Life Together
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Living Together
Living Together
Living together, we are starting into a new series on the subject of living together. In the church you often read “fellowship together.” And today and for the next few weeks we will look at life as we live and fellowship together.
(Living together-1 picture)
In our society today when you hear the phrase “living together” it is mostly equated to a couple who are living together outside of wedlock. It is a nice way of not addressing sinful behavior isn’t it?
According to the US Census Bureau 10 years ago, and I’m sure the numbers have increased since there were 12 million people who were living together, cohabitation and there were over 6 million of those who were raising families outside of being married.
As we start this series entitled “Living Together” we are going to be looking at the joys and yes even sometimes the sorrows of our living together as Christ family, as the church. What we do in our life together as the church.
Living together in the church (Act2:42)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Devoted: (adj) very loving or loyal; to be given over to, to display, study or discussion of a subject
Bible Definition: to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one's time to reading. to appropriate by or as if by a vow; set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate: She devoted her life to God
Living together as the church (Act4:32-35)
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
One heart, one soul, all things were common property, so as no one was in need.
(living together-2 picture)
We then also will be looking at:
Living together as the exampled church
Where this couple looks like they are enjoying life, eternal life is at risk, is it not?
I think we can all agree we are a “word” church; we are simply Christians studying God’s word together. We give much emphasis to the apostles doctrine, and to the breaking of bread (Lord’s Supper) as well as to prayer, but how much emphasis does the church in general put into fellowship (living together as the exampled church)?
I am not saying we lack, or do not lack in this area of fellowship, in living together, but how we fellowship can directly impact others that may come through the doors by invitation or by intervention by God. I think we can all learn to grow more in may areas of our Christian walk.
Like the plan of salvation has certain things to believe, certain things to do, we can see in the Act2:42 passage there are certain things they were devoted to, that got emphasis.
Are we practicing these things like the exampled manner of the early church?
This morning as we start this series, using the light of the scripture to lead the way, I hope we can come to have a greater appreciation and understanding on the importance of fellowship and the application of it as the Bible speaks of it.
We will focus on
The potential problem
Reason for the potential problem
Freedom from the potential problem.
Potential problem
Potential problem
As the early church grew there were problems that started to arise. There was disunity over fellowship, who was in, who was to be out and the like. As the church grows today there is a potential problem of disunity by different thoughts and the like. May we not lose our identity of being simply Christians.
(Trained observer picture)
What if a trained observer walked in to see us, to make an analysis of us as a church, what would they see?
A body of believers who welcomes all people?
We know this is contrary to many for even in Jesus day they wanted things a certain way and were only willing to accept people that saw and did things they way they did.
A warm and inviting congregation that makes them feel at home and comfortable
This too can be contrary to many for an assortment of reasons
We do have potential for problem in living together to make it about “us” and not about “all men” which is God’s will as it says in (2Pt3:9)
How would this trained observer see our interaction, our fellowship outside of the assembly? Would we be a people who walk our faith talk Monday-Saturday just as much as on Sunday? Would we be loyal followers of Jesus who are consistent in our following?
How about outreach to others in the community and our community involvement?
I will say that we do amazingly well in these areas, of course there is room to grow. The potential problem is when we continue to grow numerically that we can loose the unity that is inviting to all people, the warmth for all so that they feel welcome and invited. We don’t want to lose what is helping us to grow in the first place in our life together do we? - I know it’s a rhetorical question.
How about how well do we really know each other outside of the assembly? Do we know each others families, cares, concerns? Do we as a body of believers spend time together outside of the assembly? The first century church did.
Are we are congregation that loves to fellowship together (Act2:46)?
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,
I know how busy our lives can be and are. I am aware I’m comparing ourselves to the 1st century church who too had a busy life, but look what they had:
One mind
They broke bread together (shared meals together)
Were in each others homes
Not only were they doing it, they were doing it with sincerity of heart.
Are you contemplating these things, are you a little uncomfortable when you do? Ouch, I’m stepping on my own toes here for I have to allow God to work on and in me in some of these areas.
Thus far I have primarily focused on the trained observer, the outsider the potential believer and not taken into account the believer too much as of yet.
May I press on?
Reasons for potential problem
Reasons for potential problem
There are some reasons for the potential problems of fellowship, in living together, as the church.
Author, James Thompson in his book “A fresh look at Christian Fellowship” referenced a church survey that was done and here are some of the results.
A great majority of the church members knew only a small percentage of the people on a personal level.
Those who gathered were mostly an anonymous group of believers in churches over 100 members
Members were not truly willing to carry the burdens for one another, they thought that was the job of minister or elders. Isn’t that what they are paid to do?
Members expressed little interest in involvement in other members lives outside of the assembly or a church event.
Worship is for their own spiritual gain, own spiritual growth and not to add to and to help others to grow.
