Essentials for a Christian Life (Acts 2:42-47)

Intro

People their whole lives pursue a goal or a mission. Everyone has an end-dream in mind that they would like to accomplish, whether it be a personal or professional goal. My message today does not stray us away from those desires and goals. My message today redirects our priority on who we are. My goal today is to remind you once again of your ultimate calling in life and what that life should like look. What a Christian life should like look.

In today’s sermon, I am going to talk about four essentials for a Christian life according to Acts 2:42-47.

What do you think defines the Christian life?

All of us in the room are here because we repented of our sins, accepted Christ as Lord and have hope of the eternal life. I do not want to focus on our salvation.

Rather, I want us to focus on the same mindset and focus on what a Christian life should like since our true identities now are to live a Christian lifestyle.

We all individually define our “Christian Life” in our unique ways based on our experiences with God and our understandings about God. Culture shapes our definition. Generations, knowledge and hopes and dreams could possibly shape your definition.

In Pastor John Piper’s sermon “the eight essentials for christian living”, his first essential clearly defines what a Christian life is.

He says Every believer has a divine calling to be part of God’s kingdom, and God makes us suitable for our calling, not based on deserving but on His grace.

2 Thessalonians 1:11,

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

First in this verse, it says God ENABLES you to live. What does this mean? The keyword here is enable. That means, without God, we CANNOT live a Christian life. A life within Christ. The root word for IAN just means belonging. When we say Christian, we are saying we BELONG to Christ. How do we belong to Christ? Because God ENABLES us to.

This word is to highlight that it is not by our power or our might or our strength. It is only through God’s power, God’s grace, through Christ Jesus can we live what?

A life worthy of a God’s call.

He called all of us to live a life worthy in His eyes. Not the standards of the world or the standards of others. We are called to live a life worthy of His call for us. So that He can give us power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Amen.

What does a life worthy of God’s call look like? We are going to discuss four essentials. How do we know that these essentials are important? If you look at the context of the whole chapter of Acts 2. This is the chapter where the disciples, after Jesus ascends to Heaven, waits prayerfully and patiently for the Holy Spirit. After they receive the Holy Spirit, they begin to pray in tongues and right before our main scripture, we see Peter addressing the crowd gathered around. He preaches the Gospel of who Jesus is and the Good News of our savior and calls for repentance. Then, we see the believers gathering together to form the church. And we see here specifically how the first believers lived their Christian lives. We learn from them as an example of how we must live.

Essential 1: Scripture & Prayer

The first essential in our walk with God is our devotion to Scripture and prayer. In Acts 2:42, it says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (NLT). This verse highlights two vital practices in the life of a believer: the study of Scripture and prayer. The apostles’ teaching refers to the lessons passed down from Jesus, which we now have in the form of Scripture. The early believers immersed themselves in the Word of God, learning His will and discovering how to live a life worthy of His calling.

The reason they studied Scripture was to align their lives with God’s standard. As Christians, we need to do the same. Just as we invest time and resources into developing skills, careers, or hobbies, we should invest in our spiritual growth by studying God’s Word. The Bible is our guide for understanding God’s character, His desires for us, and how to live according to His will. As 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (NLT).

Alongside Scripture, we must devote ourselves to prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 urges us to “pray without ceasing” (NLT). Prayer is our lifeline to God, a continual conversation that deepens our relationship with Him. However, if prayer is not a regular part of our lives, it can feel unnatural or become difficult to focus on. A.W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, advises us not to shy away from these moments when our hearts feel distant. He encourages us to admit when we feel spiritually dull and “pray our way through.” Prayer, even when it feels hard, connects us to God and reignites our spiritual fervor.

Scripture and prayer are foundational because they keep us rooted in God’s truth and draw us closer to Him. They equip us to live according to His will and sustain us through all of life’s challenges. Without these practices, our spiritual growth would be stunted. They are the essential tools that shape us into people who reflect God’s glory and live lives worthy of His calling.

