Living Out Faith: The Early Church's Example
Summary
The sermon begins with a reflection on the Easter service and the ongoing series in the book of Acts titled "Scent." The pastor recaps the previous sermons, emphasizing the importance of speaking boldly about God's work and encourages the congregation to embrace the discomfort of challenging verses in Acts 2. The pastor then shares a personal story of someone they knew who had a deep knowledge of God's word but struggled to put it into action. This is contrasted with the early church, which not only learned about God's word but also actively applied it in their lives. The pastor emphasizes the importance of fellowship within the church, challenging the notion that one can be a Christian without being part of a local body of believers.
The pastor acknowledges the challenges and imperfections that can arise within the church community. They encourage the congregation to strive for the type of community that Christ calls them to be, emphasizing that since no perfect church exists, it is important to love and work within the imperfect church they are in. The pastor then directs the congregation to Acts 2:42, highlighting that the early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was the closest representation of what Christ intended the church to be.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of fellowship and communion within the church, drawing from the example of the early church. They share a personal experience of being invited to a meal during a difficult week and how it was restorative for their souls and lives. The pastor encourages the congregation to consider inviting others over for a meal, experiencing the joy and generosity of fellowship together.
The pastor then discusses the natural outworking of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, prayer, opening up their homes, and welcoming others with generosity and joy. The pastor highlights that this growth was not solely due to the efforts of Peter or formal church meetings, but rather the day-to-day evangelism and participation of every believer in God's story. The pastor concludes by challenging the congregation to consider their own participation in sharing their faith with those around them.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of the early church's commitment to learning and growing in their faith. The pastor encourages the congregation to prioritize prayer and to be devoted to sharing their faith with others. The pastor prays for boldness and a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit so that the church can actively participate in God's story and witness amazing things done through Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The early church not only learned about God's word but also actively applied it in their lives. This active application of God's word is a crucial aspect of Christian life that every believer should strive to emulate. ([12:45])
- The early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was the closest representation of what Christ intended the church to be. This serves as a reminder that the church should strive to reflect Christ's love and intentions, despite its imperfections. ([22:30])
- The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, prayer, opening up their homes, and welcoming others with generosity and joy. This devotion is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. ([35:15])
- The growth of the early church was not solely due to the efforts of Peter or formal church meetings, but rather the day-to-day evangelism and participation of every believer in God's story. This highlights the importance of every believer's participation in sharing their faith with those around them. ([45:50])
- The early church's commitment to learning and growing in their faith serves as a reminder that learning should lead to practical application and a transformation of behavior. The pastor encourages the congregation to prioritize prayer and to be devoted to sharing their faith with others. ([55:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 2:42-47: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
2. Acts 1:4-5: "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'"
3. Acts 2:1-4: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
Observation Questions:
1. What were the key activities that the early church in Acts 2:42-47 devoted themselves to?
2. In Acts 1:4-5, what command did Jesus give to his disciples and what promise did he make?
3. What happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2:1-4?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the devotion of the early church to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer reflect their understanding and application of God's word?
2. What does the promise of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:4-5 signify for the disciples and the early church?
3. How does the event of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4 demonstrate the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on the devotion of the early church, how can you actively apply God's word in your life this week?
2. Considering the promise of the Holy Spirit, how can you seek and rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life?
3. In light of the Pentecost event, how can you participate in sharing your faith with those around you in the coming week?
4. What is one way you can demonstrate the joy and generosity of fellowship, like the early church, in your community this week?
5. Can you think of a person or a group of people you interact with regularly where you can practice the early church's commitment to learning and growing in faith?
Devotional
Day 1: Living the Word
The Christian life is not merely about gaining knowledge of God's word, but actively applying it in our daily lives. The early church serves as an example of this active application, where believers didn't just learn about God's word, but lived it out. This is a crucial aspect of our faith that we should strive to emulate. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlVP7qGSTg&t=750s))
James 1:22 - "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can apply God's word in your life today?
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Day 2: Embracing Imperfection in the Church
The early church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, was the closest representation of what Christ intended the church to be. However, it was not perfect. This serves as a reminder that we should strive to reflect Christ's love and intentions within our church community, despite its imperfections. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlVP7qGSTg&t=1335s))
Ephesians 4:2 - "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Reflection: How can you show love and patience towards a fellow church member who may be difficult to get along with?
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Day 3: The Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit
The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, prayer, opening up their homes, and welcoming others with generosity and joy. This devotion is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. ([35:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlVP7qGSTg&t=2100s))
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you need to cultivate more in your life? How can you do this today?
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Day 4: Participating in God's Story
The growth of the early church was not solely due to the efforts of Peter or formal church meetings, but rather the day-to-day evangelism and participation of every believer in God's story. This highlights the importance of every believer's participation in sharing their faith with those around them. ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlVP7qGSTg&t=2735s))
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share your faith with this week? What is one way you can prepare for this conversation?
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Day 5: Learning Leading to Transformation
The early church's commitment to learning and growing in their faith serves as a reminder that learning should lead to practical application and a transformation of behavior. We are encouraged to prioritize prayer and to be devoted to sharing our faith with others. ([55:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlVP7qGSTg&t=3315s))
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience transformation? How can you begin this process today through prayer and the application of God's word?
Quotes
1. "They very rarely put that word into action, they were all about the knowledge but not much about the doing." #!!08:54!!#
2. "I wonder if you've ever met someone or maybe this is something you've thought yourself at times, you know I'm a Christian but I just don't really do church... well, that wasn't an option on the table for the way God designed us to be." #!!10:02!!#
3. "The community was so radically different...others were hearing about it and they were seeing it and they were saying I want what you've got...this wasn't all due to Peter...it was happening because what was happening was day-to-day evangelism that was the result of everyone participating in God's story." #!!20:15!!#
4. "I'm challenged by the way that Luke describes their meals as being places of joy and generosity... these aren't somber Gatherings of boring Christians... moments where Believers thrive in each other's company... how restorative that had been for our souls and for our lives." #!!12:20!!#
5. "The early church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching if we put this in another way we would say they are a learning church...they have this enthusiasm and this excitement and they want to know more." #!!07:49!!#
6. "The early church knew they could accomplish nothing without prayer... they devoted themselves to prayer." #!!14:09!!#
7. "The early church didn't have this mindset of material hoarding that I think is so endemic in our society... they shared everything." #!!16:37!!#
8. "I think we have a danger of seeing these five attributes these five characteristics of the early church as being boxers to Tech I think we have... we run into this this concern that maybe we think this is a list of things that we have to do to be good or right or righteous or holy but instead I want to make the point that after Peter preaches and 3,000 people are saved in Acts 2... it wasn't a list of requirements to them it wasn't an obligation to them you see what it was was that it was the outworking of the holy spirit that when these Believers had been filled in power by the holy spirit this is how they wanted to live." #!!18:22!!#
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