The Spirit of the Church

How did the church begin?

What was it like to be a Christian in these very early days?

How did they live out their faith?

How did they spend their time?

What challenges did they face?

Before we get to that analysis— let me show you a little illustration.

Something brand new is a wonderful pleasure. Running shoes, a new bat, a brand new uniform, a new tool— all give the user a great feeling. How about a new car? It’s a wonderful pleasure to drive a brand new vehicle, isn't it? In fact they make a car air freshener that smells like “new car”! For me, one of those simple enjoyments, a new golf club, a new golf ball, or a new golf glove always gets me excited. The equipment is un-faulted, un-blemished, un-scarred. New equipment certainly has to be “broken in”— but one of the aspects that we love is that something new should always function like it SHOULD.

Today’s passage, Author Luke gives us a deep and concise description of the way the church functioned at it’s very beginning. When it was brand new! Innocent of the distractions, problems, and erosion that can occur over time. Perhaps this passage can give us some idea of how the church SHOULD function?

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

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

Jesus’ final instructions led them to devotion.

Devotion: (defined as)

“to take care of...”

“to pay attention to...”

“to be determined in...”

What were the early Christians devoted to?

We can identify several characteristics, focus points, aspects that we should consider— How would you evaluate your own personal life in these criteria? How would the Lord help us enhance and improve Walnut Creek Mennonite church to a more deep devotion?

Devotion #1:

The early church was a learning church.

…to the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42a)

They took care of, paid attention to, were determined in learning more and more each day. One peril I feel we constantly face today is the temptation to look “back” instead of “forward”. The early church didn’t have that — there wasn’t much to look back on since Jesus ascended!

Romans 11:33 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Psalm 8:1 ESV

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

The riches of Christ are inexhaustible! If we serve a God that is this vast and seemingly endless in His wisdom, grace and mercy, we ought, as those first Christians did, DEVOTE ourselves to learning more and more and more about him everyday. That is what a growing church looks like and that is precisely what a growing faith looks like. Growing in our understanding. WE should count it a wasted day if we haven’t learned something new about God, or come to just a little bit deeper understanding of his love and grace as we go to sleep at night.

Devotion #2:

The early church was devoted to fellowship.

Simply put, they were together. The literal word here implies that they “co-operated”— they were a team! Since March of 2020, the greatest blow our enemy made to the church was the hesitation we have to be together. In a world that is driven by all sorts and forms of media, TV, Movies, Social media, etc., we actually don’t spend real time together as much. Wendy speaks the love language of “quality time”. I’ve learned that it’s not just “time”, it’s the quality that matters! She jokes that she never has understood why people want to go to a movie to be together? We all just sit there quietly and experience the show— that’s not really being together is it?

We see this mentioned in verse 42, but also in verse 44 and 46:

44 “…and had all things in common.”

46 “Attending the temple together, breaking bread in their homes...”

Devotion #3:

The early church was a praying church. (v.42)

These earliest Christians knew they could not face life in their own strength. They knew they didn’t need to! They developed the discipline and habit of pressing into God before they went out into the world. They knew they would be able to meet the problems of life only because they had first met HIM!

There is a growing interest in a more organized prayer effort here at church. I’m encouraged to hear from several of you that you have the desire to gather and pray more. Let’s do that, if this is something God is stirring in you, please reach out to me or any of our elders and lets get that organized! Prayer is a vital part of both our personal relationship with Jesus, and also a wonderful part of our church community experience. Let’s press into Him, and see what He leads us to!

Devotion #4:

The early church lived in awe of God.

Some translations of the word awe here, such as the King James version say “fear”— but its not a terror type of fear— it’s a reverential awe, and wonder. Like “wow”— yes, Lord. But they LIVED in awe. Sometimes we go to a powerful place, like a huge church or temple— I’ve been to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City--- It was an awesome place! But now with the Holy Spirits arrival on earth, and for the believer, the presence of God in our hearts through His spirit— we understand God’s Omnipresence more than ever!

The early Christians learned to live in constant reverence, because they now lived in God’s presence everywhere! It wasn’t just in the temple or in our church— I love the fact that we can be in Awe of God everywhere we go.

The passage also explains that miraculous signs and wonders were happening. That phrase is tucked nicely into all the other aspects. Commentator William Barclay wrote in reflection of this passage:

“If we expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God, things happen. Maybe more things would happen if we believed that together God and we can make them happen!”- William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible

Devotion #5:

The early church shared generously.

v. 45

v. 46b

Think about what motivates you to give?

