beginning at verse 40 and that's on page 1094 of the church bibles
acts chapter 2 beginning at verse 40 with many other words he warned them and he pleaded with
them save yourselves from this corrupt generation those who accepted his message were baptized and
about 3 000 were added to their number that day they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching
and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer everyone was filled with awe and many
wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles all the believers were together and had
everything in common selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need
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
thanks very much chris
and again as we go through this together if there are any questions and if you can hold them to the
end and please feel free to talk with me afterwards and discuss anything through we want to learn
together what god's word has to say to us well let's pray and ask for his help now
father we thank you for the church we thank you for your family
and we ask now that as we gather together like this
that your spirit would be at work among us
speaking your truth into our lives truth that changes us and transforms us
and brings us to be the kind of family the kind of church that you call us to be
we thank you for one another and we thank you that we can learn together like this
we pray that it will be a rich and encouraging time for us all
in jesus name we pray amen
when you came this morning
did you expect to find anybody else here
as you walked in the door
did you expect that there would be seats
and somebody to make tea and coffee
when you took your children out to creche and sunday
school did you expect that there would be people here to look after them
and to teach them
if you weren't here
would you still expect that there would be people here
it raises a big question this expectations business doesn't it
what is expected of me
if i am part of the church
what level of commitment should there be
so how often do i need to attend
once every six weeks
or perhaps nine out of ten weeks
is it different if i'm a student
or if i'm settled or married
or am i allowed to stay at home and have a break
or perhaps am i free to go and visit another church altogether
do i come when i'm on the rota
but free when i'm not
and what happens if church clashes with
a sports match
or
a kids party
what takes
priority
and what about home groups
after all church isn't just a sunday meeting
is it something we go to when there is nothing else on
or do we plan to be there each week
what comes first
the local church
or parachurch
who takes priority
is it the people within your church family
or your best friend
in another church
lots of questions
and i'm sure we would all have very different answers
so what is a right expectation
or do we just make up our own minds
and figure out what the best thing is for us
well the expectation
i think we'll discover
is greater
than we ever thought
but the experience
is much deeper
than we could ever realise
Peter has just been preaching
to a very large crowd
it's soon after
Jesus has been raised from the dead
he has ascended
he sent his holy spirit
and he's preaching to the crowd
about the lord Jesus Christ
and look at his conclusion
in verse 36
he says
therefore let all Israel be assured of this
God has made this Jesus
whom you crucified
both Lord and Christ
he is declaring to the people
that Jesus who died
has now been raised
he is the risen
ruling
saving
king
now look at the response
of the people
to that message
in verse 41
here's the response
those who accepted his message
were baptised
and about 3000 were added
to their number
that day
do you see the double response
that there is
they accepted
and they were added
they believed
and they belong
and the mark
or the sign
that they have accepted
the good news of Christ
and that they have been added
to the church family
is their baptism
they were baptised
because baptism is a sign
that you believe in Christ
and that you belong
to the community
of believers
so believing and belonging
can't be separated
you can't on the one hand say
oh I believe in Jesus
but then on the other side say
I don't belong to the church family
and you can't say
oh I belong to the church
and not believe
we see the same thing
in verse 47
at the very end of the reading
we had
the last couple of lines
and it says there
do you see what it says
and the Lord added
to their number
daily
those who were being saved
God didn't add people
without saving them
and he didn't save them
without also adding them
so people who believe
also belong
now that means
church life
is deeply communal
not individual
look at the language
that we have here
for example
verse 42
they
devoted themselves
verse 43
everyone
was filled
with all
verse 44
all
the believers
it's like
the king's musketeers
all for one
and one
for all
only we have been
saved
by the ultimate
king
and we now
together
serve
the true king
Jesus Christ
all for one
and one
for all
so let's see
