Joy in the Community of Saints
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Opening: review Building a house
Opening: review Building a house
-Built on the Foundation of a triune God ()
-From laying that firm foundation of the triune God and the merciful sacrifice of Christ who made a way for us to be saved, we then began to put up the walls on this new Home of Christian Faith through Real & Honest Prayers to a God who Loves us ()
-After Putting the alls up we need to hold it all together with a roof, some thing that brings the four walls together and keeps the whole dry in the midst of the storms, it is not independent of the foundation nor does it exist without the walls, but being held up by both it brings comfort even in the darkest of nights, and the roof of our faith in this illustration is the communion of saints. and we will look at the formalization of this community around Christ beginning in .
Back ground on Acts Setting the Stage
Back ground on Acts Setting the Stage
-Luke wrote this text as a sequel to the gospel narrative to a man named Theopholis
-Meant to inform him about the events that made up the early spread of the gospel and the key figures along the way.
-Chapter 1 features the ascension of Christ and His final commission to proclaim the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit that they would receive. During this time they select a replacement for Judas and prepare for the Work of The Spirit, which comes on the day of Pentecost. (also Known as the feast of Weeks in the OT which was a large harvest festival 50 days after passover)
-On this Pentecost Peter up[on receiving the Spirit stands and preaches a sermon that through the revalatory power of God sets into motion a tidal wave that has never been stopped. Here the word is preached and everyday after The word would go out, Repent and believe, and day that began with 120 people in an upper room would see that life changing work of the spirit take hold and move in ways never fully experienced in human history as the walls between Jew and gentile are crushed and the people of God take on a new form, one in which we are now partakers,
and it all comes to a crescendo at the end of chapter 2.....
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
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.
Here we come face to face with the birth of a new kind of faith community, not the birth of the church but the fuller continuation of God’s work of calling and creating a people for himself.
-this people will find Joy in their devotion, in their new Christ centered community, and in God’s transformative work.
First let us look at their spirit of devotion......
I. Joy in Devotion (42)
I. Joy in Devotion (42)
-42
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Now first off we come to 3000 new converts (that's a revival) (though because it was a feast some probably lived in other parts of the roman empire)
-Now they immediately come to faith and are over come and devoted to tit (not passives)
-They quickly grasped onto one another and found a new and living hope
-Now THERE DEVOTION IN THE TEXT IS DIRECTED AT 4 SPECIFIC AREAS OF FAITH & PRACTICE:
A. Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching
A. Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching
-The first thing we see is there desire to know God (not simply to know about him but to know Him.
-This is not some self-help opportunity to have a “happy and prosperous life’ especially given the birth of the faith through death and the spirits resurrecting power.
-Nor was the faith simply Jesus, it was the truth of Him reveled in Scriptures as taught through the Apostles
-The apostles walked with christ, knew Him, and even more importantly knew how he was reveled in the OT:
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 42:
It is Christ himself who reveals himself to them and opens there eyes to see the scriptures clearly
-thus why in Peters sermon on Pentecost he quotes the book of Joel and says that this day it has been fulfilled.
-We too 2000 years later rely on a dedication to the apostles teaching to understand the truth of God and the way of truth.
-this isn’t a command to devote yourselves to a preacher but to be devoted to the Word of God
-As we know preachers come and Go many a man will stand and speak God’s word but it is only through the word that you know God.
-The christian faith is a thinking and living faith, it is not passive and it is not dismissive.
B. Devotion to Fellowship
B. Devotion to Fellowship
Secondly, their devotion to knowing the word of God lead them to want to Know each other and be in Fellowship
-”koinonia” Greek term to share in common (its base koinia is where we get the type of Greek the bible was written in)
-This was a devotion to be one (first spiritual as they were built in the fellowship of the faith being one with God)
With the Father & the Son
With the Father & the Son
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1 John
With The H.S
With The H.S
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
it is important to know that this was not some quaterly fellowship like a post Sunday meal this was a dedication to one another because of the faith of God who was himself in perfect fellowship continually
So they were dedicated to each other, because of their dedication to him
With Each Other
With Each Other
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
-Our lives should reflect this desire for the body, not once a week but a continual longing for a loving community of faith that studies the word together, because form this longing for fellowship there si a longing for the table....
C. Devotion to the Breaking of Bread (2 Fold)
C. Devotion to the Breaking of Bread (2 Fold)
3 Main Views: Just a meal, Just communion, or Both
Based on the text and church history I would lean towards a both and approach to the text
-So when we think about the act of breaking bread there is a commonality and hospitality to the action they dedicated themselves to...
