Acts 2:41-47: Now What?
Acts: God's Story Continued... • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Pre-Mariatal Counseling
We love it. See our job as preparing these young love-birds for the inevitable “now what?” moment.
We love it. See our job as preparing these youngp love-birds for the inevitable “now what?” moment.hat our job is to lead them to consider what it takes to build a marriage, not simply plan a wedding.
To be prepared for the Now What?!
But they rarely think that way. They are just consumed with florist arrangements, cake tastings, caterer recommendations, budgets, dresses, hair, selecting bridesmaids and groomsment, whittling down the guest list, registering at bed bath and beyond…
Then the wedding flies by in a blur and they are consumed with all-inclusives, beach lounging, all you can eat, 24/7 quality time. All the while thinking… “ahhh isn’t marriage the best.”
But they have no idea what awaits… they don’t know about the now what…
they land back in America and return to their home… and think… “now what?”
Or consider 1st time parents.
9 months with all these amazing plans. Read all the books. Practically experts. Wrestling thru baby names, creating your birth plan.
Baby is born. Nurse comes and lets you get a little sleep. She returns the next day with your baby and your discharge papers, and it all sinks in… I have to take this thing home…
“now what do we do!?” Now what!”
Or consider 1st time church planters!
I mean I had a prospectus. online training modules. Read all the books. Talked to other planters.
Everything building to launch day… inventory, order of service, purchasing, securing a place. So exciting.
Then we launched! AHHHHHH… NOW WHAT!?
There are endless examples of this… we come to points in our life where we ask NOW WHAT?
Well fortunately for me, and for us the answer to that question is found in our text for today.
Context
As we saw last week, the Spirit had come, and Peter empowered and obedient to the Great Commission stands before the crowds in Jerusalem and preaches the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus Christ!
3000 are added… in a single day!
Ya’ll… if I were Peter… ahhhhhhhh! I mean the logisitical problems!
Now what? They had waited, they had been filled, they had preached, people responded… now what? What do we do now?
What we find this early church doing then, is exactly what we are going to do in present day. The form may vary a little due to cultural distinctives, but the principles remain the same. Now listen… what we are going to see is that this is not complex. This is very simple. But it requires discipline to apply.
So today, by the time you leave I want you to be able to confidently answer the question… “now what?”
4 Principles:
Gospel
Gather
Grow
Go
Read the Passage
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Gospel
Gospel
What we have here is exactly what Jesus had promised.
He gave them the spirit in order to empower them with the mission of “being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To continue His story…
So Peter… filled with the Spirit, witnesses. And last week we went into detail, but in summary: Peter witnesses to the Gospel.
The Good News that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and that even while you and I were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ.
That there was nothing, you or I could do to repair our broken relationship with God, but He took it upon Himself and reconciled us to God. And after witnessing, 3000 repsonded with repentance and baptism.
The first principle we find therefore, is that the church (the people of God), is born by the Gospel.
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
That’s the church, people who have been born again through the Gospel. But the church is also universal.
Now the Church is Universal as well as Local.
Universal refers to all believers, both living and dead throughout all time.
But what we are looking at here in Acts 2 is the local church of Jerusalem.
First Baptist Jerusalem.
Born by the Gospel, as witnessed by Peter.
Gather
Gather
And what is this local church doing? They’re gathering!
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
All- that crazy greek word means --- all. All of those who had believed
Acts 2:46 (ESV)
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes...
Where?
Where?
This is one of the many concerns for every new church… where do we meet? Where in Jerusalem could they find the space to accomodate 3,120 people. I mean we think we have a capacity issue… ya’ll full is relative, but where on earth could they meet?
Temple
Temple
Acts 2:46 (ESV)
And day by day, attending the temple together...
The Temple
Jewish tradition holds that there would be daily formal prayers and reading of the Torah at least 3x a day. Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. And we find the apostles, and the early church continuing that rhythm throughout the book of Acts.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
that’s 3pm.
