I have been pastoring this church, as either Resurrection Bible Church or as Victory Bible Church in its early form, since January 2, 2000. I have to say that it has been an interesting ride, with highs and lows and a lot of in between.
Those of us that pastor rural churches pretty much have a mixed bag of success and failure, more so I do believe that larger, urban or suburban churches. Location is a factor, as is a smaller population but in truth we as small churches have some unique advantages big churches lack:
We are small, but we are intimate in that we know everyone in the church.
We are small but are learning to lean on each other more and more.
We are small, but we are learning as a group.
We are small, but becoming more tightly knit as each week goes by.
Over the years, it seemed as though we were missing one vital element in our church for the most part: a sense of community, a kindred spirit. There was a time, from 2004 through 2007, when we did have that kindred spirit but slowly that evaporated; it has taken almost seven years to get back to that same kind of connected state in our church.
What I will attempt to do this week is to examine what happened during that time. We will look at the success, and we will look at the failures that happened during that time. I will not, however, address specifics in situations or in persons but try to teach you what I have learned from hindsight.
We will also, addition to seeing what worked and worked well will examine how we can regain that type of kindred spirit expand upon it so that God will use us--each one of us--in a mighty way in 2014 and the years that will follow in studying a key passage in Acts chapter 2, the founding of the church.
Let's begin as we seek to become kindred united!
* Do Not Allow Satan To Establish A Beachhead
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 (KJV)
I thank the Lord for the sacrifices that my father and my father in law made in World War II. My dad was in the Pacific Theater (New Guinea and the Philippines) and Kay's dad was at Normandy and in other later locations in the European Theater. If you know history, you would know that Operation Overlord, also known as D-Day, was the establishing of a beachhead of operations to drive a wedge into German occupied France and the rest of occupied territory in Europe, doing so at the Normandy beaches. Had Operation Overlord failed, the war most certainly have lasted much longer at the least and may have resulted in Nazi victory at the worst.
On the flip side, history has shown us that enemies also use this strategy, that of establishing beachheads or footholds. This is precisely what Satan does in the lives of believers; he finds a weak spot and often by stealth and deception he establishes beachheads in our lives.
Don't we all wish that we had the ability to see what is ahead as clearly as those things that have passed by? The saying "hindsight is 20-20" is so true. One of our greatest learning tools is from the experience of failure. I can say that I am guilty of allowing these beachheads or footholds to become established in those years our church was thriving and only later discovered the error.
What happened was this: anger issues and issues of sins of "familiarity" were not addressed, and they accumulated to the point where it created a monster of sorts. Anger issues (with both myself and the other parties) were not really addressed, and we let them "slide" and they accumulated and festered and grew out of control. And the old saying "familiarity breeds contempt" rang true, as those that were close to me got away with some things that should have been addressed. In short, in order to "keep the peace" and "not make waves" things were left to slide by. The end result was, in some cases, catastrophic; one particular case resulted in anger so great I sincerely thought I was going to be assaulted. Now I see it, and see that I am as at fault, or more at fault, for not dealing with the issue.
Today's key scripture passage above states: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. See four concepts: 1) Anger happens, and is not always sinful;
2) Anger is never an excuse to sin (you made me so angry that I did that!)
3) Settle your anger issue before the setting of the sun (or quickly, don't delay)
4) If you don't deal with that issue you are giving Satan a foothold (place is translated as foothold in the NIV and the NLT).
In short, we cannot let sin and anger fester, we must deal with the situation NOW.
* Kindred United...The Process
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
I have found in my dealings with other churches (as a pastor and as an insurance agent for Brotherhood Mutual) that there are basically four kinds of churches: driving, dropping, dying, dead. Those churches that are alive are driving forward in the Lord, those that are struggling are dropping, those that dropped and are inactive for the most part but with a glint of life are dying and those that have no passion at all for God and His Word, dead. It is a common misconception that a church can tread water, remain at idle, or stand in place. It does not. A church either moves forward or backward, there is no middle ground. I consider our church to be on a comeback after dropping for a few years--and we have an optimistic outlook.
Our church has been floundering for a number of years since those days back in the mid 2000's. Rather than to glory in those days past and be melancholy about it, we must learn the hard lessons from that time but also look back and see just what it was that made it a special time. In addition, we must look to the Word of God to see just how the first churches in the time of the apostles started and grew churches that prospered. This weeks key passage, Acts 2:41-45, highlights the very first church--how it was missioned, it's method, it's mode, and it's mustering.
