Celebration #2
Good Times • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsWhy we celebrate is just as important as if we celebrate.
Notes
Transcript
Series Review
Series Review
Pray
Pray
Intro
Intro
The words Red Sox fans have longed to hear - the Red Sox are World Series Champions.
One of my childhood memories was going to a neighbors basement on hot summer days and watching the Red Sox play. As all Red Sox fans had been trained at a young age, I learned very quickly what to expect in September and the phrase, “there is always next year.”
Red Sox and why I celebrated
Last week we looked at the book of Nehemiah as we learned that:
Why we celebrate has everything to do with our perspective [our worldview].
This week we are going to continue to look at the theme of “Good Times” as we continue to look at the topic of Celebration in the Bible.
Proposition: Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate. [Slide - 3]
Proposition: Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate. [Slide - 3]
Transition: To understand this concept I would like you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts 2.
The Book of Acts is the beginning of the early church. Jesus has lived, been crucified, resurrected, and has ascended to Heaven. He has commissioned His followers to go into the whole world as disciples and to make disciples. Following this charge they receive power from God in the form of the Holy Spirit. Peter preached a message at a celebration known as Pentecost and 3,000 people came to trust in and follow the way of Jesus.
Following this exciting event, four activities of the earliest church are introduced to us as priorities of the church. These are four things to which these believers devoted themselves. These were not options. These were the fruit of a genuine life transformation and a way of life in Christ. It was a way for them to celebrate Jesus.
For us to understand the why of their celebration, let’s look at the how:
Four Activities
Four Activities
[Slide - 4]
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
[Slide - 5]
The Apostles’ Teaching
The Apostles’ Teaching
Same subject matter that we find in Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 - 4
The Gospel
OT prophecies fulfilled + Jesus rejection, crucifixion, burial and resurrection
The Apostles still hadn’t grasped everything themselves, still learning
Food laws (cf. Mark 7:19)
Church = Jewish + Gentiles believers together in “one new man” (Eph. 2-3)
Law-keeping (Acts 15 - Jerusalem Council)
Luke seems to be wanting us to focus on the gospel as being authoritative, as God is authenticating His Word through miraculous works
[Slide - 6]
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
People knew that God was speaking through the Apostles b/c blind were receiving sight, the lame were walking and the deaf could hear.
Transition: The early church focused it’s time and attention on The Apostles Teaching. Let’s go back to our verse
[Slide - 7]
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
[Slide - 8]
Fellowship
Fellowship
“Fellowship” = Joint participation or “sharing something in common” (belonging)
Illustration: Woman who is involved in a small-group ministry and it was her way to belong.
Belonging that is centered around Christ
Two types of fellowship
With God (vertical) [Slide - 9]
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
With other believers (horizontal) [Slide - 9]
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
This horizontal “fellowship” includes the emphasis on sharing one’s material goods with others
[Slide - 10]
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Though the actual term is not used here, a further example of this kind of fellowship is found in Acts 4
that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
I am not suggesting that every Christian should follow the example of the early church in Jerusalem.
I am suggesting that their actions were not “foolish” as some would suggest, but were the evidence of God’s gracious working in their hearts.
[Slide - 11]
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
[Slide - 12]
Food
Food
Reference to either
“The Lord’s Table” or eating a meal together
Either way, it’s about food!
Eating a meal together is perhaps the most intimate form of fellowship one could have with fellow believers.
Something special happens over food.
It’s worth noting that the concept of ‘food and celebration’ is all over the Bible
Passover was a meal
Heaven is depicted – in part – as the celebration feast with the Lamb of God
The Prodigal Son returns and there is a feast and celebration
Why link celebration with food? Here are a few thoughts:
Eating is necessary for life and so God ordained celebrations and meals to show that God and celebration and life are all intertwined.
God doesn’t desire to be a tiny piece of our lives – He demands that we build our lives around Him in ALL that we do.
Eating is CLEAR reminder of God’s goodness and provision to us.
Think about the very idea of ‘saying grace’. Grace is unmerited favor – goodness we don’t deserve – and so we ‘say grace’ to say ‘God, thank you for this food that You have provided.’
Meals and celebration fit together because food is a CLEAR reminder of God’s goodness and provision to us.
Meals – especially biblical meals – were shared with others, and so there is community, inter-linked lives, serving one another, and connection that happens over a meal.
The (now-known) physiological aspects of eating that lead to feelings of happiness.
Eating good food can release dopamine and other chemicals which makes you feel good - feel good food!
[Slide - 14]
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
[Slide - 15]
Prayers
Prayers
“The prayers” = Early Christians persisted in the times of Jewish prayer (cf. Acts 3:1 - Peter & John)
Prayer is a very intimate activity, especially done together with others.
Transition:
Transition:
It seems like the early church was constantly together. As one author put it:
“These new believers were like newlyweds – they just couldn’t seem to be apart from one another. The activities named (teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayers) were all corporate activities, things the church did together. The competitive “me first” attitude of the disciples (Mark 9:34, 46; 10:35-40) is gone; now these believers are generous and are not claiming anything as their own; they are disposing of personal property to meet the needs of others. This is not just “togetherness;” this is unity. This is not just human affection; this is genuine love.” - https://bible.org/seriespage/6-characteristics-healthy-church-acts-241-47
Now, we can simply see this text as a “to do” list if we are to be obedient followers of Jesus. If you want to be a disciple just do these things. I have spoken to many Christians who have done these things with such an attitude.
What’s important is not just that you do these activities, it’s a matter of having the right attitudes, the right heart.
Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate.
Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate.
The “Why” Is Important
The “Why” Is Important
Our Actions Alone Can Be Deceitful
Our Actions Alone Can Be Deceitful
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus condemned charity, prayer and fasting that was done in the wrong spirit, and for the wrong reasons.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Very impressive works were claimed by people whom our Lord said He never knew
Works With A Right Spirit
Works With A Right Spirit
In Acts, people were simply in awe by the many evidences of God’s power and presence
Sign after sign, wonder after wonder was performed through the apostles (cf. Acts 2:43)
People knew that the Lord was still with them and was still powerfully at work among them.
This led them to celebrate. Notice the attitudes described:
[Slide - 16]
Acts 2:46–47 (TNIV)
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
“Every day . . . glad and sincere hearts . . . praising God”
All of these describe a people who are celebrating Jesus out of a right heart. Their why they celebrated lined-up with their how they celebrated.”
[Slide - 17]
Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate.
Why we celebrate is just as important as how we celebrate.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So, let me ask you, how is your heart?
How is your spirit? How is this spirit of joyful celebration present in your life? This is the spirit we want to see in all of our activities and in all of our gatherings.