What are the essential factors in being church?
We are privileged to have a record of the functioning of
the first-century church.
These are the dynamics that occurred following the coming
of the Spirit to the first followers of Jesus.
What do you notice of significance in Acts 2:42-47?
There was a devotion (v.42) to certain activity … four
areas:
·
Apostles’ teaching – the apostles were the ones who were founding these early
communities of faith … bringing together new converts, and not only giving them
an environment or physical context in which to gather and worship, but also the
teaching they would need to grow and flourish. Such teaching would no doubt
include the well-known stories about Jesus’ actions and words, but also (on the
basis of the sort of preaching Peter did) include explanations of how this new
faith in Jesus fitted with and developed the traditional religion of the Jewish
people. As people newly connected with these Jesus-following groups, it was
important that they knew and understood the full depth of what it was they were
attaching themselves to. And following the mass baptisms of these exciting days,
there would be the need for good solid teaching, if these new adherents were
going to be able to find their way forward in the faith.
·
Fellowship – koinonia
– which was far more than sharing a cuppa
after services … this was about deep sharing, close relationship, real caring
and spiritual communion. The depth of such connectedness is emphasised in
verses 44-45 … the culture was strongly one of sharing and providing for the
poor. See also Acts 4:32-37. Personal possessions were not regarded as
private possessions. What was created here was a significant arena of support
and strength-building – where there was a truthful sharing of joys and sorrows,
and concerted help with life’s disappointments. There would have been an
openness, honesty and vulnerability (like for example expressed in James 5:16).
·
Hospitality – i.e. the Breaking of bread – this is the sharing of
meals in one another’s homes … which was, culturally speaking, the most
intimate and friendly of activity. Given what we read in other places (e.g. 1
Corinthians 11), it is likely that such gatherings also included a remembrance
of the Lord’s Supper. So, this models both our hospitality toward one another,
and also God’s hospitality toward all of us. Such hospitality would have
crossed through societal barriers like ethnicity and economic status, and
creatively embraced difference and diversity.
·
Prayer – which shows more than anything else that any such
gatherings are primarily focussed on God.
There was a great vibe happening, where early Jesus-following
communities had the “goodwill of all the people”, and their number was
continually increasing (v.47). There seems to be at least three other areas
leading to this:
·
Wonders and signs – whatever the apostles were doing was creating an
atmosphere of “awe” (v.43). “Signs” point beyond themselves, and “wonders” are
unusual and unexpected … in a good way! As Jesus had predicted, his disciples
were able to do some of the things he had been doing in terms of revealing the
glory of God. Generally speaking, it seems that the way these Jesus-following
communities were living out their belief in the resurrected Jesus, especially
in terms of turning the social order upside down, was having a very positive
impact. And so these “signs and wonders” were likely not just
supernatural occurrences, but also rare occurrences i.e. expressions of
generosity, unity, neighbour care and joy. People who had once been selfish,
were now sharing with one another on an unprecedented scale! If people could
act in this remarkable way amongst one another, and that this generous dynamic
spread out to the whole local community, then God must truly be at work. See
also Acts 4:33 – “With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all”. CJH Wright
– “Luke has already made it clear that the social and economic concern of the
church for the needy was itself connected to the teaching of the apostles, and
that the rapid growth of the church was the result of both the teaching
and evangelism of the apostles and the quality of love and care within
the community of Jesus-followers” (“The Mission of God’s People”, p.214-5).
·
Consistent daily
living (v.46) – as well as fulfilling
their traditional temple duties, the early Jesus-followers also met with each
other on a daily basis throughout the streets and lanes. They gathered daily in
various homes near where they lived and shared in the teaching, fellowship,
hospitality and prayer that we’ve talked about earlier. This would obviously be
important for a fledgling and persecuted minority, but would no doubt have also
had great vitality and excitement attached to it. The sort of sincerity,
faithfulness, commitment and sacrifice involved in this was really impressive,
and along with their socially responsible and ethical attitudes, thus built
this aforementioned “goodwill”.
·
Praise of God (v.47a) – pointing towards someone greater than had been
generally experienced, and filling the local environment with great seeds of
hope (in the face of hopelessness and broken dreams).
So do we follow this pattern exactly today?
Perhaps we at the very least should look at the basic
principles carefully and see them as essentials.
According to RB Hays we are given here something that
“calls us to consider how in our own communities we might live analogously”
(Moral Vision of the NT, p.302)”. So, how do we effectively live out who we are
becoming in Jesus?
What are the most important elements that we read about in
Acts 2??
How do we go about embracing these???
[And if we get this right, then those who think about us in
later generations, may be caused to say, “and great grace was upon them all”
(Acts 4:33b).]
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