Ok, Now What?

We’ve been in the Gospel of Luke as we worked towards the resurrection and then last week after celebrating Resurrection Sunday we got a little technical with the doctrine behind the resurrection. So we spent all this time talking about it leading up to it and we celebrated it and Jesus went to be at the right hand of the Father and it leaves us with a question: Now what?…

Well Luke wrote a whole other book about it!

On Resurrection Sunday we looked at Luke 24 where Jesus is on the road to Emmaus with a couple disciples. Here’s what happened since then…

read verses 36-47 and pray

In light of Jesus’ resurrection, we need to be his witnesses and be his church.

Be his witnesses

Peter shared the good news of salvation through Jesus with others, as Jesus told them to. We need to be ready to be his witnesses also!

We just finished college basketball season. (Alabama was in the Final Four in case you didn’t know.) I’ll use a basketball illustration. Sometimes when people play basketball they get frustrated. Not me, I’m always calm, cool, and collected, but other people I know! You’re playing and someone does something that aggravates you, or starts running their mouth and you get frustrated. You start looking for opportunities to engage them and quiet them down! Not me, just people I know! Looking for a chance steal the ball or to score on them. Seeking that opportunity out, ready for it!

That’s how God expects us to be with sharing the good news of Jesus! Ready, looking for the opportunity!

Peter sees an opportunity to share the Gospel and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he goes after it!

overview of 1-35, a little closer at 36-41

He took the situation, pointed to the Scriptures and Jesus from it, then told them the Gospel, and called on them to respond.

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Peter gives us a great example here, like film study!

Believe in the Gospel and be baptized…

About 2:38

The Greek word translated ‘for’ is ‘εις’. Like for has different senses in English, so does this Greek word.

I told y’all I play basketball. My knees usually hurt after I’ve played, so you might tell me, “take some ibuprofen for aching knees”. I know when you tell me that you aren’t telling the the ibuprofen will give me aching knees. You’re saying because I have aching knees, take some ibuprofen.

The “for” in 38 has the same meaning. This is consistent with its use when talking about baptism in other places.

So baptism is a symbol

Colossians 2:12 ESV

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

If you have already put your faith in Jesus, then you need to tell someone about it! Just like Peter had what he needed, God has given us what we need and we need to be faithful witnesses!

And that’s what the disciples did! But that’s not all they did.

Be his church

The believers walked by faith together.

The local church is a group of believers. If you are going to be part of a group then it’s helpful to know what the expectations of the group are, what the group should look like. Thinking about this I’m reminded of one of the most prestigious groups there has been. This group very clearly outlined the expectations for its membership. So I want to use their oath as an example of laying out the expectations for a group. This is the oath of the He-man Woman Haters Club:

I, ---------, A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE HE-MAN WOMAN-HATERS CLUB, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO:; BE A HE-MAN AND HATE WOMEN, AND NOT PLAY WITH THEM, OR TOUCH THEM UNLESS I HAVE TO, AND ESPECIALLY NEVER FALL IN LOVE AND, IF I DO, MAY I DIE SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY AND SUFFER FOR HOURS OR UNTIL I SCREAM BLOODY MURDER."

Theses last few verses of Acts 2 give us what I believe are the expectations for the local church, highlighting the things that are important and how we act on those things.

look at 42-47

apostles’ teaching, v42

2 Peter 1:2–3 ESV

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

gathered, v 46

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.

They seem so happy to be together. You ever see a group of people and they look so joyful that you want to be included? Truth be told I’m more introverted than extroverted, so I’m not naturally drawn to groups. But occasionally I’ll see some people and they seem so joyful that I want to be in on it. I get the feeling that’s how these early believers in Jerusalem were. I’d love for that to be how churches are today!

had favor, v47

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So we need to ask if we are devoted to these things as a church and if we are devoted to them individually.

instruction

Are we as a church presenting the opportunities to learn from God’s Word that we should? Are we rightly dividing it, teaching God’s truth with good doctrine? Because good doctrine leads to good living. This is why it’s important. Using good music to continue the teaching?

Are you as an individual committed to learning from God’s Word? …

I think verse 46 tells us that corporate worship was a huge part of their commitment to instruction in God’s Word.

fellowship

Are we as a church offering opportunities for fellowship? Are we showing that it’s truly important?

Are you as an individual and as a family showing that you understand it’s importance? Not just seeing your church family at church events, but being around them as you live life? I think we are really blessed with this in Dyersburg…

We also need to see that serving each other was a huge part of their fellowship!

breaking bread

This seems kind of funny, not as holy as the other things, but I think Scripture paints a picture of sharing a meal that it’s special. So we want to be doing that. Our Wednesday night meals are pretty full lately, but I dare y’all to make us need a larger fellowship hall!

Are you taking advantage of this opportunity and finding others?

prayer

It should be woven into all these other things we do. As a group and as individuals, it should all be prepared for, supported by, and followed up with prayer!

Let’s be his church brothers and sisters! Let’s be committed to these things! In doing them we will honor God, our lives will be enriched, and I believe the Lord will add to our number those who are being saved.