Devoted to … the fellowship (Acts 2:42)

 

Devoted to … the fellowship (Acts 2:42)

Core statement: ‘God is glorified when a diverse people love each other well in Christ’.

Have you ever thought to yourself ‘what is the purpose of the church’?  I think that the purpose of the church is that we would display the beauty of Jesus.  This is done as diverse people love each other well in Christ.

There are many things that can divide us.  We could argue over political views and sports.  We have different tastes and styles.  But when diverse people who look different or are from different backgrounds love each other well in Christ then the world sees something of the beauty of Jesus in our lives.

In our church at Limerick Baptist we have people from over twenty nationalities.  In the last dozen years or so we have had people from over forty countries.  Then remember that within those countries are people from different tribal groups.  We also want to try and develop a church that appeals to all age groups and economic backgrounds.  Such diversity shows that God is faithful.

You see all the way back in Genesis (12:1-3) God made a promise to a man called Abram telling him that through his line all the nations of the world would be blessed.  Jesus was his descendent and sent His followers to preach the good news to all nations.  One day we will be gathered around His throne with people from every nationalist (Rev. 7:9).  Look around your church and see people who are from a different background than yours and that evidence that God is faithful to these promises.  Aim at, and celebrate, ethnic diversity.

One of the things that God put on my heart was the Biblical idea of bearing with each other (Col. 3:13).  Love bears all things (1 Cor. 13:7).  The fact of the matter is that bearing with each other takes effort.  I think that the opposite of bearing with one another in love is not just out-and-out hostility but simply keeping other people at a distance.  Note that ‘they devoted themselves’ to the fellowship.  It means to steadfastly continue.  It takes effort to devote yourself to people with a different sense of humour and different opinions.

1.       If we can learn to naturally about our faith we will see how much we have in common

Our reading takes place after the day of Pentecost.  That was a feast that took place fifty days after the Passover.  Jerusalem was full of people from all over the world.  There were Jews from many countries, and among them people who had become Jews from non-Jewish backgrounds.  In other words, these people were different from each other.  Then Peter preaches and three thousand are added to the church.  The church began in diversity.  Indeed, the book of Acts will deal with how Gentiles (non-Jews) become full members of the church.  Acts shows us diverse people loving to love each other well because of their love for Jesus.  Such a church displays the beauty of Jesus.

But you might think that given my cultural background and their cultural background, I don’t have much in common with that person in my church.  That is not true!  If you share a love for Jesus then you have almost everything in common with them.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a preacher in London in the second half of the last century.  London was full of diverse people and the church he pastored church attracted many visitors.  He used to go to his study after the service and invite anyone to join him there who wanted to talk about spiritual concerns.  He later observed, ‘when they came in, I knew them and they knew me.’  It was not that they had ever met before, but they knew that they were of the family of Christ.

Learn to talk naturally about your faith and you will see how much you have in common with other Christians.

2.        Love grows as we embrace vulnerability

Back to Genesis.  In the garden of Eden everything was good, except that it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).  God in His kindness puts the lonely in families (Ps. 68:6).  Jesus identifies His people as brothers and sisters and mothers (Matt. 12:49).  You might not get on with your biological family and you might be single all your life, but God has given us each other to be family.  We need to do such family well.  I heard a church growth person say that church is not family, but that is not true, our brothers and sisters in Christ are our closest family.

Notice how this church in Acts loved meeting with each other.  They met in the temple and in each other’s homes.  Tim Keller suggests that they enjoyed being with each other so much that having to separate and go about the other routines of life were a bit of a pain for them.

There is a key to such community.  If we are going to have to be vulnerable.

I have this theory.  In Ireland, when we drive our cars, and we come to a blockage in the road where only one car can go, we would rather let the other person go rather than have them give way for us.  We like to be the person doing the favour.  I think the same thing can happen in our prayer life.  We would rather be the strong person who prayers for others than be the broken person that needs prayer.  But we all have vulnerabilities.  Don’t expect church to grow in depth if you are never willing to be weak!

You are not the only person in this church who struggles with anxiety or depression.  You are not the only person in this church who is worried about wayward children.  You are not the only person in this church who feels defeated by a besetting sin.  You are not the only person in this church who has health issues.  We all have burdens and fellowship will grow when we realise that we need each other. 

I have said to our prayer team, ‘if you are not willing to be on the receiving end of prayer then you are not ready to offer prayers to others.’  Jesus knew what it was to be weak.  He did not hide His tears.

3.       Fellowship is focused of Jesus

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching’.  Those who had been with Jesus teach what was taught to them.  Jesus gave a gospel of love for sinful people.

‘They devoted themselves to the braking of bread’.  What was that about?  It was about Jesus.  They constantly remembered that Jesus’ body was broken on the cross so that we could be made whole again.

Jesus was the centre of their fellowship.  If you don’t know Him yet He invites you to experience His life transforming forgiveness.  He promises never to turn away who comes to Him (John 6:37).  No one is so together that they don’t need Him.  No one is so broken and messed up that He won’t have them. 

Conclusion

I want to finish with two quotes.

‘You can’t praise Jesus’ dying for you if you are indifferent towards His people.  You are not walking close to people if you keep His people at arm’s length.

‘If no one offends you, how will you show them grace?’  (Miquais Melo).

The church’s calling is to display the beauty of Jesus.  This is done when a diverse people love each other out of love for Him.