Continuing
“The Continuing Acts of Jesus in the Church"Acts 2:42-47
In the last few Sundays our first lessons have all been from Acts. Acts 1:1 ,” In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (ESV) In one sense the Acts of the Apostles is better titled the continuing acts of Jesus in the in the Church. It may be also, “ a true prescription for church growth.” ( not a flash in the pan kind of growth)
We heard one lesson from Acts 2 , a sermon from Peter, “ This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses….those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” (2:32,41) Another lesson was from Acts 10 , “ and we are witnesses of all that he(Jesus) did both in the country of Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” (10:40-41)
Because of these things, i.e, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we have a church gathered in ch. 2:42-47. This is a pattern for the church. We see in 2:42 devotion to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. These four things are the right avenues for churches to go down. Going down other roads outside of these will lead to something entirely different. The result is what is shown in vs. 47, “ and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Devotion to the apostles’ teaching is what we do as hear the Word read, it is preached, discussed and thought about. We should be looking for ways to hear the Word in our lives. This is where many stumble in our world . It has always been so, and will always be so. There is a spiritual strength in listening to what Jesus has said and inspired His holy apostles to write for our edification and nourishment. Tonite we will break down Psalm 1 in our pm service. But here it is , “ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water…” One of the fast food restaurants says, “ Have it your way.” That is not a prescription for happiness in this life or the life to come. “ Have it my way---the Lord says ” and you will have life and it will be abundant. 2 Peter ch 1 discusses the way Scripture was produced. “ …knowing this first of all , that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 1:20-21. Outside of this you have false prophets according to 2 Peter 2. “ But false prophets also arose among the people..who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2:1-2
Next those believers in the first century were strongly devoted to the fellowship. They had in common their faith. They had communion with one another, that is fellowship because of their union with Christ. This led to mutual love. In Acts they “ had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 2:44 These verb tenses, “used to sell, used to divide” show that this was an action that did not last, but it did show the intensity of their love for one another.
They shared meals together in their meetings. This certainly included Holy Communion as we mentioned last week in Jesus with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. “ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” 2:46
Lastly they devoted themselves to THE prayers. The early Christian church had certainly certain forms of prayer that they used. Certainly they were based on the Old Testament. We hear the blessing from Numbers 6:22 , the blessing of Aaron. “ Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’ ” The Psalms also afforded not only a hymn book but a source of prayer for the people of God. Psalm 100 is one we use , “ O be joyful in the LORD, all ye lands: serve the LORD with gladness, and come before His presence with a song…O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name…” Mary’s song in Luke 2 is another such example of a prayer that the early Christians repeated, “ My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” ( Luke 1:46…)
The continuing acts of Jesus are continuing! Those things He began to teach and do He committed to His followers, and has committed unto us His Word and His presence in the church, His body. We gather each Lord’s Day to hear His instruction, listen for the ways in which we can grow more and more into the likeness of His Son, “ For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29 By prayer, by fellowship, by meeting , by eating together, by celebrating the Sacraments His church is growing . “ And awe and wonder came upon every soul…” Acts 2:43 May it be so in our midst today and in the days ahead!
In the last few Sundays our first lessons have all been from Acts. Acts 1:1 ,” In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (ESV) In one sense the Acts of the Apostles is better titled the continuing acts of Jesus in the in the Church. It may be also, “ a true prescription for church growth.” ( not a flash in the pan kind of growth)
We heard one lesson from Acts 2 , a sermon from Peter, “ This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses….those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” (2:32,41) Another lesson was from Acts 10 , “ and we are witnesses of all that he(Jesus) did both in the country of Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” (10:40-41)
Because of these things, i.e, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we have a church gathered in ch. 2:42-47. This is a pattern for the church. We see in 2:42 devotion to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. These four things are the right avenues for churches to go down. Going down other roads outside of these will lead to something entirely different. The result is what is shown in vs. 47, “ and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Devotion to the apostles’ teaching is what we do as hear the Word read, it is preached, discussed and thought about. We should be looking for ways to hear the Word in our lives. This is where many stumble in our world . It has always been so, and will always be so. There is a spiritual strength in listening to what Jesus has said and inspired His holy apostles to write for our edification and nourishment. Tonite we will break down Psalm 1 in our pm service. But here it is , “ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water…” One of the fast food restaurants says, “ Have it your way.” That is not a prescription for happiness in this life or the life to come. “ Have it my way---the Lord says ” and you will have life and it will be abundant. 2 Peter ch 1 discusses the way Scripture was produced. “ …knowing this first of all , that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 1:20-21. Outside of this you have false prophets according to 2 Peter 2. “ But false prophets also arose among the people..who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2:1-2
Next those believers in the first century were strongly devoted to the fellowship. They had in common their faith. They had communion with one another, that is fellowship because of their union with Christ. This led to mutual love. In Acts they “ had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 2:44 These verb tenses, “used to sell, used to divide” show that this was an action that did not last, but it did show the intensity of their love for one another.
They shared meals together in their meetings. This certainly included Holy Communion as we mentioned last week in Jesus with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. “ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” 2:46
Lastly they devoted themselves to THE prayers. The early Christian church had certainly certain forms of prayer that they used. Certainly they were based on the Old Testament. We hear the blessing from Numbers 6:22 , the blessing of Aaron. “ Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’ ” The Psalms also afforded not only a hymn book but a source of prayer for the people of God. Psalm 100 is one we use , “ O be joyful in the LORD, all ye lands: serve the LORD with gladness, and come before His presence with a song…O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name…” Mary’s song in Luke 2 is another such example of a prayer that the early Christians repeated, “ My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” ( Luke 1:46…)
The continuing acts of Jesus are continuing! Those things He began to teach and do He committed to His followers, and has committed unto us His Word and His presence in the church, His body. We gather each Lord’s Day to hear His instruction, listen for the ways in which we can grow more and more into the likeness of His Son, “ For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29 By prayer, by fellowship, by meeting , by eating together, by celebrating the Sacraments His church is growing . “ And awe and wonder came upon every soul…” Acts 2:43 May it be so in our midst today and in the days ahead!
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