No. 03. “Their Lives Reflected Jesus” - Acts 2:42-47
April 13, 2008
Series: 50 Days of “Easter” - Why Did They Believe This?
Acts 2:42-47; First Peter 2:11-25; John 10:1-10
Rev. Stephen Filyer
Bothwell & Clachan Baptist Churches
INTRODUCTION
Contrast
Over the last couple of weeks we have been looking at the people who kept following Jesus after his death. Last week we saw that some had given up in despair. Yet others continued to trust and follow. They believed that he really had been resurrected. Today we are going to look into the earliest account of how these believers worshipped. This is a snapshot of the Church after the special day of Pentecost, the arrival of the Spirit. Again we need to ask, what was it that was so convincing that they thought that Jesus truly was alive and that his Spirit lived within them?
1. (Acts 2:42, 46) First, They became Faithful in Teaching & Learning as they Met Together.
Have you come across those black and white mirror images that are often used on IQ tests? At first, there appears to be only one image, a vase, but then from another viewpoint you are able to discern completely two different images, the faces. They had been there all along, but it may take awhile to become visible.
That is a little like what happened to the followers of Jesus from shortly after his death and resurrection to the contrast of their behaviour after the Day of Pentecost. At first all we see is that they are huddled in a locked “Upper room” full of fear. We are not really sure fear of what, but probably of being the next crucifixion victims. Yet as we continue to observe, we discover that only fifty days later they have been transformed into courageous witnesses, boldly worshipping even in the Courtyard of the Temple and publicly praising Jesus all of the time. They really did try to have their lives reflect Jesus. In order to understand how they could make such a gigantic step forward to being such brave believers, let’s take a look at some of the important “stepping-stone” decisions that they made.
First, they became solid in their commitment to faith and solid in their commitment to one another. Following the coming of the Spirit these early believers got themselves informed about faith and how they should live their lives as Christians. There was a determined discipline to their worship. The Bible uses the word “devoted.” This was more than just a mental agreement. They actually tried to conform their lives to Jesus’ teaching.
2. (Acts 2:43, 47) They Were Awestruck at What God Was Doing.
These people were not willing to settle for a “Mr. Bean” type of “Lifeless” church service. Many of you are quite familiar with Mr. Bean’s dry British humor. One of the episodes on his TV comedy pokes fun at the lifeless worship so many people experience in church.
The scene opens as Mr. Bean slips into a church service during a hymn. The tune is incomprehensible, and the stoic people mumble the words without an ounce of passion. Mr. Bean cannot even find the right page in the hymnal, and by the time his neighbor shares his hymnal, the song is over and everyone sits in unison.
Mr. Bean settles into his pew with a smile on his face, anticipating the sermon—but the rest of the congregation blankly stares straight ahead. Then the preaching begins in a nonsensical blah blah blah monotone that is hilarious—the preacher sounds like the teacher on the old Charlie Brown specials. But even funnier is the congregation—their eyes are locked in position, and the only sign that they are even conscious is the occasional eyebrow that they raise at Mr. Bean.
As the sermon proceeds on endlessly, Mr. Bean fidgets, dawdles, and distracts himself to the annoyance of those seated nearby, until he finally succumbs to the boredom. His eyes roll into his head, and he nearly collapses into slumber, only to jerk himself awake at the last moment. The sermon plods on, the people stare on, and Mr. Bean tries to fight off sleep again. But this time he fails completely. He slumps further and further downwards, eventually sprawling onto his neighbor's lap and finally onto the floor.[1]
The Purpose of Coffee Hour
Do you think that Mr. Bean’s experience may have been the reason that some churches have coffee time after the sermon? Richard Blake writes: Coffee was always served at our church after the sermon. One Sunday our minister asked one of the smaller members of the congregation if he knew why we had coffee hour. Without hesitating, the youngster replied, "To wake people up before they have to drive home."[2]
But no one was sleeping during the services hosted by the Early Church. The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles and prophets made a deep impression on everyone. One commentator notes that as the result of the coming of the Spirit and Peter’s subsequent sermon, more people had believed in Jesus in one day, than had responded to him in all three years of his earthly ministry.[3]
3. (Acts 2:44-45) They Were Actively Generous in Sharing their Possessions With Others Who Were in Need.
There was special warmth of feeling and spontaneous expressions of love, following the giving of the Spirit. As the Gaither’s wrote a few years ago, these were also “Glad (They Were) Part of the Family of God.” The early Christians were willing to do anything in order to keep this new fellowship healthy and intact.
Being a Person in Community
Nancy Ortberg shares a story of how her daughter's concern for the wider church community spoke a word of conviction into Nancy's own heart:
One evening, my oldest daughter came home from a Sunday evening worship service. She had been deeply affected by the experience and in response had written on a piece of paper, "Help me not to be okay just because everything is okay with me." I was so moved by what she wrote that I tacked that piece of paper up on our corkboard in the kitchen as a reminder that in community it is always we. In community, if someone else is not okay, then to some degree, I am not okay.[4]
It was this type of reckless generosity that made such a deep impression on those outside this new church.
4. (Acts 2:46-47a) Devoted to Eating, Praying & Publicly Worshipping Together.
