Live Together
Acts 2:42-47
As humans we are wired to be in community – to be connected. From survival to safety, to accomplishing shared goals, to thrive and grow.
Last week Charlie spoke on following Jesus. Great message.
Building on that, when Jesus calls us to follow Him, he calls us to become part of THE church – often described as a body or family.
For a lot of Americans, being at church is it. But, many of us see our faith as deeply personal and individual. And many feel that even attending a worship service like this is not needed.
Our culture tells us to keep it private, “don’t talk about religion or politics”
- Around the time of Billy Graham, our salvation began to be defined as a personal decision between God and each of us. We merged our American cultural trait of being the independent pioneer spirit with our faith.
- But American independence is a relatively new thing to the church historically or globally
Personal private faith is
It’s Not Jesus and ME … but Jesus and WE … the Church, a family
As humans we are wired to be in community – to be connected. From survival to safety, to accomplish shared goals, to thrive and grow.
When the church was born after Jesus’ death and resurrection, times were difficult. To survive, Christ-followers needed each other.
But more importantly, to grow in faith, to grow in unity, to accomplish the purposes Jesus laid out for the new church, they needed to come together and rely on one another.
“Life is Better Together”, something we believe and say here at Ashley Ridge is not just a cool slogan. It’s a Jesus-taught principle.
TEAM SPORT VS INDIVIDUAL SPORT
- Real TEAM sport – football, soccor, baseball. Various roles working together
- ‘SORT OF’ TEAM Sport – Gymnastics and Ice Skating. Individual performance results merged for a total effort.
- Individual Sport – Tennis, Golf.
The MYTH of individual sport – is that it is all only the one person. What about the team of coaches and people in every athlete’s life that got them to their place of success? The athlete that avoids or rejects other’s training is one that will never reach their goals.
So in reality, all of it is a
So it is with our faith! Nowhere in the Bible is faith an individual effort. It’s always a team, a family, a body. Our relationship with God is ALWAYS described in a group way.
GET IN THE GAME
For the Follower of Jesus, the big game is the GREAT COMMISSION!
Before Jesus left He gave the disciples and all of us a command:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. —Matthew 28:19-20
· Purpose of Church
· Role and responsibility
To accomplish this, Paul later talked about how, just like a football or soccer team, we each had ‘positions we play’ that he called spiritual gifts. He described like body parts – eye and foot and hand. We each have a role to accomplish what Jesus sends us to do.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. —Romans 12:4-8
BUT NONE OF US, JUST LIKE ATHLETES, JOIN OUR TEAM FULLY PREPARED AND SKILLED.
A team may have the star athlete that everyone looks to, but it still may be a losing team. There is a lot that goes into making a team…
- Unity – a team with shared purposes and goals
- Bonding – Not going it alone
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- Humility – letting someone else shine and the right moment
- Raising everyone’s skills and abilities
That happens ‘between’ the games. All the hours of practice. It takes time and commitment and devotion. There is personal sacrifice and allowing others to help and coach and direct.
Get Ready by Building the Team (PRACTICE Sessions)
When the Church began we see early on they developed some habits which were crucial to their success and the their very existence.
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. —Acts 2:42-47
What they DID:
- Devoted to teaching
- Fellowship – authentic and intimate connections
- Prayer
- Helped those in need
- Had a lot of meals together
- Met together regularly for praising God
WHERE they did this:
- In the temple Courts
- In each other’s homes
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. —Acts 5:42
We do the same thing here at Ashley Ridge!
Weekend (Sunday) gatherings - the temple courts
Small Groups - in homes
Jesus said,
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. —John 13:34-35
“They will know we are Christ-followers by our love for one another”. By our love! BUT YOU CAN’T LOVE PEOPLE YOU DON’T KNOW – trust.
You have to put yourself in places to get to know others WELL.
I know:
- You will benefit
- You will grow
- Needs will get met
- You will know and be known
- You will love and be loved
…praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. —Acts 2:47
When people who come together and do the all the things Jesus asks of us, our lives are changed and the lives of others are changed as well.