Connecting Community
Acts 2:42-47
November 20, 2022
As I conclude my series on the church, I was thinking about what would be most helpful for us. I was thinking about a key word or words to propel us forward.
What really struck me, was what we need to hear over and over and over again. Because it’s really easy to lose sight of this one message.
It’s the theme of the Bible. For me, it always comes back to the Good News of Jesus Christ — it’s the most quoted passage. One we should commit to memory.
16 God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. – John 3:16-17
This is the main point of scripture and everything flows out of this central truth - -
God loves you! He sent His Son for you! He died for you! He doesn’t want to condemn you!! He wants to save you!! He wants you to experience His love, joy, power and presence!
That’s a message that has to give us hope! And I’m confident that when we have this hope, we have a great deal of power from God. The fact that God loves us in the most powerful way should give us confidence that we can’t go anywhere where God is not!
We have the promise of God’s presence, His grace and mercy, the gift of forgiveness AND the promise that God didn’t come to beat us down and destroy us, but to redeem us through His Son.
On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, I want to take a look at the early church and give thanks for the example they gave us and what I believe we’re called to strive after as a church. We need to understand the importance of community, what it is and why we need it.
I believe the best scripture to describe what the early church looked like when it came to community is found in Acts 2. Luke wrote the book of Acts, and we’re going to look at the last 6 verses of Acts 2. Luke tells us - - -
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47
What an amazing description of the early church by Luke. And he basically repeats himself in Acts 4. The fact is, we live in a broken world. A world filled with sin, hurt, pain, injury, illness and ultimately, death.
And as a result, we need the church community. We need to be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who walk alongside of us. And for me, that great cloud is found among the living and the dead. Many of you who I’ve learned about faith and trust, commitment and power. One of the beautiful and powerful aspects of the church is the fact that we are called to be a community.
Luke uses the Greek word KOINONIA in Acts 2:42, when he referred to their fellowship. Fellowship is what forms our community. It’s an intimacy which is based on our faith in Jesus.
Everything could be off on a Sunday, but you walk out of here feeling good about being in God’s presence because we shared kononia, fellowship. An intimacy in the Spirit of God.
Someone said hello, and you needed that all week. Someone gave you a hug, someone simply noticed you and you’ve felt un-noticed. Someone saw sadness in your eyes and gave you a hug, or asked you how you were doing and you knew they really meant it. Maybe someone prayed for you.
That’s what Luke’s talking about here. It’s an intimacy which is based in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We’re not a club, we’re not a clique, we’re a community, the fellowship of believers. There are times we’ll mess up, but we get it right way more often than we get it wrong.
I want you to be able to nurture deep friendships with a handful of other Christ followers who encourage you to draw closer to God, who know the good and the bad about you, whose love isn’t contingent upon either, people you can call at 2:00 a.m. if you’re in a crisis. This should be one of the joys, really one of the benefits of being part of a church.
In some ways, a jumping point from this is what it means to even join the church. It’s that public proclamation that you identify with this body of believers, that you want to be involved in the mission of the church. You want to serve and contribute. That’s a whole other series, but let me just put that in your ear, if you’re not a member, why not become a member?
OK, moving on . . .
Acts 2 talks about how devoted the early church members were to one another. Listen to some of the phrases Luke uses to describe the early church --
42 devoted themselves . . . fellowship . . . breaking of bread . . . prayers.
43 Awe . . . wonders and signs.
44 All were together . . . had all things in common.
45 Selling their possessions . . . to any who had need.
46 Daily attending together . . . ate together . . . glad / generous hearts.
47 praised God . . . found favor with all people. Salvations increased.
That should rock our world - - - - to listen and feel what the early church was like. And while we might say, I can’t be at church everyday, I get it, they lived a different lifestyle. But do you get a sense of their community? That’s the point I don’t want you to miss. It’s too important for us to miss this vital point.