Now you may ask why!? Why continue the traditions of temple… well you have to remember that these guys didn’t view themsleves as some new sect, but simply a fulfillment of Judaism, for Jesus himself said “I did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.” So they would attend Temple, and participate in the hearing of the Torah and the formal prayers with a mind on Christ!
The point for us, is that our now what… is to regularly gather, corporately, at Church. A place that can accomodate all of us collectively.
According to Statista Research Department as of June 2022
22% of American Christians attend church every week.
9% almost every week.
11% about once a month.
25% seldom.
31% Almost never.
Where do you fall here? It is hard to grow into the maturity that we long for when our attendance is mostly secondary in terms of our priorities.
Now listen, I get it. It takes incredible sacrifice to get here regularly. Getting the kids up, dressed, fighting nap schedules… sacrificing all the things you could be doing… fishing, boating, etc. But did you know that Worship in Scripture is synonmous with Sacrifice. It cost them something to worship God in the Temple, and its good when it costs us something to be here too.
And I know I may be stepping on some toes here… and I actually don’t mean too. I just love you. But watching a service online isn’t the same as gathering with the people of God.
Now when we lived overseas in an Unreached People Group we WERE/ARE so grateful that our church streamed online. We could tune in and remain connected and be nourished… but that can’t be sufficient for church. It didn’t mean we could negate working to find other believers, or leading others to become believers to gather together locally.
So with COVID, so grateful, and many churches had to adjust in a hurry so that their people could stay connected and engage in worship and teaching, but be careful not to let convenience drive your reason for staying home. We are called to gather corporately.
Now some due to medical conditions, or various ailments can’t. And I understand that. But many have confused church, with watching a production… it’s not. Its a gathering, not just a gathering with the universal church logging in across the state, but gathering with a local body.
But we also find them gathering in homes.
Homes
Homes
Acts 2:46 (ESV)
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes
Homes
Now this would have been impossible for 3,120 people. The upperroom could barely hold 120… So they needed ways to know one another, and to be known by others… they had to find community outside of the corporate gathering, and the best place to find that is in homes.
A lot of you are asking about community groups, and I’m thankful: and yes there are plans for 2023… but do you know that you don’t need my endorsement to have others into your home?
This is a reason we have this stay and linger time. A time for you to slow down, meet somebody else, and then invite them to lunch. Invite them into your home.
Get to know one another.
We need a space that is more intimate than a corporate church gathering, so that we can get to know one another on a personal level.
Conclusion:
So the Spirit Falls, Peter Witnesses, and the church is born! Now What? What to do they do? They gather. We must too. Do you value the gathering of other believers?
But we gather for a purpose… to Grow.
Grow
Grow
We want to grow. It is the destiny for the people of the church.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Built up. To Maturity. Growing Up. We gather that we may grow, and we do that in 2 primary ways!
Devoted to the Bible
Devoted to the Bible
Acts 2:42 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching...
What were the Apostles Teaching?
They had not written any of the epistles yet… James wouldn’t be written until about 14 years after this.
None of the Gospels had been written yet…
Simply put they were devoted to the apostles interpretation of the OT Text, the apostles interpretations of their experiences with Jesus and His teaching.
Interpretation of the OT Text
We looked at this on August 7th, but Jesus spent 40 days after his resurrection, but before his asencion opening their minds to the Scriptures, and helping them see that the OT is fulfilled in Christ. He gave them a whole new paradigm in viewing the Scriptures, and the result of this Bible Study with Jesus was their hearts began to burn within them!
And we are only in chapter 2 of Acts, but the apostles took that teaching to heart.
Peter has quoted Psalm 69 and Psalm 109 in reference to Jesus in chapter 1.
He has quoted Joel 2, Psalm 16, and Psalm 110 in reference to Jesus in chapter 2. And we will see this pattern, over and over.
The apostles were responsible for interpreting the OT text christologically to the church.
Interpretaion of time with Jesus
But they also spent 3.5 years walking with Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went, they went. This is why it was so important for them to replace Judas with someone who had...
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
They heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount… so they taught it. They heard his teachings on prayer… so they taught it. They saw him transfigured… so they taught it.
They were devoted to the apostles teaching, because the apostles were devoted to the pure teaching of Christ.