There were now so many of them that they could no longer gather in one location. They instead divided up and met in one another’s homes, eating with glad and sincere hearts or “generosity of heart.”[5] Richard H. Bliese writes that Believers Should Eat and Worship Together: Meaningful worship and meaningful meals are critical to any attempts at renewal, and one doesn't work well without the other. Never trust a Christian fellowship where Christians regularly worship together but don't like to eat together, or where they eat together but neglect worship.[6]
They were also involved in private and public prayer. All of this is done in a Spirit of Gladness as they acknowledged God in all areas of their lives. Another writer has said, “These early believers opened themselves to God’s presence by being attentive to the seemingly small and sometimes mundane parts of daily life.”[7] Joseph Byrd writes, “They did not have a separate compartment for the religious aspect of their lives. Their faith permeated every aspect of their lives as they acknowledged God in (everything).”[8] They truly were a “colony of heaven.”[9]
5. (Acts 2:47b) There was a Notable Response to This Determined Devotion to Jesus.
People saw the power which flowed through the lives of these Christians. And as the believers were exuberant in their praise to God they saw many others turn to Jesus as Saviour. The Church grew and flourished as a result of the outpouring of God’s Spirit. The Church still has an important role to play today.
Eugene Peterson on Importance of Church
Peterson writes: Love cannot exist in isolation: away from others, love bloats into pride. Grace cannot be received privately: cut off from others, it is perverted into greed. Hope cannot develop in solitude: separated from the community, it goes to seed in the form of fantasies. No gift, no virtue can develop and remain healthy apart from the community of faith. "Outside the church there is no salvation" is not ecclesiastical arrogance but spiritual common sense, confirmed in everyday experience.[10]
These believers won people to Jesus and to the Church because of their conduct and devotion to one another in the cause of Jesus. And yes, it is true that that such grace, love, joy and peace did not last even in this early faith community. Later we have two instances in Acts of individual acts of selfishness and its results. But at least these people were not just sitting, waiting for the return of Jesus. They had hope for today, faith for today, and a life of discipleship that was a journey, not just an end.[11]
This passage shows what happens when the love of God that is in the Lord Jesus Christ transforms individuals, families, and an entire community. This is a picture of the Church at its best behaviour.
CONCLUSIONS
We started this morning wondering why some believed and stayed as followers of Jesus, and why others would join them. The only answer is that their lives were dramatically changed by their association with Jesus or by hearing his message. They really believed that he was resurrected. There is no other reason that those frightened, scared followers who huddled away in that “Upper Room” would emerge as such brave witnesses that they were willing to die for their beliefs.
That leads to the question as to where we stand. Do we truly believe that Jesus was resurrected and is alive today by his Spirit? If so are we living in such a way that other people are being drawn to Jesus as well? It will be what we do while we are away from the Church that truly shows that we are a community and are bound together in love. We can ask, then, “Is my joyful praise drawing others to Jesus?” If not, what changes am I willing to make in my life, to become a better representative of his?
(Bothwell)
This Church does a lot of things right. We often eat together, we pray, we support individuals here on a local scene as well as over-seas. But there is also a danger in being a strong church. It might lead to a tendency to feel that because we do so much right that we don’t have to do anything else. So I guess our questions might be:
“What’s next?”
“What else can be done?”
“Are we still reaching out to those around us?”
“Do new people feel a desire to join with us, or are we too “cliquey” and so turn them away?”
“Or do we fear to welcome new people because that might mean that we ‘old-timers’ might lose something that seems very comfortable?” And by “old-timers” I am not indicating those of a certain age. Even those of us who show up at Tuesday Youth Group might feel that way.
Or perhaps it is just that there is a need to stop and to pray more often?
I will be attending a seminar on Saturday at Brooker Baptist Church called “Church Health Journey”. It is sponsored by our local Western Association of Baptist Churches. Clint Mix from the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec will be the leader. The day apart is designed to answer some of these same questions , plus even pose a few more we have not yet thought about. Please pray for helpful answers.
(Both Churches) Our Closing Hymn also asks questions: “How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word? What more can he say that to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? Let’s join in singing #1.
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[1] DVD Chapter 9, "Can't Stay Awake in Church" The Best Bits of Mr. Bean (Universal Studios, 1996); submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California
[2] Richard Blake, San Luis Obispo, California. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."
[3] F.F. Bruce
[4] Nancy Ortberg, Looking for God (Tyndale, 2008), p. 31
[5] F.F. Bruce.
[6] Richard H. Bliese, The Christian Century (7-12-03), p. 27; submitted by Winn Collier, Seneca, South Carolina
[7] Wendy Joyner, Day by Day, Abingdon Preaching Annual 2002 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001) p.160.
[8] Joseph Byrd, Anatomy of a Spirit-Filled Church, Abingdon Preaching Annual 1999 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998) p.154.
[9] Moffatt’s description of the Church at Philippi.
[10] Eugene Peterson, Reversed Thunder (HarperOne, 1991) p. 43
[11] Gary G. Kindley, Living Now like We Claim We’ll Live Then, Abingdon Preaching Annual 2005 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2004) p.148.