I Am Connected?Acts 2:41-47?
I am connected to the Body vv.41-42
? Through Jesus
For a different life
?I am connected to the Mission vv.43-45 ?
To see God do the miraculous
To sacrifice what is necessary
I am connected to a Group vv.46-47 ?
Doing life together
Sharing life in Christ with others
Illustration on being connected: 2 then 4 then 8 people back to back sitting down—pushing each other up.? Turn to Acts 2:41-47. Today we finish up this short series entitled, “I am _______”
We’ve identified 4 basic characteristics of what it means to be a part of Rush Creek. We’re not saying member any more. It’s a $5 fine for anyone who uses the word “member.” 20 years ago we did away with committees and went to teams. Committees are the worst possible way to make decisions in a church so we just did away with them. But for awhile, people were used to saying committee instead of team so we fined you if you said “committee.” We’re using the term partner instead of member because partners have a stake in the vision and mission of the enterprise whereas members don’t really. So if you say member, or if I say member, fine me $5!? So are the 4 basic characteristics of someone who belongs to Rush Creek? What can you say about yourself as you consider yourself joined to and a part of Rush Creek??I am a Christ-follower (build) I have surrendered my life to Christ and am following Him and his path for my life?I am a Partner I accept the role and responsibilities of a partner who owns the mission and the vision of the church?I am a Servant I serve in a needed position here at Rush Creek on a regular basis. And finally this morning:?I am Connected At the end of today’s worship service, you can become a part of Rush Creek by coming right over there under the cross and we’ll give you a Partner’s Covenant Card to review and sign. This will be the last Sunday anyone will be able to join this way. The next opportunity will be in our First Step Experience in January.
So now as we read this very familiar text, I pray we see it with fresh eyes this morning and that our hearts are challenged by this band of brothers and sisters who were thrust into the limelight of history by becoming the very first church.
Acts 2:41-47 (on screen)
If you’ve studied this passage you know the background: that 50 days after Jesus’ death on the cross as the Passover Lamb, 10 days after His ascension, a group of believers were praying together and the Holy Spirit came upon them like a mighty rushing wind. They poured out into the streets near the southern steps of the temple. (Scroll thru Southern steps 1,2, & 3 at a 2 second pace) We’ll be there next May—if you grab one of the 1 remaining spots on the tour--and began speaking in the languages of those who were in Jerusalem from other countries for the feast of Pentecost. A huge crowd gathered and Simon Peter took the opportunity to preach Jesus. As a result, 3000 Jews were immersed in the huge ritual bathing pools at the foot of the southern steps of the Temple.? So now what are they gonna do? They’ve embraced Jesus as the Messiah. They’ve got a brand new understanding of the Law and Prophets they’ve been studying since they were children. How will these 3000 new Christ-followers relate to each other and to those who in the city and beyond? They begin to connect to each other in a way that had never happened in human history. ? When you study the passage, you see that they were connected in at least 3 ways. There’s a parallel there for us and our connection as Rush Creekers.
I am connected to the Body (build) vv.41-42 (on screen)
So after Peter preached, how many responded to the gospel? 3000. I don’t know how they got 3000 baptized that day. No doubt all 11 of the disciples were dunkin’ people one after another. If only the 11 baptized, that would be 272 people for each of them. Can you imagine? Maybe they got a few more leaders to help them. Still, their arms had to be warn out (limp “Hey, how are you; good to see you”). ? But I want you to see they were connected to what was now the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ.” The N.T. is full of references to the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16 is one of my favorites: “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.” So after the bodily ascension of Jesus, He sent His Spirit to form a physical representation of His body: we are His hands, His arms, His smile, His feet.
But we can only become a part of the body Through Jesus. When Peter was preaching, He said, ““Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36 There is only one way to connect to God, one way to get His heaven, one way to connect to His Body, and that’s through Jesus.? This connections is to make For a different life Look at Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” This was a different kind of life. Not one that showed up in a casual approach, but one that was a radical change in lifestyle. They were devoted to JESUS and to each other in life altering way. People began to take notice not just that day, but in the days that followed so that the gospel spread like a brushfire on a hot windy summer day. That’s what it means to be connected.?I am connected to the Mission vv.43-45 (on screen)
God was doing the miraculous amongst them, wasn’t He? Do you want To see God do the miraculous Then get involved in God’s mission. There is not a more worthy, more amazing, more exciting endeavor than to be connected to the mission of Jesus Christ. He told His followers to “Go into all the world and make disciples.” That begins right in your own family, parents. Discipling your kids and raise them up to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. What a challenge! At times you understand why some species eat their own children! But o my, the joy, the heartache, the failure, the success but then to see them embrace their own faith and walk with Jesus and count for Jesus. What an adventure. ? And then to pray up the courage to share your story with those where you live, work, and play. And to see them come to faith and to encourage them in the things of God. And then to be involved in reaching out to our community and to other communities like Portland and even farther communities in China, Pakistan, Africa. You get connected to the mission of Christ’s church and YOU WILL SEE THE MIRACULOUS! ? Story? And you will be chomping at the bits To sacrifice what is necessary Notice vv.44 &45 (On screen). Many if not most of the new converts were visiting from out of town to be a part of the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was one of the 7 main festivals Jews would observe. It was a celebration of the early wheat harvest and a reminder of God’s provision. So 1000s of Jews from around the Mediterranean would make the trip to Jerusalem. These Jews were called the diaspora: Jews living outside of Israel. ? So you have all these new converts who now are staying longer to receive the teaching of the apostles and to grow in their faith and to reach other Jews with the good news that Jesus was the Messiah. And the people in this 1st church considered their financial and material blessings as tools in God’s hands to achieve the mission to go and make disciples. ? Is that how you see your financial and material blessings: to be tools in God’s hand to spread the gospel around the world and make disciples? Or do you see these blessings as something you earn and deserve? ? I love how so many of you before and as a result of Unleashed have crossed over to the side of seeing your financial and material blessings as owned by God and to be used by God for His purposes. ? Someone stopped me between services 2 weeks ago to tell me that since they started tithing this past year, that their faith has been strengthened because God has made the remainder stretch and go farther than what she had before she started. And she was so excited to be a part of what God was doing with her generosity through Rush Creek. That’s what it means to be connected!
I am connected to a Group vv.46-47 (on screen)
They shared meals. They met together regularly. They gained encouragement and joy from each other. As human beings, we are built for community. Watch this (Stop clip at 55.sec?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK29KzgHnsE ) We’re built for community. And what this early church did was build it real good. That’s what we call Doing life together We try to say it as often as we can: Life is always better when you share it with people who have the same values and world view. This is what biblical community is all about. If you’re not in one of our small groups, you will have a great opportunity TODAY!! (GroupLink in commons slide—see Clay)? Did you notice how this passage ended? V.47b Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Because of their connection to the body, because of their connection to the mission, because of their connection to each other, this propelled them to share their new life in Christ with others. That’s a critical connection to make: Sharing life in Christ with others
The best small groups we have are groups that study the Bible, yes, pray for and encourage each other, yes…but the best are the ones that talk about and pray for the ‘1’ (logo); the ones in each of their lives that are far from God.? Story ? Remember that group of people at the beginning? Even the weakest in the group was lifted up. We all need lifting up. We all need to be connected. ?(Pic of Partner Covenant Card)