how this
believing
and belonging
actually gets
worked out
in practice
two big ideas
we're going to look at
here's the first one
if we say we believe
it means
we are committed
to Christ
if we say we believe
it means we are committed
to Christ
so look at verse 42
they
that's the believers
devoted themselves
to the
apostles
teaching
they devoted
themselves
to the
fellowship
they devoted
themselves
to the
breaking of bread
and they devoted
themselves
to prayer
now this word
devotion
means this
wholehearted
exclusive
commitment
it's the kind
of thing
a lover
might write
in their
valentine's
card
devoted
to you
I'm sure
you've all
written it
at some
stage
they're saying
my life
is given
completely
for you
I live
for you
I adore
you
I'll do
anything
for you
my life
is yours
wives
isn't that
what your
husband
say to
you
I express
a loyalty
a deep
affection
towards you
I'm devoted
to you
now Christ
has showed
his devotion
and affection
for us
by dying
for us
he gave
himself
for us
he says
I die
for you
I suffer
God's
wrath
for you
and in
response
to that
amazing
love
the church
in response
is devoted
to Christ
there is this
wholehearted
exclusive
commitment
in response
to what
Christ
has done
for us
we say
I'll
live
for you
I
adore
you
my life
is yours
and so
this devotion
is being
worked out
in the
following ways
as we read
in verse
42
let's
have a
look at
them
one
by
one
first
they're
devoted
to the
apostles
teaching
they are
learning
Christ
together
now we
don't have
the apostles
alive
today
but what
we do
have
is what
they taught
and what
they preached
and what
they spoke
about
and what
they taught
has been
recorded
for us
within
scripture
this is
what we
are reading
right now
and how
do we
know it's
true
how do
we know
we can
trust
them
well look
at verse
43
it says
everyone
was filled
with awe
and many
wonders
and miraculous
signs were
done by
the apostles
you see
what they
said
and what
they did
was written
down
and all
of that
was confirmed
and affirmed
by the miracles
and the wonders
that they
did
he was
telling people
we can
trust them
we can
trust
what they
had to
say
and so
we now
have that
written down
for us
in God's
word
to learn
together
to learn
Christ
together
through what
they had
to say
we learn
all about
how Christ
has accepted
us
and how
Christ
has added
us
or as we
started out
this morning
that he
forgives us
and welcomes
us into
his family
so we
learn
Christ
together
through
his
word
but not
only that
they are
also
devoted
to the
fellowship
so they
are sharing
Christ
together
fellowship
simply means
sharing
in something
that we
have in
common
sharing
in what
we have
in common
the church
here this
morning
is made
up of
all kinds
of people
we come
from different
backgrounds
we're of
different
ages
we have
different
likes
and dislikes
we're just
different
people
we're very
diverse
people
but we
have one
thing
that unites
us
together
the one
thing that
we have
in common
is the
Lord Jesus
Christ
the one
who has
welcomed us
into his
family
and has
given us
the assurance
that we
belong to
his
kingdom
and this
is what
we share
in together
we share
in Christ
together
it's what
glues us
together
it breaks
down all
kinds of
barriers
cultural
barriers
social barriers
and it
unites us
together
to be
a people
who share
Christ
together
but not
only that
we are
devoted
to the
breaking
of bread
or as we
have it here
to remember
Christ
together
now I
think
and you
might want
to discuss
this with
me later
I think
this is
primarily
about
remembering
Christ's
death
as they
ate
together
so as
part of
their meals
as they
invited
one another
round to
their homes
as they
would sit
down and
have their
meal
they would
also as
part of
that meal
share
and remember
Christ
we call it
the Lord's
Supper
or communion
they would
come to
remember
the amazing
salvation
that we
have received
so remembering
that Christ
was treated
as we
deserve to
be treated
so that
by faith
we are
treated
as Christ
deserves
to be
treated
we have
been given
new life
when we
come to
remember
Christ
together
and the
meal
that we
have here
this morning
is something
we will
share in
together
to remember
what Christ
has done
but not only
that they
were devoted
this commitment
this loyalty
they were
devoted to
prayer
at the end
of verse 42
they talked
to Christ
together
now I think
this included
all kinds
of prayers
maybe formal
prayers
informal
prayers
of thanksgiving
prayers
of requests
the point
is that
as the
people
gathered
together
they were
a talking
people
they talked
regularly
to the
Lord Jesus
Christ
in whom
they had
this
relationship
and as
we talk
to God
in our
relationship
we are
simply
coming
as his
children
helpless
with
absolute
dependence
on a
generous
and gracious
God
who loves
to give
good gifts
to his
children
so they
were devoted
together
to Christ
and do you
see what
happens when
we are
committed
to Christ
in this
way
together
we gain
such a
wonderful
appreciation
and the
devotion
that Christ
has shown
for us
we see
as we
learn
together
as we
share
together
as we
remember
Christ
together
as we
