See You In September Series I - A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name

A New Start: A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

  The Divine Plumb Line

I have to admit that in some of my darker moments I wonder if what we are doing today is the way we were meant to do it.   

Who’s to say we are not way off course with the whole thing? We could be doing it in ways never intended by the original architects and designers.

What I am talking about is this business of how we do church.   The church, after all, is 2000 years old and an awful lot can go wrong in 2000 years.  

A degree or two off course over 2000 years will have you end up in the wrong harbor.

So who’s to say that we’re anywhere near doing church the way it was meant to be.  For all we know, we could be way off course.

The good news is that a record is preserved of how church was done in its earliest days among the original architects.

 In other words, just like in days of the Prophet Amos, we also have a plumb line that we can go back to and compare things to.

“The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand.  And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel.” Amos 7:7-8

So when it comes to the biblical church, to the church of how it was done at the beginning, we can look at walls “that have been built true to plumb.”

In particular, a cornerstone passage is found in Acts 2:42, which describes how they assembled themselves at the very beginning of the church age.

“They devoted themselves to apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

Wow, really?   You think this is it?  This is the plumb line that we ought to compare ourselves against?  

Don’t you think that is just a little naïve and simplistic to suggest that as long as we live out Acts 2:42 we will be true to the intent of the original architects?

Acts 2:42 is far more complex and comprehensive than what first meets the eye.  

That verse provides you with four cornerstones that lay the foundation not only of the early church but the foundation for any biblical church regardless of the times, cultures and local dynamics.

As long as a church is anchored to these four pillars, things will bode well for that church. 

The four pillars of: biblical learning, intimate fellowship, passionate worship (which is what breaking of bread was) and spiritual disciplines (such as prayer).

How that’s done matters less than that it is done.   It does depend somewhat on culture, the times in which we live, the place we live, the type of people we are and thus so much of how that is done remains fluid and ever changing.

Nonetheless, these are the four cornerstones of the biblical church: teaching, fellowship, worship and prayer.

The Three Legged Table

 

Even if one of these is missing, it will mean that whatever you may have will not be an accurate reflection of a truly biblical church.

It would be a like a three legged table – it’ll stand until you lean on it.

A church without teaching the truth of God’s Word is a three-legged table, as is a church without passionate worship, or a church without spiritual hunger, or a church without intimate fellowship.

Biblical Fellowship

This morning, I want to focus on this business of intimate biblical fellowship.  A church without fellowship is a three-legged table!

How can there be a church without fellowship? Oh that’s easy:

Ø There are churches where everyone is a spectator and it’s like going to a show.

Ø There are churches where you get lost in the crowd; it’s like going to a stadium.

Ø There are churches where everyone is related or so connected that unless you are born into it you will never be a part of it; it’s like going to a reunion only to realize you are not part of the family.

Ø There are churches were fellowship is so shallow and superficial that all it consists of is a smile, a handshake and a “God bless you”, which may be nice but it’s not fellowship.

Biblical fellowship goes much further than this.    Notice how it says that “they devoted themselves…to the fellowship” which is far more than a handshake, a smile and a hug.

Marvin Vincent provides a most insightful definition of what this means.  He talks about biblical fellowship as something that is about “a relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

I have to tell you, that’s one of the best definitions of biblical fellowship I have seen.

Let me break it down into its parts.

1.     Relationship

“A relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

Biblical fellowship is based on relationship.  Strangers cannot have fellowship.  People whose names you don’t know let alone who they are, are not in fellowship.

This idea of a relation between individuals implies community, a coming together and a being together.

 It’s not being in a room full of strangers no matter how nicely you smile at one another.

2.     Common Interest

“A relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

There is a reason for the coming and staying together, namely, a common interest where we share something in common.

And you may wonder what that might be?

Looking at our diversity this morning (some young others old, some born here others born elsewhere, some blue collar others white collar, some with English as their mother tongue others another mother tongue) – with all this diversity – as near as I can figure it out, the only thing we have in common is our relationship to Jesus.

We’ve all had the same experience, we share the same salvation; the blood of Jesus has washed away the sins of everyone who’s called on His name. 

That is our common interest.  Whatever fellowship we have is based on that. 

Which means no exclusions zones, no outsiders and insiders, no inner circle and outer circle, no us versus them and no voting bar in the Kingdom of God.

“He has destroyed the barrier, the diving wall of hostility.” Eph. 2:14

“Through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Eph. 2:18

As long as you are a part of Christ, you are part of this fellowship!

Even if you have nothing else in common, if you have Jesus in common then you have everything in common.

So that’s the second step toward biblical fellowship.    The first step is that it requires a relationship based on this idea of common interest.

This leads me to the third aspect of biblical fellowship.  Not only relationship and common interest, but also active participation.

3.     Active Participation

“A relation between individuals which involves a common interest and a mutual, active participation in that interest and in each other.”

 

This is key:  Biblical fellowship consists of participation in each other and in our common interest.

Participate, folks.  You’ve got to participate.  Participate implies getting involved, getting to know, developing relationship and friendship, communication, dialogue and interaction.   

Biblical fellowship means interacting with one another because of our common interest in Jesus Christ.

You need to hear that the basis for biblical fellowship is our relationship with Jesus.    It’s not our language, culture, common ancestry nor the

demographic and or social economic makeup.

