Sermon outline

The Spirit-filled church is devoted to Jesus, who blesses and grows His church [overriding application: be devoted to Jesus] Introduction : How can we make humanity one big happy family? United colours of Benetton. Ancient Greek ideals, and modern Communism (if we have everything in common, unity will result). Religious sects along the way e.g. Qumran (you can enforce it in small groups, for those who choose to join - but what about everyone outside!) All these attempts overlook the fundamental issue which is that our own hearts are turned in on themselves; we are individualists. This is truly rampant nowadays; the brakes are well and truly off. Until we're right with God, we can't be right with each other, since we can't stop trying to be gods ourselves. The church is the 'showhome of the new creation'. counter-culture community vs subculture community [fish swimming downstream together vs fish swimming truly upstream]. Examples of when the church's witness/credibility has been appallingly hindered by lack of love for one another. Note what they devote themselves to, and what God does; we get into problems when we confuse the two. This speaks into our materialism/individualism. Not just them turning over a new leaf, but God working in and through them. Church health is seen here: key activities and emphases. The church as a living organism, indwelt by the Spirit. Hence, simple church: we don't control or make growth - God does. But we can help or hinder. It is only under the rule of Jesus that 'every storm is stilled', poverty will be made history, and true love that crosses all boundaries will really exist. 1. The Spirit-filled church is devoted to Jesus Devotion; 'attachment like glue'. Devoted to Jesus' teaching (v42) The apostles had unique teaching authority, since they were the only authorised witnesses. 1 Corinthians 12.28 , 14.37 , Ephesians 2.20 , 3.5 . Title of the Didache: The Teaching of the Lord through the twelve apostles. Their teaching. Anti-intellectualism and fullness of the Spirit are incompatible, since He is the Spirit of truth. They didn't dispense with teaching now that they had the Spirit. For us, devoting ourselves to the apostles' teaching means devoting ourselves to the whole Bible, since they were constantly showing how to read the OT. [cf classic fm theology]. Devoted to Jesus' family (v42) Temple courts and in their homes. Gathered and scattered, formal and informal, front door and side door, attractional and missional. Planned and unplanned. Hierarchical and organic, catholic and charismatic. No necessary contradiction. Koinonia. Trinitarian. Abuse not a reason for opposite abuse. [fishing partnership]. Does your routine life reflect who you are in Christ? Sharing life with one another? Who is your primary community? Devoted to Jesus' fellowship (v43) Breaking of bread. If this means 'having meals together'; isn't that included in fellowship? Doesn't it make more sense as a shorthand for what later became called the Lord's Supper? They devoted themselves to the remembrance, anticipation, and participation in their risen Lord! We only get into problems when we make it into an overly formalised rite. 'the' prayers: perhaps including the time of prayer (like next chapter). Or maybe they had prayer meetings. Or set prayers (e.g., the Psalms). Or simply referring to a whole range of prayers; spontaneous and set. 2. Jesus blesses and grows His church If we aren't careful, we try to counterfeit produce these things - awe, unity, gladness, favour, growth. Awe (v43) Fake awe: traditions of silence in church. Ok, but what about the rest of life? This is more than answered prayers for healing; it is God authenticating His gospel, as it pushes out and takes root. Unity and generosity (v44) Fake: we try to create unity, rather than accept it in Christ. Fake: we try