How the Church Works

Acts 2:42-47

I have always found this passage intimidating.  My Christian life doesn't look like this. I don't share everything in common with other believers. And I don't see people coming to Christ in huge numbers.....daily.

I tell myself that, well, it's okay, because that was the experience of the early Church. We can't expect things to be like that in 2020.

Perhaps not. Yes, Acts is a history book - the writer, St. Luke, is telling us what happened in those early days. It's not necessarily prescriptive. But there are definitely things we can learn from these brand new believers.

Fellowship was critical to their growth as a brand new church. They broke bread together DAILY.  They worshiped together DAILY. They saw amazing miracles DAILY. They shared ALL of their possessions.

Is worship an important part of your week? What about fellowship with other believers? Are you experiencing what it is like to share prayer requests, to pray for others, to read God's word together?  I would encourage you that if you are not, that you not delay - go to ualc.org/smallgroups and check out the small group information.  Once you experience small groups, you will never go back.

And take heart that when the first Christians broke bread together, they did so with "glad and sincere hearts" (v. 46). This is not a burdensome task. God will bless you when you make worship, fellowship, and prayer a priority.

Thank you, Lord, for the church, imperfect as it is - that's because it's filled with sinners just like me. Thank you that you long to bless me, and that as I experience your grace and truth, I will be a blessing to others.

ACT.2.42-47 NIV

Small Groups on Steriods

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

What would your ideal small group look like? What would its purpose be? How much of yourself would you be willing to give to it? What kind of regular support might you need from your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Personally, I would love to hear testimonies about how God worked in and through my friends’ lives during the past week, even if in seemingly the smallest of ways. God-stories are deeply quenching and spiritually energizing, and it is great to celebrate victories with others, so let’s hear about them! It is also meaningful to be with people who care about me enough to really listen—to set aside other thoughts just long enough to hear me and understand what’s on my mind.

I could list others, but what about you? What would you need to experience in a small group, or what do you savor in your existing small group? Feel free to post your thoughts in the comment box below.

Looking outwardly, what could your fantasy small group do to equip you to thrive as Jesus’ follower in your day-to-day life? How could your peeps help you live a fruitful life here on this side of eternity?

For me, two things immediately come to mind. Again, testimonies fill my “outreach tank” pretty quickly: give me a good story of God working in, through or around you, and I’m looking for the calls to join Him in His work throughout the rest of the week. In addition, working as a team—each person doing what he or she is gifted to do, all toward the same end—is motivating and inspiring to me.

What about you? Would regular fellowship with close-knit believers serve to move you into Spirit-guided action? If so, how? Again, feel free to post your thoughts in the comment box below.

The believers in today’s text devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, hung out together, ate together, shared together, prayed together, and praised God together. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Now that’s a small group on steroids, don’t you think?

[See the daily reading in Acts 2:42-47.]

Sent out in small groups!

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. Luke 10:1

Over the years, my wife and I have participated in small groups in our church; these groups have seen God work in and through them in powerful ways. Many times, God has “sent us ... ahead of him” in prayer for what he was about to do, just as Jesus did in today’s Bible passage.

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” Luke 10:2

People in today's small groups have been sent into the harvest, as well. The father of one of our small group members was terminally ill and an unbeliever. After hearing the good news of Jesus, from his son and from others, the father received salvation several months before passing away. The uncle of another lay in hospice and two days before he died – and able to muster only a whisper – he asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins. When a group member's mother confessed long-held spiritual doubts, several of us invited and accompanied her to an Alpha course, where she came to faith in Christ. And our current small group has helped my wife and me welcome Chinese students into our home and community, so all of us were overjoyed when “the one we least expected” became a Christian earlier this year.

“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3

It is hard to count the number of times we have prayed each other through difficult relationships, and also difficult times in good relationships. Work, family, neighbors, and even church members – all can leave us at wit’s end. But we’ve seen ice thaw in even the most challenging of situations, the love of God warming hearts unto restoration, hearts of others and our own, as well.

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” Luke 10:9

For quite some time, we prayed for a group member’s toddler niece, who had leukemia. She was healed and lives today. And we have prayed for several friends and family members struggling with alcohol and drug addictions, later to watch them emerge victorious.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-18

I believe God is stirring in and through his church – his lambs with authority! – today. I believe he is calling us to be conformed to the truth of his word and that, even as he grows us up into maturity, we are seeing his power unleashed through us and all around us. I believe God wants us to understand what it truly means to be one with him, one in him and one with each other: Christ is our life and we, together, are his body. He who has written our names in heaven, he is the same who lives in us and works through us.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ”I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Luke10:21

Jesus has been sending out small groups for quite some time now.  We are still part of the harvest and we still stand in the faith, power and authority he has given us.  And he still jumps for joy at our report.

Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.