Embracing the Ordinary: The Power of Grace

 

Summary

In our exploration of Acts 2, we delve into the essence of what it means to be an "ordinary" church, a term that might initially seem unappealing but is deeply rooted in the Westminster Standards. The early church, as depicted in Acts, was committed to the "ordinary means of grace"—the Word, prayer, and sacraments. These elements are not mundane but are the foundational practices that define the church's identity and mission. The early believers devoted themselves steadfastly to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This devotion was not a casual attendance but a wholehearted commitment to living out their faith in community.

In today's context, being devoted to these ordinary means might seem radical. Many churches have shifted focus to programs, charisma, and entertainment, often neglecting the simplicity and power of God's ordained means. The sovereignty of God assures us that He not only ordains the ends but also the means, and thus, we must trust in His provision through these ordinary practices.

The early church's communal life was marked by generosity and sincerity. They shared their resources, not out of compulsion but out of genuine love and care for one another. This was not an early form of socialism but a voluntary act of love and stewardship. The church's role in social justice is to pursue true biblical justice, which is impartial and righteous, unlike the partiality often seen in modern social justice movements.

As Christians, we are called to be a compassionate people, reflecting the love and justice of God in all spheres of life. Our lives should be a testament to the world, showing the light of Christ through our ordinary, yet profound, commitment to His Word and His people. The early church's example challenges us to live out our faith with sincerity, humility, and gratitude, trusting that it is the Lord who adds to our number those who are being saved.

Key Takeaways:

- Devotion to Ordinary Means: The early church's commitment to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer exemplifies the power of ordinary means of grace. This devotion is not about attending church activities sporadically but about integrating these practices into the fabric of our lives, reflecting a steadfast commitment to God and His community. [06:55]

- Sovereignty and Means: Believing in God's sovereignty means trusting in the means He has ordained. Churches that stray from this often resort to gimmicks to attract people, forgetting that God has established the Word, prayer, and sacraments as His chosen means to achieve His purposes. [11:16]

- True Biblical Justice: The church is called to pursue justice that is impartial and righteous, unlike the partiality seen in some modern movements. True justice, as defined by Scripture, involves caring for those in genuine need and standing against all forms of injustice, reflecting God's character. [21:40]

- Community and Generosity: The early church's practice of sharing resources was a voluntary act of love, not a mandated redistribution. This generosity stemmed from a sincere heart and a recognition of God's grace, challenging us to be wise stewards and generous givers. [27:04]

- God's Role in Salvation: Salvation is a work of God, and it is He who adds to the church those who are being saved. Understanding this truth humbles us and reminds us that our role is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trusting God to bring about the increase. [34:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction and Context
- [00:46] - Reading from Acts 2
- [02:10] - Prayer and Reflection
- [03:04] - Describing Your Church
- [04:24] - The Ordinary Church
- [05:15] - Ordinary Means of Grace
- [06:29] - Devotion in the Early Church
- [07:59] - Radical Devotion Today
- [09:01] - Apostles' Teaching and Fellowship
- [11:16] - Sovereignty and Means
- [14:42] - Community and Generosity
- [19:33] - True Biblical Justice
- [23:40] - Compassion and Truth
- [34:39] - God's Role in Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 2:37-47

Observation Questions:
1. What were the specific practices the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42? How does this reflect their commitment? [01:37]
2. How did the early believers demonstrate generosity and community in Acts 2:44-45? What was the motivation behind their actions? [01:49]
3. What role did the apostles' teaching play in the life of the early church as described in Acts 2:42? [06:41]
4. How does the passage describe the growth of the early church in Acts 2:47? Who is credited with this growth? [02:10]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the devotion of the early church to the "ordinary means of grace" challenge modern church practices? [06:55]
2. How does the concept of God's sovereignty influence the way churches should approach growth and outreach? [11:16]
3. What is the difference between the early church's practice of sharing resources and modern concepts of socialism? How does this reflect biblical justice? [15:10]
4. How does the early church's example of community and generosity serve as a model for addressing social justice issues today? [19:33]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal commitment to the "ordinary means of grace" such as prayer, scripture, and fellowship. How can you integrate these more deeply into your daily life? [06:55]
2. Consider the ways your church might rely on programs or charisma rather than the foundational practices of the early church. How can you encourage a return to these practices? [03:28]
3. How can you personally contribute to a culture of generosity and sincerity within your church community? What steps can you take this week to share your resources with those in need? [14:53]
4. In what ways can you and your church pursue true biblical justice that is impartial and righteous? Identify one specific action you can take to address an injustice in your community. [21:40]
5. How does understanding that God is the one who adds to the church those who are being saved affect your approach to evangelism and outreach? [34:39]
6. Think about a time when you felt like an "ordinary" Christian. How can embracing this ordinariness empower you to live out your faith more authentically? [32:20]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can show more compassion and reflect the love and justice of God. What practical steps will you take to act on this in the coming week? [23:40]

Devotional

Day 1: Devotion to the Ordinary Means of Grace
The early church's commitment to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer exemplifies the power of ordinary means of grace. This devotion was not about sporadic attendance but about integrating these practices into the fabric of their lives, reflecting a steadfast commitment to God and His community. In today's context, such devotion might seem radical, as many churches have shifted focus to programs and entertainment, often neglecting the simplicity and power of God's ordained means. The sovereignty of God assures us that He not only ordains the ends but also the means, and thus, we must trust in His provision through these ordinary practices. [06:55]

Acts 2:42-43 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the practices of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer into your daily routine this week to deepen your commitment to God and His community?


