Sermon Tone Analysis

*Fellowship of the Church*

Acts 2:42-47

 

Introduction

 

An old Marine Corps buddy of mine, to my pleasant surprise, came to know Christ after he was discharged.

I say surprise because he cursed loudly, fought hard, chased women, drank heavily, loved war and weapons, and hated chapel services.

A number of months ago, I ran into this fellow, and after we'd talked awhile, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, “You know, Chuck, the only thing I still miss is that old fellowship I used to have with all the guys down at the tavern.

I remember how we used to sit around and let our hair down.

I can't find anything like that for Christians.

I no longer have a place to admit my faults and talk about my battles—where somebody won't preach at me and frown and quote me a verse.”

It wasn't one month later that in my reading I came across this profound paragraph: “The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit that there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church.

It's an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality—but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship.

—Charles Swindoll

 

·         Is the church a place and people who gather socially?

·         Are we like a club or a fraternal order?

·         I have seen churches in which their members take vacations together, buy similar motorcycles so they can go cruising together and so on.

·         Is there anything wrong with this?

·         In some ways this is a wonderful thing when individuals in a church share common interests and are genuine friends.

·         I have also heard of Christians who have been going to the same church for years and do not consider one person in their church to be a close friend.

·         There is the potential for the church to be a place where fellowship is nearly non-existent except in formal and forced ways.

·         So there is the potential for the church to be a place that looks like little more than a social club.

·         There is the potential for the church to be a place where everyone keeps their distance and people do not quite fit together.

·         It can be a place where love and acceptance is fostered in community but it can also be a place where people are disconnected and lonely.

·         The church can be a place of nurture and care or it can be a place of rules and regulations.

·         Soon after Christ ascended the first Christians began to preach the gospel and so amazing works of the Spirit as thousands of people came to Christ.

·         This early church which is described in Acts 2 was just beginning.

·         They had not developed all kinds of formality and rules; in fact the only kind of structure they were familiar with came from the Jewish Synagogue.

·         In some respects this first gathered church was naïve and simple but in other ways it was pure and untainted by bureaucracy.

·         For us to understand how the church operated together it is important to understand the fellowship they had together.

·         We see that the early church had close mutual relations and involvement with one another in the development of their lives.

·         The problem we face with fellowship is found in our society.

·         We live in a western culture that sees everything from an individual perspective.

·         The early church did not see it this way nor did God design it.

·         From the moment he created the first man there was a need for fellowship with other human being and this is true in the church as well.

·         As we will see in Acts 2:42-47 the church was designed for corporate fellowship in many aspects.

\\ We Share in Faith Together (2:42)

 

*2:42* They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

·         It is quite rare to hear of a person who becomes a Christian without any contact with a follower of Jesus.

·         This first church developed because a group of men followed Jesus and in turn they preached his message to others.

·         This initial contact with Christianity through the message delivered by Christians was intended to continue so that they could grow in their faith.

·         We need to remember that this first church could not hand out a Bible to each new believer.

·         The teachings of Jesus were not written down and so the apostles were commissioned to share the knowledge of God revealed through Jesus because of the special role they were to play.

·         Even today we have individuals who have been specially gifting in order to teach the Word of God and to preach.

·         This does not mean that we cannot learn on our own but that the intention of understanding of God was always done in community.

·         There was too be a shared experience, accountability and fellowship in learning how to live the Christian life.

·         So one of the important things we need to do together is to learn theology, doctrine and how to live our lives.

·         Another aspect of sharing faith together is that the early church devoted themselves to the practice of communion.

·         In this verse the breaking of bread refers to communion because the definite article “the” precedes the word “bread” referring to the specific act of communion.

·         Communion has always been a shared experience.

·         From its roots in the Passover it can be seen as something that is done in community and fellowship.

·         When we eat together the bread and we drink together the cup we share together in the acknowledgement of Christ’s wonderful sacrifice.

·         We share a common bond that states that each one of us needs his mercy and grace upon our lives.

·         We bring together our mutual understanding that Jesus is our Lord.

·         The early church also understood that prayer was an important part of shared faith.

·         It is evident from the life of Jesus that he often prayed alone.

·         There are definite times where it is important to pray to God alone on a regular basis.

·         There is also the great need for the church to pray together.

·         There is too be a vulnerability, an willingness to pour out our hearts to God in a setting of group prayer.

·         In this setting there is the opportunity to pray for shared needs and individual concerns.

·         There is the chance to implore God for others who may sit next to us; to show our concern and intercede for others.

·         There is an encouragement and strengthening of our souls when we hear and know others are praying for us in our circumstances.

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon.

Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture.

The first evening she found a room in the mountains near a summit and asked for a 5 A.M. wakeup call so she could get an early start.

She couldn’t understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request, but as she awoke to early-morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood.

Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast.

Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.

“Where are you headed?” one of the truckers asked.

‘Whitehorse’ “In that little Civic?

No way!

This pass is DANGEROUS in weather like this.” “Well, I’m determined to try,” was Linda’s gutsy, if not very informed, response.

“Then I guess we’re just going to have to hug you,” the trucker suggested.

Linda drew back.

“There’s no way I’m going to let you touch me!” “Not like THAT!” the truckers chuckled.

“We’ll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear.

In that way, we’ll get you through the mountains.”

All that foggy morning Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.

·         Growing and moving to our destination: a strong and vibrant faith needs the efforts of every Christian.

·         We can not go it alone, there are obstacles and dangerous situations that can weaken our resolve and set us back spiritually.

·         When we grow in faith together we can get to our destination.

\\ We Share Worship Together (2:43)

 

*2:43* Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles.

·         It is not uncommon for God to work in and through his people.

·         When he becomes evident through things that would not normally occur the natural response when we recognize it is to worship him for his greatness and involvement in our lives.

·         When the early church was beginning the idea of Jesus Christ, his ministry and the will of God was very new as well.

·         As we said, there was no written revelation and instruction for this fledgling group but there was special gifting to the apostles.

·         I do not see in Scripture anything explicit that the signs and wonders that were performed were done by anyone on a consistent basis except the apostles.

·         The reason for these events was really no different than when Jesus performed miracles.

·         He did so to reveal his authority as God or to encourage and strengthen those who already believed.

·         The apostles did the exact same thing; they performed wonders and miracles as signs to unbelievers that the message they were bringing was true.

·         They performed miracles among believers as a testimony of Christ in their lives.

·         The result of such acts was to do two things: believers were aware of God’s sacred presence and unbelievers were added to the church.

·         There is something in this verse that is not explicit.

·         In order for this awe and reverence to take place the believers either had to be witnesses to the events or they shared accounts of the work God was doing through the apostles.

·         Either way the early church was constantly involved at a close level with what God was doing in their midst.

·         They either were there at the times when great things happened or they gathered together to celebrate and share in these events.

·         What the early church did was come together to worship.

·         They saw God’s goodness and they shared in the awe and wonder of his majesty.

·         Worship is not usually mentioned in the Bible in the context of being alone it is always done in fellowship with others.

·         There is something that happens when we truly worship God that was designed for togetherness.

·         In the very act of worship we are seeking a greater understanding and degree of relationship with God.