Together for the Gospel

We’re continuing in the book of Acts, and I’ll remind us that

The Book of Acts is the account of the Church continuing the work started by the Son of God by the indwelling power of the Spirit of God all for the glory of God.

We’re going to be in Acts 2, starting in verse 42

‘The director is out of its depth. The story is going to be terrible. It’s going to look like a cheaply made television movie. It will overshadowed by the Dark Knight Rises.”

On paper, it really shouldn’t have worked out that well! I mean, all of these movies were really a different kind of genre. The characters themselves were wildly diverse. It. Didn’t make sense. And yet somehow, these characters, these story arcs, they came together for the purpose of one cohesive story.

In the Jerusalem Church, you had people from different countries, languages, cultures. You had broke people rubbing elbows with the wealthy and the well to do. You had incredibly educated people worshipping side by side with people who didn’t have a 6th grade education. It was an ensemble cast, that didn’t make any sense.

The defining trait of the Church in Jerusalem was their togetherness.

They were with each other, and for each other in everything that they did. Now, did they do this perfectly? No. Did they have some stumbling steps along the way, absolutely, and we’re going to be taking an honest look at those moments over the next few weeks. But, we’re going to take a look at the fact tonight that the definite trait of the church in Jerusalem was their togetherness.

Acts 2:42-47

Shared in common worship (42)

So, they’re devoted to meeting together, to hear the Word being preached, to praying with one another, and remember Jesus’ sacrifice.

Every church is going to have different elements in worship, every church is going to have a worship service that looks different. But what we HAVE to have. Like. Non-negotiable. We have to be together. We have to pray. We have to come around God’s Word. We have to praise the name of the risen Jesus. Non-negotiable. Everything else, cherry on top.

But see, part of that, is that we need to be together in order to do that.

It’s really hard to partner together in worship when you’re not worshipping together.

Build partnership in worship into the rhythm of your life.

It’s so easy to neglect this, and really quickly lose the plot. Heb 10:25 reminds us to stay in the habit of meeting with one another. If we don’t build this partnership into the rhythm of our lives, it’s really easy to get disconnected, and to feel like you’re very much alone. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen students complete sell off meeting and being in worship, and then go on and say, well I just don’t feel connected to anyone.

Our “partner” who didn’t come to the meetings, and who showed up to the last one, asking what we needed him to say.

They shared in common worship, but they also

Shared in common needs (44-45)

Like i’d said, these weren’t all well to do people. They didn’t all come from money, and they hadn’t all made a lot of money.

There was something incredibly attractive about the Jerusalem Church, that they took care of their own people. Nobody went hungry. Nobody went around without clothing, or without a place to sleep. They took CARE of one another.

What are the needs that you see around you? Is there someone who needs a seat? Invite them to sit with you. Is there someone who just needs you to listen? Then let them tell their story.

Make a habit out of finding a need that you can meet.

Johnny needing a ride. It was because we were taking Johnny home that we realized his home situation was rough. It was terrible.

They gave Johnny’s family a house. And it all started because those students made a commitment to Johnny, to make sure he had a ride home.

But another thing they shared in, that they were together in

Shared in common life (46)

The temple served both as a religious hub, and as a place to more or less hang out. Their lives, culturally, were built around the temple. Our lives aren’t culturally built around the temple. Where do you think your life, culturally, is built around?

These people were eating together, they were spending solid chunks of their time together.

Let me ask you this. When you’re spending a lot of time with other believers, is it easier, or harder to live out your faith?

Carve out time to spend with other believers each day.

When our youth group grew the most, was when we were sitting together at the lunch tables.

Because see, I wasn’t wrestling team. My brother, he wasn’t sitting with the football team. My buddy Jono wasn’t sitting with the band guys, Heather wasn’t sitting with the basketball team, Jana wasn’t sitting with the cheerleaders, for that one part in the day, we were sitting with each other.

Shared in common purpose (47)

Their purpose was to praise God, and to live a good reputation life.

Their purpose was to live a life where, if the people saw them worshipping God, and then going on and living their life, they wouldn’t see a difference between the two.

These people were living out their faith in an attractive way. They were living out their faith in such a way that the outside observer went, okay. What? That’s….different. Whatever you’ve got, I want it.

They were living honest, kind, sincere, generous lives.

Let me ask you this, what kind of character would you live out now if you knew you wanted to have a good reputation.

Live a good reputation life.