The Church, an Awesome Community (Acts 2:42-47)

Last week, we considered the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and the amazing response to the preaching of the gospel. Wind and fire come down to earth! More than the sound of Wind was present (in terms of John 3:8), for none of the people in that crowd got up that morning thinking they would meet God and become “born-again”; Fire was present in more than the tongues above the apostles’ heads, for none could deny the purifying, unifying power of the Spirit. It gave them the zeal to be witnesses—to both live in and speak out the love of God to the world!

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.

God was still calling sinful and dying people to himself in Christ by the Holy Spirit. This week’s text is simple and short and describes the heart of the church. And serves as an introduction and summary for the next several chapters to come.

Once they were filled with the promised Holy Spirit, they were a devoted church. an influential community, and a believing family.

1) They Were A Devoted Church (v.42)

They devoted themselves to four things. “Devoted” (proskarterountes) “normally means to ‘occupy oneself diligently with something’, ‘to pay persistent attention to’, ‘to hold fast to something', or ‘continually to be in’…and the Greek tenses used in this verse emphasized “the ongoing nature of this activity.” This wasn’t a part-time pursuit for them to dabble in. As David G. Peterson comments, “God was building a new community and not simply dealing with individuals in isolation.” (Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 158)

Years ago I wrote a simple poem about devotion, that I will share here.

Godly Devotion

Godly Devotion;

Desire, love, fear,

An emotional trinity

Longing for His fellowship.

Watching, listening, responding,

Closely, loyally, eagerly

Maintaining Relationship

Not merely religion.

Godly Devotion:

Self de-voted

With pride, possessions, peers

Disenfranchised,

No longer running or reigning

But daily resigning.

In such a state

God has all the votes.

His sovereign love is non-negotiable.

Are we devoted?

            © Greg K. Dueker

Luke tells us four things to which the newborn church was devoted…

A) To the Apostles' Teaching

Solomon's Portico

Two questions come to my mind. First, where did they do this? It was their custom to meet daily in the temple courts (on the east side of Solomon’s Colonnade) for this purpose. This area was destroyed by the Romans in AD70 and there is only a large plaza there now. 

Temple Mount Plaza Today

Second, what was this apostolic teaching? We should remember that the apostles were all eyewitnesses to the ministry of Christ. So what they were teaching was most certainly the content of the Gospels, and what would become the New Testament. 
In addition, they probably taught about how the Old Testament spoke of Jesus their Christ and Lord. These teachings would later be stated in part through the ecumenical councils and creeds. What we believe matters and the early church was devoted to the truth! Here it might be helpful to reconsider the 4th Century Apostles’ Creed which captures some of the main points they would have taught.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
            creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic* church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

[* ”Catholic” does not equate to the Roman Catholic church, but is a word that refers to the true Christian church of all times and all places, the church universal.]

B) To the fellowship, (tē koinōnia) means to share with someone in something above and beyond the relationship itself. This means that it was purposeful, even missional. It refers to the gathering of the church to share their experience of Christ. The following are a few verses that give us insight into what this fellowship was like.

• Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
• 1 Cor. 14:26 What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (Tongues and prophets)
• Eph. 5:18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

C) To the breaking of bread. This detail likely referred to their habit of sharing meals

together. Some commentators suggest that “The term describes the initiation of an ordinary meal in the Jewish fashion of breaking a loaf with the hands and giving thanks to God.” Others see this as a reference to what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion, however, this phrase wasn’t formally used for the Eucharist until the Second Century. More likely it was a shared meal that may have contained a time of Holy Communion, and certainly these times together at the table would have given an opportunity for them to share Christ with each other in “teaching, prayer, and praise”.

D) To the prayers. “The plural form with the article [the] in Greek suggests that the reference is to specific prayers rather than to prayer in general.” (Peterson, 162). To what times of prayer would this refer? The Jewish tradition, to which they were still adhering, included the “time of prayer” that coincided with the evening sacrifice in the temple (about 3pm). What other specific prayers can we think of? The Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, Daniel’s Prayer, Solomon’s prayer, and the prayer for the peace of Jerusalem (via repentance). In any event, it is a reference to specific times when they gathered to pray together and not to private prayer in isolation from others. In service, we took time to pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 – NKJV)

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom

              and the power

              and the glory forever. Amen.

2) They Were An Influential Community (v.43, 47)

A. Awe upon every soul. While this statement is generally taken as hyperbole due to all the unbelievers in Jerusalem, which would have had a population of 180-200K at the time, certainly a new movement springing up with such devotion would have created quite a stir. This “awe” refers to a fear mingled with admiration or reverence; a feeling produced by something majestic, sublime, etc. It would have provoked a response “What if this is real?” It seemed too good to be true, but it was true.

B. Apostles worked wonders and signs. I included this quote about the miracles in my previous post but repeat it here for emphasis...

“Three terms are used to describe the way in which this took place in the course of his ministry. There were miracles (dynameis, 'powers') or mighty works, signifying the operation of God's power or kingly rule through him (cf. Lk. 11:20).