And for those who are online worshipers, know that you are an important part of this community as well. I want you to know that when you’re aren’t online, you’re missed. We always want you to believe you are part of F.B.C.
Now, I want to jump back to one of the remarkable statements from Luke. One that’s easy to miss. It’s when he told us - -
43 Awe came upon every soul . . . signs and wonders were being done.
AWE!! Let me ask you . . . when was the last time you experienced the awe of Jesus in your life? The word literally comes from the Greek word which means to fear. It’s the word phobos, which is where we get our word phobia. For the people it was a reverential fear. Miracles and wonders were occurring and the people were filled with this awe at the power of God at work in and around them.
That’s what the church should be about. We give thanks and we show the world Jesus Christ. It’s when we walk with someone who is hurting, it’s when we don’t throw stones at sin, but love one another, it’s demonstrating the love of Christ.
This type of community is costly. It will cost us our time and energy, maybe some patience and money . . . but in the end, we’ve shown others who Jesus Christ is. And maybe, just maybe, they will be struck with awe and wonder at the workings of God in their lives because of something you said or did.
We must believe that we’re all in this together. It’s pretty assumed, but I think we forget that. We can’t have true community when we hold things against one another. When that happens we stifle the power of God. We won’t experience God’s awe when we don’t serve Him in unity.
I really believe that the relationship God has in what we call the Trinity is what God intended for us as well. God has existed forever in a perfect relationship. The Father has a perfect relationship with the Son and the Holy Spirit, as does each with the other.
It’s something called PERICHORESIS! It’s not a biblical word. It’s a Greek word.
Perichoresis is the fellowship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit being perfectly embraced in love and harmony and expressing an intimacy that no one can humanly comprehend.
In the 7th century, John of Damascus took the concept to a new level, which is basically how we understand perichoresis today. He applied the interpenetration of the three people of the Trinity as inseparable from each other without any confusion and are united as one.
So, what that means is each person of the Trinity remains distinct from the others, but participates fully in the life of one another and acts as one.
I made a short video to try and explain it, so here it is and hopefully it explains this concept.
2 minute video is shown.
While each has their individual identity. There’s an intimacy which flows from one to another. It would describe the Father flowing into the Son and Spirit, and the Son flows into the Father and Spirit and the Spirit flows into the Father and Son. There is an amazing intimacy in the trinity. {cirumincession - Latin}
I’m so excited by what it means to have perichoresis. I believe that’s supposed to be the way the church lives. It’s not an enmeshed, unhealthy relationship where we’re into each other’s business and “nibbing” into someone else’s stuff.
It’s not about letting down our boundaries and not being autonomous and unique. It’s a power that we can impart . . . if we’re willing. If we don’t, we’ll never have the power and that AWE that Luke talks about.
I believe as a church, as a faith community based on the love of Jesus, we’re to live in a perichoretical relationship. It’s a constant flowing into one another. It’s a deep love that we have for one another. It’s a desire to be together as a family in Christ. And we’re constantly showing that love.
Theologian Alister McGrath wrote this doctrine “allows the individuality of the persons to be maintained, while insisting that each person shares in the life of the other two.”
It excites me because there’s so much power for us when you think about the fact that when you proclaim Jesus as your Savior, the Spirit of God dwells within you. Think about this folks!
The very same Spirit who interpenetrates the Father and Son now dwells within us and connects us to the very life of God. Perichoresis is really a blueprint for Christian unity.
Yet, for us, it’s not natural. For God this type of love is perfectly natural. It’s part of who God is. But we’re sinners, so we let things get in the way and it causes us to NOT do what we should do. Yet, as we look at ourselves as the church, it’s what we should be doing.
The greatest image is in our marriages. In all aspects, we should spiritually, emotionally, mentally, intellectually and physically - - - extending ourselves so that we flow into our spouse, and our spouse is flowing into us. It should be natural, there shouldn’t even be a thought process behind it.
