The Church is the believers.

Introduction

Good morning LaFayette Baptist Family. It is great to be here with you all this Lord’s day morning. What a wonderful and treasured time this is together, getting to sing Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs together and learn from the Word together. Please go ahead and get out your Bible’s Our scripture today will be from the Book of Acts , specifically from Acts 2:37-41. Acts 2:37-41, please go ahead and turn their in your Bible’s. As usual, the scripture will be on the screen for us in a few moments, but please have it open so that you can follow along.

So, if I were to say to you, here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, look at all the people, what would you think of immediately and do. *Do the little hand thing* and yes I know there is more it that I didn’t do. This is a fun little thing that we do for children, to help them learn about church.

Did you ever notice though, how the hand sign makes dangerous assumptions and assertations. Notice how first of all it states that a building is a church. We know that a building is and cannot be The Church, rather The Church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus’ bride isn’t a building; it is His people. It’s believers So, and I know it doesn’t rhyme so it would be more accurate to say “Here is the church house or church meeting house.” Then, it makes an assumption that everyone within the church meeting is a believer or an actual member of the Universal Church. So, if we were to be really accurate over about the teaching that this rhyme gives, it would be like this. Here is The Church, and here are some people, they are in a building, and Oh look, a steeple!

What I’m saying here is that a church isn’t a building and it isn’t just a gathered group of people past or present. Rather The Church (and it’s local expressions, the local church) is a gathering of a specific group of people, the people that are The bride of Christ in an area. These people come together and do the work of the ministry, joining up, liking up together, working together in their local expressions (the local churches) to fulfill the great commission and better follow the Great commandments. So, the main idea and title of this sermon is: The Church is the believers.

Scripture

If you would all please rise for the reading of God’s Word today. The words to the scripture will be on the screen, please read along with me as we are reading. When I am done I will say “this is The Word of The Lord” if you will all please respond with “Thanks be to God.” First, let’s pray.

Father God, we thank you for who you are, and what You are doing to us and this place. May You and Your glory always be first and foremost on our minds and in our hearts. Do whatever it takes, to make our hearts cry out, “more of You and less of me.” All to often, this is not who we are Father, help us put ourselves aside. Help us to be all about You and all about Your business, growing Your kingdom and letting Your glory be known to others. We ask this Father, as we are about to participate in the reading of Your Word, that You would help us. Help us to put anything aside that would keep us from hearing from You. Help us put away any distraction or any spirit that is not of You. Help us hear Your Word and apply to any and all things within our lives. Your Word is truth Father, sanctify us with Your Word. Help us be better lovers and pursurers of You and whatever it is You are going to show about Yourself to us and help us to apply. Help us keep that Word as well, but not keep it for the sake of keeping to ourselves, but keep it for the sake of sharing it and Your good news with others. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and Precious Name that I pray, Amen.

Acts 2, starting in verse 42. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Context

This week we continue in our regular sermon series in the book of acts. Just a quick reminder, not this next week but the following week; starting on the 19th we will begin our church wide easter Bible reading plan. If you need a copy of that, it is up front and stappled to the monthly newsletter. Our sermons during this reading plan will be the text that is to be read that day, so for example, the day we begin is a Sunday, and that text is Gen 22:1-19, so that will be the sermon text that day. When the easter season is over, we will jump back into our regular series through Acts. For next week though, if you haven’t already, please begin looking at Acts chapter 3.

You will remember last week, how Peter’s sermon ended on the day of Pentecost. On this day, Peter, the apostles, and the other disciples (which we read in chapter 1 numbered around 120) were given the gift of the Holy Spirit that now dwells within Christians everywhere. In this moment, when the Holy Spirit came down, we often refer to as the beginning of the Christian Church, so here we see the actions and movements of the very earliest church and churches ever. After receiving the Holy Spirit, they were quick to go out and share the good news (the gospel of Jesus) with others and share praises of God with all that would listen. They were quick to go out and do what, quick to go and do evangelism. Thus, our former mini-sermon series “Proclaiming the good news in your community” as this is what they did.

This would lead to a scene where a mixed audience (of those who God was calling and those who God was not) came to see what was going on. We would see that some mocked and denied the very clear works of God. Others, would hear the Apostles word about the Christ and would turn towards the Lord Jesus, repent, and become new believers or converts. This would have been a very stunning event to see. Notice what the last verse said last week, that 3000 new believers were made. For that message (where God was clearly involved) many were added to the kingdom of God.

So, what happens from here, we know that we have at least 3,120 believers in Jesus and The Christian Church was just formed. Lives were changed, and we are about to see what they looked like. Today’s text describe what the early church did in this new and unprecedented place and describes the lives of the believers that make up the new church. This text has many useable applications for us today. Not only does it show us what they (the Christian church) did in that time, but it also creates a very good model and observation of what the lives of believers (Christians) look like and what their faith lives looks like played out in application. So, From the text today, I want you to see these explanations about The Church and those that make up The Church, the believers.

