All Together Acts 2:42-47

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.

Hospitality is a tool that builds the fellowship of the church.

I. Where the Practical Meets the Spiritual vv. 42-43

In our passage today, we see a brief glimpse of the early church at its most primitive and pristine state

God has moved in power and many new believers have become a part of the church

They are sharing life together as one body in Christ

Luke describes 4 points of devotion: these are intentional commitments practiced by the church

The apostles’ teaching- instruction in the Scripture

The fellowship- participation in the shared life of the Body of Christ

This is more than pleasantries, politeness, and small talk

This is a communal pursuit of the Kingdom of God

The breaking of bread- shared meals

The prayers- communication with God

In some ways, these feel like two spheres: practical and spiritual

A shared community and meals feel very practical

Praying and growing in God’s Word feels very spiritual

However, I think we have to see that the two go hand-in-hand

When the practical and the spiritual meet in the life of a church, God moves in power

The life of the church was awe-inspiring for the people that were a part of it; the world could not offer anything like this

Likewise, God did the kinds of things in the lives of people that only He could be properly credited for

This is truly a little glimpse of heaven!

I don’t know that we will ever completely experience what the church in Jerusalem had in this episode

I do know that this kind of life is worth pursuing and that it is going to require intentionality

We must devote ourselves to it!

When it comes to effective evangelism, it’s not just the mega churches that can make a big impact. Churches big and small just have to keep doing the basics with intentionality

 After examining thirteen factors that, when practiced consistently, make churches of all sizes effective in reaching and staying connected with new believers, researchers found that those who convert and retain the highest percentages are intentional about reaching out to invite people to come to church and being very hospitable to the lost when they do come (Bob Smietana, “When It Comes To Evangelism, The Small Things Really Matter,”) 

LifeWay Research

II. A Commitment to a Shared Life vv. 44-45

Luke goes on to describe the ways in which the church devoted themselves to “the fellowship”

They share 3 things in common:

A Common Faith

They all believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

They profess the same faith in the same Lord

Whenever a church tries to rally around some common cause, personality, or culture besides Jesus it will fail

Further, unity for unity’s sake is futile. We must unite in Christ and trust Him to hold His body together

A Common Passion

Next, Luke tells us that they were “together”

There were places, spaces, and times, that they were together

There was real face-to-face interaction that was taking place and more than worship was happening during those times

However, there is much more than that at play here; there is an openness that is present.

The people are engaging with each other:

Their unity is more than the absence of conflict

It is marked by loving relationships

Some folks make you feel at home. Others make you wish you were.

Arnold H. Glasow.

A Common Possession

They share their possessions

In a group of any size, there will be diversity of capability; because those in need are seen, known, and loved by the Body, those who have give sacrificially to provide for those who need

This kind of living is necessarily sacrificial, but it is absolutely worth the cost

It is not possible to live this way without giving of yourself

It will cost you time, energy, and even money to love God’s people in this way. However, what we all gain is of even greater value!

Charles Francis Adams, 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.

III. A Daily Discipline with a Great Reward vv. 46-47

Finally, we see the fruit of all of this:

The life of the church has a daily rhythm:

It is shockingly consistent

This is a sermon for another time, but I think we need to pay attention to this issue of consistency

Some of us are missing out on the benefits of “life together” because we just aren’t here that often;

The early church was together daily; sometimes we are struggling to meet monthly

It is both practical and spiritual:

They attend the temple together

They break bread in their homes

We see four ways in which it is fruitful

The people are marked by gratitude. They become more thankful

The people are marked by praise. They are more connected to God

They have favor with people. There is something compelling, even to an unbelieving world

The Lord adds to their number. God delights to multiply what is healthy and reflective of His character

Remember putting your face above a headless frame painted to represent a muscle man, a clown, or even a bathing beauty? Many of us have had our pictures taken this way, and the photos are humorous because the head doesn't fit the body. If we could picture Christ as the head of our local body of believers, would the world laugh at the misfit? Or would they stand in awe of a human body so closely related to a divine head? 

I can’t imagine the Lord would add people to a church that doesn’t look much like Him!

-What would it look like if we were this kind of church?

-What would you have to change for us to become this kind of church?