The Fellowship Of The Church Series

And then there were the guys who worked for the mission in Bolivia and they earned fifty cents an hour and for fifty cents an hour they spent most of their days carrying fifty pound bags of sand up six flights of stairs in ninety to one hundred degree heat. And they were grateful for the work.

So, compared to them, anyone on welfare or any kind of pension in Canada could be called ‘rich.’

The problem is, we compare ourselves to those who appear to be more prosperous than us and feel as though we’re failures because we haven’t reached some kind of economic security.

Behavioral scientists have discovered that we usually see things we are prepared to see. This is all centered in a network of nerve cells called the "Reticular Activating System" and everybody has this. The "Reticular Activating System" works like this: once something has been brought to your attention and you have been prepared to see it, you’ll see it everywhere you go. For example, if you decide to buy a new car and make up your mind that you want a certain brand, a certain body style and a certain color; then you’ll see these cars everywhere. You’ll see them on the roads, in TV ads, in newspapers and magazines. They’re everywhere.

So, what happens? Well, they were always there, but the minute you became interested, your Reticular Activating System kicks in and you began to notice them. And this happens in other areas of life, too. We tend to see what we want to see. And if we want to see good results and opportunities, then that’s what we’ll see but if all we’re looking for is doom and gloom then we’ll be sure to find that as well. So, if we allow our economic standards to be set by those around us who have more than us, we’ll never be satisfied.

Now; look again in verse 42 and see the attitude of these early disciples. It says, ‘they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.’

And notice; there are four things it says they were continuing steadfast in and they were the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers.

And an church that’s living and active must be all four.

1. A Learning Church – they listened to the apostles.

2. A Caring Church – they devoted themselves to fellowship.

3. A Worshipping Church – they got together regularly for the breaking of bread and prayer.

4. An Evangelizing Church - (v. 47) – “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The first three characteristics of the church are focused on believers but if the focus remains just on believers then the church will be like all the social clubs that have faded as their members either lost interest or died.

The scripture likens the church to a body; so, let me give you a little lesson in what’s happening in your body to describe what’s happening in the church.