People

A Dance

Our lives are like a dance.

In the video we just watched we saw 5 dancers, 5 lives, 5 stories all moving independently; but all together telling a story. While each dancer moves on their own, they move together. And while each dancer has their own part they influence and impact the other dancers around them with each move. The dance on their own, yet together.

The same can be said of relationships. We are all living our lives independently but alongside one another; and as a church we are working for the Kingdom of God together.

Psychologist Abigail Brenner wrote:

Similar to learning and practicing dance steps and moves, the “dance” of relationships, how we engage and interact with another, has its own set of steps, tempo and rhythm that are necessary in order to negotiate the moves between people. Sometimes these steps are verbalized, openly stated so that the people involved understand what is expected of them in the relationship. Sometimes these steps are never discussed, so it’s the actions between people that define what is going on in the relationship

Relationships are God’s way of reminding us that we are all connected and made in the image of God. And the fabric of these relationships is often stitched in with common rhythm and common practices. There are certain practices in our society that are either spoken or implied that help us function in relation to one another.

For example, be on time when meeting someone for an appointment; don’t go through someone’s medicine cabinet when you are visiting their home; don’t share the secrets your friend tells you.

Hold the door for a lady; say you're welcome if someone thanks you; give up your seat for someone who is physically in need; etc

We have rules for marriage like be faithful to one another; be honest with each other; respect and care for each other’s families.

These are the cadences and patterns that help us navigate relationships in the world; but did you know that the Bible has some cadences and patterns for Christian relationships specifically? Today we are going to look at a few of them.

The Pattern of the Early Church

Did you hear the passage in Acts and how often they met together? Every day they met in the temple courts———every day!

Now, before you think I am about to say we need to have a church service everyday, let me tell you that is not what I am saying- having church in this place like we do every Sunday is certainly not what I am saying—-but I do think we can meet with the Body of Christ everyday- and that is actually pretty easy.

One of the best parts of being a pastor is that I get to intentionally talk about Jesus everyday day- and most of the time all day long! I counted one day this week and between meetings, visits, and talking with people in our church I got to pray and read Scripture with 17 different people in one day! How cool is that? I love the fact that I get built in opportunities to do that.

But what if that is not just something for me? What if all of us could intentionally share with another Christian everyday? You do not have to go to church for that, right?

What if you called another Christian every day to pray together? What if you prayed with a coworker every day? What if on your home from work you called another brother or sister to check in with them? Maybe a coffee date once a week with a fellow Disciple or walking in the park once a week with a Spiritual friend?

Meeting together daily is actually quite east, but it takes intentional practice.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””

What we do together matters

Luke lays out the cadence and content of our meeting together as well. He tells us that there are 4 things that frame the cadence of church life together:

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers .”

The Apostles Teaching-

They gathered around teaching of the Word of God- they were hungry for the Scriptures. One of the things that has always been perplexing to me about those who follow Jesus is how many times the events that are intentional about gathering around the Bible are less attended than the other events. For example, a potluck dinner has 100 and Bible study has 10. Friends, our hunger for the Word of God should drive all the other things.

Fellowship-

The Greek word here is koinonia and means partnership and participation. These early believers shared the load and did life together. Friends, this is more than just showing up to church and knowing each other’s names; these believers were making an investment into each other’s lives. In fact, they were so committed to one another that they sold all they had and shared everything in common- now again I am not saying we should all do that today- but can I ask, when you have a burden to bear do you turn to other Christians for help? If someone in our church family or another Christian in our community has a need are we first to respond?

The Breaking of Bread-

Communion. Keeping Jesus at the center

Prayer-

James 5:13–16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

The Lord added to their number daily.

A community that is fundamentally different than the world.

Grudges, gossip, bitterness, slander have no place! Show them something different

Don’t let the Devil cut into your dance!