Sermon Tone Analysis
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Covid, post-covid habits.
Habits can be good or bad.
They are one way of increasing our brain’s efficiency.
Makes our everyday actions and behaviors automatic so we can focus on more important challenges.
If we had to consider and ponder every single task or action we be exhausted!
Habits are powerful.
21 days to make a habit.
but nearly 3x as long for it to completely take root, to be integrated into our lives.
Habits Follow Cravings As They Seek Rewards
Ex.
Someone wants to stop smoking.
But if we don’t address the craving that seeks the reward it is very difficult to kick the habit.
Same with trying to develop healthy habits.
We address the underlying craving and rewards that contribute to them.
Spiritual habits are the same way.
When we crave healthy meaningful relationships with God and others, when we desire a consistent and powerful prayer life, when we deeply want to know the Word, we can develop and improve upon our spiritual habits.
Part of being better together is to be in a healthy rhythm of gathering so that we can develop the habits of the faith that we know we should have.
Devotion
The early church knew something about gathering together that Christians have modeled for centuries to follow.
While methods have changed and adapted to the times and cultures over two millennia, the principle, core, practices have remained the same:
Teaching - this is sharing/knowing the Word
Fellowship - this is being community
Communion - this worship/testimony
Prayer - this is our relationship with God
The early church was devoted to these practices.
Devotion means to persevere in an activity.
To be persistent.
It’s a continuous action directed towards a specific object or outcome.
The church had an unwavering commitment (habit) to gather for these activities.
We all have something or someone we are devoted to.
That activity or ideal has become such an ingrained habit it’s just who we are.
Since good habits develop good rewards, it’s important for us to understand just what Luke was telling us in Acts 2.
Basically, what’s the “pay off” for developing these spiritual habits together?
A Sense of Awe
We’ve got something really cool going on!
There’s a certain intangible “feeling” that comes from being together.
We are better together.
We all crave being a part of something bigger than just ourselves.
To be affiliated with a powerful enterprise.
Can you think of any group, organization, mission, bigger that Jesus’ Kingdom?
The early church was committed to meeting together and recognized that their fellowship was unique and powerful.
Luke explains what caused them to be in such awe.
It was their commitment to consistent spiritual practices.
In other words, their spiritual habits.
Results
Good Things Are Happening!
It’s easy to compartmentalize this to just the actions of the apostles.
But “signs” here, means “Marvel.”
Marvelous things - things to marvel, wonder at, be excited or gladden by.
People saw activities, outcomes that they marveled at.
They attributed the source to God’s Spirit.
We are in the habit of gathering to see God’s marvelous work in the church and, through us, in the world.
When this is happening, naturally people want to get involved.
Sharing and Generosity
I Want To Help!
When we’re together, we’re better at helping.
“together” = koinonia.
“sharing” = simplicity of heart, intent.
this is the habit of generosity.
This is not complicated but it does need to be practiced regularly.
Worship
God Is At Work!
The church was together to worship.
Their worship was to proclaim all the good things God was doing.
Goodwill - “Look at what they’re doing!”
Which brings us to the ultimate result of being together:
Growth.
Added To The Church
I Want In!
engaging in these practices (habits) makes us better together.
That’s certain
The greatest blessing is seeing others decide they want in.
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