Growth in the Gathering

What’s the difference between Church and church?

What kind of group would you put into the Church category that isn’t in the church category

vis versa?

Where does discipleship happen?

Growth in the Early Church - Acts 2:41-47

I want to look at Acts 2 together and just make a few observations as we go.

Acts 2:41–47 NASB95

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

If we were to stop right there. What elements that define the church are immediately evident in the context of this extraordinary number of conversions?

The witness of baptism.

Devotion to teaching. the Scriptures

Biblical Leadership.

Fellowship.

The Lord’s Supper.

Prayer.

Which of these elements happen in the church… the Church?

Acts 2:41–47 NASB95

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What other elements of this early gathering do we see here?

7. signs by the apostles (gifts)

8. together (a gathering)

8. all things in common (covenant commitment)

9. One mind in the temple (unity)

10. Food

11. Praising God - Worship

12. Growth

I would like us to just step back and recognize the wholistic picture of the church immediately following it’s birth at Pentecost. It wasn’t as if gathering together, the Lord’s Supper, biblical leadership, and a commitment to one another were features that were added later that sounded nice.

In a time of some of the most extraordinary growth in the life of the church, the inclusion of all of these elements were not a hindrance to the church’s growth. They were the foundation of the church’s growth.

I’m afraid there’s a trend today that tries to simplify the foundation of Christian ministry and discipleship to a subsection of the whole character of the church. In the most extreme cases some believe their ministry is burdened by the local church. Too many demands or requirements. Maybe it’s too localized. With a little more freedom we can be more fruitful.

From the very beginning, God has always intended and designed that our growth as Christians be through the church and for the church. Acts provides a bold testimony to the whole of the church, it’s gathering, it’s practice of the ordinances, the benefit of biblical leadership and offices in the church, the devotion to teaching and worship, and yes food and fellowship. This is how we grow, and to distance ourselves from the church is to distance ourselves from God’s intended means of growth for the body.

What about missions? Missions can be a difficult task to difficult places, how does a missionary remain connected to the church?

Other questions or comments before we move on?

I’d like to double down on this concept by asking, “What is the body of Christ?” There are a number of passages in Paul’s letters that address growth in the body and if we’re pursuing growth through discipleship we need to understand the body of Christ.

Growth in the body - Ephesians 1:18-23, Ephesians 4:11-16

Even before we talk about the body there’s a more important question we need to ask. What has Christ devoted himself to? There’s a big difference between, “What am I devoted to that I want Christ to be apart of?” and “What is Christ devoted to, so I can be apart of it?”

As Paul starts his letter to the Ephesians he lays out the glory of our redemption in Christ and the blessing we have in Him

Ephesians 1:3–4 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

Alright, we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. That’s extraordinary! Does that mean all of my efforts no matter where they’re put are now blessed? No, not exactly.

How have we come to enjoy this blessing?

Ephesians 1:18–23 NASB95

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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Who is it that enjoys this hope, riches of glory, and surpassing greatness of His power?

The exaltation of Christ!

Who is Christ head over?

Through faith in Christ we are now part of His church. Each of us can absolutely say, I know the blessing of God in Christ. I know the power of God in the Spirit, but we can’t remove the benefits of our salvation and life in Christ from his devotion to His bride the church.

In an age of individualism we can become more comfortable with a faith that’s largely defined by me and God. Paul challenges that perspective a bit. We enjoy the benefits of Christ in and through His devotion to the church, the body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ok how does that get worked out? Paul’s speaking a little more theologically in chapter 1. Let’s look to chapter 4:11-16.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

How has Christ intended that his body be built up?

The use of gifts.

Biblical authority and leadership.

Equipping/ Discipleship.

Teaching.

The service of equipped saints.

Paul really emphasizes this. He’s approached the church from the perspective of the leadership, but then he approaches it from the perspective of the body.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NASB95

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Seeking growth by means of discipleship needs to be attached to what every joint supplies! Discipleship should really pursue the proper functioning of each individual part because that’s how the body grows.

Discipleship is for the church as well as through the church. Discipleship never sends one off away from the church. Discipleship serves the church for the church’s growth.

Discipleship and growth is through the church.

Discipleship and growth is for the church.

Questions or comments before we close?