CHURCH

Two weeks ago, the last time I preached, we discussed this idea of finishing well. We took some time to ask these four questions:

#1 Is there anything I have left unfinished?

#2 Is there anything I regret not attempting?

#3 Is there anything I need to do differently?

# 4 Is there anything I need to leave behind?

Then afterwards we took sometime to evaluate our lives. Today I want us to think about starting well. One way we can do this, is by having a clearer picture in our mind of church.

Over the course of being in ministry for some 16 or 17 years. One thing that I have observed is that pastor’s battle continually rumors, gossip about what might be changed etc. It’s not unique to anyone church or to anyone pastor. It’s pretty much been

So this got me asking the question of why? Why is this baited hook so easy for many believers to swallow?

When my bother and I were teens. We knew there were a few things that would get my dad going. We would often play off of each other at dinner. My brother or I would say one thing. Then the other would agree this was a good Idea.

My Dad would then interject. C’mon you all aren’t really considering doing that or you all really didn’t do that. Of course we would answer, Oh yeah dad. We did this or that’s the plan. We’d watch as my dad would try to stay calm to our stupidity.

So we would turn it up a notch. This would keep going Until we could see that he couldn’t stay silent anymore. His reaction was usually preceded by a deep breath. Just when he was about to let us have it, we’d start to giggle. Then my mom would say, “honey, they got you again, they are just baiting you.?”

Then my dad would shake his head and start to laugh.

See We knew if we just laid down the right bait, he would eventually bite.

Well in the same way, in churches all across our nation. Satan does the same things over and aver again. He knows that if he will just dangle the right bait in the church that someone will bite.

So we know how he works, but this doesn’t answer the question why, it works and why it works so well....

Believe it or not today’s message is not about the dangers of gossip or complaining. As far as I know, right now, there aren’t many in our church involved in that sin. Today’s message is rather seeing the solution.

When we don’t have a mature understanding of the church…problems flourish. When we understand church....we flourish, the mission flourishes, and our hearts are filled with contentment and joy.

Definition: ekklesia - The Gathering.

this word is unique in that it references those that worship Yahweh gathering together for a specific purpose.

In other words, not everyone that gathers is part of the church. This is why we have church membership to make sure that all those who are “part of the family” belong to this definition of the church. Those who worship Yahweh through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

But the word itself is a simple word with a simple definition. - “The gathering”

Trans: So then what brought the people together?

Q: What Brought People Together?

Acts 2:36–40 CSB

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

A: A Common Belief in Jesus as Lord.

This made the church distinctly different from the culture around them.

“The church was a new movement that arose after Jesus’ resurrection. The members of the early church sought to adhere to the confession of Jesus as Lord in the midst of an idolatrous, pluralistic culture.”

-Lexham Bible Dictionary

Q: Why Did they Continue to Gather?

When thinking about this question we must remember that this generation of people in the account of Acts lived at the same time as Christ. If they were listening to the apostles teaching and obeying it they would have taken the following words seriously.

Matthew 22:36–40 CSB

36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Look how Deuteronomy describes this command as essential to the everyday life of a believing jew.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 CSB

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

This practice of professing love for God and each other would have still in been a practice in the Jewish home. Imagine how things would be different in our christian homes today.

If every time we gathered at our tables. We professed our love for God and love for each other.

Now think through this with me. Throughout the N.T. we see this familial language being used once again. We see terms like Brother and sister , the brethren.

You see the gathering in the home in the O.T. is to mirror the church family gathering in the New Testament.

There is no doubt that the early church would have remembered Jesus teaching on what is most important. They would have taken this idea and it would have been held in the highest priority.

Trans: So why did they continue to gather? To express their love for God and love for each other.

A: Love for God and Love for Each Other

Q: What Were the Gatherings Like?

Acts 2:41–42 CSB

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Acts 2:46–47 CSB

46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

A.Teaching

Devoted to the apostles teaching(obedience to the message)

B. To Fellowship (The Family)

This is not just the fellowship of church attendance but rather they were commited to each other

C. The Lord’s Supper - remembrance of why they gathered and lived for the Lord

D. Prayer - What would they have prayed for?

The elements in the Lord’s Prayer

His will be done on earth

daily provision

Protection from the Evil one.

forgiveness

E. Praise

A: Beautifully Uncomplicated

Church only becomes complicated when we make a priority out of anything other than these five concepts.

Teaching the word and obedience to it, Fellowship of the family, Praise, The Lord’s Supper, and Prayer.

How do these priorities keep church uncomplicated?

If I make the priorities of scripture my priorities than my preferences are not the priority.

The right priorities create:

unity

eliminates gossip.

example: Sister Rebecca goes to Brother Johnny and says can you believe that the deacons voted to change the bathroom sink fixtures? A few of us like the ones we have. Brother Johnny begins to feel his blood pressure rising and replies I like the ones we have as well. But instead of allowing himself to get sucked into an argument centered on preference, He reviews the list of Biblical church priorities with sister Rebecca.

Sister Rebecca, I have a thought for you. if we change the bathroom sink faucet will we still be gathering for Teaching, for fellowship, The Lords supper, prayer, and praise? Sister Rebecca is confused but answers, “yes”. Johnny replies Then you know what I’m okay with my preference not being the priority.

What did the truth of scripture just accomplish. It stopped gossip, disunity, and reminded both parties of the uncomplicated mission of the church.

Is it wrong to have preference? no, absolutely not. A preferences only becomes a problem when you allow it to become a priority.

When a church will die to self, something beautiful, unique and attractive shows up. You know what it is ....

We call it the movement of the Holy Spirit.

How much could be accomplished for the Lord if when every time the leaders of the church sensed the spirit leading they could act without fear of the flock not following.

The church was never intended to be a complicated or to meet everyone's desires. It was to be beautifully simple and uncomplicated.