08.Feb.2010 A Church that Changed History
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:09 — 35.7MB)
The Church Part 1
Acts 2:41-45: Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
The new testament church described in Acts is the kind of church that attracted thousands. Imagine having a church of only one hundred that, after a miraculous move of the spirit, grows to over three thousand in one day! Imagine! And this church was run on four basic actions: teaching, fellowship (hanging out), the Lord’s Super (eating together), and prayer. Four simple actions constructed a church that revolutionized ancient historical culture and changed the course of the human race!
Then why do we make it so complicated? How did Christianity go from an attractive movement to something for which we must aspire? Why jump through the hoops to reach God? That was not the intention of the first church. It wasn’t even called church. That came later. Christians came later. These people were simple people drawn to a supernatural God.
Verse 43 states that “a deep sense of awe came over them” and that “the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” The Acts Church was familiar with the supernatural. It was tangent and moving among them daily. These believers were not afraid to let the Holy Spirit move, to let Him display His power. Why has that changed? Again, modern churches have shifted from what was to something more complicated. There is a desire for structure and order; some services are even structured to the very minute; yet, have we put so much structure that God has no room to move? Modern churches have forgotten that when the Holy Spirit moves, there is structure! There is order and structure, but there is also freedom and openness for God’s will to be accomplished. Structuring God out leaves rigid religion, and that is not God.
Because the Acts church was submitted to the flow of the Spirit, something even more miraculous happened. Verse 45 says that the early believers “shared everything they had,” going so far as to sell their homes and possessions so the poor and in need could be given help. This spirit of generosity was revolutionary. In the ancient Roman culture, there was no such thing as charity. IN the ancient Hebrew culture, there was no such thing as charity outside the family! Yet, here, perfect strangers bound together by a mutual faith have done the impossible! They changed modern culture by introducing charity! Since that day, Christians have been the forerunners in disaster relief, aiding the poor, and helping those in need. All because a group of people remained submitted to a supernatural, loving God.
When humanity is exposed to God, hearts change. It is seen in the creation of generosity, and it is seen in the second and third actions taken by the Acts church. Fellowship and the sharing of a meal at a table; these two things are revolutionary to church life. In the days of the New Testament, sharing a meal was no small feat. It was an event that spanned for hours. Enemies would sit down together and dine as a show of peace and forgiveness. When a meal was shared, a friendship was formed. In the modern western era, the value of the table has been lost. People are too busy to go home and eat. Tables are more an accepted social norm for a home than a used piece of furniture. There is something difficult about inviting someone into your home. Home is intimate, private, holding secrets that you may not be willing to share. That is why restaurants are so popular. It is easier to share a meal in public than it is in private. And yet, this one on one intimacy of sharing a meal together in a home is one of the staples of early chruch life that made it attractive.
Yes, the first group of believers were attractive! And we as Christians should strive for the same. Back then, 3000 people did not join in a day because the early Christians had a big building with lots of gadgets and nifty programs that ran perfectly and smoothly, followed by lunch at a near by eatery. No, this church was attractive because God reigned! And were God is, people follow. His presence is attractive. His Spirit changes hearts from hard and selfish to soft and generous. That gives room for an open, friendly environment that welcomes all. It was God’s presence that brought people in, and it is God’s presence that built a church that changed the world.
Teach the Word. Hang Out. Be Hospitable, inviting people into your home. And Pray. Four simple things that can change history. Are you ready?
