Breaking the Routine: How the Early Church Turned Everyday into Extraordinary
Notes
Transcript
Breaking the Routine: How the Early Church Turned Everyday into Extraordinary
Breaking the Routine: How the Early Church Turned Everyday into Extraordinary
As the routines of life continue in their predictable cycles—waking, working, eating, sleeping—do you ever feel like something significant is missing?
Do you ever wonder if there's more to this life than just the daily grind?
What if I told you that a vibrant, meaningful life is closer than you think?
Today, we're going to uncover the blueprint of a life filled with unity, purpose, and growth from a surprising source—the early Christian Church.
The early believers in Jesus didn't view their faith as merely a part of life—it was their life. It affected their daily routines, their relationships, and even their possessions.
And as we explore the book of Acts, we discover that the early Church was characterized by three key attributes: it was unified, magnified, and multiplied.
This wasn't a community built on superficial commonalities but on the transformative power of the Gospel.
Let's dive into their story to see how we can live such an engaging, impactful, and abundant life today.
Let’s read this morning’s text...
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
What do we see first?
A Unified Community: The Power of Shared Belief
A Unified Community: The Power of Shared Belief
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
We start by looking at the early church’s devotion to the apostles' teaching in verse 42.
This devotion was a commitment to learning and growing together in their understanding of Jesus' teachings as communicated through His apostles.
The word used here suggests that they devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, eating together, and praying together.
It wasn't a casual interest or occasional study but a dedicated daily pursuit.
They hungered for the truth and found it in the teachings of the apostles who were eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Their common faith in these teachings united them, building a solid foundation for their community.
Next we see their devotion to fellowship and the breaking of bread, or eating together and prayer.
Verse 42 also mentions fellowship and breaking of bread, indicating both a spiritual and physical sharing.
This fellowship was not merely a social gathering; it was an expression of their shared faith and love for each other.
Their communal meals were not only times of physical nourishment but also a reminder of the spiritual nourishment they found in Christ.
Breaking of bread likely included observance of the Lord's Supper, which was a tangible reminder of Christ's sacrifice and their unity in Him.
They were bound together by His love, growing together in fellowship.
They also prayed together. They shared a common bond in Jesus and a common communication as well.
Praying together as the body of Christ has its beginnings in the early church, and we should be keeping up that practice.
Next we see they shared possessions.
Verse 44 takes us deeper into their unity as it recounts how all believers were together and had everything in common.
This was not an enforced uniformity but a voluntary generosity and mutual support that emerged from their shared faith.
They recognized that all they had was God’s and were willing to share with those in need.
This attitude of selflessness and communal care stood in stark contrast to the individualistic and self-protective tendencies of the surrounding culture.
Their unity was tangible and visible, giving a compelling testimony of the transformative power of the Gospel.
The early church was a unified community. They also had A Magnified Mission: The Power of Collective Worship
A Magnified Mission: The Power of Collective Worship
A Magnified Mission: The Power of Collective Worship
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
The early church enjoyed daily communion and worship.
In verse 46, we see the believers' dedication to daily communion and worship.
These early Christians met every day, not out of obligation, but because they had found something incredible in Jesus Christ and in one another.
They gathered in the temple for corporate worship and in homes in smaller groups for discipleship, reflecting the fact that their faith was not confined to a single sacred space, but permeated every aspect of their daily lives.
They worshiped together, acknowledging God's goodness and His work among them.
This unity in worship not only deepened their relationship with God but also strengthened their bond as a community.
This unity led to favor with the unbelieving Jews around them.
Verse 47a paints a beautiful picture of the early church finding favor with all people.
Their joyful worship and loving community was not a private affair but was visible and attractive to those around them.
The authenticity of their faith and their love for one another was a powerful witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.
They were not isolating themselves but instead, they were creating a positive, attractive presence within their wider community.
And because of their spending so much time together worshipping and fellowshipping, they also experienced the presence of joy and sincerity.
Verse 46 ends with an important characteristic of their gatherings - they ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts.
This indicates a community marked by authenticity, joy, and gratitude.
Their joy was rooted in their relationship with Christ and their love for each other. Their sincerity was seen in their genuine care for each other and their shared commitment to the teachings of Jesus.
This joy and sincerity made their worship a beautiful, magnetic testament to the life-changing power of the Gospel.
It wasn't just an act they put on for gatherings, but a profound reality that shaped their everyday lives.
The early church was a unified community, they had a magnified mission, and thirdly, they had a...
A Multiplied Impact: The Power of Continual Growth
A Multiplied Impact: The Power of Continual Growth
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Because of their commitment to one another and their commitment to their mission of sharing their faith, the Lord continued adding to their number as they witnessed and shared their faith with their community every day.
The closing of verse 47 reveals a vital truth: "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
This growth was not simply due to human effort or persuasive preaching. It was the Lord Himself who was increasing their number.
This serves as a powerful reminder that, while we are called to share the Gospel and live out its implications, it is ultimately God who draws hearts to Himself and causes spiritual growth both in individuals and in the church as a whole.
We are to be faithful in our witness, but it is the Lord who accomplishes the growth.
We provide the structure for continued ministry, continually train and encourage, and God provides the increase.
The early church saw people trusting Jesus as a daily reality.
Understand, this addition to their number was happening daily, not weekly or monthly.
Salvation was a daily reality in the life of the early church.
This speaks to the urgency and relevance of the Gospel. It was not just an occasional event, but an ongoing, daily transformation.
The new believers were not merely added to a roster; they were incorporated into a vibrant community of faith, radically devoted to the teachings of Jesus, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer.
The continual growth of the church is a testament to the power of the Gospel message and the attractiveness of a faith lived out in genuine love and unity.
It challenges us to consider if our lives and our churches are characterized by such a vibrant witness that makes the Gospel irresistible to those around us.
iIn conclusion:
As we have journeyed through Acts 2:42-47, we've seen a vibrant portrait of the early church.
A unified community, magnifying the Lord in worship, and multiplying in number as people experienced the transforming power of the Gospel.
This wasn't an organization or a weekly event.
It was a thriving, growing family, bonded by their shared belief in Jesus and their commitment to live out His teachings together.
This was a group of people who loved God, loved each other, and were committed to advancing the mission of Jesus every single day.
The power of the Gospel led them to break down barriers, share their lives, worship together, and extend generosity to all in need.
It created a community so attractive, so infectious, that the Lord added to their number daily.
That's the potential of the church when it is walking in the Spirit. This is our call as followers of Jesus: to be such a community.
So, how do we respond? How do we embrace the same power that marked the early church?
Here are some next steps we can take this week:
Embrace Community: Find ways to experience genuine fellowship with other believers. This could mean starting a Bible study group, inviting a fellow church member for a meal, or simply spending time in prayer with a friend.
Worship Wholeheartedly: Make worship a part of your daily routine. This doesn't mean you need to sing songs all day, but rather to live out your day with a heart posture that magnifies God in all you do.
Share the Gospel: Share the love of Jesus with someone who doesn't know Him. This doesn't have to be a scripted presentation, but a simple sharing of what Jesus means to you and how He's changed your life.
The early church wasn't perfect, but they were committed.
They were unified, they were passionate, and they made an impact that we're still talking about today.
Let's strive to do the same.
Let's be the church that walks in the Spirit. Let's see the Gospel transform our lives, our community, and our world.
Let's see the Lord add to our number daily those who are being saved.
Let us pray…