If there is one thing of which we have a great number in Tulsa it is churches. Have you ever looked through the Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages to see just how many churches there are in our community? There are sixteen full pages with churches listed on them. Some of these churches are very large. Others are smaller than ours. Some are old. Some are new. Among these churches there are those that are Bible-based and conservative and those that are more social in nature. These churches are also very different in their styles of worship, their history, and their membership.
As we seek to find the place of our congregation in this community we might look at these other churches to see what makes them successful or what has caused them to fail. Why do people flock to one church? Why do people seem happier at one church than at another? What makes a church warm and inviting to outsiders?
Before we get too carried away looking at how people evaluate churches we certainly want to look at how Jesus would evaluate churches that bear his name. Then, with that as our starting point, we can also turn to the other things that make churches strong and growing. Would you believe there is a plan for churches that makes them pleasing to God and pleasing to people? Would you believe that a church of any size can offer everything that people are looking for in a church?
Let’s turn our attention to the church that was formed at the first Pentecost almost 2000 years ago. Through the Means of Grace, the Scriptures and the Sacraments, three thousand people joined the first Christian church in one day. But the story doesn’t end there. Listen to the description of the church in the days and weeks following Pentecost. We read from Acts 2:42-47. (You may read the verses on the front of this sermon copy.) The post-Pentecost Christian church was pleasing to God and to outsiders. No, it didn’t have a large sanctuary. It didn’t have youth programs and multi-media presentations. It didn’t advertise in the Jerusalem newspapers. It didn’t have any of the things people think a church needs to be a success. In its simplicity it had what its members needed and what outsiders wanted. May our prayer be today:
“LORD, GIVE US SUCH A CHURCH AS THIS”
I. One devoted to your Word
II. One dedicated to fellowship
III. One generous in giving
The fire of the Holy Spirit among these early Christians didn’t fade after the awesome events of Pentecost. The church that grew by three thousand members was still growing. And they didn’t have any “back-door” loses. People weren’t leaving the church. They had the kind of church everyone wants and that is pleasing to Jesus. The members were devoted to the Word of God. They were dedicated to fellowship and they were generous in their giving.
Yes things have changed since the first Pentecost. Instead of one visible Christian church there are now many. But the basics of what makes a church strong and growing have not changed one bit. A church that is pleasing to God and that is attractive to non-members must be built on this pattern recorded in Acts 2. It must be a church devoted to the Word of God. It’s members must be dedicated to fellowship with one another and generous in giving. In light of these verses may our prayer be, “Lord, give us such a church as this.”
I.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” What do you think it means that these believers were devoted to the Apostles’ teaching? If you are a devoted spouse you don’t want to be married to someone else. You treasure and love your spouse. A person who is devoted to a sports team sticks by that team in winning and losing seasons. He or she is constantly interested in what his or her team is doing. Devoted employees give dedication to their employer.
These post-Pentecost Christians were devoted to God’s Word, which the Apostles taught them. Remember that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles so that what they taught was inspired by God. It was and still is God’s Word. These believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. They loved it and treasured it. They were in the Word at every opportunity.
If we are going to ask the Lord to give us such a church as this we need to take a look at ourselves. Can it be said of us, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”? Are we devoted to the Word? Fathers and mothers, are you having regular devotions with your children? I don’t believe anyone would consider an hour a week to be devotion to the Apostles’ teaching? This morning we will be starting two new Bible studies. One will focus on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In that letter you will hear about God’s grace. There will be practical application for husbands and wives. One chapter deals with putting on spiritual armor. The other Bible study will look at how we manage the things God has given us and use them to his glory. We put a copy of the Meditations, a book of daily devotions in the mailboxes of our members. Are you using your copy? Friends in Christ, God wants us to have a church like this one in Acts 2--one that is devoted to his Word.
We can safely assume that this first Christian church was dedicated to the Apostles’ teaching in another way. The Apostles presented all of God’s Word. They pointed out the things God calls sin. They didn’t let their ideas enter into their teaching or compromise the truth of God to help the church grow. These early believers accepted all the teachings of the Apostles.
Some have said that a church like ours will never grow because we take God’s Word too literally. They say we need to loosen up a little bit on the hot issues of our day. They will speculate that if you condemn homosexuality, and abortion, and euthanasia, and evolution people won’t come to your church. There is one answer to that type of thinking. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Do you think the teachings of the Apostles were any more popular to unbelievers at that time then they are now? Surely not. But in the end people are looking for the truth. Someone who loves God’s Word and is devoted to it will want to join a church where it is taught without additions or subtractions. The narrow way is not only pleasing to Jesus it also makes a church strong and spiritual alive.
You can flip through these sixteen pages of churches and find many who have forsaken all or parts of God’s Word. They may have more members than we do and bigger buildings. But do they have what makes a church a church? If they have forsaken the clear teachings of the Bible they are building on sand. May we not be tempted to tamper with God’s Word. No, friends in the faith, if we devote ourselves to the Scriptures both by being in them and by standing on them our church will be blessed. Then God will answer our prayer on this Pentecost Sunday. “Lord give us such a church as this!” Empower us to devote ourselves to your Word by regular use and by faithfulness to its teachings.
