The Gathering (2)

Introduction:

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.

They devoted themselves: “Persisting obstinately in”

4 Things:

Apostle’s Teaching: What was that teaching?

Koinonia: Intimacy between Christians

Breaking of THE Bread: best argument for this to mean Communion: the other 3 are spiritual in nature.

Prayer: Didache: “Recommended the use of the Lord’s Prayer three times a day.” NIVAC

v.43: “Thus, we do not have here a case of enforced sharing, as in communism. Nor was it a once-for-all disposal of all private property in the church. The important point is that the fellowship touched the pocketbook too!” NIVAC

v.47: God adds to their number. God grows the church.

We are responsible to be the church.

Introduction: Witness to One

Enfolding Strategy:

Early church had 3,000 people convert at Pentecost! They had some work to do, so what did they do?

Teach. Love. Worship.

Teach

Great Commission: make disciples

Baptizing

Teaching them everything I have commanded them

Christianity is a religion which requires teaching...

Apostle’s Creed??

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Lot of information in that line of faith!

Going back to Genesis 1

Of course most of the Apostle’s Creed is about Jesus: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord...

Christ??

God’s Son??

LORD?? So He’s a King of sorts??

Apostles gave themselves to teaching just like their rabbi poured into them with teaching.

Why is that important?

Because the content of what we believe is important.

TRUTH is important.

This past week a notable Christian magazine published an article by the editorial director on an interview he did on a Catholic Fransiscan Monk. When I say that it feels like I’m starting a joke… Anyway, this monk I have heard speak about God and Jesus and faith, and although he’s promoted as espousing a kind of Christian mysticism, what he actually believes about God and Jesus and faith are categorically different then how the Bible describes them… And people from all over the world are flocking to this guy! He’s scratching an itch for millions, especially for millenials, to find purpose… But in that discovery, millions of millenials are led to claims very different than the ones the Apostles made about Jesus.

This past week I did some research for a paper.

Studied a 3-mile radius around PRES:

Religious trends over the past ten years point to some challenges for the future of the local church. The total percentage of None/No Religious and Spiritual/No Religious Preference grew from a percentage total of twenty­–six percent to thirty–percent.[1] In comparison, over the past ten years, the largest five Christian faith groups have declined from 50 percent to 45 percent.

Over the past 10 years, the 3-mile radius around PRES reflects what’s happening all around the world!

Challenge ahead of us:

Jesus actually rose from the dead: 64% 2012; 52% in 2017

Jesus is the only way to salvation: 55% to 45%

Jesus was a good and wise moral teacher but no more: 17% vs. 24%

As our neighbors and co-workers and communities are trending away from basic Christian core tenants, our job is to continue to teach!

All truth no heart??

Love:

v.42: Fellowship= Koinonia

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common (koina).

v.45: “Selling possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Sounds amazing:

Can you imagine visiting someone from ResLife, and you see their brand new John Deere riding lawn mower?

Dude, nice ride.

Response: LIFTS KEYS: Well it’s ride now, bro!

What would your response be?

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant...”

Picture fo the early church is that koinonia, fellowship, was more than just hangin’ out.

Where there was a need it was met: Magical picture of unity

John Stott: “Christian caring is Christian sharing”

Ajith Fernando: “The fellowship touched the pocketbook!” NIVAC

Sarcasm:

Too bad we can’t practice this today though, right?

To bad social distancing and this pandemic

Can’t share things. Australia study done just this past week noted that the coronavirus stays on surfaces longer then once expected...

Does the coronavirus give us a bi-on koinonia??

Challenge

Not to guilt trip you, but these questions are important:

We have had people lose family members due to the pandemic: Did you send that person a note to offer your condolences?

We have had new members recently: Have you reached out to that new person?

DON’T LET THE PANDEMIC KEEP YOU FROM LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR!

This is not merely the role of a pastor! This is the role for all of us, and I believe this is a growth area for all of us, including myself! It’s hard pastoring during a pandemic! I’ll be honost. Like, my whole job is to bring people together!!

If the enfolding process was just about teaching, we’d be pretty cold.

If the enfolding process was just about koinonia, we’d be a cozy cult.

But we need truth and love and, finally, worship.

Worship

Dedicated themselves to worship:

v.32: to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Breaking THE Bread

Communion: Union with God and with one another

Took communion each week since 2013

Stopped cold turkey for 8 months!

Fasting: Each time we I wanted to do it, it was a reminder of my need for Christ...

But today, on this Sunday morning, we dedicate ourselves to the breaking of the bread, or at least the slipping of the wafer from a really small cup… As a sign to point towards Jesus.

We break the fast this morning! Can I get a what, what?

Prayer:

Twice/month prayer time

Noon 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the week

Going to try but may not last

Where?

v.46: And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.

Where? In the temple and in homes

Worship together and worship in small groups...

Worship together: Challenge:

Don’t have a building, don’t know when we’ll have a building...

Not time of isolation, but a time of mobilization

How are we positioning ourselves during this pandmic?

Meet more? Meet less? 3rd wave?

Patience is needed...

But with regards to the enfolding process:

Connection between worship and hospitality:

How are we a welcoming community when we meet?

Are we thinking about others when we worship?

What happens at worship is a paradigm, a model for what happens also in the home!

Before the pandemic, did you welcome people in your home?

Small Groups...

Enfolding Process

Relational approach vs. Programmatic Approach

Dedication to truth, love, and worship...

Are you dedicated to these things?

Conclusion:

Where’s Jesus in this passage?

The Lord added to their number

The Gospel:

Jesus is the King who rules, reigns, and continues to redeem!

The church could have been doing all these things and no body could have joined...

The LORD adds to the church.

We can water it, feed it, but Jesus causes it to grow...

The Gospel in this passage is that Jesus, as the King, transforms hearts. He’s the one who died and rose. He’s the one who reigns and redeems.