Devoted to Fellowship

 

Before Christmas we got halfway through a series called the 5GÕs of discipleship

  -we looked at the things that were essential to the lives of the first Christians

  -to see what should be essential, non-negotiable for our lives as X-followers today

  -we said that firs Grace was most important

     -Grace in the sense of GodÕs grace to us in Jesus Christ – death etc

     -as well living daily in GodÕs grace (not trying to win love – living because of GodÕs love

    

We saw as well that the early church was devoted to Spiritual GrowthÉ

  -they devoted themselves to the apostleÕs teaching

  -they devoted themselves to studying the scriptures

  -they devoted themselves to praying together (so they were devoted to Growth

 

We saw as well that they were gifted to do the ministry God gave them to do

  -when they & you become a Christian

  -God gives you certain passions, even abilities, bible calls them gifts

  -that are meant to be used for the building up of the church of GodÕs Kingdom

 

Today we look at another essential aspect in the life of the early church – Fellowship

 

LetÕs prayÉ

 

 Read Acts 2:42-47 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostlesÕ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the LordÕs Supper[a]), and to prayer.

 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the LordÕs Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[b]—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

 

I want to introduce you to some real people in our communityÉ

  -there is a young couple who has just moved into town.

  -thereÕs an older person whose spouse just passed away over Christmas

  -thereÕs a single person whoÕs just made the decision to live a sexually pure life

  -thereÕs someone whoÕs decided to really follow Jesus, but their life is a mess

  -thereÕs someone whoÕs trying to live free from drugs

 

HereÕs my questionÉ

     -Where do they find community? family? Support? Understanding?

  -where do they find people who share their concerns? Who will walk with them?

  -who will be a Jesus-centered (not just church) but Jesus centered family for them?

 

Statistics tell us that there are many people living lonely lives in the middle of huge crowds

After pastoring for 15 years, IÕve also found that just going to church week after weekÉ

  -doesn't miraculously end that problem.   

 

If you permit me to be bluntÉ

  -many of us come to church week after week but weÕre still anonymous.

  -many of us still feel unsupported and maybe even lonely

  -and GodÕs answer to this is Fellowship, Christian-family

Last week we saw that true followers of X donÕt just hear the word – they what (do it)

  -this week the Bible teaches us that followers of Jesus Christ need people/community

  -no matter what society tells us, no matter how individual and introverted we are

  -the scriptures teach us that we need people in order to grow – way GodÕs made us

 

Let me just talk quickly about the different kind of social spaces in all of our livesÉ

  -Public space: interaction with people who donÕt even know our names

  -Social space: exchange names – but donÕt really get to know anyone (best foot forward)

  -Personal space: where people actually get to know you

       -share yourself a little bit / likes-dislikes /  opinions / whatÕs happening in your life

  -Last space = Intimate space: thatÕs the closest kind of emotional space

       -this is often the place reserved for close family, spouse, kids, brothers/sisters

       -this is the space where the people in it know everything about you – hopefully love U

 

HereÕs why I mention these social spacesÉ

  -the early church wasnÕt perfect, they had problems right from beginning (people)

  -but even through their mistakes, they remained committed to community/fellowship

  -from the beginning they worked hard at letting each other enter the intimate spaces

 

WeÕre told they were devoted to Fellowship/CommunityÉ

  -then passage spells out what that looked likeÉ

  -they worshipped together (what was involved in that) – how often?

  -met in homes to share the LordÕs Supper

  -shared their meals how? (with great joy and generosity)

  -they even shared in the selling possessions and gave to bless others (next week)

 

HereÕs what I sense from reading this and other passage about community in early church

  -the activities were not an end in themselves.

  -in other words, the point wasnÕt about going to church to keep the rituals

  -they went to worship God together (then enjoyed worshipping together)

  -they celebrated the LordÕs supper together

     -shared stories of what Jesus had done, remembered, they looked forward

  -they didnÕt just eat meals because they were hungry

     -they ate meals together with great joy and generosity

     -how do you eat a meal with great joy?

     -how do you eat a meal with generosity?        

 

A central part of the point for these early Christians – was Community

  -it was working hard at getting to that place

  -where they developed respect/trust and eventually allowed each otherÉ

  -into each otherÕs intimate spaces

 

These people had were taking to heart JesusÕ words thatÉ

  -the place where others could see God mostly clearly

  -would be in their relationships if they learned to really love one another w/GodÕs love

 

 

 

HereÕs what IÕve found, and maybe you find this at times tooÉ

  -building community isnÕt always easy.