Day 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty and His Means
Believing in God's sovereignty means trusting in the means He has ordained. Churches that stray from this often resort to gimmicks to attract people, forgetting that God has established the Word, prayer, and sacraments as His chosen means to achieve His purposes. This trust in God's sovereignty calls for a return to the simplicity and power of these practices, recognizing that it is through them that God works in the hearts of His people. The early church's example challenges us to live out our faith with sincerity, humility, and gratitude, trusting that it is the Lord who adds to our number those who are being saved. [11:16]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: In what ways can you trust more deeply in God's ordained means rather than seeking quick fixes or gimmicks in your spiritual life?


Day 3: Pursuing True Biblical Justice
The church is called to pursue justice that is impartial and righteous, unlike the partiality seen in some modern movements. True justice, as defined by Scripture, involves caring for those in genuine need and standing against all forms of injustice, reflecting God's character. The early church's communal life was marked by generosity and sincerity, sharing resources out of genuine love and care for one another. This was not an early form of socialism but a voluntary act of love and stewardship. [21:40]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: How can you actively pursue true biblical justice in your community, ensuring that your actions reflect God's impartial and righteous character?


Day 4: Community and Generosity
The early church's practice of sharing resources was a voluntary act of love, not a mandated redistribution. This generosity stemmed from a sincere heart and a recognition of God's grace, challenging us to be wise stewards and generous givers. As Christians, we are called to be a compassionate people, reflecting the love and justice of God in all spheres of life. Our lives should be a testament to the world, showing the light of Christ through our ordinary, yet profound, commitment to His Word and His people. [27:04]

2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Reflection: What is one way you can practice generosity this week, reflecting the early church's example of voluntary and sincere giving?


Day 5: Recognizing God's Role in Salvation
Salvation is a work of God, and it is He who adds to the church those who are being saved. Understanding this truth humbles us and reminds us that our role is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trusting God to bring about the increase. The early church's example challenges us to live out our faith with sincerity, humility, and gratitude, trusting that it is the Lord who adds to our number those who are being saved. [34:39]

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

Reflection: How can you focus on faithfully proclaiming the gospel in your daily interactions, trusting God to bring about the growth and increase?

Quotes


The early church, as depicted in Acts, was committed to the "ordinary means of grace"—the Word, prayer, and sacraments. These elements are not mundane but are the foundational practices that define the church's identity and mission. The early believers devoted themselves steadfastly to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. [00:00:50]

Devotion has really fallen on hard times in our day. People are no longer devoted as they ought to be to the right things. We're devoted to about everything else in the world except what we really ought to be devoted to. The word there that Luke uses is a word that essentially means continuing steadfastly. [00:07:00]

They were participants. They devoted themselves to these things. Their lives revolved around the worship of God, the ministry of God's word, being together as God's people, eating together and fellowshipping together, and prayer. Now I realize that in talking about this that I'm sort of preaching to the choir. [00:07:36]

We are a people who are committed to the things of God, to the things that God has ordained. Now we believe in the sovereignty of God, don't we? If we believe in the sovereignty of God, that means that we also ought to believe in the means that God has established. [00:11:07]

The problem with the social justice movement, it's actually not really a movement, it's in a religion. And this social justice religion is tied to a number of other religions that have kind of merged into one religion and it's comprised of critical theory, critical race theory, woke-ism. [00:20:31]

We are a people who truly believe in justice. We are a people who truly believe in biblical justice that is social, judicial, ecclesial, and in every other realm in our lives we want to strive for and defend true justice. The problem with this new religion which is really not new at all. [00:21:43]

The early church's practice of sharing resources was a voluntary act of love, not a mandated redistribution. This generosity stemmed from a sincere heart and a recognition of God's grace, challenging us to be wise stewards and generous givers. [00:27:04]

They went about their ordinary lives, living with their families, loving others, and speaking the truth in love. Now in my father's day, speaking the truth in love, you know what that meant? It meant speaking the truth in love. You know what it means today? Don't speak the truth because it might hurt somebody's feelings. [00:27:36]

The early church was a family that loved each other, didn't always get along, there were issues, but through repentance and faith, faith and grace and love covering a multitude of sins, they stuck together. A lot of churches have been through a lot this past year. [00:31:20]

The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Who did this? The Lord did it. Now I realize that here we are at the Ligonier Ministries National Conference, and I could make the assumption that each and every person here understands what Luke has just said in verse 47. [00:34:39]

What you must understand is that you didn't add yourself to the number of God's church. You didn't add yourself to the number of God's elect. It was God who did it, for salvation is of the Lord. [00:35:57]

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for your love and for your grace, and we thank you, O Lord, for the ministry of your Holy Spirit within us. Lord, help us to be a people who stand on the truth. Help us to be a people who will fight and contend. [00:36:59]

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