-Compassion, or empathy for another

-Responsibility, and a duty of stewardship

-Abundance, and recognizing our own needs

The early Christians were compelled to share everything they had— and were also willing to receive when they had a need. This is a crucial lesson I’ve learned as I moved into ministry. This concept is very difficult in our individualistic, independent, capitalistic culture. We often are very willing to give— based on these three motivations— And we are a giving and generous church as a whole. I praise God for the maturity that we have shown to support so many wonderful missions. However, we must also remember that if we won’t receive from others— we deny them those same three motivations in our life— and that limits our relationship. This is the very valuable lesson I’ve learned about fellowship and intimacy among the family of God— It’s immaturity that would give and not receive— I can hold people at an arm’s length because of foolish and selfish PRIDE. ---Simply put, if you are unwilling to receive something from others with grace and thankfulness, this severely limits your ability to authentically and sincerely share what God has blessed you with. You see, the act of giving and receiving isn’t always just about financial resources. It’s about giving and receiving our very “selves” to another.

Psalm 133:1 ESV

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

The early Christians figured this out quickly— and I have to believe that they knew the true “owner” of everything— GOD— and they could not be in fellowship with someone in need, and not respond to help them.

Devotion #6:

The early church was a worshipping church.

It seems here that the early church met together as much as they could. The inference here in scripture is that they met together for worship every day! (verse 46) Day by Day. Attending the temple together, eating together. Doing “life” together. That’s a bit harder to accomplish in today’s fast paced, and busy society, but lets continue to look for ways to connect ourselves. Wednesday night fellowship meals, inviting each other over to our homes, or out for a meal are all great activities to build strong friendships and trust with each other.

And obviously our Sunday morning services. Look around— this is us! We are here, together as a statement of our faith in God and our love for each other.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (ESV)

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Devotion #7:

The early church had favor in their community.

The early Christians were looked upon as “good”. That’s what this means. That has the potential to be a whole other sermon series, doesn’t it? It implys that what they were doing, how they were living, it was counter-culture— it was different, but it was attractive. There are two Greek words for “Good”

Good:

Agathos: noun. moral excellence or admirable. God declared creation “good”.

Kalos: adjective. delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration.

Kalos is the word here — we can read into this that the church was not only Agathos— Good, but it was also Kalos, it looked good!

The church was basically a group, an organization, a movement that people couldn’t help but like, and be attracted to! hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Real Christianity, in the heart of a person— or in the midst of a gathered group, is a lovely thing. It’s not only “good”— Agathos, but also Kalos, it looks good too! There are many among us who are excellent examples of this— but one that comes to my mind is our big brother Art Hamsher. Art, you are a winsome and friendly man. You are a joy to be around, and you are so kind and generous. That isn’t just because of your personality, or your gifts and talents, or your life experience— it’s partly those things, but it’s most definitely from our HOLY SPIRIT and the power of Christ’s love in your heart for people, for our church, and for this community.

There are too many of us who have forgotten our destiny, the great riches of our salvation— we are Good— Agathos— but there seems to be a streak of unlovely hardness to us. Perhaps we are judgmental, or cold. Dismissive, condescending. To me, that’s a Christianity that is only on Defense. Stuck trying to defend itself, or react to the culture. I believe it would help the cause of Christ in the world today for us to go on offense!— To do not just what is “right”— but to ask the Lord to lead us to what is “Good”— To do the Kalos thing— and live a Kalos life. A life that has favor among those around it. One that is attractive. And as they always say— You attract more bees with Honey than vinegar, right?

What were the hallmarks of the early church?

Teaching and learning

Fellowship and togetherness

Prayer and awe

Giving and receiving

Worshiping and witnessing

Can we, together, learn from the past and forge the future that God intends for us?

How are you experiencing these aspects of our church. Do you spot a “passion point”— where you believe we are either doing really well, or even doing not so well? How can we improve and continue to mature and grow our fellowship here?

Let us not aim to recapture what we once had, but rather look ahead to dream and build what can be!

“We sometimes idealize the early church

and want our churches to go back to the simple, old ways.

We need to carefully read the history.

Harmony takes work.” - Author: Jerry B. Jenkins

What effect might we continue to have if we also devote ourselves to seeing these same characteristics enhanced here at Walnut Creek?

I invite you to join all our elders, leaders and staff in praying that God will continue to grow our church in wisdom and vision as we seek to glorify Him with everything we have.

I encourage you to continue reading along in the wonderful story of ACTS. It only gets better! What were the effects that the early believers had on those around them. Read in Chapter 3 this week for some exciting examples.

The series will continue next week, as I want to introduce you to one of the quiet and “unsung” hero’s of the early church— Barnabas, often called “the son encouragement”. We’ll examine a seemingly small act of service and generosity that quite literally launches the church for God’s glory. I’m looking forward to it.

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Benediction:

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.