to do limited, defined versions of Christian generosity - which aren't wrong in themselves, but can become tick-boxes. Cf the good samaritan. Not 'how can I', but 'will you'. Unity. An initial fulfilling of Jesus' prayer for unity, John 17.23 . Review dig deeper notes on unity. Above all, unity is expressed, not created. So, more doctrinal unity leads to more relational unity and vice versa. Why there is real hope for more unity these days. When we push harder on the great indicatives, when we 'get' who we are, the unity starts to emerge (the imperatives). Doctrine unites! Not communism, but 'voluntary socialism.' Not very simple sometimes to apply to today; the state is different and human needs are met differently (often). Voluntary the key aspect, as we'll see in Acts 5 . No doubt Jesus does still call some to voluntary poverty; we shouldn't ignore that part of the rich young ruler's encounter. But we also mustn't forget that even in the OT they were to give tenth 'for the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow.' Deuteronomy 26.12 Gladness (v46) Fake: lying about thankfulness on Sunday. Ok, what about the rest of the week? Or 'worship service' phenomenon. v46 day by day persisting with one mind in the temple, they broke bread in their homes and received food with exhilaration and simplicity of heart. Praising God and having favour with all the people... Both joy and reverence here in these verses, cf v43 and v46 awe and gladness. Joy must always be reverent. Stott, 'it is right in public worship to be dignified; it is unforgivable to be dull.' Favour (v47) something that God gives. When we pursue it for its own sake we sell out the true gospel, which offends. Be wary when 'all men speak well of you' etc. But at the same time, let any offence be due to the gospel, not your offensiveness. If we pursue God with all our hearts, and He gives us favour with our communities - then let us sincerely praise Him. Growth (v47) Fake: church growth movement. Making disciples leads over time to growth. But growth in church attendance does not equal making disciples. NB although evangelism is the 'overarching mandate of the church - Acts 1.8 ', it isn't what they 'gave themselves' to. Rather, as they gave themselves to being who they are, the LORD added to their number. We mustn't isolate v42 and miss that v47 assumes that God added to their number, through their prayers and proclamation [which we see throughout the book]! I'm in danger of this imbalance. Harry Boer, quoted in Stott p86: '[Acts] is governed by one dominant, overriding and all-controlling motif. This motif is the expansion of the faith through missionary witness in the power of the Spirit...Restlessly the Spirit drives the church to witness, and continually churches arise out of the witness. The church is a missionary church.' on v47, the Lord did not add them to the church without saving them (cf nominal Christianity), nor save them without adding them to the church (cf individualism). Daily implies ongoing, everyday life of the church. Not yearly mission week. Conclusion The solution we need is, be devoted to Jesus with single-minded devotion. Everything else results from that. Live for the audience of one, together with God's people. In the gospel, we get devotion to Jesus and THEREFORE to His church. Again and again, the proof of whether you love Jesus is do you love His church. Matthew 25; Acts 9;Acts 5. But in Jesus, my self has died. I have died and been raised. Not simply, one day I will rise. But, I have been raised and seated with Him together. We are called together His treasured possession! I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. One of the greatest gifts God can give us is a church where we don't easily like one another naturally, because it smokes out this question: what is Christian love and unity?

