Hospitality, Unity, Devotion

Introduction

Acts 2:43-47 “Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Is there anyone that enjoys window shopping? You walk past a store and you see an outfit, a bag, a pair of shoes that just catch your eye and then you begin weighing options. You weigh options like what’s in your bank account, do you have time to walk in, and do you really want to look at options and make a purchase. So let’s say you decide to walk in, customer service and the atmosphere of the store is going to determine whether or not a purchase is made. Let us be mindful of the fact that visitors are window shopping as it pertains to our church. Granted God added to the church daily but understand it’s easy to be a part of a church that looks like what we read at the end of this chapter in Acts. They saw a people who were unified, they saw a people that had a common vision and were attached to a common mission. They saw a people that were devoted to God and disciplined to the teachings of Christ.

I ask us today, if you were a visitor and this was your first Sunday based on what you know and have experienced would you attach yourself to the local mission of this church? If the answer is yes, have you given consideration to how you will further the mission of this church? What ideas do you have, how can you contribute to ministry? How can you contribute to the needs of others! Lastly, how much of a priority is a daily portion of worship in your life?

The people of God in this early church had three things that I want you acknowledge today. They were hospitable, unified and devoted. Our goal is to embrace these tenets in effort to show the world what to expect when they decide to follow Jesus, understand that people play a role in people making a decision to give their life to Jesus.

Hospitality

Acts 2:45 “and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

Understand they had to pool their resources because of what they sacrificed to follow Jesus. Dependability was different, becoming a Christian was bigger than conversion. Many of us today can go a day or even weeks without talking about our religious affiliation. At this time everything was connected. Economics, social issues, and religion was intermingled in Jewish culture. To become a Christian was saying yes to Jesus but also walking by faith understanding that the social benefits that came with being a Jew no longer existed. They truly had to depend on each other! All they had was each other!

This was not a new concept, Jesus paved the way for this concept. Luke 12:33-34 “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

A treasure that you invest in others is priceless! Give as anyone has need! Our giving is not just to say we provided money, our giving is an effort of support for those who have need!

It took some hospitality to sell the things they had so that those in need had no lack!

Unity

Acts 2:44 “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,”

All who believed were together! What does it mean to be together, believing the same doctrine is not enough, sure that’s the foundation of what sustains us but this type of togetherness fits! Every piece is important to a bigger picture, and the big picture of evangelizing in every neighborhood, in every city, in every state, in every nation begins with us understanding that we have to be unified!

The people of God were in harmony with each other! Harmony happens when I value to the sound of the collective even more than my individual sound.

The harmony among us and Jesus should translate to our relationship with everyone that we come in contact.

Philippians 3:15 “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”

Our mindset matches our actions! Understand that Jesus was about Community too! Doctrine is very important but how we treat each other is important as well. Doctrine is not the only determiner of growth. Churches can be theologically sound in teaching yet vividly struggle to build community because the way we speak about love doesn’t match the actions of love we should show!

Understand that the Holy Spirit created this community:

Belonging

Unity

Peace

Joy

Worship

God built this community of believers, the astonishing thing is God built this community right where they were, they did not have to move God provided because they remained disciplined!

Discipline

Granted they believed the same thing but they also had a daily regimen of worship. “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart”.

Yes, the church grew but the people that helped it grow saw worship, discipline, unity and commonality! The nature of the collective group is just as important as doctrine.

What is your daily experience with the Lord? Is our experience a daily one? Or do we wait on a weekly experience? Trust me those looking for the Lord can tell!

Not only did they devote themselves to Jesus, they devoted themselves to each other. They devoted themselves to sharing in something greater than the relationship itself.

There was one heart, there was one mind. They were devoted to worship, they were devoted to prayer!

Conclusion

Worship Is About Giving What We Have

Worship is about giving what we have, giving the best that we have! Giving all that we have! It’s imperative that we are hospitable, unified and disciplined! If we want to grow we have to be mindful of how we treat each other, and how we serve!

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Hospitality and Entertaining

Entertaining says, “I want to impress you with my home, my clever decorating, my cooking.” Hospitality, seeking to minister, says, “This home is a gift from my Master. I use it as He desires.” Hospitality aims to serve.

Entertaining puts things before people. “As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my housecleaning done—then I will start inviting people. Hospitality puts people first. “No furniture—we’ll eat on the floor!” “The decorating may never get done—you come anyway.” “The house is a mess—but you are friends—come home with us.”

Entertaining subtly declares, “This home is mine, an expression of my personality. Look, please, and admire.” Hospitality whispers, “What is mine is yours.”685