And to ensure that the church could believe the apostles’ teaching carried authority, he gave them the powers to work signs, wonders, and miracles.
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
But for us now, we have the entire canon of Scripture. The OT that is fulfilled in Christ, and the NT that is either directly written by an Apostle, or as by someone like Luke who was a close companion of the apostles.
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
Be Devoted to the Bible
You may be coming to this new church plant, you may even be a new believer and you seek to grow with this church plant… and you ask the question? Now What? What do we do now!??
Devote Yourself to Scripture.
Notice it says, “They devoted themselves...” Not the Pastor alone, but they. Everyone. All Believers. This is your job. Your responsibility.
More Statistics:
16% of Americans say they read their bible everyday.
21% read it weekly.
41% say they never read it.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This is why we preach thru books of the Bible. Thay we may hear from the whole counsel of God, and not simply my opinions. But you don’t have to just listen to me.
40 min every week isnt’ enough. Jesus said, that man shall live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If you only ate a snack once a week, we’d say you have a disorder. A problem. Your malnourished. Same with the Food for your soul. 40 min a week isn’t enough.
Supplement yourself throughout the week with:
Daily Bible readings. (Plans everywhere).
Audiobible (James Earl Jones will read to you while your stuck on derenne or 95.
Other sermons. You have access to some of the greatest communicators our world has ever known via podcasts.
I listen to Allistair Begg, John McArthur, J.D. Greear, etc.
But don’t listen too much… you’ll want to stop listenting to me and Coleman.
The point is to devote yourself to the Word of God. That’s what we need to do now.
But we also need to be devoted to community.
Devoted to Community
Devoted to Community
Acts 2:42 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Koinooneea
An intimacy. A communion. A fellowship.
A devotion to community, where you can be known and actually know one another.
Ya’ll… we are so stunted in our spiritual growth because we settle for sports, news, and weather or even worse we convince ourselves we are in community because we post on social media and people like it… We try to live this complicated, trifle filled life alone! You can’t! You weren’t designed too!
Lately we’ve been watching ALONE. Drop them off in the remotest wildernesses with 10 survival items and a camera. It’s wild. They have to build their own shelters, if they want to eat they have to find food, and they have to defend themselves from bears, mountain lions, and freezing temperatures.
But what’s interesting about this show is that around day 30 a crazy phenomenon occurs.
When they are moving around their camps, they start muttering things like this… “What are we going to do today?” or “Today we are going to work on setting some fishing lines.” Or “We better shore up our shelter before the rain turns.”
Ya’ll… there ain’t nobody there! Who is the WE!”
Subconcioiusly they begin yearning for such deep community and fellowship that they create a 3rd person to fellowship with!
Wilson anybody?
We weren’t created to do this thing alone, we need koinonia.
Community is found IN Christ.
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
They had all things in common, primarily because they were all found in Christ.
Community is shared OUT together
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
They were meeting each other’s needs, and they only way for us to do that is by actually knowing what one another’s needs are.
They were sharing meals together. Spending unhurried time at the table, really getting to know one another.
We have got to start humbling ourselves, and embracing our need for community.
And I’m preaching to myself here. We spent 8 years cross-culturally where without community, or family we learned to rely on ourselves. We are the world’s worst at asking for help. But since moving here, and launching this church… this community has challenged us and taught us the value in making our needs known and giving others the opportunity to meet them.
But not all needs are physical, or visible. Some are spiritual, and we need one another to sharpen us as iron sharpens iron.
We all have blindspots! You sit there and think… not me. I don’t have blindspots. Come on man. There called blindspots for a reason. YOu may not see them but your spouse does! Your kids do.
You need someone in your life to say to tell you you’re overworking and your family is paying the price. Go home play with your kids.
You need someone to tell you to stop gossiping, because you’re breaking others down instead of building up.
You need someone to tell you to believe truth, and stop agreeing with lies.
We all do. We need people to instruct us regarding paths we are unfamiliar with… I have 4 kids… I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, I need community.
