Connect in Community Acts 2:41-47

Mamie made frequent trips to the branch post office. One day she confronted a long line of people who were waiting for service from the postal clerks. Mamie only needed stamps, so a helpful observer asked, “Why don’t you use the stamp machine? You can get all the stamps you need and you won’t have to stand in line.” Mamie said, “I know, but the machine can’t ask me about my arthritis.” People still need human contact.

Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him as a part of a community of faith.

What are the marks of a community of disciples?

I. A Shared Hope vv. 41, 47b

In today’s passage, we see the overflow of people connecting to God: They become the first church in Jerusalem

How do all of these 3,000 people so rapidly added to one church find unity?

It begins with a shared hope:

They all have a common identity, being saved from their sin by Jesus

They have moved from death to life and now have a new character in Christ

They have heard the Word and believed and it changed everything!

They demonstrate this through a common experience: Baptism

Why do we believe in baptism and call people to take part in it?

This is the pattern of the early church

It has been shared in the church throughout history

It is commanded in Scripture

It is the entry point into the family of God, demonstrating this shared hope and new life in Jesus

If you do not have this experience, you are missing out on the most important thing!

You must repent of sin and trust Jesus to be saved

Baptism doesn’t save, but it is the symbolic entry into this new life!

The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual."

II. A Shared Faith vv. 42, 46-47

We see their common identity in Christ, but this shared experience is expressed through a set of beliefs and practices

Think about some of the ways that we see them live this out:

They continue in the Apostle’s teaching: they learn who Jesus is and how to live as one of His followers

They pray together

They worship corporately in the Temple

They praise God continually as part of their daily activities

I’m certain that the early church did not agree on every single thing, but they had a serious unity in the faith and it was central to their fellowship

There will always be plenty of reasons for people to divide; disunion is our default setting

This is why it is so critical that we rally around the one thing that can unite us, our shared life of pursuing Jesus and trusting Him

When you are missing out on these activities of worship, prayer, and learning, you will find yourself on the outside of the community, cut off from others. This is much more than just holding right beliefs, but is actual participation in the Body of Christ

D. L. Moody was visiting a prominent Chicago citizen when the idea of church membership and involvement came up. “I believe I can be just as good a Christian outside the church as I can be inside it,” the man said. Moody said nothing. Instead, he moved to the fireplace, blazing against the winter outside, removed one burning coal and placed it on the hearth. The two men sat together and watched the ember die out. “I see,” the other man said.

III. A Shared Life vv. 42b, 44-46

On the other hand, there fellowship is much more than just a religious practice

We read in v. 42 that they devoted themselves to fellowship. What does this mean?

I believe that they made relationships and spending time with other believers a priority

This can be a little scary, but it’s also what makes our life as children of God rich and deep; the reward makes it worth the risk

They share meals together and they open their homes to each other

We must understand that hospitality is a spiritual gift and we need to make certain to practice it

I’m afraid that this is something that we are missing in our culture; we were born in a world of front porches but we are living in a world of back decks

As a result of the relationships that are formed, they have a radical kind of unity

They are willing to share, holding all things in common

They distribute their own possessions to others so that those who are in need have their needs met

I believe that we need to pause and consider this

They were never commanded to do this, it was the overflow of their genuine affection for each other

When church becomes a family marked by love for each other and a selfless attitude, powerful things begin to happen

What are we missing when we miss out on when we miss out on the fellowship of the Church?

Some of my favorite theologians are country music singers. Garth Brooks once sang, “I could have missed the pain, but I’d of had to miss, the dance”. It’s a simple notion in a song, but there’s a truth there. You can flee from the church and miss out on the potential for pain, but you also miss out on the potential of tremendous beauty.

1 Peter 2:4–6

[4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)

IV. A Shared Wonder v. 43

In light of all that is happening, a kind of wonder came over all of them

What is the awe that is being described here?

It is much more than simple amazement, because we regularly saw people in the gospels who were amazed by the things that Jesus did but were unchanged

Further, it is not a result of the signs and wonders done through the apostles; the awe precedes that in the passage

When they consider the transformation that takes place as they are a part of the community of faith, these disciples are amazed

This awe does something very important: it causes them to continue in the faith

This is the wonder that leads to deeper trust

They see what the Lord can do and they will be prepared to trust Him when difficult days come

Past experience with God is an incredible way to build our faith, but it does require us to marvel for a moment at all He has done for us

This is the wonder that leads to greater things

What we see in the beginnings of our walk with Christ are preparation for greater things to come

Greater days and works of God here

Faith that will become sight there

Today, we gather to prepare for tomorrow

Are you ready to repent and believe or be baptized?

Are you ready to reengage in community?

Are you looking forward to greater things?

In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain's motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."