When We Come Together

INTRO.- When we come together, we do all kinds of things, do we not? (sports, music, movies, etc.) That is, we may go to ball games, music concerts, movies, shopping at malls, and a host of other things. (I think I’ve been to one music concert in my life. I saw Barry Manilow about 25 years ago.)

ILL.- My friend, Truman Brady, told me that recently he and Griff and their boys went to Kansas City, MO, for a Kansas City Royals ball game. SOUND OK? Sounds great to many people. Truman told me that they were leaving around 3 p.m., Friday, and would get back home somewhere around 1 to 2 a.m. Saturday. He said it was supposed to somewhat cold but he also said that they were going to be selling hot dogs, peanuts and soda for only $1 each. HOT DOG! Sounds really good.

I finally called Truman and asked him how the ball game and trip went. He said they nearly froze to death and their team lost 5 to nothing! He said the wind was blowing 40 mph and the temp was 39 degrees but what would that be with 40 mph wind? What kind of windchill factor? That would make it WOW or WHOOSH! I checked: about 10 degrees!

Truman said he pulled his coat up over his head where he could just peek out. Now get this: he wore long underwear, pj’s, blue jeans, two pairs of socks, t-shirt, sweatshirt, a golf pullover shirt, and then his coat. He was so cold that he even went to the Budweiser stand and asked for coffee! He said when they left the stadium that it was starting to sleet or snow.

Truman said he nearly froze to death and the guy who was driving the car didn’t even turn on the heater on the way home. He said he was still cold after he got home, even after getting in bed. He said he should have taken a hot shower.

Brothers and sisters, THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF HAVING FUN OR COMING TOGETHER TO HAVE FUN!

But wasn’t last Sunday great? We feasted on worship, we feasted on the Word of God, and we definitely feasted on fried chicken! If you didn’t come away filled in several ways then something was wrong with you!

What’s your favorite ’come together’ time? They probably deal with family get together times such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. AND ANOTHER SHOULD BE THE FAMILY OF GOD GATHERINGS! They can be one of the greatest gatherings of every week, that is, if we help to make them great! Some day we will be together with the Lord continually and the best way to get ready is make church a priority!

PROP.- In our text, we see that the early Christians met together for fellowship. Let’s think about they did and what should do today as Christians.

1- We come together to remember Christ’s death

2- We come together to hear Christ’s word

3- We come together to receive Christ’s comfort

I. WE COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER CHRIST’S DEATH

7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.

ILL.- Have you ever eaten at Lazzari’s? What is their standard fare besides Pasta dishes? Hot bread! Nothing like good, hot bread served with butter. Pasta and bread.

I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t like good, hot bread, whether it’s cornbread, regular bread, bagels, muffins, etc.

Matt. 6:11 "Give us today our daily bread." In the model prayer Jesus taught to ask God for our bread, which is really just a way of asking for daily food provision. And it never hurts to ask. And when He gives it then we should always thank Him for it.

John 6:31-33 " 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ’He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’" 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

God gives us our daily bread but He also gives us another kind of bread, which is the most important kind because it’s eternal bread. THE BREAD OF GOD IS HE WHO COMES FROM HEAVEN.

John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

The bread of God is Jesus Himself. He is the living bread that gives life. We must eat of Him, partake of Him in order to experience eternal life.

John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."