42 They (the believers in the early church) devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many
wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the
believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling
their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 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, 47 praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
In our current sermon
series and Sunday morning Bible study we are asking ourselves the question,
“Why are we here?” We are looking at
what a church that has been made alive by the power of the Gospel is to look
like and how they will act. The verses
above from the book of Acts about the early Christian church gives us great
insight into what a healthy, growing, vibrant church that has been moved by the
Gospel looks like.
The early Christians
were devoted to God’s Word, the Lord’s Supper (breaking of bread), and to
prayer. They were hearing the Word every
chance they got and they received it with great excitement. “Every day they continued to meet in the
temple courts.” They craved God’s
Word! They regularly received Holy
Communion to be assured that they lived as forgiven children of God and they
had his power to live a life pleasing to him.
They spent time in prayer together as they praised God and prayed for
others.
They were devoted to
fellowship with each other. They cared for
one another. They shared with those who
were in need. They were a family. The love they had for their Lord was evident
in their love for each other.
They praised God openly
and others around them saw their faith was evident in their lives. It must have
been said of them, “Those Christians really love each other!” “Those Christians certainly know what they
believe and they are committed to it!”
And simply by the way they conducted themselves and the message they
were so eager to share, many people came to believe. The early church knew what their purpose was
and God blessed them significantly.
Why are we here?
For exactly the same reason the early church existed. We devote ourselves to hearing God’s Word and
receiving the Sacrament so that we can grow strong in faith. We devote ourselves to prayer for God’
blessing. We share with each other and
care for one another, because we are a family.
And when people see we are committed to the Gospel and in our love for
each other, we will gain the favor of outsiders. We keep working and preaching and living
faithfully, and we let God take care of results!