“Our First Brothers & Sisters in Christ,” Acts 2:42-47

[hmp_player playlist=’Acts2:42-47′]

Sermon Notes Below:

March 16th, 2014,

“Our First Brothers & Sisters in Christ”

Quick Read of verses 36-41…

v. 42… Genuine repentance and belief in Christ places us in the family of God where we are to devote ourselves to know and obey God’s Word, participate in Fellowship, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and Pray continually.

There were 120 believers at sunrise, before sunset the church grew to 3,120 (v. 41). Why the increase?

1. Apostles’ teaching – God’s Word is to be proclaimed and explained so people will hear and believe the gospel, be born into God’s family, equipped (discipled) in order to grow and mature in Christ (1Peter 2:2; Romans 12:2).

The pastoral epistles were written to the men who would shepherd God’s sheep (1Timothy 4:13, 16; 2Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:9). Teaching and feeding are synonymous.

God’s word is spiritual food provided to nourish, grow, and strengthen us, while providing wisdom.

It has been said, that it is a wasted day when we do not learn something new from, or we are not more deeply affected by, God’s Word.

Much of the church today is malnourished and in very poor spiritual health, for the church is deceived and has become dysfunctional, and therefore impotent, because it fails to acknowledge, apply, and hold those in the church accountable to, the authority of God’s Word.

2. Fellowship – Christian fellowship is a spiritual discipline engaged in by God’s children [believers and followers of Christ], through Christ-centered fellowship we are to stimulate one another to be faithful servants of God.

There are at least 25 “one-another” passages in the New Testament, these emphasize the fellowship we, as Christians, have in Christ [Gr, koinonia = having in common, intimate sharing, participating in community].

When believers isolate themselves from other Christians or fail to participate in the ministry of the local church, they are in direct disobedience to clearly stated will of God concerning this (see Hebrews 10:23-31). John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are not to be independent agents who attempt to live apart from other Christians, i.e., all the members of God’s body, the church are to be actively involved in worship, fellowship, and service, in a local congregation.

3. Breaking of Bread – The Lord’s Supper (Communion) (1Corinthians 11:23-26) is to be honored by all believers. We are all sinners saved by grace, redeemed by God to be one, just as God is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Galatians 3:28; 1Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20, 27).

Sharing in, commemorating the Lord’s Supper, is essential to the unity God desires among us, for Communion calls us to exam our own heart attitudes toward God, God’s Word, and God’s People. 

God became man, putting on flesh that He might die for our sins (the Bread is symbolic of His body); His blood was shed on the Cross for us (the Cup is symbolic of His blood).

Jesus is Savior & Lord, as we confess our sins to Him, He forgives us and purifies us for service to God (1John 1:9).

Having been placed in God’s family, for the purpose of serving Him together, we are commanded to reconcile any offenses we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15-17).

4. Prayer – (Matthew 6:9-13) When we come before God, acknowledging Who He is, confessing our sins and thanking Him for all that He has done, it is much more likely that we will ask for that which brings honor to God, and benefits to God’s people (Philippians 4:6, bring our needs to God; Colossians 4:2, be devoted to prayer; 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, pray continually, always giving thanks; James 1:5, pray for wisdom). Our first brothers and sisters in Christ understood the priority of prayer (Acts 1:14, 24).

As the church provides and applies biblical teaching, encourages Christian fellowship, commemorates the Lord’s Supper, and seeks to be God-centered in our prayers, spiritual character will be produced in God’s children. v. 43… A sense of awe and reverence for God was inspired by the many wonders and signs done through the apostles, as they pointed men toward God, for God was the authority and the author for all that was happening. vv. 44-45… Amazing! Before the days of divisions and denominations in the church, these people had a spiritual unity and love for one another, causing them to give up their own possessions, as others had need of them.

All this sharing with one another was voluntary. Wow! People opened their homes and shared their resources so that no one would be without what they needed; whether visitors to the city who didn’t have homes or jobs, or the indigenous poor who lived in or around Jerusalem. vv. 46-47a… They continued to pray at the Temple (as witnesses of the new birth); they met in private homes to hear the apostles teaching, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and to fellowship with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

When God’s people honor and worship God, genuinely loving one another, proclaiming the wonders, mercies, plan, and provision of God through the Gospel of Christ, unbelievers will take notice, and some of them will be changed forever (v. 47b), “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Obedience to God’s Word produces godly character, which in turn impacts sinners for Christ; and after all, that is our main purpose, to serve as witnesses of God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Let us each, in unity, as members of one church, one body, one family, one people, embrace God’s Word, Christian Fellowship, the Lord’s Death & Resurrection, and Prayer (Ephesians 3:20-21), “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”