Acts 2:42-47

Introduction

Summer/Winter Camp

Major event that leads to spiritual high

But when its done, what’s next?

V 42

The Apostle’s Teachings

This was a devotion to what the apostles had been teaching

Greek word for devoted here means to be devoted or constant to something

They were devoted to these teachings through the spoken words of the apostles but we have the ability to read the New Testament

In addition we have the benefit of living with 2000 years of church history of incredibly smart people who have devoted their lives to the study of this book

When we look at what a church is doing, are they adhering to what the apostle’s taught?

Are we trying to recreate the wheel? Is our church’s goal to be original?

Or are we teaching what’s been taught over the course of the last 2 millineum?

The Fellowship

Koinonia

To share with others or to participate in

One of the greatest deceptions of our current day is the belief that someone is successful if they are independent

We need each other. We need community. We need fellowship

That’s why we encourage attendance on Sundays and Wednesdays. Not because we keep track and are lurking to discover when you miss and hold it over you, but to get you to participate in the fellowship

Freshman vs Senior year

The early church didn’t have 1200 other churches, or Christians globally, or other blessings we have. They had an empire that hated them, a religion that disowned them, but they had each other

The Breaking of Bread

Two common interpretations here

They ate meals together

Jesus did some of his most important work in ministry around a table of food ‘

Why is getting coffee or sharing a meal with others so significant?

it breeds fellowship. There is a common sense and purpose

Partaking in the Lord’s Supper

When we take communion and take part in the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine, we are reminded that we are living under the New Covenant

We are to confess our sins before we approach the throne, but by our participation we are agreeing that the Messiah is not promised, he has come.

To this group, Jesus was the full acknowledgment of what was prophesied. Judaism splits here. The early church, just like our church today should, acknowledged the role that Christ was and is at the center of ever core belief our faith holds

The Prayers

Praying together

while there was elements of personal prayer that were and still are important in the life of the believer, the prayers likely is a more corporate reference

The early church would pray together. Pray for and with one another

V 43-45

The church gave everything they had to the start of the church

influx of 3000 people, some without jobs or shelter, there was little that could be done without the sacrifice of each individual

What this church understood so greatly was that church was both by all people and for all people

By all people in the sense that in needed every single member if they were going to keep growing in numbers

For all people in the sense that both Jew and Gentile now found grace in the arms of Christ

When a church does church really well, what it has is each member playing an active role

Some had more to give. Some had nothing. Some gained things are turned around and gave them back to others

What this church had was unification in the ultimate

They didn’t need to build wealth or status, they just needed to help others see Christ and do life together

V 46-47

What happened as a result of their generosity and their love for the lord and one another?

Others wanted to take part in what was occurring

“What is happening over there? Why are they so close and why is everyone so tight knit? Who is this Jesus that has knit them together?”

Church is a place for us to attend as believers on a Sunday or Wednesday. It is a great time to partake in this ministry with one another

When you hangout outside of this ministry that’s also church

When you serve somebody else in our congregation, that’s also church

When you study the apostle’s teachings and learn what they have to say, that’s also church

When you take this love that the believers have for one another and share it with those outside the walls of the church, more will be added to its number

The church Luke describes is the blueprint for the principles that should govern how we as believers live

Not rigid, but present