Lean on Me
Notes
Transcript
Is this really it?
Is this really it?
Have you ever thought to yourself......there has to be more to church than coming to church once, or twice a week for worship or bible study?
Have you ever wondered why don’t we see the things we see happening in the Bible in our world today?
Have you ever wondered why don’t we see the things we see happening in the Bible in our world today?
Have you ever asked why am I not seeing growth in my personal spiritual life or life of the church?
Explanation
Explanation
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
All the Believers devoted themselves......
All -Complete, entire, the gross, outright, total, full, each member, individual....remember in the previous section we saw that 3,000 people decided to become followers of the way so this community was not a small thing.
Believers- Those who say they follow the ways of Jesus, and identify themselves with other people who follow the teachings of Jesus.
Devoted- Very loving or loyal, ..... a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something. Enduring commitment to a person over a long period of time, often with the implication of the commitment persisting in the face of obstacles that threaten such endurance.
enduring commitment to a person over a long period of time, often with the implication of the commitment persisting in the face of obstacles that threaten such endurance.
.....to the apostle’s teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer.
Apostle’s teaching -
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
revelation, knowledge, prophecy, instruction on how to live as a follower of Jesus
Fellowship - sharing, participation, a term that conveys a sense of commonality, solidarity, and a shared responsibility among households, or individuals.
a term that conveys a sense of commonality, solidarity, and a shared responsibility among households, or individuals.
Koinonia - Sharing of resources, monetary or otherwise. A willingness of the assembled to share their resources as a way of expressing solidarity with and responsibility for the believers in the community. Those who choose to willingly engage in mutual responsibility as described as having “partnership” with the body of Christ, the gospel, the Spirit, the sufferings of the Messiah.
Koinonia - Sharing of resources, monetary or otherwise. A willingness of the assembled to share their resources as a way of expressing solidarity with and responsibility for the believers in the community. Those who choose to willingly engage in mutual responsibility as described as having “partnership” with the body of Christ, the gospel, the Spirit, the sufferings of the Messiah.
christ
The NT also teaches that the believers enjoy “Fellowship” with Jesus.
Sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) - formally or informally coming to bring what they have to feed their family, also a time where the experiences of that day or other life experiences were shared and all who were there could benefit from what was shared. Remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross and taking the symbols he showed us (body and his blood) to celebrate the freedom that we have through his death and resurrection.
Prayer - A conversation with the Holy Spirit of Jesus that allows us to be directly at the side of Jesus listening and through the conversation our minds are renewed and changed. This renewal of our mind and time with Jesus, little by little our thinking, decision making, and our life looks more and more like Jesus.
So what we are seeing here in this first verse of scripture is a more clear picture of what it meant to be in the community of faith as they were
So what we are seeing here in this first verse of scripture is a more clear picture of what it meant to be in the community of faith as they were
This first verse is setup to show us what was being done by the people or how they were living.
This was a lifestyle they decided to follow because they knew in the time and place where they lived it was going to be difficult to continue to life as Jesus wanted them to live. Jesus’ example for living was shown through the constant community between him and his disciples.
From the decisions that were made in verse 42.....the results of that life are seen in verses 43-47
They saw the disciples do some amazing things because of the whole communities decision to live and giving themselves to the purposes Jesus laid out before them.
Miraculous signs and wonders- Share story of Committing to meet with Nick “guy we know from a coffee shop”
Wednesday 9/4 I met with the group of people who I meet with for a discipleship group over a conference call. In that conference call and over the last few days I had been hearing from the Holy Spirit that he wanted me to take time with a guy who we know from a local coffee shop. Wonderful guy and his heart seems so caring......however he doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus. So I committed to that group that I would take time to be with him and listen for what God wanted me to do next. So I needed to contact him and find a time for us to get coffee and spend time together. I prayed and the group prayed for me to have the opportunity to connect with him soon. I walked back into the coffee shop and there he was sitting across the room in a meeting with a small group of people. I went to get a refill on my coffee and he sees me and we say a quick “hello”. Later I sent him a message saying that I was just thinking about contacting him to see if he wanted to grab coffee sometime soon. No response.......
Thursday 9/5 I’m in my quiet time with Jesus and I was writing and praying. I was talking with Jesus about how cool it was to see this guy across the room right after I had committed to spend time with him and I knew this was Jesus showing me that He was already working in his life. I mentioned that I knew Jesus wanted me to spend time with him so please let him see the message I sent him on FB messenger and get in contact with me because I knew that Jesus asked me to spend time with him and I was willing to be his representative to this guy. 2 MINUTES LATER.....I get a response from this guy over FB Messenger that he just saw my message and he would love to have coffee with me this week.
SIGNS AND WONDERS!!!! I don’t know what is going to happen in this time we have together for coffee this week.....I was just trying to be obedient to what I thought Jesus was asking me to do. This left me in AWE of the power and faithfulness of Jesus.
So we see that the product of verse 42 is what we see happening in verses 43-47.
The Holy Spirit was doing amazing things in them and through them because they wanted to be obedient and they committed to search out and do the will of God .....God responded with miraculous sign and wonders.......things that can only be described as God doing them.
The community lived in UNITY....met together, shared everything, took care of the needs of the community.
They worshipped together - not only in the temple, but also when they met in each other’s houses
God was able to trust the eternal lives of others with this community so the Holy Spirit brought more people to join with them in their community
Application
Application
All Believers Devoted.......What am I committing my life to?
As followers of Jesus we follow His example of living in community with people who love Him
Do I want to search to see where God is at work in the people around me?
Do I search to see where God is at work in the people around me?
encouraging, supporting, protecting each other when needed.....like the wildebeests in the video
3. Am I willing to be obedient when God shows me what he wants me to do?
Bottom Line-The local church shouldn’t be a place we visit once a week—and then forget about—but a collection of believers who choose to live life together.
a. As we do what he asks us to do he will trust us with more responsibility in Kingdom living
Bottom Line-The local church shouldn’t be a place we visit once a week—and then forget about—but a collection of believers who choose to live life together.