But these could also be called wonders (terata), because of the amazement they effected in the witnesses, and signs (semeia), because they pointed beyond themselves to the character of Jesus and the significance of his coming.” (Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, 145)

C. They had “favor with all the people” (v.47) After soundly critiquing the church of his day for measuring their influence by the type of people who attended or by how much money was given to philanthropic works (using Rev. 3:17- ouch!), one of the most well-known expositors of the Scriptures during the early 20^th Century, G. Campbell Morgan, wrote this still relevant commentary about influential churches in 1929,

“The influential Church is the company of loyal souls who ‘continue steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and the prayers,’ who eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, who manifest in their individual lives and corporate capacity the strength, the beauty, the glory, the compassion of the Christ. Wherever there is such a Church you will find the Church that has favor with the people.” (Morgan, The Acts of the Apostles, 95)

Our influence is not based upon having the “best and brightest” in our midst but on our fully accepting the love and forgiveness of Christ and then consistently extending it to others.

3) They Were A Believing Family (v.44-47)

This section should be taken as an introduction or summary statement of what we will find in the next couple of chapters. This was more than a group of marginally committed individual religious consumers, it was more than a movement of social reform and influence, it was a spiritual family bonded together in the love of Jesus Christ.

A. They Were Together (v.44a). This togetherness expresses their view of God more than we realize. We become like what we worship. Our view of God will influence our approach to relationships. If we have a…

• Unitarian view = God is alone, therefore I can (and should) be alone. The individual is supreme. If this is our viewpoint then when there is a relational conflict we will be quick to separate and go our own ways.
• Trinitarian view = God is Father, Son, & Holy Spirit in an unbroken loving community therefore I can (and should) be together with others in a loving community. If this is our viewpoint then when there is a relational conflict we are quick to repent, reconcile, and draw closer together.

B. They Had All Things In Common (v. 44b). This sharing of resources was a situational availability to support each other due to pressures from a hostile culture. There was no demanding, no shirking, no laziness, no lording over. As a believing family, they were all in the same boat and did their best to help each other as a family should. One of the biggest issues I have seen over the last 30 years in dealing with people in financial crisis was that there had been a total breakdown of family relationships. People would rather go to an organization begging for money than live in the mutual accountability of extended family relationships.

C. They Focused On The Needs Of Others (v. 45). This means that they valued the good of the community more highly than their possessions. Wrapped up in this is the idea of stewardship (i.e., what we have is God’s and we are responsible to Him for how we use it). This was not a religious welfare system but a need-based relational sharing. It required being known well enough for others to be aware of legitimate needs and for there to be full mutuality in the giving process. No one was demanding, and almost no one was working the system. Everyone contributed with whatever the Lord had given to them.

D. They Worshiped Together Day By Day (v. 46). This worship was not something they did once a week or a couple of times a month but a daily occurrence. It was both public and private.

Publicly they worshiped at the Temple, collectively sharing teaching, praise, and prayer.

Privately they worshiped in gatherings (over food) in their homes, where they would have ample opportunity to discuss the Scriptures and teachings as well as intimate prayer and praise. I call this a “G³” church!

G³ = Glad, Generous, and praising God the Father, Son, & Spirit!

As a result, “day by day, The Lord [Jesus] added to their number…those who were being saved!”

What about Us?

Such community, love, peace, and generosity sound good, but I wonder if we might think that it won’t work for us.

• Many have gone through hardship and even injustice at the hands of those in power.
• Some have experienced trauma and abuse from those whom they expected to care for and help them.
• Others have experienced broken promises and even betrayal from those they trusted.

Perhaps you have trust issues as a result. However, let me say that these people we are reading about in Acts had also experienced hardship and trauma, and it was about to get worse. Yet the Spirit quickened their hearts to walk together through whatever would come their way.

This message was originally given on Mothers’ Day. As a result, we included a reading of Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Isn’t that what a mother wants? Some of the Mother’s Day wishes I have heard are things like…To be together, to eat together, for everyone to pitch in, to pray together, and to be thankful for God’s blessings…and most of all to see their family being saved. As it is also written, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)

The Spirit calls us to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ our Savior! So what will we devote ourselves to this week? What will we all be seen (from the outside) to be devoting our lives to?

• Apostles teaching—are you reading the New Testament? Our studies on Thursdays are not just a bunch of blah-blah-blah. Bible studies should not just pass on information, but inspiration and motivation as we draw near to Jesus who is revealed in the Scriptures.
• The fellowship—you are here today so that is a good start. It is a sharing in common of the Lord Jesus Christ. We mourn with those who mourn. We rejoice with those who are honored. We recognize that we would all be lost without the sacrificial love of God.
• Breaking bread—who will we gather with for a shared meal and shared faith this week?
• The prayers—how might we become more of a praying church? It will happen when we begin to pray in relationship with others!

Today, as we take Communion—we are sharing in their experience. We are a community sharing a common Savior, a common memory of his love, a common meal, and lifting each other up in prayer!