Sermon Tone Analysis

The Model

Acts 2:42-47

Shaun LePage; 2005.07.24

I.

Opening

A.     Chuck Colson—in his book “Burden of Proof”—tells us American ingenuity has once again produced a first—the first “paid church critic.”

Colson writes, “Before reading a book or seeing a movie, do you ever check the newspaper reviews to see what the critics are saying?

…Today, there is a new kind of critic on the scene—the church critic.

I’m not kidding.

The Rev. George Exoo is America’s first paid church critic.

His reviews are a regular feature on a Pittsburgh radio station, where he rates churches by giving them from one to five stars.

He also visits cities all around the country, publishing reviews of local churches in regional magazines.

\\ So what does it take for a given church to rate five stars?

In an article in Milwaukee magazine, Exoo says he praises churches that are ‘innovative’, ‘flexible’, and ‘friendly’, churches where the leaders are easygoing and engaging, where the singing or music programs are dynamic, where the bulletin is well-arranged or the greeters are well-trained.

Most importantly, he rates churches high if they… ‘heal hurts and meet needs’.

B.      It occurred to me that the only thing new about this is that he’s paid.

Every church has its critics—whether internal or external or both.

I’ve had discussions with lots of people—including self-described atheists and agnostics—who were quick to tell me what the church should be and do.

C.      I’ve personally been a part of or visited many different types of churches in my life—Roman Catholic, Methodist, Southern Baptist, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Church of Christ—as well as various non-denominational churches.

What attracted me to the Bible Church—such as Coppell Bible Fellowship—is its stubborn desire to define itself solely by Scripture.

I’m not saying churches outside the modern Bible Church movement are necessarily “unbiblical” but the churches I’ve experienced personally outside the Bible Church movement often look to tradition and history and experience and culture and a particular leader’s ideas and opinions */in addition to /*Scripture.

I’m a simple guy.

More of a purist.

I don’t want to be dogmatic, but I do want to be Scriptural.

D.     CPS: The church that continually devotes itself to the work of God will experience the supernatural hand of God.

E.I’m a simple guy, but I don’t desire to be simplistic.

There are many descriptions and characteristics and commands given to the church in the New Testament.

There is no church that has ever fully applied all the directives found in God’s Word.

But we should try.

And I believe the best place to start any discussion and understanding of what the church should be and do is Acts, chapter 2—the birthday of the Church.

1.

The first thirteen verses describe the coming of the Holy Spirit and display in an obvious way the need for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles were baptized and filled with the Spirit and began to speak in languages they had never learned.

The huge crowd of Jewish men gathered for Pentecost was either asking, “What does this mean?” or accusing the apostles of being drunk.

2.  Peter—the coward who had denied even knowing Jesus 50 days earlier—now filled with the Spirit “took his stand” before the same crowd that had demanded the death of Jesus.

His words—the first sermon in the history of the Church—are recorded in verses 14-41.

a)     He explained that this phenomenon of uneducated Galileans speaking in languages they’d never learned was the direct result of fulfilled prophecy and was a sign to unbelieving Israel that they had rejected their long-awaited Messiah.

b)    He explained that Jesus the Nazarene—the one they had crucified—had risen from the dead fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

c)     He explained that this same Jesus was now seated at the right hand of God—exalted as Lord and Christ in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

This Jesus—from his throne in heaven—had poured out the Holy Spirit that day demonstrating that He is the God of the Old Testament who had promised to pour out His Holy Spirit.

d)    Those who heard Peter’s sermon and received his word were baptized—3,000 souls were added to the 120 that day and the Church was born.

3.  All of this—verses 1-41—describe the events of a single day: Pentecost; the 50th day after the crucifixion of Jesus.

But the remainder of the chapter—verses 42-47—cover an undefined amount of time.

Perhaps weeks.

Perhaps months.

It’s a description of what the earliest church—the oldest church—looked like.

What they did and what God did through them.

Even though this passage does not give us a checklist of do’s and don’ts, it is a wonderful model for us—purists who want to do church by the Book.

This was the Church in its infancy and we aren’t instructed to do everything exactly as they did.

But those believers do serve as a model for us in their devotion to Scripture, fellowship, worship, prayer, giving, and evangelism.

II.

The Model—Acts 2:42-47 *[ppt]*

A.     Please turn to Acts 2 and follow along as I read vs. 42-47.

*42**They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

*

*43**Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

*

*44**And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; *

*45**and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

*

*46**Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, *

*47**praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

*

B.      42:* **They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

*

1.

I see verse 42 as the key to this passage.

A summary statement for the rest of the passage.

The church was “*continually devoting themselves*” to four activities which are further described in the verses which follow.

2.  Notice that there is no “*and*” between “*fellowship*” and “*to the breaking of bread*.”

This means “*breaking of bread and to prayer*” may be appositional to “*fellowship*.”

In other words, “*breaking of bread and to prayer*” may be an explanation or description of what “*fellowship*” is.

So, this may be a list of devotion to two things—*apostle’s teaching and fellowship*—or a list of four things.

Some scholars see a major division here.

Either way, four activities are highlighted here and I think the rest of the passage further highlights those four.

I’ll try to explain as we go.

But let’s begin with a close look at v.42.

3.  *“They”*—first of all—is a reference back to v.41 which tells us, “three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Notice a couple things:

a)     This was a big group.

When you add 3,000 to the 120 mentioned in Acts 1, you’ve got 3,120 believers.

This must have produced some logistical problems right off the bat for this new church.

I highlight this simply to remind you of how exciting this must have been.

When was the last time you were around a new believer?

Imagine 3,000 of them!

Imagine the energy and emotion and enthusiasm and excitement!

b)    Also remember, they were all Jews.

The first church was a Messianic congregation!

Jesus had told them in Acts 1:8 that they would be His witnesses in “*Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth*.”

This was the Jerusalem part.

These Jews, I believe, had not thought of starting a new religion.

They saw themselves as the true remnant of Israel—the ones who recognized the true Messiah—Jesus.

So, imagine this as well—a large group of Jews who were convinced that their long-awaited Messiah had come!

Double your energy and emotion and enthusiasm and excitement!

c)     It must have been an amazing thing to be a part of.

4.  *“Continually devoting themselves”*

a)     This is a long, compound word in the Greek.

The root word means to “be strong.”

The compound has the same basic meaning, but gives greater emphasis to the time element (DONTT, Vol. 2, p.768).

b)    So these believers were not a flash in the pan.

This was not an emotional reaction to a great sermon where they walked away, went to lunch at Luby’s and got over it.

They did not get over it!

They were devoted for the long haul—they were “continually devoting themselves” to the activity described here.

Again, this may be a description of weeks or months or longer.

C.      “Continually devoting themselves to *the apostle’s teaching”*

1.

There was a great combination going on here.

a)     Look at Acts 6.