INGREDIENTS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH
ACTS 2:42-47
The final miracle of the Holy Spirit on that day of Pentecost was the birth of the church. You may wonder why I call that a miracle. It is because I know human nature. Next to the transformation of persons, the second greatest miracle is oneness or unity with others who have been transformed.
The best of human relationships, apart from the Holy Spirit, are based on the exchange of human needs...interests...causes...or fears. We do not just naturally live in close, harmonious, giving, and forgiving relationships.
Unless there is something we either need to get or need to provide, we are not drawn into either friendship or partnership. Without the Holy Spirit, we use people or are used by them depending on our dominant or subservient personality.
Loneliness drives people into one place, but that does not mean they are "together", really. We are basically selfish people.
But when the living Christ sets us free, we are able to participate in His purpose for His people...that they become one - one with Him and one with each other.
When He performs the miracle of His love in us, it is then that a character transformation begins which makes it possible for us to love unselfishly. The church as it was meant to be is made up of those people.
It was made up of 3,120 people who had come to a sure knowledge of salvation through Christ's death and resurrection...and had received His living presence - the Holy Spirit...and they were one!
Arguing theology or judging who was an inside-outsider or an outside-insider came later, sad to say...but these newly filled believers on Pentecost night were sure of who they were because they were sure of Christ.
In those first days they were in a state of infancy, but also in the state of its greatest innocence. What were the ingredients of the early church that made it the standard for us today?
This morning I want to show you, briefly, the four ingredients of a healthy church and also the life that is possible if we'll follow the formula set by that early church.
1. Teaching. The events on the day of Pentecost were such that Peter had to get up and give an explanation of what took place. From the very beginning a Scriptural foundation was laid for that mighty outpouring of the Spirit.
And it didn't end there. The apostle's continued daily to teach, guided by the Holy Spirit. There were 7 basic themes taught:
1. The promises of God in O.T. are fulfilled in Christ
2. Jesus' earthly ministry was verified by the miraculous power of God
* 3. Christ was crucified and raised from the dead ...of which they were witnesses. There was an emphasis on the resurrection!
4. Jesus was exalted as both Lord and Christ (resurrection. proves this)
5. He sent His Holy Spirit to form and energize the church
6. Christ will come again for judgment and restoration
7. All who hear this message must repent and be baptized...thereby receiving forgiveness and the promise of the Holy Spirit
This is what the apostles would daily teach and preach about. Now how does that compare with most of the teaching and preaching that goes on today?
We've all heard many men who become quite well known...men who really draw the crowds...but who draw the same comments from people after the service: Wasn't he great...he was so funny...etc. So many personal illustrations...amusing stories about things that happened to him...
And don't get me wrong, I really believe that a humorous story or illustration can really help to make a point...and I do that on occasion. But far too many preachers are becoming stand-up comics.
There is far too little preaching that is Christ centered. But that is what the early church was. A Christ-centered church is a biblical church. And the Lord guided these believers in the study and preaching of the Word.
2. Fellowship. [Christianese for pigging out] In this case fellowship can properly be translated "partnership." They devoted themselves to being in partnership with one another.
If you want to choose a partner for a business, you look for someone who has the same basic ideas and goals as you. He may have certain gifts and talents that are different from yours, but at the same time will complement yours and work toward the common goal.
This was a key to the success of the early church...they were in partnership...uniting themselves because they shared a common bond and their ultimate purpose was also the same - to be witnesses...
The Bible says they will know we are Christians by our love...these were believers who were deeply concerned for one another.
READ v. 44-45
This doesn't mean they lived in a commune and put all their stuff in a big "kitty" to be used when anyone had a need. It means that when there was a need among them they would do what they had to do to meet that need...
Like selling their possessions and goods. They were focused on Christ and doing His work until His return. Because of this their earthly possessions and goods meant little when it came to a brother or sister in need.
They spent each day worshiping together...Can you imagine that... church every day?? Whoa!! They worshiped God daily. They weren't "Sunday Christians" And look where they met...in the temple, among other Jews.
They were unashamed to worship in the presence of "unbelievers." It wasn't always a hostile crowd but it was one that for the most part hadn't received Christ as Savior.
The thing that really sticks out to me here is that their fellowship with one another may have been a factor in their ability to openly worship in the temple, a place where they were many times unwelcomed.
Think about it...your are in a public place, maybe a place where people you know and work with frequent, and all of a sudden someone begins to talk about the Lord...share a testimony or just gets downright happy about being a Christian and what God is doing.
What do you do...casually glance around to see if anyone else can hear what¡¦s going on...will someone see you and associate you with this fanatic...what will they think...what will they say??
But these believers were unashamed...they hung out together...and they drew strength and boldness primarily from the Holy Spirit, but also from each other.
Oh, if we could only begin to have that kind of fellowship...where we can meet - but not to just to talk and share about the dress you saw on sale...or the ball game that was on...or all your aches and pains...
When is the last time you got together with other believers and talked about what the Lord is doing in your life...or played a game of Bible Trivia...or something really radical like recognizing a need and figuring out how you can ƒashow ƒ`your love by meeting that need.
Move on to # 3. Breaking of Bread
vs. 46 says "they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."
This is another key for a healthy church that is so much needed today. Not that I think we ought to start having communion in each other¡¦s homes...but the significance of what was behind this is vital.
They knew that they were to observe this ordinance, remembering His death till He comes. What made this so significant was the fact that this was a symbol of the hope of His coming.
They knew all the implications of the atonement...but they also believed that Jesus was coming back. And this was cause for celebration. They were ever mindful of the second coming of Christ, and it affected their whole lives.
It is the hope of His soon return that gives me the strength and the desire to go beyond the mediocre...to live my life in such a way that if that coming would be today I won't be ashamed...
I rejoice in the fact that He is coming back FOR ME. And if you're saved He's coming back for you too...shouldn't that get you at least a little excited??
It was a regular thing for them to break bread together...but it wasn't a routine...something just done from habit. For them it was a celebration...How is it for us when we take communion together?
4. Prayer. What can I say about prayer? The one thing we talk about the most and do the least...
These believers had been told to wait for the promise of the Father. But they didn't just hang out in the Upper Room waiting for something to happen...they prayed.
And my...how their prayers were answered. They realized the value and power of prayer. But there was more to prayer than the miraculous answers that result. It was communication with the one they loved.
That is the most difficult thing for most to understand. Regardless of the teaching and preaching and witness of the Scripture...most people still look at prayer as either a wish list or an emergency call to "the man upstairs."
Prayer is communion and communication with God. It is where we learn to really know Him...know His heart...and His will...and His love. It is where we learn to know His voice, that still small voice that will lead and guide us into all truth.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching...fellowship... breaking of bread...and prayer.
Because of this the lived a life of:
Reverence - they didn't take lightly the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Unity - they were united with Christ and with each other and that took the form of service to Christ and each other.
Joyful & Sincere Worship - that went with them everywhere they went.
Growth - the Lord added daily those that were being saved.
