[Basket experiment: slips of paper, Describe yourself, good and bad, no names.]
Basically, [2] this is our church. Who we are as people is who we are as a church. The church isn’t just a name or a building or even a worship service. The church is God’s people together trying to accomplish His will on earth. We the people are we the church.
The good things and the bad things that make us who we are as individuals also make our church who she is corporately. So who is our church? Well let’s find out.
[Pretend to read slips: faithful, prayer warrior, shy, hungry,
likes to steal the pens out of the welcome folders, etc.]
Who we are as individuals also make our church who she is corporately. So what I want to do this morning is take a look at who the first church was and see how we match up. [3] Let’s go to Acts 2 and take a look at the first church ever. The first church began right after Peter preached to the crowds that had gathered there in Jerusalem.
[Read Acts 2:40-47.]
It’s as if Luke is giving us a bottom line biography of what the first church was like. We see a church that was a pure, vibrant and effective organization of people that were committed to Jesus Christ. But just like our church and any church, they were together as they were individually. So as we take a closer look at the first church, may it draw attention to who you are as an individual. Forget our church for a moment and let’s focus on ourselves.
The first thing we notice about the people in the first church was that they were [4] devoted people.
[Read Acts 2:42.]
Four things typified their devotion. They were devoted to the Apostles teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. These are the four things that kept the people focused on Jesus Christ and His will for them. This is what held that church together!
They were devoted to the Apostles teaching or the Word of God. They had come to know God in a personal way and they wanted to know as much as they could about Him. They weren’t going to create God in their image. They wanted to find out the Truth!
They were devoted to fellowship or each other. The Greek word used for fellowship here is “koinonia” which means “partnership”. It wasn’t that they just enjoyed hanging out together, they were committed to helping and partnering through life together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
They were devoted to the breaking of bread or worship. The breaking of bread refers to the practicing of the Lord’s Supper or communion as we call it. That shows us that they deliberately came together for times of worship.
They were devoted to prayer. You know, prayer is where we access the power of God. Prayer is where we access the heart of God. Prayer is where we access answers from God. These people didn’t just prayer when needs arose. These people were continually devoted to prayer.
The first church was made up of devoted people. People devoted to God’s Word; People devoted to each other; people devoted to worship; And people devoted to prayer.
[5] The first church was also made up of people who were awestruck by what God was doing in their midst.
[Read Acts 2:43.]
Through the hands of the apostles God was confirming His Word and their authority to teach it through miracles and signs and wonders. Just like He did through Jesus Christ Himself. The people needed to see that this was an act of God and not just of men. So when a healing would happen or when tongues would come forth the people would stand back awestruck by the power and person of God.
When’s the last time you were awestruck by something you saw?
[Grand Canyon, Lisette coming down the aisle, first altar call stories.]
I tell you what, when God does something for me to see, I want to be more awestruck. I don’t want to be like, “been there, done that”. I want to be more like a little kid who walks into Disney World for the first time. I want to be like I was when my kids were born. I want to be awestruck when witnessing God active in this world. The people of the first church never got over seeing God in their midst.
[6] Along with that, the people of the first church were selfless.
[Read Acts 2:44-45.]
They were so committed to each other that when needs arose they would sell of the extra stuff they had to provide for one another.
Now remember, there’s a good chance that the majority of the 3,000 people who were saved were people from other countries who had journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate on the day of Pentecost. It doesn’t look like they went back home to their jobs. Also, persecution of Christians was common in these days. If you were known as a believer in Jesus you might not be able to get a job or even stay out of prison for that matter. So there were very real needs amongst the people of the first church.
But when needs came up, the people rallied together and made sure every need was met. They didn’t live in some kind of a cult-like commune and this wasn’t socialism or communism. As people had needs, people of means voluntarily sold off what they didn’t need to provide for others. These people were selfless.
[7] The people of the first church were also outwardly focused.
[Read Acts 2:46-47.]
Daily they were going to the Temple which shows that they weren’t going to hide away somewhere and become some kind of Christian, members-only club. They were out where the people were on a regular basis. Now just what were they doing in the Temple?
- Praising God, Acts 2:47
- Praying to God, Acts 3:1
- Witnessing for God, Acts 5:42
They were out doing what Jesus had commanded them to do – reaching the world for
Him. They had found the Savior and they wanted everyone to know it. Yes, they did enjoy being together. But they were mission-minded people who cared about the world around them – even the world that sometimes hated them.
So often we try and isolate and insulate ourselves from the world that doesn’t love God like we do. But where would we be if no one would have been willing to step out of their comfort zone and tell us about Jesus? Where would we be?
I’m sure that the people of the first church had just as many fears and insecurities as we do. But they pushed past all of that, depended on the power of God, stepped out of their comfort zone and remained a part of their fallen society. And obviously they did it well since verse 47 says, “they had favor with all the people”.
[8] They probably the gained a good reputation because the people of the first church were also joyful people.
[Read Acts 2:46-47a.]
Now these were some fun people. They were unified, they spent time together, and they had glad and sincere hearts. No wonder they had favor with all the people – they were a fun bunch to be around. Most people want to go to a fun church.
But there are some people that like to go to the First Church of Holy Negativity. (Some of you’ve been there huh?)
[In pain while singing, angry ushers, stories.)
But not this church. The first church was full of joyful people.
[9] And finally, the people of the first church were fruitful people.
[Read Acts 2:47.]
Because of everything we’ve been talking about, God used these people to be incredibly fruitful. I mean, how could they not have been fruitful in the ministry? They were completely devoted, they never got over their salvation, they were selfless and outgoing and joyful. God used these people in amazing ways to bring people to Him on a daily basis.
You know friends, God wants to continue to use our church to help people come to Him. He does. He wants to use us all to help reach our community and beyond. I’m convinced of that. You know what I see happening in this place?
- Church filled with people, (not stealing people from other churches, new Christians)
- Multiple services
- Daughter churches
God wants to use us to reach people starting right here and now. But maybe He wants us to take a good look at ourselves before He blows the doors off this place. Just how do we match up to the people of the first church? [10] When we look at ourselves, and no one else, are we:
- Devoted people? (Devoted to God’s Word, devoted to each other, devoted to worship and devoted to prayer?) Or are we non-committal?
- Awestruck people? (By what God’s doing in, through and around us.) Or have we become arrogant?
- Selfless people? (To the point of going without so someone else can have.) Or are we more concerned with ourselves?
- Outwardly focused people? Or are we inwardly focused?
- Joyful people? Or do we find ourselves complaining and negative. Philippians 2:14.
- Fruitful people? Or are we sitting on the sidelines while everyone else is in the game?
At this point it’s easy to get down on yourself. I mean, who matches up to that
description all the time. I have my moments just like you. And I know that the people of the first church had their struggles as well. (They were great – but they were human.)
But God took that group of sinners saved by grace and did something amazing! God wants to do amazing things here as well. The key is that we as individuals need to be completely devoted to Jesus Christ. Then we can really be the church that we ought to be.
[11] A few years after the first church was born, another church was birthed in the city of Corinth. A church that some 20 years later got away from their focus. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said to them in II Corinthians 11:3.
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Friends, I will do everything I can to keep us focused on Jesus Christ. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about Him, and without Him we can do nothing!
So if there’s an area that you’re falling short in, call on the Lord for help and growth in that area. He will help you and transform you into the person He created you to be. And guess what, when we as individuals grow, so grows our church! [12]