Message

The first explanation and our first sermon point is: What believers do

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

So, here we are. The new church was made and quite frankly was bursting at the seams in Jerusalem. So, now that we have believers, people who have accepted the Lordship of Christ in their life and repented of their sin; what did they (the believers, the Christians) do next? They endeavored to follow Him for life and be conformed into His image as Romans 8:29 tells us. So, they committed to what we today call discipleship. They took this very seriously because they Loved God so much now that they were in relationship with Him. So, they did these things.

First, we see that they devoted themselves (meaning they were very committed and loyal to it) to the apostles teaching. So, they came under the right authority of those that were placed over them to help them in conforming themselves into Christ, a process we call sanctification. We don’t have apostles today, so today this would mean that they devoted themselves to their pastors and bible teachers teaching. Then it says they devoted themselves to fellowship, they came together with other Christians under this teaching; we observe this today in the corporate gathering like we are today right now; also known as coming and being active in a church meeting/gathering. Then it says they devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, what is this? Well, it could be and is most likely two things. One, is that they regularly participated in the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper, which is a time of remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross to pay for our sins, self-reflection, and repentance. It also likely meant they spent time together often, eating together and doing life together; sharing a meal, what we would call a fellowship meal or in the Baptist context, a potluck. In fact, they probably did both of these together. Lastly, they devoted themselves to prayers. This particular use of “the prayers” implies that they still gathered regularly at the Jewish temples and participated in daily corporate prayers. We know of course, this meant that they had both a personal/private prayer life and a corporate prayer life. These are things that believers do, they submit to teaching, they gather, they participate in the ordinances, they spend time with other believers, and they pray (both personally and corporately). They do this not because it secures salvation for them or even just because “it is a good thing to do.” They do it because their heart is changed, they have been regenerated in Christ and they can’t help but do these things because it is in God’s will and design for them to do so.

A second explanation is Who believers aren’t

43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

This passage is a bit tricky, and it takes careful reading and discernment to understand it. In fact, if you read it in and of itself, without the context of the passages around it, it is highly likely to be misunderstood, so pay close attention. In many of your bible’s, instead of the word “Awe,” you probably have the word “fear.” This is probably a better word choice for what the original languages tried to communicate. Fear, tough has it’s own meanings. In the Christian sense, we have seem to have 2 kinds of fear in the bible. The first type, and the type that this fear is not (so I can see why the translators would go with awe) is a healthy fear of God, meaning a healthy respect and reverence. The second kind of fear (and the kind that this word is) is what we would normally think of fear. As in, to be afraid, like how I am scared of snakes or people may have a fear of spiders or how a child calls out the in night because of a fear of a monster under their bed. This kind of fear in the original language is called: φόβος, phobos, and in itself is where we get our modern word “phobia,” which of course means “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.”

So, actual being afraid fear fell upon every soul. That seems odd to, especially if you don’t read the next verse that says, “All who believed.” Logenecker says of this passage that, “Luke notes that a lingering sense of awe rested on many who did not take their stand with the Christians and that miraculous things were done by the apostles. “Everyone” (lit., “every soul”), in contrast to “all the believers” of v. 44, refers to nonbelievers in Jerusalem who knew of the events of Pentecost and were observing the life of the early congregation in the months that followed.”[1]So, the every soul means those that chose not to believe even though they saw the events at Pentecost and those that believed were the 3000 that we spoke about.

These people were fearful why? Because even after the miraculous acts on the day of Pentecost, they saw still that the Apostles were doing great signs and wonders. They could perceive that God was at work and was calling them, yet they hardened their hearts and did not submit their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as their savior. So, they were not believers so they were not part of the new fledgling church. Now that a great change has happened in salvific history, they chose openly and freely of their own accord, rebellion against God. These people, though formerly part of God’s covenant community (the jews) had turned their backs on the covenant and refused the messiah. As such, they did not do and act as the believers did. Because they were not believers themselves.

Beloved, does this sound familiar? Do we see people or know people who claim or believe that they are among the redeemed, the believers, the church, yet their life doesn’t bear the fruit? What fruits are those? Look at the fruits of the spirit that Paul lists in Gal 5:22-23. Remember when we went through 1st John, and large portions of the text warned us against noticing who was among us (the redeemed) and who was not. See in the verse before this one, what the believers did. This will give you a clue….. I’m sure every one of us does, knows someone like this. In fact, my 7 most loved bookmark has several. Some of whom were Baptized and believe that this secured their salvation. I’m sure yours does as well. I want to believe so badly that I’m wrong and these people are redeemed and saved, as I’m sure you do. At the end of the day, I have to accept it, that they are not; the fruit isn’t there, and myself as a believer in their vicinity, I have work to do (to share the Gospel with them). Beloved, put aside the fear that you have for this person, or even the idea that you have failed them. Yes, if you are like me you may have need to repent; but see also that God is calling you to minister the Gospel to them; and be a part of the glorious mystery of salvation in that person’s life. Let’s move into our next point, our next one and

Another explanation will be: Where believers go

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Where do they go? It’s right here. Doesn’t say an exact location, but it does say who they go with. It says they were together. All who believe were together, as they should be. Together. Because we are better together and it’s Jesus desire that His Church, the Body of Christ would be together and like a body, all work together for this means: to go and make new disciples that God would be glorified. In this, we are all to be of one accord; meaning everyone’s agenda and objective should be the same. Now, there may be different ways to get there (just like there is a few ways to get to Hopkinsville from here), but either way if it is a right and Godly way, then it goes to the same place, God being glorified.