  -sometimes you donÕt feel like getting out of bed on Sunday morning

  -sometimes somethingÕs going wrong, and youÕd rather just stay away

  -sometimes you messed up, and you donÕt want to face God or other Christians

  -sometimes the thought of doing extra study or praying or sharing is just too scary

  -sometimes we feel like if we put ourselves out there people just would not accept us

  -building community isnÕt easy

 

If weÕre going to get to that place where we allow people into our intimate spacesÉ

  -weÕre going to have to take relationship risks

  -we have to put ourselves out there in those uncomfortable places

  -places where we reveal ourselves, places where we show our weakness,

  -and hereÕs what hopefully you will find

  -these people around you arenÕt really that different from you

  -the things you mess up with, others here have messed up with, mess up with

  -the things you find joy in, thereÕs others here who also find joy in it

  -passions that you have others here have as well

  -you have questions/doubts, others have questions/douts

 

This Week at Wednesday night ConneXion we were talking about last weekÕs sermonÉ

  -about keeping a tight reign on the tongue and relationships

  -and I asked a couple (you look like youÕve got it all together in this area)

  -I was going to ask them for advice and wisdom, instead their response was

  -itsÕ just an appearance and all of us laughed

  -sometimes you have to get to the intimate places to really get to know the people around

 

And God desires for us to risk entering places in which we open up to one anotherÉ

  -so that trough one another, weÕll find, his strength, his support, his accountability

  -places of joy as well as places to share sorrow, and even confession

 

HereÕs the thingÉ

  -this is not the first time youÕve heard this

  -itÕs not even the first time youÕve heard me say this

  -and maybe at one time, you thought to yourself, IÕd really like that

  -and then you took the chance, and you got burned, maybe you opened upÉ

     -and instead of finding support you found judgment

     -I hope thatÕs never been the case for you here, but even if it has

     -and it happened in the early church too, but even if it that happened to you

 

I want to say to you this morningÉ.you canÕt just give up!

  -giving up takes us back to the places where weÕre on our own esp. spiritually

  -you might even be doing good things on your own

  -the problem is that Jesus said, the place where people would see God most clearly

  -would be in these communities where people learned to love God & each other together

  -IÕve gotten to the place where IÕm not sure that can happen perfectly (surprise right)

  -but the point is, we canÕt give up trying.

     -canÕt give up trying because when you find it – it will have been worth it for you

     -and it becomes an avenue for God to work in other peopleÕs lives so they can see him

 

HereÕs the other thing, community canÕt be one personÕs responsibility (pastor)

  -it canÕt even be just three or four peopleÕs responsibility (leadership team)

  -community must be all our responsibility.

 

If weÕre going to experience and grow in this kind of community

  -if weÕre going to become doers of GodÕs Word in this as individuals/as a church

  -somewhere along the line each one of us individually is going to have to make a decision

  -weÕre going to have to stop and say – IÕm not even sure whether I want thisÉ

  -this makes me completely uncomfortableÉ

  -IÕm not sure whether I can trust these peopleÉ

 

But if this is What GodÕs design is, if this is what God desires of me/usÉ

  -then I will do my part and however we figure out to do this as a community

  -I will commit myself to entering into relationship with the others GodÕs put here with me

 

What is the result of living this wayÉ

  -they enjoed the goodwill of the people around them (people went wow)

  -each day God added to their number the number of people being saved

  -this fellowship/community thing, done GodÕs way, can be irresistable

  -want to be the best missionary you can be

  -learn to love the people GodÕs put you together with in your faith community

  -do the things that will help you become an essential part of that community

  -other people will take notice

     -other people in your life donÕt really care whether you go to church or not

     -they donÕt care what kind of church you go to, or whether you like it or not

     -when they this kind of fellowship happening, today, they take notice

 

My point is this, I can talk about this, I can explain it really wellÉ

  -I can use all the Bible verses to support it

  -you can listen to it, go home and study it carefully to see if this is really what God says

  -but at the end of the day, until we decide to do it

     -we will never truly exp this as a church

     -and I have to be honest, I love POG, but weÕre barely experiencing this at all

 

What keeps us from true Community?

  -our fear / our comfort / established relationships / busy lives

  -the solution: keeping in mind why we do this – not just about our needs/for others too

  -if we stick to the main thing – God will deal with all our needs!

 

I realize peopleÕs time commitments are a challenge

  -I realize entering into new relationships can be really scary

  -I realize that you canÕt make it to everything

  -but you need to be committed to something thatÕs going to help you grow in relationship

     -and in community with the people GodÕs brought together in this faith community

The other thing, is each of us has got to stop waiting for someone else to do it first

     -we need to be people that go out and say, eh, how would you like to come to my place

     -how would you like to go out for coffee with me/ with my family

     -eh, next Sunday, would you come to our house for lunch

 

the theme for 2010 is being doers of GodÕs Word, not just listenersÉ

So the question today is, how do you become a Òdoer of GodÕs WordÓ in this?

  -we will do our best to provide ways and places you can become a part of

  -Wednesday Night ConneXions, living rooms, ladies coffee hour, our Potlucks

  -these are all opportunities to do this sharing life thing

  -time is a luxury these days, and some of these things just donÕt fit your schedule

  -then my challenge is find someone or a group of people you can do this with

  -and get on getting on with it

 

This part is risky, and no one is writing names down for follow upÉ

  -but if you want this for your life, would you stand this morning with me

  -if youÕre not sure, and if itÕs not just your thing thatÕs ok, be honest

  -but if this is something you want would you stand

 

LetÕs pray!