Think about the disciples on the road to Emmaus
Jesus Reveled Himself to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus through the breaking of bread:
1. A General Meal shared
1. A General Meal shared
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
So there is a natural element involved in breaking bread, but we also see that in the bookm of acts there is an element that the breaking of bread was an act of worship
2. Special Communion Meal
2. Special Communion Meal
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
-by the time we get to Corinth many years later they two have become one (1 Cor 11:17-34)
D. Devotion to Prayer (the Grk term is used 33 times in the NT connected to corporate and personal prayer)
D. Devotion to Prayer (the Grk term is used 33 times in the NT connected to corporate and personal prayer)
The final element they devoted themselves to was prayer (where we spent a great deal of time last week on one element of prayer, here we would see them dedicate themselves to the whole nature of prayer
Both formal and informal gathers were common in the early church for prayer
1. Temple Prayer
1. Temple Prayer
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
they continued for a period of time to gather in the temple and recite the common prayers of Judaism, but now in reflection to christ and his work of setting them free. thanks to the apostles teaching they say each prayer in a new and fuller light.
Her we see that that formalized gatherings for prayer were still common in the church (just like Riverside will host next Sunday evening at 6 to pray and look forward to the future that God has in store)
2. Home Prayers
2. Home Prayers
But they also were dedicated in the the book of acts to praying in homes of the needs of the saints and later in Ephesians for the advancement of the gospel.
Needs of the Saints:
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Eph
The advancement of the Gospel & the Saints
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
These devotions were quickly connected and reiterated not as individual activities but as actions of a community, for the joy in devotion was directly connected to their Christ centered community.
II. Joy In a Christ Centered-Community (43-46)
II. Joy In a Christ Centered-Community (43-46)
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,
from the joy they derived from their spirit empowered devotion to the transforming work of God through -Learning, loving, eating, & praying they found a joy in their new famil....
A. Built on the Foundation of transforming Faith
A. Built on the Foundation of transforming Faith
The Work of Christ created in them a new spirit of Awe/Fear (think of the Samaritan women at the well in )
-Worship the lord in spirit and in truth
-Here wonder and awe at the Words of christ drove here to tell all here neighbors, who believed when they heard and saw Him
-the whole town was moved by the work of christ in and among them beginning with this one women, they were awed by God
-These new believers experienced a similar life change that had transformed who they were into something new
-Christ is the one who transformed them and overcame them with Awe
B. Built on the Love for One another in Christ
B. Built on the Love for One another in Christ
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
1. Their Love was seen in How they Gave to each other (not out of Compulsion)
1. Their Love was seen in How they Gave to each other (not out of Compulsion)
-they gave to those in their family who was in need freely and with great joy (mirroring christ words in )
-These gifts were not requirements but were given with joy to ensure that their brothers and sisters were taken care of in their daily needs.
C. Built on the Desire to be one
C. Built on the Desire to be one
-Again thy opened their homes to one another and ate with one another this devotion flowed into a giving community, supplying for the needs of the saints.
2. Their Love was seen in their daily connection to one another (they Worship & ate together daily with Joy)
2. Their Love was seen in their daily connection to one another (they Worship & ate together daily with Joy)
-The longed to be together and to experience the faith together
-American once a week Christianity that was divorced from community is a modern invention, that these earlier believers would have been baffled by.
-Hospitality was an active ingredient in the life of the church.
they understood that an aspect of loving God was seen in loving their brothers and sisters, for if they couldn't’ love those who they see how could they love him, and more than that though by loving those in their church family who were broken and hurting (which becomes an active part of the church as the book of acts unfolds, they experience more of what the faith looks like, that can not be seen or experienced alone.
III. Joy in the God’s Work (47)
III. Joy in the God’s Work (47)
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.
Acts 42:46-47
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A. Spirit filled Praise
A. Spirit filled Praise
A. Godward Praise
A. Godward Praise
-They were united in their praise for God as well.
-Just like last week part of the faith community is experienced through the outpouring of prayer and praise
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
eph 5
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
B. Godward Lives
B. Godward Lives
-their lives were markedly different than before, there was a joy the lord was opening doors for them to preach the gospel more boldly (this would in time shift in Jerusalem, but for now the Lord was opening doors.
-Their favor can be seen in the way they treated each other, they way they seemed to interact with those outside the faith and in. There was an new life that reflected the truth of Christ.
C. Christ Transforming Outreach
C. Christ Transforming Outreach
-Finally they were able to experience the rapid movement of the the Lord in bringing people to faith and into the church family daily.
-The church was dialing adding new believers, and new believers were daily being brought into the church. (this final point is key to understanding the roof)
The House that is being built on truth is the church the body for which Christ gave himself, the place of which believers are drawn to and find a home.
Christ shed his blood for his church, his bride. his collective people.
She Shall and Must Go free Derek Webb:
Mercy speaks by Jesus' blood
Hear and sing, ye sons of God
Justice satisfied indeed
Christ has full atonement made
Jesus' blood speaks loud and sweet
Here all deity can meet
And without a jarring voice
Welcome Zion to rejoice
All her debts were cast on me
And she must and shall go free
Peace of conscience, peace with God
We obtain through Jesus' blood
Jesus' blood speaks solid rest
We believe and we are blessed
All her debts were cast on me
And she must and shall go free
Should the law against her roar
Jesus' blood still speaks with power
All her debts were cast on me
And she must and shall go free
All her debts were cast on me
And she must and shall go free
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