Real Church

In Act 2:42-47 we see the new Christians' response to the experience they had with God earlier in the chapter. This passage gives us a good understanding of what the early church looked like. It also gives us an idea of what God sees as important in a healthy, well balanced, God glorifying church.

Acts 2:42-47
⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The following are seven signs gleaned from Acts 2:42-47 of a God-filled, vibrant, growing church.

I. They hunger for God's Word (v42)

II. They enjoy communion (v42)

     a. With each other 

     b. With God 

III. They pray together (v42)

IV. They are awed by God (v43)

V. They take care of one another (v44-45)

VI. They meet regularly (v46)

VII. They overflow with thanksgiving and praise (v46-47) 

The Result: 

God blesses and uses them! (v47)

Let’s not get lost in all the bells and whistles when it comes to doing church. For the most part there is nothing wrong those practicalities, but what people really hunger for and what gives God the most glory is his people functioning the way they were intended; in love and in his Spirit.

The Pursuit of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness; everyone seeks it. Is that the purpose of mankind though? Some Christians might answer no because at its core, it can be very self-focused and one of the biggest principles of the Christian life is to deny self and to serve God and other people. Even in serving others one might point out self-interest in pleasing God or people because we get pleasure or happiness in their being pleased.

I once saw a Friends episode that brought this to light. (You can watch a clip here.) Phoebe and Joey were arguing over whether all of our actions as human beings were self-focused. Joey said yes and Phoebe repeatedly tried to prove him wrong to no avail. Joey argued that even helping others brought us happiness and thus was truly self-focused.

However when we realize that God not only made us for his enjoyment, but also for us to enjoy and find happiness in him as well then it doesn't really matter. As long as what we do is for his glory, it is what we were created to do. You see, we were made to love, enjoy and take pleasure in God. In fact we fail to give him glory and are left with a huge void when we don't. It is in our DNA to do so. Just as it is healthy for my son to take pleasure in me as his father, so it is right for us to not only serve God but to take pleasure in him.

This type of love relationship has been broken through sin. However when we trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who not only died for our sins but also is our bridge back to God, that relationship is restored.

Romans 5:5b

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

God’s love poured out in us enables us to love him and others the way we were meant to. God knows what is best for his creation. We were made to love, enjoy and glorify God and we do that by loving others. When we feel fulfillment about doing so because it makes God smile that is always a good thing. We were made to be happy in God. It’s what makes us whole.

John Piper – “God Is Most Glorified In Us When We Are Most Satisfied In Him.”

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  

Christian Unity

Colossians 3:11
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

God calls his church to unity. The church is one body of Christ with one purpose, and that purpose is to be a reflection Jesus Christ.

We all have different DNA. We are all individuals that God has made in a unique way. We are sort of like snowflakes, no two people are the same.

We all have different talents. I am a graphic artists. Others are skilled at music or building or administration, etc.

 As Christians, we all have different gifts. The Bible says that when we receive Jesus Christ into our lives, we receive his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to each and every believer in order to be used to build and build up God’s church; that is his people.

So, while God has a unique purpose for each, we are still one. This is because Jesus Christ is all, and in all. In order to realize this we must first come to understand three things about Jesus. We must understand who he is, what he did and where he lives.

Who He is.

The man Jesus who walked this earth 2,000 years ago was not merely a man, though he was fully man. Jesus was the Son of God. This means that he is God himself. He is Yahweh. He is the great I AM that spoke to Moses from a burning bush. He is the same God of the Old Testament who walks among his people in the New Testament. He is the son of His heavenly Father (distinct), yet every bit of the same God as was his Father (one). As God, the Bible says that Jesus created all things. This includes you and I. He also sustains all of creation. At his word, all of creation would cease to exist. So he made all and sustains all.

Understand what He did.

Jesus was punished by his heavenly Father while dying for your sins and for mine. Then Jesus defeated death by being raised from the dead. He saves all who believe upon him and when he returns will raise them from the dead as well. Jesus saves all who believe.

Understand where He lives.

He dwells in everyone who believes. As stated earlier, Jesus works in his people by the working of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Bible refers to as being born again. Jesus is in all who believe.

But Christ is one. 
It is the same Christ who created each of us, who sustains each of us, who saves us and who works in us. His church is being made into his image, the one who is all and in all.  Therefore as the people of God there no distinction of race, gender, class, or otherwise.
 There is only Christian.

Christian Maturity

As immature Christians we see God as a means to an end. He is there to bless us and is there to help us in our need. This is a great truth, but by its self tends to be self focused much like a child is toward a parent.

Hopefully we come to realize that God is concerned about our personal transformation and our prayers shift from simply "God help me" to "God change me".

When we enter maturity in Christ, our focus shifts to God and other people. We become consumed with impacting the world around us for God's glory; not just family, not just friends, not just those who are like us, but love without walls. This is where God wants to take us; all the while he continues to transform us as we recognize our great blessing whatever our circumstances. This is the life of Christ.