Overall in the survey that was done it showed that the churches consisted of members who were “self-centered” and therefore there was very little fellowship of any sort taking place.
Again, let me emphasis that I am not suggesting that we have the same problem here, but we do have the potential for that problem here.
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Potential problem is allowing self-centeredness, selfishness to slip into our assembly of being simply Christians studying God’s word “together.”
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(Identify the problem picture here)
We need to look at the identity of the potential problem.
Most of us have lived, and survived the:
Me decade (70’s) where self-love, self anything was in. Drugs and alcohol were growing as a way of escape. It was the time where people were turning to philosophies rather than to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was also the time of “I’m OK and You’re OK,” with a focus on self-awareness and transcendent meditation and yoga. Rebelling against authority was on the rise and people were looking out only for number 1, themselves.
Then came the 80’s the “greed decade.” Yep, God almighty was replaced by the almighty dollar. Man was looking for ways to move up by their efforts instead of looking up to See God and His ways of eternal prosperity vs the temporal that the dollar could bring. This is the “keeping up with the Jones’s” generation.
In our society today we are very mobile. Children grow up, move away, and for the most part, do not return. Families are mobile and move from place to place and new people move in but they are not locals and oftentimes are not accepted (i.e. how well do we know our neighbors).
Technology age, we have even gone from the bag phones to cell phones, from MySpace to Facebook, Twitter, Snap chat all great ways we can stay in contact with one another, keep contacting even the masses, but it looses the personal touch, we lose a persons feelings, emotions, and, we lose relationship and replace that with acquaintance and that may even be stretching it.
Technology today has made it where you can go to church without going to church even. You can go to a live stream or YouTube. You can do studies, you can even give your offering all from the comfort of your easy chair.
Understanding: We have a potential problem regarding lack of understanding of the scripture and what it says about “fellowship together.” Without fellowship we are missing out on the blessings, richness, fullness of our life in Christ now.
Society seems to nourish and feed self-centeredness, selfishness in a large part we lose our community and fellowship with one another and that impacts our life together as believers. God’s Word and God’s design for our life together, our living together has a different approach and solution to the potential problem.
Freedom from potential problem
Freedom from potential problem
(One body many parts picture)
If you have your bible, open it to 1Cor12, we will be there in just a few minutes. I know we have gone a long time without scripture and we are simply Christians studying God’s Word so the rest the message this morning will be scripture rich.
We are the church, the body of Christ, we are one body with many parts and we are to be a church that is to be a fellowship free from self-centeredness and to be God focused. A body that displays the characteristics of Christ. It helps us to be free from the potential problems in our life together.
So the one body that holds to God’s truth, to God’s word will be hospitable and will be fervent in love for one another. For we know that love covers a multitude of sins and love forgives. We as the body need each other, so now may we look at the passage.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
we are one body, many parts, many members with one spirit that we are baptized into, regardless of our background.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
God placed the member, each one of them, each has a part to play, the question is are we bringing our part to the body to make us a whole? We are all needed.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Look at these last verses, God composed the body, so that there would be no division in the body!
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
We all would thrive, and yes, even suffer, together. We are one body.
So, fervent love, being hospitable and know that we are connected to each other, and each part needs to stay connected. We cannot do that through Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat or whatever new fangled thing is out there, we need to bring our part to the body as we live our life together as the body of Christ.
Pray for one another (Jm5:16)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
The power of prayer unlocked, unleashed when we pray for one another.
Restore one another (Jm5:19-20; Gal6:1)
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
and add to that passage
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Restoration through honesty with a spirit of gentleness! When we as a family living together do these things, caring for one another we are looking out for the health of the body as a whole. Sometimes doing the healthy thing is not so easy.
Admonish one another (Col3:16)
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
How are we to admonish one another? Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs singing with thankfulness. For we do it from a place of love. For we are called to do it:
Love and serve one another (Gal5:13)
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
We are to love one another in the freedom that we have as the body of Christ, one body with many parts that are living together, living together in a covenant relationship with God through Christ!
Again, look at the exampled church (Act2:42-46)
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 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,
Other exemplified churches
Antioch (Act11:27-30)
They sent help from a place of love to the church at Jerusalem during the family that was prophesied to happen
Churches of Macedonia (2Cor8:1-5)
Who gave for the body even in their own affliction because of the grace of God that was given to them.
In an effort to get you out of here today, let me stop there and wrap this up.
(Insert- Living together slide picture)
We are a church that is living together and we have looked at the importance of living together with an emphasis on fellowshipping together , so what is the application today?
If you are not part of the family, a part of the body living together in Christ Jesus now is the time to take care of it.
If you are a part of the body, be encouraged to bring your part to the body as we live together!
May we pray for one another, serve one another, and admonish, encourage and edify one another.
(invitation slide) song (exit slides)