talk to
Christ
we see
how loved
and treasured
we are
you see
the church
without
Christ
does not
exist
and the
church
that tries
to live
without
Christ
will fall
apart
Christ
is like
the air
that we
breathe
the oxygen
that keeps
us alive
right now
well without
Christ
the church
will die
we simply
cannot operate
we cannot
live
we cannot
exist
and so
together
we come
committed
to Christ
in our
learning
in our
sharing
in our
remembering
and in
our
praying
so if
we believe
we are
committed
to Christ
and it's
something we
do
together
here's the
second big
thing
to belong
means we
are committed
to the
community
and when I
say the
community
I don't
just mean
the community
of
carigaline
I mean
the community
of God's
family
the church
so we're
people who
believe
but we're
also people
who belong
now what if I
were to say
to us all
let's do
church
every single
day
what would you
think about
that
well you
might say
well I can
manage once a
week and a
couple of
hours on a
Sunday
that's fine
for me
but if
that's how
we begin
to think
about church
we've lost
what it
actually is
because church
is 24
7
it's not
just about
sitting in a
meeting
it is that
but it's so
much more
than that
it's a
community
of partners
of people
who belong
so look at
verse 44
it says
all the
believers
were
together
verse 46
every day
they continued
to meet
together
the end
of verse 46
we read
that they
ate
together
now this
word together
is not just
saying that
they met
up
it's stronger
than that
it means
a partnership
they were
involved
with each
other
they had
these close
relationships
they were
sharing in
the same
things
the same
beliefs
and it
wasn't just
meeting up
for formal
meetings
they met
in informal
ways as
well
and this
I think
this
togetherness
this belonging
together
was worked
out in
two ways
first
they were
committed
to caring
for one
another
look at
verse 45
44
rather
all the
believers
were
together
and had
everything
in common
selling
their positions
and goods
they gave
to anyone
as he
had need
now that's
really quite
remarkable
isn't it
now
as we
read it
let's be
clear that
it is not
asking
everyone
to do
likewise
in other
words
that we're
to go
and sell
our homes
and sell
our cars
and get
all that
we've got
together
and all
go and
move in
a little
commune
together
and build
a little
self-sufficient
ranch
somewhere
where we
all have
perhaps the
same income
we all
have access
to the
same
things
where we
all own
everything
together
it's not
that kind
of commune
separatist
type idea
in fact
we're told
in verse
46
that they
did meet
together
and eat
in each
other's
homes
so it's
quite clear
that it
didn't mean
you sell
up your
own home
and all
move in
together
no this
was something
voluntary
this was
something
done as
God's
people
were able
to do
but what
it does
mean
is that
we as
a community
of God's
people
are
responsible
for the
practical
care
and
welfare
of each
other
and the
clue for
this comes
at the
end of
verse 45
they gave
to anyone
as he
had
need
so it
was the
needs
of the
church
that
dictated
so what
are the
needs
of this
family
church
here
how do
we
distinguish
what
needs
are
and what
wants
are
because
we all
want
lots
of
things
but what
are
our
needs
well let's
remember at the time of writing there was no social welfare system you didn't have a dole office if you didn't have a job you go down and sign on and get get some money from the government
if you had no job if you had no job or no means of income you were poor if you didn't have a family you had nothing and that meant you would be without food or without home so when it's talking about needs here it's talking about the necessities of life not the luxuries for example we all need somewhere to live and keep warm especially when it's cold
we all need our breakfast our lunch and our tea we all need to be able to pay our bills electricity water we all need to go to the doctor from time to time and and sometimes that's going to cost a bit extra if we need to buy medicine so we might call all of these things daily needs or necessities and if there's people within the church community within the church family
who are in need it is our responsibility to do all that we can to make sure that they have these needs and one of the things that we talk about often is our fellowship fund
where people give
financially
and that goes into a fellowship fund and for people who are in need we are able to give financial assistance or
practical assistance
so let me say to us all if you are in need
please let us know your need
or if you know somebody else who's in need or struggling
let us know so we can help
committed to caring together
just as Christ was committed in caring for us
and gave his life for us
so in response we give of what we have
to help
care for others
so we are committed to caring together
and second we are committed to supporting together
look at verse 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 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people
every day they would meet together
and let us wait
and close for the
the