With the power of the Word driving them the members of this first Christian church loved each other. They were not only devoted to the word they were dedicated to fellowship. Listen again to the description. “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” This first Christian church was dedicated to getting together for worship and for mutual encouragement. They were friends in Christ at church and away from church.
II.
Obviously one of the key ingredients that held these first believers together and made them appealing to outsiders was their sincere love for Jesus and for each other. Getting together wasn’t considered a burden on their already busy schedules. Their dedication to fellowship was a way of life for them. Every day they got together to enjoy being followers of Jesus.
Once again let’s consider our prayer, “Lord make us such a church as this.” How are we doing in our public and private fellowship with one another? Do we worship together with glad and sincere hearts? Have we forgiven our past conflicts with others or are we still bearing grudges? Maybe somebody disagreed with you about some plans that we were making as a congregation. Perhaps you were outvoted at a voters meeting. Does it really matter? Satan wants to use our hurt feelings and our pride to destroy our church. Let’s dedicate ourselves once again to fellowship. We are going to spend eternity together in heaven we might as well start getting along now. Hebrews 10:2425 reminds us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Christian fellowship goes beyond having coffee and donuts and talking about the weather or football. It is encouraging one another in the faith. It is showing concern and compassion for your brothers and sisters in the faith. As we pray, “Lord give us such a church as this,” let’s ask God to forgive our coldness, rudeness, and self-centeredness toward one another. Then let’s dedicate ourselves to fellowship.
I want you to listen closely to the result of this dedication to fellowship among the post-Pentecost Christians, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” They enjoyed the favor of all the people. Those who were not yet members of Christ’s church looked favorable on these first Christians. And the Lord added to their number daily. How can we bring more sons and daughters of the king into our fellowship? By living as a family of believers. A church can offer everything from social programs to oil changes but if it doesn’t have sincere Christian fellowship it doesn’t have what people are really looking for in a church.
Once again let’s ask the question. How are we doing? Are all of us regular in our public fellowship here at 12435 E. 31st Street on Sundays? What about our private fellowship with one another? No, we won’t share common interests with every person here. We may not be drawn to others for social activities, hobbies, or activities. But we share an awesome Savior. That fact bridges all gaps and gives us a common bond of love. As the hymn says, “Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.” Don’t you think we should at least know the names of other members and find out about their interests and their needs? Only deeper friendships in the Lord await us when we dedicate ourselves to fellowship.
“Lord, give us such a church as this.” If we get ourselves into the Word this type of Christian fellowship will be the result. We will “enjoy the favor of all the people,” and God will bless our congregation with inward strength and outward growth.
There is one more distinctive mark of this first Christian church for us to consider. It was generous. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” The good news of salvation in Jesus does amazing things to people The Holy Spirit transformed these Christians from being selfish to being generous.
III.
What these verses describe has been called Christian “communism.” As American we have learned to consider communism as something that is evil. We fought against it in Korea, and Vietnam, and Cuba, and all through the years of the Cold War with the former Soviet Union. Godless communism is evil. It forces people to do what they don’t want to do. Christian communism is the only communism in the history of the world that has worked. When a person is filled with the self-sacrificing love of Jesus he or she will gladly share with others.
Now I realize we don’t live under the same circumstances as these early Christians.
But let’s look at what is in our heart. Are we generous in our giving to help each other both physically and spiritually? Think of the ministry we could carry out together if we all had generous hearts like these first Christians.
If you have been around Mt Olive a while you have heard me repeat what the Bible teaches about giving. It is to be regular, proportionate, and joyful. God wants us to include him as a regular part of our budget. Our offerings are also to be in proportion to how God has blessed us. One clear Bible passage that speaks to both of these points is 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” God also wants us to give our offerings with happy hearts. But where do we find generous hearts like the members of this first Christian church had? How can we go beyond the commands of God to generous giving? Only in God’s grace to us can we find generosity. When we think of the love he has given to us we can’t help but be generous.
One of the things that attracts people to a church is the fact that its people practice what they preach. We talk about God’s grace to us and his generous blessings upon us but do we respond to that generosity. I am not saying we need to become Christian communists. But if we are going to pray, “Lord, give us such a church as this,” then we must also see what kind of church it was. It was a group of believers who were devoted to the Word, and dedicated to fellowship, and generous in giving. They gave of their material wealth to support the ministry of the word and also to respond to the physical needs of their fellow members.
Yes, there are a lot of churches in Tulsa. What are people looking for in a church? What will make our church grow? How can our church be a pleasant place for us and an appealing place to others? How can we receive God’s approval on our church? We find our answer in Acts 2:42-47. Now friends let’s pray together, “Lord give us such a church as this!” Then let’s become that church by God’s power working in us. He will make us a church devoted to his Word, one dedicated to fellowship, and one generous in giving. Amen.
