In Jesus Holy Name June 12, 2022
Text: Acts 2:42 Redeemer Lutheran
“God’s Vision for His Church- Koinonia”
This is a very big week for Basketball fans. The Boston Celtics and San Francisco Warriors are playing for the National Championship. Warrior fans will wear the blue and gold. The Celtics will wear green and their Leprechaun Logo.. Millions will watch from their homes and cheer on their team. Excitement will be rampant at the TD Garden Arena in Boston.
People will charter planes. They will talk about their favorite player, Seth Curry, Jordan Poole, or Klay Thompson who play for the Warriors. The Celtic fans will talk about Jayson Tatum, Al Herford or Jayland Brown. They will purchase shirts and jackets, hats, shoes and socks in the color of their favorite team. Millions will be spent.
The network commentators will give their analysis of the offense and defense and offer their predictions. People will fill the arenas. They will eat and drink and cheer for their team. They will sit by strangers. They know that they went to the game as strangers and will leave as strangers.
Bruce Larson in his book “No Longer Strangers” states that the Christian Church needs to be different. The “church” needs to be a true Koinonia, where people feel accepted and cared, not feel like a stranger when they leave. Rev. John Stott in his book: “The Living Church” writes: The “Church” is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the “Church” is God’s new Community.” (p. 9)
Perhaps you remember the theme song from the most popular TV show in America a few years ago: The show was set in a bar in Boston. The show resonated with viewers because it touched a need we all feel—to know and be known. The pull of the neighborhood bar is often not the alcohol but the friendship it offers. It is a place where “troubles are all the same” and “everyone knows your name.”
We should not be surprised at that since we’ve known for a long time that God made us as social creatures. No man is an island, no one is made to live entirely alone. We were made for friendship, for family, for deep, caring relationships. And when we don’t find that, we search high and low until we do.
Luke tells us the result of Peter‘s preaching and the Holy Spirit. Verse 41 tells us the church began with 3000 conversions in one day. This is a logistic problem that called for an answer to the question: “Now What!” The answer will come in Acts 6.
Peter had simply told the story of Jesus, His life, His arrest, convicted of sedition, condemned to death by crucifixion, nailed to a cross on a hill called Golgotha. Peter reminded those present that there were two tombs in Jerusalem. Two men died. One was famous. One was not so famous.
• Both men were buried not far from here
• One man stayed dead. The other man didn’t
• You can check out the story for yourself
• David’s tomb is not far from here
• He was a patriarch and a prophet
• The other, was raised from the dead by God
I can tell the story even shorter than that:
• Two men died
• One man stayed dead
• The other man didn’t
• The first man predicted it
• The second man fulfilled it
• David was the first man
• Jesus was the second man
• God was the one who made it happen
The Tomb of David, which still contained the bones of
David. The other tomb in which the dead body of Jesus had been placed is empty because God raised Jesus, who was crucified from the dead.
Peter noted that we have seen the risen Jesus. The women who went to the tomb intended to anoint the corpse of Jesus. But to their surprise, instead of a dead body, they encountered an angel inside the tomb who said these amazing words, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him”.
John Eldridge wrote a book entitled: “Epic” The Story God is Telling
His story began with Creation, The Fall, The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It continued in the lives of the disciples, the women who simply walked to a tomb in Jerusalem, to find it empty. Each of the disciples had a “story”. Men and women through history had a “story”. Martin Luther, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Charles Colson, Max Lucado, you and me we all have “stories” of how God is expanding His kingdom through our lives.
Our Church has a story. Some of you, like Mike Mueller and his family, Michal Hembd, and her family, were confirmed here, maybe married here. Their families were active in building Redeemer. We all have a story about how God brought us to Redeemer. Visitors who come are always surprised. They think they are entering the back of a church only to find when the doors open everyone is looking at them as they scan the sanctuary for a seat. That is an obstacle we had to overcome.
There were obstacles in the first century church as well. What are 12 disciples going to do with 3000 people. First question. They want to be baptized. How did they do that?
I thought about that for a while and wondered myself. But then I remembered an archology magazine article that explained how King Solomon built a water system that brought water to the pools in Jerusalem. Maybe the disciples invited everyone over to the “Pool of Bethesda”, for the baptism of 3000 new Christians. That must have been quite a scene.
Luke tells us in v 42 how the infant “church” began. There were no “church” buildings. There was the Temple and the homes of people. Each day the disciples were at the Temple “teaching.” The apostles taught the truth about Jesus Christ – the Gospel. They taught about the way in which He fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures in order to bring people salvation through His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection.
I think the classic example of what the disciples taught is the book of Hebrews. I wish I had time this morning to take you through the book of Hebrews…but for time’s sake just look at the titles…
• Jesus superior to angels Chap 1
• Jesus became a human being…
• Jesus great than Moses chap 3 then several chapters comparing the work of Jesus to the work of the Jewish high priest.
Our attached bible study will guide you to rethink the book of Hebrews.
Of course we remember that Jesus shared all the Old Testament verses that predicted His arrival and ministry with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus….That’s what they taught, along with the reason for the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection. They told about the miracles that Jesus did. They taught the words and parables Jesus told.
#2 “Fellowship….the Gk word is Koinonia. American Culture today often promotes a me-first mentality, from “do what makes you happy” to the pervasive selfie photos. Many of people live in gated communities and rarely interact with their neighbors. We tend to embrace individual freedom and decision-making.
Acts 2:42 clearly reacts against the “Forget “me first,” culture. Jesus taught to love the Lord with every ounce of our being and, second, to love our neighbor as ourselves. This 1st century church learned how to serve and care for one another. Small group bible study, caring for those who are ill, providing food and clothing for those in need. Koinonia is more than visiting over coffee and donuts. It is a deep intimate caring for one another. (I must compliment you…for each of you have made Redeemer a Koinonia community as you call people, as you care for one another)
People are seeking love and acceptance in a loveless selfish culture. (There are books written on creating a Koinonia) (John Stott The Contemporary Christian p. 233)
Remember the work of Mother Teresa. Her story is simply how Jesus lived and loved others through her journey. People have forgotten how to smile, and the beauty of human touch. You have not.
# 3 They celebrated Holy Communion, remembering and receiving the forgiveness of their sins. “The Jews who were listening to Peter preach knew that you came to the temple for forgiveness. The Temple offered forgiveness of sins by the sacrifices that were offered there two times a day. Now, Jesus, the real Temple and the real Sacrifice, offered forgiveness in the Holy Supper.
(Leonard Sweet “Jesus a Theography” p. 170)
They came together and shared meals and bread with one another. Yes,
eventually there were problems which Paul addressed in his letter to the
Corinthian congregation that was mis using the sacrament by segregating the wealthy members from the poor members. Paul challenged their understanding of the Gospel and for their lack of care for the poor in their midst.
#4 They met regularly for prayer and worship. Max Lucado gives the following example of prayer.
“Imagine yourself in a dark room. Windows closed. Curtains drawn. Shutters shut. In the darkness it’s hard to believe there’s daylight beyond the drapes. So you grope and try to feel your way across the floor. You take a step, disoriented and unsure where you’re headed. Progress is slow and the journey painful. Stubbed toes, bruised shins, broken vases. It’s hard to walk in a dark place.
Prayer is the window that God has placed in the walls of our world. Leave it shut and the world is a cold, dark house. But throw back the curtains and see His light. Open the window and hear His voice.
(Daily devotional by Mx Lucado (on James 5:16)
Amen.
(Closing Prayer)
