WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:06.640 Well, good morning everyone. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here with you guys today. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:15.599 It is my privilege to know John and Graham, to love them, and to hear from them regularly how things are going in the life of Brunsfield Evangelical Church. 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:26.640 And as obviously part of the East of Scotland Gospel Partnership, our hearts at Charlotte Chapel are very encouraged by what we hear of what's going on and what the Lord is doing in Brunsfield. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:31.960 So it's great to be together like this and a great privilege for me to be here. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:39.079 If you have Acts chapter 2 in front of you, keep it open. You'll be helped as we walk through it together. 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:43.359 And we've read the text already, so let's put our heads together and let's pray. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:56.000 Our Father, your word tells us that your very word spoken by you is authoritative and useful for teaching, correcting, training and rebuking. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.060 Lord, show us where we've gone off track. Show us how to get back on track. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:07.939 Tell us how to stay on track that we might be your people, walking in your ways with love and gladness in our hearts for you and for each other. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:10.420 In Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:19.460 Well, in 1630, a man by the name of John Winthrop stood on the deck of a ship called the Arabella 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:24.659 and addressed people who were sailing from England to America to start a brand new life. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.579 Winthrop, who became a governor of a new colony near what is now Boston, 00:01:30.339 --> 00:01:35.299 shared his vision for this new society that they were creating. 00:01:35.699 --> 00:01:36.519 Here's what he said. 00:01:36.519 --> 00:02:06.239 What a vision. 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:08.819 What a vision for a community. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:10.219 Not even a church. 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:11.620 A community. 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:16.939 Now compare that speech with the one that was delivered 300 years later, 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.379 given by a presidential candidate, Herbert Hoover, 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:26.000 who also had a vision for effectively the same society, same kind of people. 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:28.579 But it's very different to Winthrop's. 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:29.340 Listen to this. 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:34.200 It wasn't the knit together as one man speech. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:36.620 It was every man for himself. 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:41.680 It is the speech that became known as the rugged individualism speech. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:44.580 Now my question to you at the start of our day is, 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:46.500 which sounds more attractive to you? 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:51.219 Good. 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:51.879 Someone answered. 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:53.620 The first one, clearly. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:55.580 Now let me ask you a follow-up question. 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:57.980 Which one does your life portray? 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:00.099 Really? 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:02.439 Think about it. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.659 Because actually what we often find is, 00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:08.180 if we look at our own hearts and the way we spend our time, 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:11.420 the way we spend our time with other people, 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:13.280 the way we spend our lives, 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:15.620 the way we spend our money, etc., 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:21.819 betrays the fact that we actually prefer Hoover's ideal, 00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:24.020 rather than Winthrop's. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:29.060 Now, we might say we want a shared life 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:31.120 with the members of our church family, 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:33.719 but actually making time for that is pretty inconvenient. 00:03:33.860 --> 00:03:34.680 I've got a busy life. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:38.300 My car is like a taxi, driving people around. 00:03:39.099 --> 00:03:41.040 We might say we want deeper relationships, 00:03:41.040 --> 00:03:44.860 but really not the kind that demand any real commitment. 00:03:44.860 --> 00:03:48.060 I just don't know if I've got the personality for it, 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:49.200 never mind the time for it. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.580 Or we might say that we really want to change 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:53.820 and be more like Jesus, 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.460 but if that means letting someone into our lives 00:03:56.460 --> 00:04:00.200 for the sake of actually confessing our sins to one another, 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:01.760 I think that's in the Bible somewhere. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:05.880 Or living a shared life together 00:04:05.880 --> 00:04:08.540 in a way that magnifies our witness 00:04:08.540 --> 00:04:10.520 to the people out there who don't know Jesus, 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:15.600 well, if it means letting someone into our lives 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:17.819 for the sake of things like accountability, 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:20.879 well, we shrink back from that. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:24.860 Well, that's rugged individualism, 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:26.759 and that's really what I want to argue against 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:28.879 profoundly today from God's Word. 00:04:28.960 --> 00:04:31.759 This is what we see in Acts chapter 2, 42 to 47. 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:33.900 Jesus' vision for the life of the church 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:36.319 is a shared life together. 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:38.240 Now, let me give you a bit of context. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:42.660 In Acts chapter 1, we saw Jesus has given his followers 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:44.759 a task of finishing the mission he began. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:49.079 It basically starts off by saying, 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:51.480 Luke saying, in my former book, 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:54.120 I told you about all the things that Jesus began to do and teach. 