Greater Influence

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Theme: Devotion

Question: What does it mean, ‘they devoted themselves?’

Question: Does this reflect an eagerness? A hunger? A voluntary willingness?

These were new believer’s.

Because God, the Holy Spirit, is moving in such powerful ways, we easily romanticize this text. It’s easy to think these were mature believer’s, who had the ‘following Jesus’ thing figured out. They didn’t. They’re brand new believer’s.

This is different that how we tend to respond to someone new in the faith. We heap things on them such as: read the Bible, take a new believer’s class, read books like, ‘The complete history of the Christian faith in the modern world.’ We sketch out lists of what not to do anymore. ‘Don’t do that, don’t go there, don’t say your bowling words, don’t watch that, don’t vote for this person, don’t watch that particular news network, and don’t root for the Dallas Cowboys.’

What if, instead of all of that, we said to someone new in their faith, ‘Here’s everything you need to do, to start strong and stay strong as a follower of Jesus: Read the Bible, talk to God, get in a small group, and come back to church.’

Aren’t those four things exactly what it takes to experience MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS? (Mission statement)

The Christian faith can begin with a personal encounter with Jesus, but God never designed a life of faith to remain private. When someone wants to follow Jesus, he always calls them into a community of other followers of Jesus. Always.

It’s in the context of community that we develop friendships. It’s through those friendships that the Holy Spirit often does his most consistent and transformative work. A friendship that connects you and I to the power of the Holy Spirit is what I’d call A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP.

(A private faith is an isolated faith, and living in isolation is dangerous.)

GREATER - JOHN 14:12

ILLUS: LONE RANGER

Did great things. Examples?

The Lone Ranger could only do one great thing at a time because doing something great required that he be in the room.

You know what’s GREATER than the Lone Ranger?

Two Lone Rangers. Three. Five. Ten. 100. 500. Imagine 2,000 Lone Rangers going around doing good, rescuing the afflicted, tending to the wounded, encouraging the fearful, giving a hand up to the less fortunate, stepping in to help with life’s falling apart, praying for their city, and after they do all of that, going to Connie’s Frozen Custard for dessert!

Touch on (not sure where): ‘awe came upon every soul,’ ‘devoted themselves,’ ‘had all things in common,’ as any had need,’ ‘day by day,’ ‘having favor with all the people.’

GREATER INFLUENCE (?)

‘We, not me.’

Acts 10:38 Jesus went about doing good...anointed with the Holy Spirit.

ILLUS: Honey-Do List Guy

We don’t have to go it alone. We don’t have to know it all or do it all.

We’re a team.

Our coach and trainer is the Holy Spirit. Plus, he’s also in the game with us, doing what only he can do.

Bible Guide Notes:

  Luke gives us a glimpse of the everyday life of the first Christians. They enjoy a wonderful unity, as they learn together from the apostles and share their meals and times of prayer.

God is with them! His presence overflows in the miracles of the apostles and the love of the church members. The church grows, because this way of life is so genuine and attractive.1

1 Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., pp. 540–541). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

TEXT:

John 14:12 (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Acts 2:41–47 (NIV)

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 10:38 (NIV)

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.