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Acts 2:42-47

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42 ῏Ησαν δὲ προσκαρτεροῦντες τῇ διδαχῇ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ, τῇ κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς. 43 ἐγίνετο δὲ πάσῃ ψυχῇ φόβος, πολλά τε τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο. 44 πάντες δὲ οἱ πιστεύοντες ἦσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ εἶχον ἅπαντα κοινὰ 45 καὶ τὰ κτήματα καὶ τὰς ὑπάρξεις ἐπίπρασκον καὶ διεμέριζον αὐτὰ πᾶσιν καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν• 46 καθʼ ἡμέραν τε προσκαρτεροῦντες ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, κλῶντές τε κατʼ οἶκον ἄρτον, μετελάμβανον τροφῆς ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει καὶ ἀφελότητι καρδίας 47 αἰνοῦντες τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἔχοντες χάριν πρὸς ὅλον τὸν λαόν. ὁ δὲ κύριος προσετίθει τοὺς σῳζομένους καθʼ ἡμέραν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.

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Notes

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 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. Acts 2:42-47 ESV 'showhome of the new creation' counter-culture community vs subculture community v46 day by day persisting with one mind in the temple, they broke bread in their homes and received food with exhilaration and simplicity of heart. Praising God and having favour with all the people... Bock, 'their messianic faith has not caused them to separate from Jewish practice and worship.' [cf new wine/wineskins]. 'the' prayers: perhaps including the time of prayer. Or maybe they had prayer meetings. Or set prayers (e.g., the Psalms). Or simply referring to a whole range of prayers; spontaneous and set. The apostles had unique teaching authority, since they were the only authorised witnesses. 1 Corinthians 12.28, 14.37, Ephesians 2.20, 3.5. Title of the Didache: The Teaching of the Lord through the twelve apostles. This is more than answered prayers for healing; it is God authenticating His gospel, as it pushes out and takes root. Growth in knowledge, in love, in hospitality, in prayer. Note what they devote themselves to, and what God does; we get into problems when we confuse the two. This speaks into our materialism/individualism. Breaking of bread. If this means 'having meals together'; isn't that included in fellowship? Doesn't it make more sense as a shorthand for what later became called the Lord's Supper? They devoted themselves to the remembrance, anticipation, and participation in their risen Lord! We only get into problems when we make it into an overly formalised rite. Devotion; 'attachment like glue'. Unity. An initial fulfilling of Jesus' prayer for unity, John 17.23. Review dig deeper notes on unity. Above all, unity is expressed, not created. So, more doctrinal unity leads to more relational unity and vice versa. Why there is real hope for more unity these days. When we push harder on the great indicatives, when we 'get' who we are, the unity starts to emerge (the imperatives). Doctrine unites! Not communism, but 'voluntary socialism.' Not very simple sometimes to apply to today; the state is different and human needs are met differently (often). Voluntary the key aspect, as we'll see in Acts 5. No doubt Jesus does still call some to voluntary poverty; we shouldn't ignore that part of the rich young ruler's encounter. But we also mustn't forget that even in the OT they were to give tenth 'for the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow.' Deuteronomy 26.12 Language suggestive of corporate worship, somewhat formalised. 'the' prayers and 'the' breaking of bread. cf Next chapter, Peter and John going to the temple at the hour of prayer. Temple courts and in their homes. Gathered and scattered, formal and informal, front door and side door, attractional and missional. Planned and unplanned. Hierarchical and organic, catholic and charismatic. No necessary contradiction. Both joy and reverence here in these verses, cf v43 and v46 awe and gladness. Joy must always be reverent. Stott, 'it is right in public worship to be dignified; it is unforgivable to be dull.' Not just them turning over a new leaf, but God working in and through them. NB although evangelism is the 'overarching mandate of the church - Acts 1.8', it isn't what they 'gave themselves' to. Rather, as they gave themselves to being who they are, the LORD added to their number. Their teaching. Anti-intellectualism and fullness of the Spirit are incompatible, since He is the Spirit of truth. They didn't dispense with teaching now that they had the Spirit. For us, devoting ourselves to the apostles' teaching means devoting ourselves to the whole Bible, since they were constantly showing how to read the OT. cf classic fm theology. Koinonia. Trinitarian. Abuse not a reason for opposite abuse. We mustn't isolate v42 and miss that v47 assumes that God added to their number, through their prayers and proclamation [which we see throughout the book]! I'm in danger of this imbalance. Harry Boer, quoted in Stott p86: '[Acts] is governed by one dominant, overriding and all-controlling motif. This motif is the expansion of the faith through missionary witness in the power of the Spirit...Restlessly the Spirit drives the church to witness, and continually churches arise out of the witness. The church is a missionary church.' on v47, the Lord did not add them to the church without saving them (cf nominal Christianity), nor save them without adding them to the church (cf individualism). Daily implies ongoing, everyday life of the church. Not yearly mission week. FCF: Individualism; devoted to myself. Prevents unity, prevents generosity and sacrifice. Fake versions - we try to create unity, rather than accept it in Christ. Or, we try to do limited, defined versions of Christian generosity - which aren't wrong in themselves, but can become tick-boxes. Cf the good samaritan. Not 'how can I', but 'will you'. Examples of when the church's witness/credibility has been appallingly hindered by lack of love for one another. Simple church, we try to minimise counterfeit possibilities, sacred cows, and expose cracks readily. In the gospel, we get devotion to Jesus and THEREFORE to His church. Again and again, the proof of whether you love Jesus is do you love His church. Matthew 25; Acts 9; Acts 5. But in Jesus, my self has died. I have died and been raised. Not simply, one day I will rise. But, I have been raised and seated with Him together. We are called together His treasured possession! I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. One of the greatest gifts God can give us is a church where we don't easily like one another naturally, because it smokes out this question: what is Christian love and unity? Church health is seen here: key activities and emphases. The church as a living organism, indwelt by the Spirit. Hence, simple church: we don't control or make growth - God does. But we can help or hinder. Evangelistic question: how do you think humanity could become one true happy family? Has anyone ever told you about what the church was like in the early days?