So, to do this, it also means that they shared their resources, they pulled together what they have (gifts of any kind) and it was on the table at all times for God’s purpose. So much so, that these believers were not afraid to get rid of or sell their possessions if someone had a legitimate need. So, where do believers go; they go down the road that leads to God’s glory. They do this together, they come together in a car (or local church) and they get in that car (today we call this joining up or covenanting with it), and they drive it (going on mission), to their destination (God’s glory). All the while, praying that God would have more join them in the car or bring back people that were once in it; so that God’s glory could be known and seen and accepted by more and more. As it was for them, so it is for you and us.

The next point, The next explanation is When believers worship

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

When do believers worship? I think you all know the answer to this one; let me be clear here though. “Under the new covenant, Christians are to worship all the time- in their individual lives, in their family lives, and when they come together for corporate worship.”[2]

What does these verses imply, just that. That worship is an always all the time event. So, specifically for them, they committed to, all the time personal worship to God. They also committed to worship any time a gathering of the believers was available for them. So, they came to the temple for scripture readings and prayers every chance they could. They spent time together and even had little home churches (because the Christian Church did not yet have the habit or ability to own buildings yet (as we do today). They did this, all parts with gladness in their hearts. In fact, everything they received (in this case it says food), they received with gladness and joy. Why? Because they now knew and better understood what it meant to be a child of God. They were new creatures, new beings. This moved and motivated them to vocal and physical praise to Him.

In this time, when they were glorifying God with all that they do, God saw and blessed it, and made it more. In fact, the text clearly implies that God was very much in the work here, because God added to their numbers every single day.

So, what then is worship. It is this, “Worship is the reverential response of creation to the all-encompassing magnificence of God.”[3] It’s not just something we do, it’s a heart condition; and it is to be a continual part of the believers life. Yes, it is a Sunday and Wednesday thing, but it’s not just a Sunday and Wednesday thing. It is an everyday, all the time thing. God blessed this worship in the believers, He made them stronger in love and understanding of Him. This more and more caused them to go and be his mouthpieces in the community, sharing the good news as He had directed them, and God called people’s hearts back to Him and more believers (more Christians were made). Weeach need to ask ourselves this. Does your life reflect this kind of worship? If not, why? I’m sure you have an intellectual knowledge of God and that you should be this kind of worshipful person. Why are you not? Is God deep in Your heart? What are you scared to give over to Him? Let me tell you beloved, you can give it to Him. In Him is only truth and no darkness. He is worthy of our trust, as no one else is. Do you trust yourself or someone else over Him? If so, you have some work to do. It’s time to repent and put aside whatever that sin is, and turn towards God who is gently and lovingly calling you towards Himself.

Conclusion

Family, where then does this leave each and everyone of us. What needs to be changed? What needs to be made new or reformed? Do we see these explanations about how The Church (both the universal church and the local church) is the believers? Did we hear the explanation about what believers do? As people who have truly committed themselves to Christ, there are steps that rightly follow. Can you understand now Who believers aren’t, and this probably means to every person in this room that we have some evangelistic work and prayer to do. Did you follow Where believers go, they go together down the road that leads to God’s glory. Finally, did you understand the explanation about When believers worship; they worship individually at all times and corporately every single chance that they can if it’s within their ability. All of this is not because The Church is supposed to be big or small necessarily, but because The Church is the believers.

Creation: Fall: Redemption: Restoration. Let me share with you a few last verses from Titus 2 regarding us and salvation that we are: looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Let’s conclude. Brothers and sisters, I love you all. If you need someone to talk to or prayer, I will be up here during our last song together. I would love to listen and pray for you. We will also quickly pray for our 7 most loved bookmark during this prayer, so please go ahead and find it. We will pray for number 6 today. After that hymn, we will enter our quarterly business meeting, so guests you are dismissed afterwards. Let’s Pray, Father, thank you for this message. I will confess to your right now, this one hurt me and I’m sure it hurt some of us here today. None the less, may we put our wants and us aside, and take up what you are showing to us this day. Help us take the message and keep it and go out and act it as well Father. Help us also corporately, as we are about to enter a time of decision making for Your Church’s local expression here in LaFayette KY. Help us be all about Your business and pursuing You in all that we do. May Your Spirit move here in this place as we decern what it is You would have for us. Now, if you will please look at number 6 on your bookmark and we will pray for that person….. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christs Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

[1]Longenecker, Richard N. “Acts.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, vol. 10, Zondervan, 2007, p. 757. [2]Kent Hughes, the pastor’s book, pg 27. [3]McCaulley, Esau. “Worship.” Lexham Theological Wordbook, edited by Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Press, 2014.