Essential 2: Fellowship

The second essential of a Christian life is fellowship, which is beautifully portrayed in Acts 2:44-45: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (NLT). This passage captures the heart of true Christian fellowship—unity in heart, mind, and soul, as believers came together, sharing their lives and resources. It’s a picture of the church Jesus envisioned, where His followers live in harmony, focusing on a common purpose. Fellowship is more than just being physically together; it’s about being united in Christ. The early believers achieved this unity by holding all things in common, despite the fact that each person had their own unique thoughts, experiences, and priorities. How did they do it? By keeping their eyes on a common vision—Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). When we collectively focus on Jesus and His teachings (as emphasized in Essential #1: Scripture & Prayer), we can come together with a shared purpose and mission. In other words, our personal differences fade in the light of our unity in Christ. Acts 2:44-45 specifically talks about how the early believers shared their material possessions, selling their belongings to meet the needs of others. While this directly relates to financial sharing, it also teaches us a broader lesson: to sacrifice and share the grace we have received from God. Christian fellowship isn’t just about sharing material goods but also about sharing our lives, our time, and our spiritual gifts. Romans 12:13 “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” This kind of sacrificial giving reflects the grace we have been given through Christ and demonstrates the love we have for one another. This essential of fellowship reminds us that we are not called to live the Christian life in isolation. We are meant to walk together, encouraging and supporting each other as we pursue God’s will. By focusing on Jesus, we are empowered to live in unity, sharing not only our resources but also the love, grace, and forgiveness that we have received from God.

Essential 3: Worship

Worship is the third essential in the Christian life, as we see in Acts 2:46, “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (NLT). The early believers gathered daily in the temple, and while it may be difficult for us to meet every day in today’s world, this verse emphasizes the importance of making time to worship together whenever we can—whether during Friday night worships, Sunday services, or other opportunities for gathering.

Worship is central to our Christian life because it brings us into communion with God and with one another. It’s not just about showing up to church but about engaging fully—spiritually and mentally—in the act of worship. As we gather to pray, to listen to God’s message, to fellowship, and to praise, we are reminded of the importance of unity in the body of Christ. Worship unites us, as one body, to focus our hearts on God. Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” .Coming together in worship is crucial for spiritual growth and community support.

However, worship is not confined to a specific location. As Jesus teaches in John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” .Worship is something we can engage in anywhere and at any time, whether in the church, in our homes, or in our daily lives. You can open your Bible, turn on praise music, and focus on God, wherever you are. Worship is about honoring and glorifying God through our hearts and actions, not just in a formal setting.

Interestingly, this idea of Scripture, Prayer, and Worship should sound familiar because it is central to our church’s motto for 2024. These three essentials—Scripture, Prayer, and Worship—are what God calls us to devote our time and energy to. This message has been our focus throughout the year, and it continues to serve as a reminder of what a life worthy of God’s calling should look like.

To live that life, we must prioritize Scripture, Prayer, Fellowship, and Worship. These essentials are not optional but foundational practices that shape us into the people God has called us to be. Let us be faithful in pursuing these essentials so that our lives may glorify Him.

Essential 4: God’s Glory

Everything we do as Christians is for the glory of God. The ultimate purpose of our lives, our service, and our worship is to reflect His glory. This is not only a key motivation for our actions but the core reason for our existence. As Isaiah 43:7 “everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.” We were created to glorify God and live out that purpose every day.

In Acts 2:47, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” This passage captures the heart of the early church: believers who were filled with joy and praise for God. Their lives centered on worship, and as a result, God’s glory was reflected through their unity and service. Because they aligned themselves with God’s will, He blessed them abundantly, adding to their number daily.

This shows us that when we live to glorify God, everything else falls into place. God is honored, and His blessings flow according to His perfect timing. As Psalm 37:7 encourages, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act” (NLT). Those who wait patiently with joy, abiding in God’s will, will experience His abundant blessings at the right time.

This essential truth of glorifying God is the foundation of everything else on our list. Without this focus, the other elements lose their direction. Living for God’s glory is the most crucial element because it aligns us with His purpose and opens the door for His blessings in every aspect of our lives.Conclusion

Conclusion

To recap, we talked about the four essentials for a Christian Life. As Christians, we must devote ourselves to Scripture and Jesus’ teachings and we must also devote ourselves to God through prayer. The teachings remind us of our identity in Christ and how we must live as Christians, since Jesus is the truth. Prayer allows a continuous conversation and relationship with God through Christ Jesus, as our Christian faith is unique in that our faith requires a continuous and intimate relationship with the creator.

Second, we must partake in fellowship. Fellowship with the community of fellow believers whom we call the church. The most beautiful part was that the first followers of Christ were like-minded. They were together and held all things in common.

They devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple to worship. That is the third essential, to continuously gather and worship God.

For what end? To praise and glorify God as we should as His people. We are God’s people and the Lord’s blessing will overflow more and more.

So, I challenge you this week. Take one essential that resonates with you the most at this moment by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and apply it with all your soul, strength and mind and let us talk about next week how you experienced the blessing of God in your lives. Amen.

Let us pray.