The key passage from Acts chapter 2 which we read as our Epistle, is Luke’s description of the Christian Church as it was in the period immediately following the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is set out for us as a blueprint, or proto-type, for any local Church as it should be. The standard against which every Church should be measuring itself.
As in every passage in the Bible which we make relevant to our situation today, the process we need to apply is to ask two questions: ‘What did it mean in its original context?’ and ‘How can we carry the vital principles across to the 21st century in such a way as to make them valid and practical today?’
But before we apply this process to the this important passage from Acts 2, let’s just put it into context and bring it to life, by reminding ourselves of how those disciples got there.
In today’s Gospel from John 10, we come to understand that the Risen Christ is alive and can be available today to anyone who believes in him. As Kim explained so vividly last Sunday, we can experience him as those two disciples did on the Emmaus Road. He comes alongside us in any situation in which we find ourselves – in their case, in times of bewilderment, despair, anxiety, depression, loss and grief.
And we recognise him in many ways. In the breaking of bread, as in Holy Communion. Like Elijah in the still small voice – rather than in great miraculous signs and wonders. Through the testimony of another person, as they tell us about their experiences, and we feel our hearts burn within us. Through private or public prayer, when suddenly we know that Christ is speaking not just in general terms, but to me directly and personally. As we read the Bible, or hear it read, the Risen Christ can (so to speak) walk off the page and appear to us even as we read or listen. I am sure there are those among us today who could get up, if I asked, and tell us about such experiences. Kim shared with us last Sunday just such a very personal experience.
The Risen Christ can come to us personally, and we can recognise him or hear his voice, personally and unmistakeably at any hour of the day or night. But in Matthew 18:20, Jesus does make a specific promise. He says that ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.’
This was the situation described in Acts 2 as we have just heard, and this is the situation now here in Church, as we are gathered together in the name of Jesus to worship, to pray, and to listen carefully to what He is saying to us.
From the blueprint described in Acts 2, we can derive specific guidance as to how this wonderful miracle happens.
There are five elements I want to draw your attention to – and it will help if you have the Epistle open in front of you.
1.FELLOWSHIP. These Christians met together, we read, every day. This may not be possible for us, but it should mean more than an hour or so in Church on a Sunday, with little or no real fellowship or personal meeting as we sit in our rows. But we have many other doors open to us for this vital New Testament fellowship - Encounter Groups, Thursday lunch and prayers, and many other groups within St Michael’s which allow us share fellowship and which many of us find so valuable. Look for ways in which we may come together in twos and threes and sevens and tens, so that Christ may be with us in the midst.
An important aspect of fellowship is coming to agreement in all our affairs, and – wherever we see there is a need – being willing to give time and energy and resources to share, so that the fellowship is real. It seems that those first disciples pooled all their worldly goods, and that is probably unrealistic today, but we can go a great deal further than the average Sunday worshipper. Indeed if we are to fulfil our vision for this Church, we shall have to go much, much further in sharing our money, our time and our energy. It cost those first Christians a great deal, but look at the wonderful ways they were blessed and the vision they achieved. We read that they ‘devoted’ themselves to fellowship. We need to do the same.
2.LEARNING. We read that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. For us that means devoting ourselves to the study of the Bible, with a view both to understanding it and putting its principles into practice, and also meeting with the Lord through that disciplined study – ideally on a daily basis, but at the very least on a thoroughly regular basis.
There is an Alpha Course due to begin fairly soon – an ideal way to start for the relative beginner, and indeed as an excellent refresher for us all. There are Bible Reading notes to help us, along with modern translations, and a vast store of other resources to help us in the modern world.
We can learn on our own and that’s necessary, but often we learn better in groups, whether just two or three, or a larger group. Learning and Fellowship go together very well.
3.PRAYER. Those first Christians devoted themselves to prayer. Prayer can take many forms, although they are essentially all about cultivating a personal relationship with our Lord. There is private, personal prayer, which should be a regular discipline, going alongside our Bible study. There is Group Prayer, which goes alongside Fellowship, and is a hugely rewarding experience, and often a time when – as a fellowship – we discern the Lord’s presence, and the Lord’s will for our lives, most clearly.
And there is Church prayer. When a group grows into a congregation, a different style of prayer becomes necessary, but it is no less valid and real. It is bound to be more structured, more formal, but can be enormously helpful and real, if done well. We, like those first disciples, must devote ourselves to prayer if we are to achieve personal growth and our vision for this Church.
4.WORSHIP. We read that they devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, both in their homes and more formally as they met together on Sundays, the first day of the week, as they celebrated the resurrection. And as they did so, we read that they praised God, and were filled with awe, and saw many wonders and signs. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel (John 10:10) that He came ‘that we might have life, and have it to the full.’ When we meet together, we should be full both of joy and life, and also of awe and wonder. And as we praise God together, we too will see wonderful things happen in our own lives and in the lives of others. They may or may not be the sort of miracles that come to mind when we use that word – instant healing for example. But they will certainly be miracles in the equally valid sense that we will see our lives changed, and the lives of those around us changed. We will see wholeness, and love, and grace, and healing, and forgiveness, and all the characteristics of that fullness of life that Jesus promised to all who believe in him.
5.GROWTH. We read that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. They didn’t have to go door knocking because when there is life-filled local community which truly exhibits all these attributes of fellowship, sharing, prayer, worship and all that I have been describing, we shall have people queuing at the doors. This is what we all want at heart. This is what people seek now just as much as they did then. And we shall not have to argue or struggle to persuade, because when they see God at work in us and in our Church, the Lord Himself will touch their hearts.
We are following a short series in these weeks of Easter and in the notes for today, we read: “The first Christian community takes steps to live out a seven-days-a week-faith. What are the implications for each of us and the church family that God has placed us in?”
It is those implications which I have been describing. If we put them into practice, our own lives and the life of the Church, and the life of our whole community, will be wonderfully transformed. I am tremendously encouraged to see many of the signs of the church described in Acts 2 already living and breathing in St Michael’s. We are not starting from scratch like some churches. Indeed we have come a long way. But to fulfil our potential under God, we need to find the Risen Christ alive and in our midst in ever more wonderful and dynamic ways. He is risen, He is here, He is willing to continue our transformation and bring it to completion. We need to play our part. The word that keeps leaping out of the text of Acts 2 for me is the word ‘Devotion’. They ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ We must devote ourselves too.
DISCUSSION STARTERS
Share personal experiences of the Risen Christ and the context in which they happened
How can we make better use of the resources we have in order to become more like the church in Acts 2?
What should be our priorities, and how can we implement them?
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