Witness and Warning in the Early Church - Pt. 1

Story of Powerful Origins

This is a story of the powerful origins of the church.

On the one hand absolutely unique for a specific purpose, place and time - and on the other hand is the purest, earliest picture of Christ’s church in action.

Inspiring, encouraging, and yet, unique in many ways. The difficult thing is to distinguish those things that are descriptive of God’s unique sovereign working, and that which is prescriptive and meant to be a model for the church at large.

Same - but different. So we take inspiration and encouragement from the descriptions given, and we glean what we can from what we see and can translate into our own service to God according to the teachings we have in the whole NT.

Demonstration of Christian Unity

Look at the amazing show of unity with these early believers!

one heart and soul

even possessions shared as common

powerful witness to the resurrected Christ

Example of Barnabas, son of encouragement (Acts 9:27; 11:23; 15:37)

Does this mean you are to sell everything and give it to those who have less than you?

Is this a prescription for the church? or is it a description of what God was doing there at that time?

Christian Unity in the Here and Now

Don’t mix up the cause and the effect. The description for the prescription.

Tempted to say, they did x , so if we do x we will be more unified, more Godly, etc.

NOT good works -> Christian Unity

Believed (Christians) -> One Heart and Soul (Unity) -> Good Works

Christ, and their Spirit-filled faith in Him was what unified them, heart and soul. Their faith and Christian unity is what empowered and enabled them to do these good works of generosity and care for their brothers and sisters in Christ!

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God desires the poor to be cared for - and has always provided for them among His people. (Law)

James 1:27 NASB95

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

This picture in Acts, is a marvelous example of that. Many who, by their devotion to Christ had to give up their livelihood (job, family support, etc). They had no way to care for themselves and therefore the church, with one heart and mind, was willing to provide.

Be generous, and be wise.

The wealthy were using their means for the glory of God and the sake of the Gospel! They were caring for one another and promoting the work of the church. We are to do the same.

(How we do that here, mention House of Samuel)

It will look different. That’s by design.

The origin of generosity and God-glorifying works

They weren’t unified because they were generous, they were generous because they were unified! They knew and were utterly devoted (sold out) to Jesus!

Ex. HPT - same goals, same beliefs - Church is a team/body, with the same goals and same beliefs, working towards those goals!

We are unified when we are focused on/devoted to the work and message of Christ! When we share in the glories of it together, and take every opportunity to walk in it together! When we share it with others.

Following Jesus wasn’t a part time task for these believers! They sold out to God!

What would it look like if I were completely sold out to Jesus? If I were willing to make my life about promoting Him and serving Him and not myself?

What would I need to leave behind and sacrifice? (He gave all for me!)

How would my prayer life change? My giving? My “free time”?

Not called to quit your job but we are called to be devoted to Jesus and to the work of the gospel. We aren’t called to sell everything you have, but it is a call to hold more loosely to the things of this world, especially those things that hold you back from devotion to Christ.

Ex. Rich young ruler - (Matthew 19:21-22, Luke 18:22-23)

What is holding you back? What do you need to sell and give to God? What is it, that is keeping you from following Jesus fully - heart, soul, and mind?