Jesus Breaks Bread

When looking deep into someone's life you will often seek out or discover the "why" of why they do what they do. Many people do strange things but for very specific reasons. They have a why to them.

So why did Jesus come?

Have life to the fullest For sinners, not for the righteous 

To give His life as a ransom for many 

to serve and not to be served 

to show us the love of the Father

the list goes on and on

We talk often about why Jesus came and about all of these awesome things. But let me ask another question.

How did Jesus come?

Some would say He came Preaching and Teaching (you would be right) 

But there is also another phrase used. Its found in Luke 7.34

Luke 7:34 ESV

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Jesus came eating and drinking.

Some of you might be thinking right now, "I didn't know I had so much in common with Jesus" 

Eating and drinking were something He was known by, to the point people are using Him as being a glutton and a drunkard.

That is what we are going to focus on our last time together talking about how to love like Jesus.

Jesus breaks bread - He came eating and drinking.

EATING AND CULTURE

Meals Meant something 

Party 

Think about it like a birthday party inviting friends 

it was an event that would last for hours or even days

you would invite people that you wanted to have deep fellowship with.

There was a purpose to it. 

It was more than food

The Connection Between Meals and God

All throughout history and the Bible, there are all these awesome connections between meals and God's people. 

in the book of Revelation, there are all these different banquets that are talked about. 

First-century Christians believed you could best experience God and worship in the context of community at a meal, breaking bread. 

In Act 2 there was the breaking of bread in the first church with a shared meal. 

Jewish culture in the old testament was full of different feasts that would last for up to a week at a time. 

It's all over. Food, meals, and Jesus have a connection. 

As we talked about yesterday, Jesus took time to have a meal with His closest followers the night before his death.

We have the image of meals, breaking of bread, community, and deep fellowship with others.

This idea is very clear, it's clear that it is important, it means something.

Let's look at this idea in one specific place. In Acts 2 in the early church and what it meant for them.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

There are so many awesome things that we could talk about here in Acts 2 and the early church. But were going to look at community

This is the best picture of fellowship and community in the New Testament Church. 

They were devoted - not on occasion, not on accident but on purpose.

They were together. Doing life together

Making sacrifices for each other

Then lets look a little further in the story at Acts 4

Acts 4:32–34 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

If you look at Acts 4 you will see the results of what they did in Acts 2

The results of true community, true breaking bread fellowship in Acts 2 gave them a community where no one was in need.

Imagine if you had no needs.

because they were all met by your church, your youth group, your small group....

You might think, I don't need food or a home like these people did in Acts, but what about all the other needs you have as a teenager?? 

The things we are so desperate for that we will go to great lengths and sacrifices to get them. 

Approval

support

connection 

emotional support

friends

affection

attention

safe space to be real with people. 

connection

all these things that we want so bad, that we need as humans. That we can feel lost and broken without.

What about all of those needs?

Imagine what kind of person you would be, and what kind of community you would have it all of those were met.

Met by the people in this room.

Or what if you met those for others in this room? Imagine that life, that community.

Does your community look like that?

Does your youth group look like that?

What about your small group? Will it look like that?

It probably doesn't But it could. 

You get Acts 4 by doing Acts 2. 

They broke bread and made sacrifices to do so. 

They did life with each other. 

Made sacrifices to have community.

To be there for each other.

It's hard in the day we live in.

For many reasons.

The way we live and do life

we went from shopping malls to amazon (that's not a bad thing but we need to replace that time with others) 

the allusion to social media

we live our lives with fences and walls but think we have community because we have streaks with people, double tapped some photos, and watch our friend's stories. that will not get you to Acts 4

HOW WOULD ACTS 2 READ IF IT WERE US?

42 They occasionally listened to the apostles’ teaching and hung out when it was convenient. They prayed when things went bad.  43 no one was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 some the believers were together and had few things in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to buy bigger and better things. 46 When they felt like it, they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They sat alone in their homes with lonely and depressed hearts, 47 praising culture and enjoying the pleasure of life right now. THINGS CAN BE BETTER!

There is an opportunity for things to be so much better than they are right now!

Community is awesome, you just can't do it alone.

You might not sit here and say you want to be alone. But most will say I want to be independent. 

We love independence. 

To follow Jesus is to be dependent.

On Jesus

On Grace

On Others

Most Christians have a personal relationship with Jesus - that's great, but if that's all it ever is your missing it. You need a shared relationship with Jesus. - it's not meant to be done alone.

Two thoughts to help us get to Acts 4

Share the Love of Jesus with Others at Church

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

How do I do that?

Be there - Be present There is great power in presence.

Seeing a new movie 

All in separate rooms vs all together

Being there takes sacrifice.

It takes more than just Sunday

We are all busy - but what are you allowing to trump Jesus? 

What is priority #1?

Is Jesus most important?

If you are always bumping small groups or bumping youth group and the church because there is something else then Jesus and community is not your top priority. 

Students are all busy, some commit to this being the most important thing and others don't. 

If you want something better you have to choose something better. 

There is something better.

To share the love of Jesus with a community who are committed and ongoing.

TO BE IN A SMALL GROUP

To be part of a group that is consistent, committed, longing, that will be there.

You are this community, not just showing up to it.

Puzzle

My youth group experience.

Small groups are important. But only if you are actually breaking bread. Only if it is real community.

It was so important to have this real community that Jesus was known fort the fast he came eating and drinking.

Why did Jesus come - SO we might have life, life that is more abundant How did Jesus come - Eating and drinking - Known for community Did we stop at a personal relationship with Jesus or do we have a shared relationship with Jesus?