More than Sunday

Introduction: Groundhog day

WHat does this have to do with ?

I’m glad you asked.

In the same way that we look at a groundhog in Pennsylvania having little to do with the weather of the Bay area, we often look at this passage as something viewed from afar that looks nice but really doesn’t have anything to do with me today.

For a long time, people planned the next 6 weeks based on the input of a groundhog. You might think that’s silly, but there is some science behind it even if we don’t understand it.

For a long time, people considered their Christian faith based on their ability follow the examples of the disciples in .

Transition to the Text:

Read:

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Transition to the Big Idea: We often put this passage up as the idea but something that can’t be accomplished today. However, if we look at it closely, we see that it really is about....following Jesus and being the church that he wanted us to be.

So

Big Idea: The Church is more than Sunday. The Church is the family of God.

didn’t happen over night. It started several years prior when the disciples first encountered Jesus. All that he modeled for them. All that He taught them was showing them a picture of the church that was to come.

Then: Jesus Envisioned a Church that was more than Sunday.

Explanation:

More than Sunday is not about having a school and preschool though that it is part of who we are at North Hills. More than Sunday means that we follow Jesus and obey His commands on more than just Sunday.

A key phrase appears in vs. 46: Day by Day. This wasn’t a once a week thing.

Day by day they:

Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers

Awe came over every soul.

They had all things in common.

Attending temple.

breaking bread

praising God

But how did they get here?

Let’s never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to change the world through His people.

But, also, this is the logical living out of Jesus’ teaching.

Love one another as I have loved you

Look after the least of these.

Have compassion on others.

Heal the sick

Teach people about the kingdom of God.

Preach the gospel and call people to repentance.

Embrace anyone and everyone who embraces the Gospel.

They lived this out every single day.

Back then, the Jewish people

The followed the example of Jesus.

They expected the miraculous.

They came to expect the miraculous because it was happening everywhere. No one could deny that the world was changing.

Illustration: It’s superbowl sunday so I’ll throw in one illustration from sports. During today’s game, there will probably be a moment in the game that they’ll call it a momentum shift which will give the team the advantage and they will go on to win the game. And for days or weeks or in the case of certain games, we’ll debate what would have happened had that moment not happened. Let’s just hope it’s not a bad call from the referrees.

is that momentum shift. The momentum shifted as the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they were empowered to change the world through His power. They preached the Gospel, people were saved. The devoted themselves to God and through them, the Gospel has gone to the ends of the earth.

Hospitals?

Public Schools? Literacy? Education?

Orphanages?

The end of slavery?

The continued fight against atrocities of the world?

People following Jesus in compassion and love and more than Sunday

So now we come to today.

Now: When you become a Christian, you become a member of God’s FAMILY.

When you become a Christian, you become a member of God’s FAMILY.

For further discussion: Note how many plural words are used to describe the church: they, themselves, apostles, every, all, together, common, any, homes, hearts, people. Share your thoughts on the following statement: “Christianity is a shared journey of faith.” (See : The church can be described in many ways. Based on this passage of Scripture, how should people think of the church?)

This week I will make church more than Sunday by...