Breaking Bread - Community Series

Breaking Bread

October 2, 2016

Acts 2:42-47

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the new food pyramid? It looks like this . . . It’s a little different from what we are used to seeing. Notice it shows someone going up stairs, so there is that intimation that we are supposed to exercise as well as eat right. I’ve always struggled to know how much of what I was supposed to eat, according to the chart.

And to be honest, when I look at that chart, it doesn’t match what I always thought the food chart was supposed to look like.

This is what I always thought the food chart was supposed to be. Yup, that’s my food chart. Isn’t that what the pyramid is supposed to look like? {I made a food pyramid of fast food signs} I always found this really easy to remember. In other words, there’s no restaurant that didn’t have something on my food chart.

In the book of Revelation we read about banquets and marriage feasts. And our thoughts about food groups goes out the window. Not only do we get to spend eternity in heaven, and have an amazing time with Christ, but we get to eat the best of the best foods.

Well . . . for the Jewish people and middle eastern folks, meals were huge events. Meals were more than just something you enjoyed because the food tasted good. Meals were an event that could last for hours. Attend a real Passover Meal, and it will last from 3-4 hours. Meals were a time when you would invite people and even people you didn't know. Hospitality was so important in their culture. The purpose was to have deep fellowship with one another and there was kind of a divine nature to meals. The fellowship was rich and deep and that was a way to help you experience the presence of God.

We are in a series helping us to learn to love like Jesus. We’ve looked at forgiving others like Jesus. Last week, we looked at serving like Jesus through the image of washing feet.

Today, I think it’s kind of obvious want image I want us to look at . . . . Jesus breaks bread. Many of the first century believers believed you could experience God best in the context of community as you were breaking bread, doing life together. In fact, on the night before He was betrayed, Jesus sat with His best friends and He broke bread with them. And that has become the image of what we’re to do when we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, as we take communion in a little bit - - remembering the body and blood of Christ.

I want to look at the fellowship or community we’re called to experience. We’re going to look at what I believe is the greatest and most powerful passages of the Bible which describes community. I really believe this is the best picture of the early New Testament community. It’s found in Acts 2 ~

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.

Did you notice the image of breaking of bread? Luke tells us these folks were devoted. Their coming together was not accidental. It was not occasionally, it was intentional. They were devoted to the fellowship and the breaking of bread. They were devoted to learning and giving. It sounds like an amazing community.

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were what? They were all together. Why? Because they were constantly breaking bread, doing life together. Verse 46 tells us DAY by DAY, that means everyday they were coming together. That tells us something about the early church. They were all together and had everything in common.

Nobody had a need, because they met all of the needs. They were together and they sincerely loved one another. There wasn't some boy who had a need, but it was little Johnny who was the son of Mary and Jim who are in our community and they cared so much about people. If there was a need, they would make sure this need was taken care of. All the needs were met in their community because they had this awesome deep committed fellowship. And everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts breaking bread, doing life together.