Let's start with missioning. In verse 41, people gladly accepted the gospel--the Good News of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins if we come to faith in Him--and then they were obedient in being baptized. This verse, nor verse 38, speak of a requirement to be baptized to be saved as that would be working for your salvation; however, when one is saved God saves them to change them and those that are God's children will naturally do what their Father asks of them. But three thousand people were saved in one day. This is remarkable, and proof that the Holy Spirit was with Peter as he spoke, as he was from Nazareth and had that particularly well known accent; most people would have thought him to be uneducated and lower class.
* The Five Pillars of Fellowship: The Method of The Church
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:41-45 (NKJV)
For those that have sat under the teaching of our church, you might be taken aback at the title of today's devotional. I have always taught that Acts 2:42 featured four pillars of fellowship (apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers), but after studying it I have come to the conclusion that there are five. Let's look at these five pillars:
1) Continued steadfastly. The Greek term for continued steadfastly is from two words, one meaning "to be strong towards" (pros, "towards," used intensively, and kartereo, "to be strong"), "to endure in, or persevere in, to be continually steadfast with a person or thing," (Vine's) In short, it means to be devoted with a passion toward something, to make a commitment and not back away from it. Devout might be a good word to use as well. For those that profess Christ, then never darken the door of a church, one must question if that profession is valid as continuing steadfastly was the pattern of the early church. It is not "here today, gone tomorrow" but instead is someone that sticks to the church like super glue. It was a church that consisted of saved people, as evidenced by their works.
2) Apostles' doctrine. While the Old Testament scriptures did exist in the days of the early church, the New Testament was being formed. The apostles were inspired by God (literally God breathed) to teach proper doctrine; Paul, John, Mark, Luke, Matthew, Peter, James and Jude would, at the direction of God, write the New Testament books. In short, the apostles were teaching good, solid Bible teaching--the hallmark of the early church.
3) Fellowship. The basic meaning of koinonia (fellowship) is "partnership," or "sharing." (John MacArthur). In other words, the church is not a social club or just a place where we go to chat and enjoy company, but in Christian fellowship we are partners in others' lives. This is something that we are starting to experience here in our church with the Bible Fellowship sessions, which establishes bonds of fellowship--partnership in both joy and grief.
4) Breaking of Bread. This means the Lord's Supper, or communion. We are commanded by the Lord to partake of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). We fellowship with God in a special way when we break bread and drink of the vine together; it is a time when we experience the senses and the spiritual. The church, then, is a Christ centered group of saved individuals.
5) Prayers. When the church meets and prays together, it is a special thing. We then as a group are communicating with God!
* Awestruckness and Sharing With The Brethren
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Acts 2:44-45
Now let's just take an inventory of what has transpired in that day. Peter preached a powerful message, inspired by and directed by God. People believed and were saved, expressed obedience in baptism, then were united in their firm conviction and action in expressing that faith by fellowshipping with other Christians. This fellowship that was shared was in solid Bible teaching, by loving and spending time with their brethren, in being Christ centered and partaking of the Lord's Supper, and praying together. In short, they were doing everything right. They did not forsake the assembling together, as is the manner of some to this day (Hebrews 10:25). Next, we see the mode of the church.
When we gather together and are of one mind, with one focus in that we worship in spirit and in truth and fellowship in prayer and in obedience, something special happens. There is an awestruck wonder that comes upon people. The term used in the Greek translated as fear means awestruck wonder, a fear to a degree but an elevation of the person to meet God in His territory so to speak. It's not a mystical thing; I would express it in two words: "Wow, God!".
Now it's important to remember that these wonders and signs were done by God through the apostles, it was God that did the work. Also the reason why these miracles were done was not because of the works the people did to lead to that point but instead to validate the apostles doctrine, or teaching. MacArthur notes that the writer of Hebrews addressed this very thing: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. (Heb. 2:3-4, NASB). It was indeed a unique time.
This last verse, verse 45, is one that is often misinterpreted, understandably so at first blush. It would almost appear that there was a communal living that occurred, but that is not the case. Neither is this wealth redistribution, the modern day Robin Hood mentality of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. We must understand what had occurred during that time. Many people would have lost everything they had due to persecution for their proclamation of faith in Jesus, and were in need. MacArthur explains that this was voluntary, and not mandatory:
What actually happened was that personal property was sold as anyone might have need. It was an indication of immense generosity, as people gave not only their present cash or goods, but also their future in acts of sacrificial love to those in need. And it is clear from Peter's words to Ananias in Acts 5:4 that such selling was purely voluntary. Ananias and Sapphira sinned not by refusing to part with their possessions but by lying to the Holy Spirit. This is the church's mustering.
These folks, the brethren or kindred, were united. United in belief, obedience, teaching, fellowship, Christ centeredness, prayer, wonder and in sharing. They were kindred, united indeed.
