Sermon Tone Analysis

Marks of a Growing Faith Community- Introduction

Introduction

Today look at the outcome of Peter’s sermon after outpouring of God’s Spirit

This passage creates an idealistic picture of what early church looked like

But when reading passages like this - must always look at them in context

This was important special time in life of church - never to be repeated

Apostles & all believers who’d experienced & witnessed Jesus & His ministry, resurrection, ascension

Were all members & leaders of new faith community - freshly empowered / invigorated by SPirit

There were miracles, mass conversions, & they were mostly all Jewish - same culture & religious heritage

There’s no way any church today could replicate that time in history

But what we can do = learn from them what marks made them a growing faith community

The outpouring of God’s Spirit produced a growing faith community committed to God and one another

Who were committed to God and each other

That’s what we’re going to look at today - Worship, Community, & Witness

Marks of a growing faith community - Worship

When you hear the word ‘worship’ what’s first thing you think of?

Music - right?

Word worship has now become synonymous with church music

But true biblical worship is far more than just singing & music

Let’s see what Acts tells us

So here we see new Christian believers devoted themselves to 4 things

To learning about Jesus life, his ministry, his resurrection & ascension...

& how all that was God’s plan from very beginning - that’s what apostles were teaching

They also were devoted to regularly meeting together as a group - building relationships with one another

That’s what fellowship means - its more than just turning up once a week

They were spending time intertwining their lives together - sharing life together

Then there’s breaking bread - this could relate to two aspects

Firstly they shared their meals with one another

Sharing a meal was important part Jesus ministry

; ;

;

You can see from just these 3 readings

From feeding 4000 & 5000 people, staying in people’s homes all way to the last supper

You can see from just these 3 readings From feeding 4000 & 5000 people, staying in people’s homes all way to the last supper

From feeding 4000 & 5000 people, remember Jesus went in people’s homes & ate with them

All way to last supper with disciples & even after Jesus resurrected

He shared meals with disciples on road to Emmaus & on shores Sea of Galilee

After Jesus resurrected - shared meals with disciples on road to Emmaus & shores Sea of Galilee

But breaking bread also came to mean Eucharist - which was part of sharing meal

As in last supper - Christians gathered for meal - during - shared bread & wine remembering Jesus

This slowly evolved into Eucharist / Communion tradition we practice today

Lastly - early church spent time praying together

This was an important part of their worship of God

So each of these elements - teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, & prayer

They made up worship life of first Christian church community

But that’s not all...

& 46

This adds extra detail - they practised corporate worship all together - like we are today

Worshipping in temple would’ve involved singing, praying, & teaching all together

But notice also gathered together in small groups people’s homes & worshipped together

And what does it say - were genuinely grateful for all Lord provided them

draw out the elements of early church’s corporate worship - prayer, praise, eucharist, preaching / teaching - refer to Jesus e.g.

special mention Luke - Emmaus road

breaking of bread - following Jesus example - ; ; :30abuse of shows quickly established as Christian tradition -

Illus - Who here likes eating healthy meals?

Illus - Who here likes eating healthy meals?

Doctors & dieticians tells us eating balanced diet = important for living longer staying healthy

Eating heathy = having meals made up of combination of goods foods -

lots vegetables, fruit, small bit of carbohydrates and some protien / meant

BUT - if we eat too much of just 1 or 2 things like this picture...

Creates unbalanced meal - keep eating over time will effect your physical & mental health

You’ll live shorter life / suffer from sickness & disease

Same thing happens when churches get too fixated on just 1 or 2 things

Churches can quickly get out of balance - people start suffering

People’s relationship with God starts suffering

This very same problem happened in church in Corinth - Paul had sort it out

So some people were coming to church just for a feed - big meal

They weren’t too interested in fellowship, or breaking bread, or teaching

So Paul had to pull them up & say - why are you behaving this way?? not right

If St Paul’s is to remain healthy church community - as well as leave heritage / legacy for next generation

We need to ensure we have balanced community life

Question - Do you think our worship at St Paul’s is healthy & balanced?

Do you think your worship has a healthy balance

Marks of a growing faith community - Community

The next important expect of early church - community

What I mean = early church believers behaved like a small family rural community

Perhaps like in Pasifika culture / Maori culture

Where people shared their food, material goods, shelter etc with each other

In Acts we see Christians who perhaps had bit more sell what they had for money

Then gave money to Apostles / leaders who gave money to those in need / poor

Acts 44-45

They were sharing with one another - ensuring every one taken cared of

Early church wasn’t about just gathering together to worship & building relationships

It was also about caring for each other, looking out for people’s needs & meeting them

And they took care of each other willingly because they were grateful & sincere in heart

But this idea of sharing with others wasn’t just a NR thing

breaking of bread - following Jesus example - ; ; :30abuse of shows quickly established as Christian tradition -

Selling & giving to others not a new concept - e.g. when Elisha called follow Elijah ;

Draw out sense of willingness to share with one another to meet peoples needs, & sharing of meals at home - important aspect - includes worship element too with eucharist;

When Elijah called Elisha to follow follow him -

They also

He shared most important assets - his oxen - very imporatnt possession

But he willingly gave them to people of his village as food then followed Elijah

Draw out sense of willingness to share with one another to meet peoples needs, & sharing of meals at home - important aspect - includes worship element too with eucharist; refer to behaviour of sharing / giving - not just in offering basket - practical giving

Selling & giving to others not a new concept - e.g. when Elisha called follow Elijah ;

Illus - Now who’s heard of Give a little, Fund Me, Kickstarter?

These all websites on internet that ask for people to share their wealth to help others

From new products being made, new businesses starting, to people needing expensive medical treatments

People generously give of their material wealth to help others

Then there’s millions of dollars raised to help victims of Christchurch terror attack

Then there’s millions of dollars raised to help victims of Chch terror attack

I believe that’s evidence Kiwi’s can be really generous people - pretty amazing

But in first few centuries after Jesus was resurrected - Church known as generous & selfless