Building Authentic Community

INTRO about family

On the day of Pentecost, which means fiftieth, because it was celebrated fifty days after Passover, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and the church officially began. Through Peter’s sermon, the Lord called 3,000 people to saving faith. In the days following this event, the Holy Spirit continues to use the apostles to reach others. We see the healing of a beggar outside the temple, sparking another sermon from Peter as a response of the crowd. This caught the attention of the Sadducees in particular, who did not believe in the resurrection, so they had Peter and John arrested on the charge of preaching false doctrine. The court couldn’t make up their minds as to what they should do with them, so they threatened them not to preach the resurrection of Jesus. Well, this did not deter them. In fact, it emboldened them.

The early church had a bond of love stronger than any other. They had something that the church today tries to emulate, but I fear falls short. There was a sense of authentic community among them, not just in the way they suffered for the gospel as Peter and John did, but they shared in every aspect of life. The final section of Acts chapter four gives us insight into what this authentic community looks like.

Acts 4:32–37 NASB95

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

As I stated a moment ago, the early church had a bond of love stronger than any other. They saw themselves as members of one family.

The church experiences authentic community when its members see themselves as true members of one family.

The early church was birthed in a society that was community driven. Family meant everything and honor was of the highest virtues. Individual actions were often weighed by what brought the person and their family the most honor. Today we are so concerned with individuality that we generally start with what works best for me rather than what works best for us. Family functions best when all of its members see themselves as one. The original source is unknown, but it has been said that “Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.”

If we are to experience authentic community in the church, we need to keep in mind two things.

Authentic Community requires unity.

Verse 32 says the congregation, that is the gathered believers were of one heart and soul. They were a tightly-knit group who shared all things in common. Unity is the foundation of who we are. Remember the word church does not describe what we are or where we meet as much as it describes who we are. The church must seek unity first because it is from it that we accomplish anything for the glory of God.

In John chapter 13, it is the night Jesus was betrayed, He had gathered His disciples and He gave them a new commandment:

John 13:34–35 NASB95

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The love that we share is a common bond that unifies us and helps us live out the being of one heart and soul.

It is this unifying spirit, achieved through our shared indwelling of His Spirit, that Paul called the church in Ephesus to preserve.

Ephesians 4:1–6 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

One thing that unity is not is everyone sharing the same opinion on everything. There is one proper interpretation of the scriptures, but there is a variety of ways biblical principles may manifest themselves in the life of a believer. This unity is maintained through a tolerance for one another as we draw different conclusions rotted in the same biblical principles.

This unity is to be preserved if we are to experience authentic community. There is only one body of Christ and we are all parts of it. There is only one Holy Spirit and He dwells within every child of God. Because there is only one God and Father in whom we have hope, we must maintain the unity within our fellowship centered around His truth.

If we are to experience authentic community in the church, we must see ourselves as true members of one family by maintaining the unity of the Spirit that binds us together.

Authentic community sparks generosity.

This passage shows us the attitude the early church had toward their property and possessions. All things were common property to them. As the apostles continued to preach the resurrection of Christ, the church experienced the grace of God and it was from this position of unity and experiencing the grace of God that moved the members of the church to give to one another’s needs.

This sharing of resources was not the early church’s attempt at communism or socialism as some may be led to believe. In a communist or socialist form of government, the state is usually the owner of the resources being distributed. There is no individual ownership of property and possessions. Rather, the state assumes control of it all and redistributes it as they see fit. That is not what is being represented here.

Rather, the church, which is the people who make it up, not the institution, voluntarily contribute to the meeting of needs within the group. The apostles are not here telling everyone what to do with their property. What we are seeing here is people responding to the spirit of unity brought by the Holy Spirit, identifying needs among the family, and meeting them. The “church” did not take on ownership of those properties. They sere sold and the proceeds were freely given.

To experience authentic community in today’s church, each member must see him or herself as a willing contributor to the family. A church is healthy when all of its members contribute. How healthy or functional would a household be if the members of its family did not see themselves as members of the same team? The result is often dysfunction.

In verse 34 we see that because of this spark of generosity there was not a needy person among them. This is only possible if everyone contributes. In the time period they lived in, the best way for them to raise funds was to sell property and possessions. Today the church bases its budget by what is placed in the offering plate. Many look at the offering plate as an obligation rather than an opportunity. The attitude of the early church was not “I have to give,” but “I get to give!” When we misunderstand the intent behind giving, it moves from opportunity to obligation, and that is not the model.

The good news is that the people of First Baptist are very generous. Many of you get this principle. You are ready to contribute whatever is needed for the church budget, for special events, and to cover any emergency needs that come up. We have a tendency to rise to the occasion when necessary. There are countless times since I have been here when we wanted to do some event or make a purchase and someone gave the amount needed, so it never came out of the church budget. I love the spirit of generosity here.

Even so, there might be some of you that might not be contributing anything or very little at all. But before you think this is all about finances, let me assure you that it is not. What you put in the offering plate is between you and the Lord. Setting that aside, let me say that there are some who might be less involved than they should be. Your gifts, your talents, your skills, your knowledge, your perspective, are all things that are needed and valued. There is a contribution only you can make. Are you sure you are contributing in all the ways God is asking of you?

Have you ever had a member of the family come in and be a consumer, yet never contribute to that which they took part in? How fair would it be if everyone in the family did that? The problem with it is if everyone does that you quickly run out of resources. If everyone consumes but never produces, eventually there is nothing left to consume.

The question, no matter what level of contribution you are at today, is are you sure you are contributing the way God is asking of you? So often we look at contributing as what is the least I can get away with instead of asking what is the most I can do with what God has given me? Every member of the church ought to be able to contribute something. The question is what is God asking of you? Are you being faithful to do it?

There are areas of service we need coverage in. We need someone who would be interested in learning the computer and sound board. We are working on getting assistance for our ladies who run our finances. We need people willing to invest in the middle and high school age group. You don’t have to be young as much as you need a caring heart for that group of kids. There are a number of ways you can increase your contribution if that is what God is laying on your heart today. Maybe you do not know what that is yet, but God is stirring you to do something. If that’s the case, then let’s grab coffee or lunch and explore it together.