If Debbie doesn’t feel well, I shouldn’t have to think - - - “hmm, I wonder if I should help her?” No, it’s my desire and joy to help her in any way I can, even if it’s not convenient, so I allow that love to flow as best as possible from me to her.
And that’s the way I envision the church . . . and I believe it’s why so many people stay away from the church, or say they don’t like organized religion. They’ve seen the church at work, and didn’t like it. And I get it . . . I’ve seen the church at work and I don’t always like it, but I believe in the church.
Imagine if we had this type of love for one another?
Imagine if the world saw this type of true and real Christ - centered love? If they saw who we’re supposed to be and what it looks and feels like?
The world would never be the same again.
Think about what would happen if the church really became the church God intended it to become? Too often we think we’re in this alone. We think it’s about me and my wants, my likes and my dislikes. We’ve come to believe that what I do is private and personal and confidential. And yes it is! BUT . . . No it’s not! Yes, everything is confidential.
Church is not all about you! It’s about Christ! It’s about how we can give ourselves to Christ and experience His power, His grace, His mercy, His peace, His strength and courage! But to do that by ourselves does not get us very far. We need one another.
On your own, you’re weak, when you add one other person, you gain strength. I want to show an example of that. It’s what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 4:9 --- 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. - Ecclesiastes 4:9
I have 2 teenagers come up to push me and only when they have 2 will they be able to push me!!
My point is that when we add 2 or more people, you’ve gained more strength in so many areas than you ever realized. We can’t do it on our own, which is why community is so vital to our existence and the future of the church.
When we proclaim Jesus, we’re adopted into the family, we become one of God’s children, and we become brothers and sisters in Christ. So, if you think you’re an only child, you’ve got that wrong, because you’re part of a huge, huge family! The family of God!
I believe part of the problem is the fact that we’ve become really, really bad at making and cultivating friendships. Americans aren’t good at this. We talk about being a self-made person, we look up to the lone rangers of the world, those who take life by storm, doing it their way and on their own. We’re addicted to our tech devices.
We celebrate individualism and personal achievement . . . but have you ever considered that we follow a Messiah who celebrates community? When Jesus invited the disciples to “come, follow me,” the Greek translation is plural. It was the Biblical equivalent of Jesus saying “y’all” because He was calling them into community.
Jesus lived in a society that was built around the idea of community. Families lived with multiple generations under the same roof. They had family gardens - which were called ‘ganim’ in Hebrew - and they still have them today. They are terraced plots stacked side by side on a hillside where the neighborhoods worked together to maintain the retaining walls and care for the produce. If one garden failed, they all failed. Life was built around relying on community.
And as the church was in its infancy, they got it more right than they ever would have imagined. They ensured the power of community by ensuring “all who believed were together and had all things in common.” People lived off of community!
Think about what Paul said in Romans 12. These are the marks of a true Christian. They’re who we’re called to be. Listen to these words - - - -
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Think about all that Paul has told us to be in the church. Go back to Acts 2 and Romans 12 when you think about the church. Who are we? Who are we called to be?
Ask about getting in a ministry. If you like people, be an usher and start to welcome people and meet people. Come to Bible Study! Get in the choir, ask about volunteering in some ministry. God has promised that He will be with you wherever you go . . . but you know what, sometimes it’s nice to get a hug, to get a handshake, to go someplace where everyone knows your name!
Join this church and we’ll find a place for you. Seriously, we’ve all been gifted, and God has a place for each person.
Finally . . .
(SHOWING A PICTURE OF MY RUBBER BAND BALL)
I have this rubber band ball, which is made up of rubber bands. That’s it. But this rubber band ball is representative of the church.
There’s all different sizes
shapes
colors and
strengths
Some have even broken, but what’s cool is this. This broken rubber band is being held together by all of the other rubber bands. If we removed the other rubber bands that aren’t wounded, this one would fall off.
But that’s not the church. When we’re the church, we hold one another up in support.
