remove or replace it this week. Confess to a trusted believer and ask them to check on your progress.
Pursue holiness so God’s power is evident
1. Action: Keep a short nightly journal this week recording where you saw God work in your day, and times you failed. Confess failures to the Lord (1 John 1:9) and thank Him for His enabling grace.

As you apply these steps, remember the gospel both saves and sanctifies. The first church model in Acts challenges us: when salvation is real, it shows. Will you respond? Will you do the practical things that demonstrate true conversion and responsible membership? God honors humble obedience and uses faithful people to reach the lost.