“Connected: A Family Portrait”
Dt. 4:5-14; Acts 2:42-47
Family portraits are wonderful. We cherish seeing loved ones all connected together, providing a picture that will produce memories for the ages. But family portraits can also be deceiving. Many families are far from the happy, smiling, loving group that is pictured. So why take a family photo? I suppose there are many reasons. One such reason is that we all like to dream about being that happy, smiling, loving group that is pictured; it provides us with dreams and motivation.
That’s why Acts 2:42-47 can be called a family portrait. It pictures the early church during a time of growth and excitement, when everything seemed to be going perfectly – the Christians appeared to be a happy, smiling, loving group. A few chapters later things had changed; but at this point, the loving connection was real. What was it that made it that way? What were the ABC’s of the early Church family?
The “A” of the Church family was an ADDICTION TO LEARNING. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” The Holy Spirit had opened up a school with 3,000 kindergartners! But we cannot dismiss learning as something only for new Christians – the Bible is unequivocal about learning and growth. Learning is not a one time event or something that we do only in phase one of the Christian life. LEARNING IS A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY. Dt. 4 laid out the importance of devotion to and teaching of God’s truth. As Proverbs 19:27 put it: “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” So the believers, from that strong Jewish tradition, came together daily to study the apostles’ teachings about Jesus Christ.
Continual education is not an elective; it is essential. IF WE DO NOT LEARN, WE DO NOT GROW. IF WE DO NOT GROW, WE STAGNATE. On July 5, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at an occasion observing the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At one point he said, “A spring will cease to flow if its source be dried up: a tree will whither if its roots be destroyed.” Listen to Jesus (John 15:5-8): "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, (does not continue to learn and grow) he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you (continue to learn and grow), ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” JESUS IS NOT A BODY OF TRUTH TO BE MASTERED, BUT A TRUTH THAT MASTERS US. Yet too often we Christians feel we have arrived – that there is no need to study anymore, as if we know all there is to know of Jesus. But Paul speaks of the un-searchable riches of Christ; if we learned for a thousand years we would never know all there is to know. To the Colossians he wrote (3:16 GNT) “Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.” Drink deeply of Jesus. Pursue a life of learning and study. Develop an addiction to learning.
The “B” of the early Church family was that it was BUILT ON SHARING. Verse 42: “They devoted themselves …to the fellowship.” And 44-45: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” A common theme throughout Acts is stated often by Luke; “And they were all together in one place…” The Greek word used here for ‘fellowship’ (koinonia) is not even found in the Gospels. This is the first occurrence of the word in the New Testament.(1) John Stott, in fact, claimed that “the word ‘fellowship’ was born on the Day of Pentecost.” (2) This is because Christian fellowship means “common participation in God,” which is what had drawn the early Christians together. As John wrote in his first letter (1:3) “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” THEY WERE OPEN AND IN TUNE WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE OPEN AND IN TUNE WITH JESUS. He was the center of their lives, their conversations, their activities. As we experience fellowship (koinonia) with the Father and the Son, we draw closer to each other and enjoy fellowship (koinonia) with one another.
So we share with our brothers and sisters because of who God shared with us – His Son Jesus Christ. We do not choose each other – we are given to each other by God. Paul wrote (Rom. 12:5 & 10) “…in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others…be devoted to one another…” This means that EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST. Our lives and possessions are not out own. Acts 4:31-35: “There were no needy persons among them. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the
money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” The needs of others had priority over their own personal wants; personal ‘rights’ were relinquished for the common good.
Here’s the principle: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS CHRISTIAN CARING AND CHRISTIAN CARING IS CHRISTIAN SHARING. Every time ‘koinonia’ is used in the New Testament, it denotes some kind of sharing—either sharing something with someone or sharing in something someone else is experiencing. Here in Acts the emphasis of the word is on contributing or giving. Likewise, in 2 Cor. 8:4 we see the Macedonian church begging for the privilege of participation in an offering - the word is koinonia. As someone aptly put it, "Fellowship cost something in the early church, in contrast to our use of the word fellowship today. Fellowship is not just a sentimental feeling of oneness. It is not punch and cookies. It does not take place simply because we are in the church hall. Fellowship comes through giving. True fellowship costs! So many people never know the joys of Christian fellowship because they have never learned to give themselves away. They visit a church or small study group with an eye only for their own needs (hardly aware of others) and go away saying, “There is no fellowship there.” The truth is, we will have fellowship only when we make it a practice to reach out to others and give something of ourselves.” (3)
So fellowship is sharing Jesus Christ in word and deed. When that is the basis of a community or group, it is the Church as God intended it to be. In a day when people are overwhelmed with loneliness, overcome with selfishness, and undone by brokenness, the vibrant fellowship of the church is critical. We must build relationships with other Christians, be an active part of the church, and participate in getting to know and sharing with other brothers and sisters. Many of us grew up during an era when we were participating in church activities or spending time with church members several times a week. Our lives and friendships revolved around those times. FELLOWSHIP WAS ENHANCED BUT NOT PRIMARILY BUILT ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. Sunday worship was building relationship with God, and relationships were built during the rest of the day and during the week. Now we expect Sunday morning to build our fellowship and relationships. It won’t happen. Building relationships, fellowship, koinonia takes time. Unless we are willing to make fellowship a priority, unless we are willing to spend time with one another regularly beyond Sunday mornings, our caring and sharing will decrease.
