Salt Lake City, Utah
May 6, 2007
May 6, 2007“Becoming and Being the Church”
Acts 2:42-47; John 17
Introduction
There are many ways of being a church. All over the world the church is a multitude of language, culture and worship styles. The church has several ways of being organized. In the history of Christianity you will find many ways of expressing the Christian community, the body of Christ, the family of God, the church. From a small house church of three or four families to mega-church congregations of several thousand. The church meets for worship, study, fellowship and service in a small thatched roofed house in an African village or a multi-million dollar building in the Untied States. This amazing, beautiful church was recently appraised at $14 million. At 400 or so in our membership and in our worship each week, that’s about $35,000 each! I just want you to know that you and I are very expensive Christians. But with all the diversity of the church here and around the world (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Reformed, Methodist and Episcopal, Baptist and Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, Evangelical Free, Lutheran and Congregational, Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Christian Fellowship… shall keep listing them?), at least two things surely unite us. First, we are committed to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the center of our faith, our life, our worship, our service. And second, we are committed to the church – at least I hope we are. The Bible knows nothing of the commonly expressed anomaly, an un-churched Christian. We cannot be one without the other. The church lies at the center of the purposes of God. The Lord is not about saving isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness. The Lord calls people to himself for salvation, yes; but also to build his church. Jesus died for us not only to redeem us from sin but to create for himself a community of faith, people who are enthusiastic for a good life and good works together.In Paul’s letter to his friend and co-worker Titus, he put it exactly this way: “The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people… to the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2: 11-14). Then reason we are called to be committed to the church is because God is!I. The Church in Worship
In the book of Acts at the end of chapter 2, we have St. Luke’s description of the followers of Christ becoming and being the church. After that first Pentecost, Peter preached to the crowds and many accepted Christ and were baptized. On one of those days, 3,000 were added to the community of believers in Christ. Here we find how the church expressed itself.
Over the next few weeks, I want to have us look at this passage and others to help shape our understanding of God’s vision for this congregation, First Presbyterian Church. For whatever denomination or congregation we prefer to join with, the Bible is the place where we will find God’s will and direction for becoming and being the church in our day.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” You and I can be devoted to the apostles’ teaching by reading, studying, discussing, immersing ourselves in the Bible, especially the New Testament. If you want to know the Lord Jesus and the meaning of his life, death and resurrection, we have the primary sources. Matthew and John are first hand accounts. Mark reflects Peter; Luke reflects Mary. We have letters from the apostles Peter, James and John. Add to that Paul, Hebrews and Jude. Here is where we will find authentic Christianity, orthodox faith in Christ. Next week we will talk more about the reliability of the Bible, the understanding that we have full assurance that the Bible we have is accurate and trustworthy.
“They devoted themselves to the fellowship.” God wants us to be devoted to one another here in the church. We are the present, visible, tangible family of God, the fellowship of faith as believers in Jesus Christ. The work koinonia is used only once by Luke in his New Testament writings. But it was Paul’s favorite for the togetherness of God and the church. When you meet another person out there in life and discover that they too are a Christian, there’s this immediate fellowship, understanding, connection that’s quite amazing.
“They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread.” This definite breaking of bread refers to celebrating the Lord’s Supper in worship, honor, and remembrance of Jesus. The early church probably included the bread and cup as part of a regular fellowship meal, an agape, and feast of love in Christ. And “they devoted themselves to prayer.” Christians know that they cannot meet life and its challenges in their own strength. Believers in Jesus always go to God first and then go out into the world. We find that we are able to meet the problems of life because we first have met with the Lord.How are you doing so far? How are we doing so far when we compare God’s vision for the church with First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City? Do you have a hunger and a thirst for God’s Word? Are you taking the time and energy to learn from the Bible? If not, why not? Are you connecting with Christian friends in fellowship and sharing of life. Who do you call when you need some support and encouragement? I’m glad that you are here this morning as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Table of the Lord – this meal has spiritual power to build up your faith and strengthen the church. And are you praying to the Lord here and at home, at work or school? Do you have a prayer partner or prayer group? Again, if not, why not?II. The Church in Practice
“Everyone was filled with awe,” it says. All the believers were together.. They gave to anyone who had a need… they met in their homes and ate together… and the Lord added to their number daily.”The church is a community of faith where things happen. There’s an intense feeling of responsibility for each other. Amazing things happen in the hearts and lives of God’s people. There is a winsome attractiveness of this kind of life together over against the hard-nosed, dog-eat-dog, competitive, destructive, demeaning, harsh world without Christ.It is my hope that we are becoming and being this kind of church: a church rooted in the grace and love of God in Christ; a church shaped by God’s Word, God’s vision, God’s plans for his people; a church rejoicing in life together and outreach to those who do not yet know or have yet to experience this kind of faith, this kind of love, this kind of church.