Why do we resist this so much? Here are 4 reasons…
It’s uncomfortable. I’m a high introvert and getting to know people is THE WORST!
All I can say in this limited time is that You will never grow in your comfort zone. You can have growth or you can have comfort, you can’t have both. He is your comforter, not your routines or walls. The value add into your life of community is much greater than the discomofrt of engaging it.
It’s inconvenient. That’s true. The sharing of life and fellowship we see here in Acts 2 is costly. Some were selling their homes to engage it.
All valuable things are costly. You will have to inconvience yourself for the invaluable experience of community. You may have to say NO to some good things or things you like in order to experience it. That’s ok. It’s worth it.
It’s painful. I’ve been hurt by others. Of course. Welcome to humanity.
We like to say that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones… but they do. You open up, and others shut you down. You vulnerably share a struggle, and its exploited. You get transparent, and someon doesn’t listen and immediately makes it about themselves.
ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. But we need that too. It gives us opportunity to draw closer to Jesus in our pain. It gives us opportunity for Christ to reveal sin in our own hearts in light of the response to these hurts.
Their weird… Those church people are just weird. YEP. And if you’re thinking… They’re not weird. That hasn’t been my experience… well guess what? ITS YOU!
Yes, being in community, biblical Koinonia means engaging in relationships with people who are different than you. Differently gifted, different ages and stages of life, different backgrounds, different interests. And that makes relationship challenging at times, but oh is it worth it. It just requires us humbling ourselves and really getting to know one another for one another, and not for what I get out of it.
A place to live out the one anothers. 100x in the NT. A place to be doers of the word, not just hearers.
So we gather, to grow, but we don’t stop there. We grow so that we can Go!
Go
Go
We want to Go and be the Church.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
They had favor with all the people. Not just those in the church, but the surrounding areas. People saw their gathering, saw their growing, and the Lord used that to add to their number. People wanted what they had!
We don’t grow for our sake alone, but that we might Go and be the church in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth.
In my experience this is where the church stagnates. Begin to wither. They’ve become naval gazers. Only worried about their own growth. Consuming book after book, bible study after bible study, but never really being doers of the word as they go.
Home Groups don’t replicate. Not meeting the needs of the community. Instead becoming cliques.
We have to gather, to grow, to Go.
We want you to have favor with all the people.
Coach your kids rec teams. I do. I don’t know anything about soccer, but I’m coaching. Build relationships with parents, with kids. Have favor. Serve your community.
Join the BOARDS of businesses and non-profits.
Serve the chamber of commerce.
Perform random acts of kindness in the community.
Serve the poor.
But don’t forget to witness as you do. With your lives yes, but also your lips.
It’s pretty simple. Not real complex. NOW WHAT!?
Receive the Gospel, Gather, Grow, and Go. That’s what we are going to be about.
Conclusion
Conclusion
But a quick word on roles:
Many of you are probably waiting for me to announce some programs of church-wide initiatives so that you can fulfill your now whats!
When are you launching Groups so that I can gather in homes?
What are you launching Men’s/Women’s Bible Studies so that I can grow?
What are you going to do for missions locally or internationally that I can go?
These aren’t bad questions, and of course as we get more solidified those things will happen:
But let me call our attention to Ephesians 4 real quick.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
He gave “shepherd/teachers” that’s me, and Coleman and our Elders…
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Our job is to equip you… so that you can own your now what’s, and not wait on us to provide opportunites for it.
You’re part of a church plant. We don’t have established ministries. We don’t even have members yet.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t Gather.
Gather with us tonight at Ft. McAllister.
Invite somebody to lunch or coffee today or this week.
May we be the reason WayStation chooses to stay open until late! Because so much coffee and conversation is occurring in the life of our church.
You can Grow.
Select a Bible Reading Plan.
Listen to some podcasts.
Read ahead next week for Acts 3.
You can choose community this week.
You can Go.
You have the spirit of god!!! Live Sent this week.
And as we do these what now’s together, we will provide more and more pathways or opportunities but your responsibiliteis will never change.
You are to gather, grow, and go and as the church is centered on the gospel we will succeed.
Pray.