The “C” of the Church family was to be COMMITTED TO WORSHIP. “They devoted themselves to the … breaking of bread.” And verses 46-47: “Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God …” Worship was so much a part of their lives that even THEIR MEALS BECAME AN ACT OF WORSHIP. They could not eat bread or drink their wine without using the occasion to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Listen to the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 10:16): “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.” The word ‘participation’ is koinonia, the word translated fellowship here in Acts. Paul teaches that in communion, in eating together, we are sharing with God and one another.
AND THEY WORSHIPED IN THE TEMPLE DAILY. The early church recognized she needed help to remain strong in out in the workaday world, to remain different than the non-followers of Jesus. So worship became the beachhead from which they were launched to witness daily for Christ. As I have said before, it’s sad to realize reluctance to worship regularly. For example, people who are part of a Rotary Club or some similar organization have attendance requirements. Whenever they are on vacation they need to find a local Rotary Club to attend – regular attendance is a requirement, not an option. We would not think about skipping a date with a loved one or an appointment with a boss – but seldom hesitate about skipping dates and appointments with God and each other. Many Christians attend worship once or twice a month – and seldom on vacation. So what is your commitment to worship? Is your worship limited to Sundays in a local church, or do you worship at home or with others during the week?
But remember that WORSHIP IS NOT TO FOCUS ON US BUT ON GOD. We do not come here to be entertained, or to get pumped up (although that may happen), or to be healed (although that may happen); we come to glorify Jesus. In the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus strikes up a conversation, by a well, with a woman. As they talked about worship Jesus said, “Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” God seeks us out to worship Him. He wants us to worship! It grieves God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when we fail to worship. How do you feel when you’re ignored and neglected? How do you think God feels when we ignore and neglect Him? THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE CHURCH IS NOT FROM THE EVIL SATAN ON THE OUTSIDE – IT’S FROM LACKADAISICAL CHRISTIANS ON THE INSIDE. I repeat what I’ve said so often from this pulpit – every generation worships less than the one before; so what inheritance are we leaving the next generation? Be committed to worship – at every opportunity. Stem the tide and reverse the trend. Worship is not an option – it is the very core of your life.
The “D” of the early church life was that Christians were DEVOTED TO PRAYER. “They devoted themselves to…prayer.” The book of Acts is filled with scenes of prayer in the life of the early Christians. It is obvious that the witness they gave, and the miracles which resulted, came about because of their devotion to prayer. In fact, in Acts 4:23ff we find the disciples threatened because of their preaching – they were told to stop. So they gathered together and prayed for boldness and (31) “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Is it any wonder that PRAYER WAS THE ONLY THING THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS TO TEACH THEM? God’s power is unlimited; His storehouse is full. Listen to the Bible: (Jer. 33:3): “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Matthew 7:7-8) “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Mark 11:24) “…Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
These Christians in the early church family spoke to God before they spoke to people; they went into God before they went into the world; the met the problems of life because they had first met with God. When we rely on organization we get what organization can do. When we rely on education, we get what education can do. When we rely on programs, we get what programs can do. When we rely on campaigns, we get what campaigns can do. When we rely on human ingenuity, we get what humans can do. But WHEN WE RELY ON PRAYER WE GET WHAT GOD CAN DO! And He can do it all! As someone aptly wrote, “The early church had no radio program, but they were tuned into a divine frequency. They had no television, but they had a clear channel to Glory. They had no telephone, but they had an open line to the Lord’s throne. They had no cars, but they moved faster on their knees. They had no airplanes, but they flew all over the world on the wings of prayer.”
And what happened? They “enjoyed the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” PRAYERS WENT UP, POWER CAME DOWN, PEOPLE WENT OUT - AND PEOPLE WERE SAVED! Howard Hendricks once shared how he challenged a class of seminary students to each write down the names of 2-3 people whom, in their judgment, would never come to faith in Christ. Then they covenanted together to pray every day for those individuals. At the end of the semester 36 of those people they prayed for had accepted Christ, through no other contact but only by prayer. One of those 36 was his own father for whom he had prayed for 42 years! Be devoted to prayer.
May your life be addicted to learning, built on sharing, committed to worship, and devoted to prayer. Connecting with God and one another makes for a healthy family. Will we be like the portrait, or be deceiving? It’s up to each of us. We can leave here and return to life as usual or do as the early Christians did: develop koinonia by meeting daily, worshiping daily, praying daily, searching the Scriptures daily, winning souls daily, and increasing in numbers daily. What one thing you will do this week to improve and strengthen our family? Let’s make the connections. Go forth to build the family and change the world.
(1) http://ref.ly/o/29.49.8/94838?length=182 via @Logos
(2) http://ref.ly/o/boicecm65ac/141677?length=408 via @Logos
(3) http://ref.ly/o/29.49.8/96034?length=1524 via @Logos