As important as these things are and as much as there is a natural tendency to drift toward those similar to you, nonetheless, the basis for biblical fellowship is our mutual participation in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Ephesian Church

Over in Ephesians 2 Paul teaches extensively on this.   He’s talking to a group of people who were traditionally divided among cultural lines resulting in non-association and separation. 

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” -- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise.”  Eph. 2:11-12

They had an ‘us versus them’ and ‘insider versus outsider’ mentality, which Paul captures in words such as, separate, excluded, foreigners and aliens.  And all of it based on the fact that in the natural they had nothing in common and should never have been under the same roof. 

The only reason they were together was because when they all came to Jesus they were made one people and thus this “barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” was torn down!

Because of Jesus’ work of “reconciling both of them to God through the cross by which he put to death their hostility” (Eph. 2:16), he now tells each and every one of them “you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” (Eph. 2:19)

Because of that, they were to fellowship, associate, cooperate and interact with one another!

None of this has to do with uniformity; it had everything to do with commonality in Christ.

The Jerusalem Church

All you need to do is look into the Jerusalem Church to realize intimate fellowship, despite incredible diversity, is very possible.

They were as radically diverse as any group has ever been:

“Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, Cretans and Arabs.”

Acts 2:9-11

This was like the UN with so many nationalists that it should have blown apart.  Yet because of the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing diverse people to the foot of the same cross meant “they devoted themselves to the fellowship.”

So not only was this possible but this was preferred.    The church should look like the United Nations.  

It should never be an old white man’s club but should consist of people of color, various ages, various classes.

On the Day of Pentecost racial barriers fell down. 

Perhaps that is reason why the word ‘devoted’ was used because it refers to a willful, conscious decision to fellowship. 

That sense of commitment to fellowship came about on the Day of Pentecost because of the great work of the Holy Spirit in diverse lives and hearts making sure that everyone participated in that common interest of Jesus Christ.  All of a sudden, this created a level playing field at the foot of the cross making them brothers and sisters.

The Glue That Makes it Stick

The Holy Spirit applied the blood of Christ to each heart without which they never would have stayed together.

The blood of Jesus applied to our heart is the glue that makes us stick together.  You take that away and we have no reason to stay together.

In fact, let me say to you that every time there is a church split it’s because people have lost sight of the primacy of the blood of Jesus that binds us together.

The same with every time you have factions, fractures or people leaving.

Work out your differences, give permission for your differences, be tolerant of your differences, and even learn from your differences. 

Fellowship, despite your differences, just like they did in Jerusalem.

A Truly Live-In Church!

 

That’s the other thing.  Our common interest in Jesus demands that we participate in each other’s lives. 

We’re not multiple ships passing in the night nor are we solitudes keeping to ourselves who happen to have Christ in common.

We don’t just come from our cocoons; participate in celebration, worship and remembrance of the blood of Jesus, only to return to our cocoons.

Folks, this is not a drive-by church.   We do not place our religious orders at the screen, pay with our tithe at the first window, and pick up our religious order on the second window, only to drive away.

A truly biblical church will never be a drive-by church but a live-in church in the sense that we participate in each other’s lives. 

Or at least we better.  I guess, that is the question here this morning, isn’t it?  Do we participate in each other’s lives?

I know we all have our little circles, you know, those with whom we have an historic attachment.   But what about those beyond your circle and those beyond your comfort zone and age group?

What about those who are new to this church or those desperate to connect?  Those who are alone and don’t have ready-made circles?

Do you realize that all it takes is for someone new to show up once, maybe twice and if they don’t connect they are gone?  

Not only are they gone but they will tell their friends who will tell their friends and before you know it, word on the street has it that this church is hard to break into.   They and their friends will never come back.

Do you also realize that the Number One reason people stay in churches is because they have found a warm, loving and accepting community where everyone is drawn in and no one is left alone?

We do not want to be a drive-by church.  We want to be a live-in, stick around, and get to know your neighbor church.

How You Do it is Up to You

How we do that is entirely up to us.   Nothing is set in stone.  Depends on what works here. 

Ø Hanging around Sunday morning after church? Great, let’s do it (just make sure you include everybody)

Ø Potlucks, BBQs and other social events?  Great idea.  Bring a lawn chair, a dessert.  Stick around and meet people.

Ø A little get-together at your place where you throw some new and old people together?  Hey, more power to you.

Not only does it say that they “devoted themselves to the fellowship” but it also outlines how they did it:  “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46

In their culture, at that time, this worked for them.  In fact, the language suggests spontaneity.  It wasn’t legislated, nor a program or special emphasis. 

It just happened spontaneously and organically in a way that made sense to them.

You cannot mandate fellowship.  You cannot say everyone into small groups or everyone open up your homes or on the count of three everybody pair up with someone else.

How you do it is up to you, as long as you practice fellowship. 

Yes, you need to practice fellowship.   Give yourself that extra push.  Make the decision that you will fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Maybe you need to stop waiting for others to come to you and instead you go to them.

Maybe you need to elbow your way in somewhere.

Maybe you need to find someone new to you and invite him or her over for lunch or a coffee.

Maybe you need to go beyond the same old “us four and no more” and reach out to someone not from your comfort zone.

Friends, this church will only be built and grow as each of us determines in our hearts to be committed to the fellowship of what this is!