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:55.860 Now, this book here is about the things 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:59.180 that Jesus is continuing to do and teach. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:02.740 And he gave his disciples, that early church, 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:07.620 the task of testifying to the truth about Jesus everywhere. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:10.199 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth. 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:12.319 There is nowhere where this must not go. 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:14.600 And then in Acts chapter 2, 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.840 we're going to see this a bit later on, 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:16.620 I'm doing things backwards. 00:05:18.400 --> 00:05:22.759 Jesus sent them help in the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:26.819 And Peter gets up on that day that they are filled 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:30.680 and preaches and 3,000 people repented of their sin 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:31.699 and were baptized. 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:33.519 Then what? 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:34.199 That's the question. 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:35.000 What did they do? 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:36.779 How did they live? 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:40.459 In what way did the gospel that they just professed to believe in 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:42.519 actually start to transform their lives? 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:44.579 Well, that's what we see in Acts chapter 2. 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.939 And I want to share with you the four key commitments, 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.279 the four key things that we see in here 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:53.620 that really depict for us what a life together looks like. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.519 Here's the first one. 00:05:57.379 --> 00:05:57.779 Learning. 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:00.599 That's still Hoover, isn't it? 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:02.479 Here we go. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:03.039 Learning. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:04.699 Growing in the knowledge of God together. 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:05.719 This is a first commitment. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:06.919 Look with me, verse 42. 00:06:06.919 --> 00:06:10.039 It says that they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:14.279 which basically means that they became students of God's words. 00:06:14.899 --> 00:06:17.159 Now, I think there are two main reasons for that. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:20.539 The authoritative teaching of the apostles, first of all, 00:06:20.719 --> 00:06:23.599 and the experience of these newly converted believers. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:25.879 When you look, first of all, 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:28.259 at the authoritative teaching of the apostles, 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:32.539 what you see is that in chapter 1, 00:06:32.599 --> 00:06:34.500 Luke has gone to great lengths to show us 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:38.459 that these apostles had been personally appointed by Jesus. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:40.879 This isn't going to work, so I'm probably going to ditch it. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:42.459 There we go. 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:45.979 Luke has gone to great lengths to show us 00:06:45.979 --> 00:06:48.419 that the apostles had been personally appointed by Jesus. 00:06:48.859 --> 00:06:50.419 They carried the authority of the king. 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:53.779 And then verse 43 tells us that the miracles 00:06:53.779 --> 00:06:56.620 that the apostles performed really served 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:58.819 in the way that miracles always serve in the Bible, 00:06:59.179 --> 00:07:01.339 to authenticate the spoken word, 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:05.159 to authenticate the teaching of the person doing the speaking. 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:10.180 So the teaching then and the miracles brought about, 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:12.220 as verse 43 says, 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:13.540 a great sense of awe, 00:07:13.960 --> 00:07:15.680 and the church, this new church, 00:07:15.760 --> 00:07:18.720 knew that God was working through these guys. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:22.940 And that in order to know this amazing God better, 00:07:23.020 --> 00:07:25.320 the one that they killed, as Peter said, 00:07:25.700 --> 00:07:28.000 and the one that has now given them new life, 00:07:28.260 --> 00:07:30.400 as they professed faith in Christ, 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.819 they wanted to devote themselves to their teaching, 00:07:33.979 --> 00:07:35.899 the apostles' teaching. 00:07:37.179 --> 00:07:38.659 Now secondly, I think, 00:07:39.019 --> 00:07:41.259 that the experience of these new believers, 00:07:41.859 --> 00:07:43.979 the experience of these new believers 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:45.659 really enthused their hearts 00:07:45.659 --> 00:07:48.219 in regards to the teaching of the apostles. 00:07:49.099 --> 00:07:49.879 It's simple, really. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:50.459 Think about it. 00:07:50.599 --> 00:07:52.479 How did they come to believe the gospel? 00:07:53.220 --> 00:07:55.360 How did they come to receive forgiveness of sins 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.300 and new life in Jesus? 00:07:57.520 --> 00:07:58.819 Well, it all began when they heard 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.819 the word of God proclaimed. 00:08:01.020 --> 00:08:02.100 It's through Peter's preaching. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.780 Peter had taken a passage from the Bible, 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:05.860 explained it, 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:07.500 and applied it to their situation. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:08.900 They believed it, 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:10.400 they responded to it, 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:11.980 and the preaching of God's word 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:13.780 had just transformed their life. 00:08:13.780 --> 00:08:16.700 It just reorientated everything for them. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:19.020 It made sense of everything. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.000 Not only the immediate events 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.839 surrounding Pentecost, 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.259 but of everything. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:25.699 Their whole lives. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.259 And if hearing this teaching 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.560 led to saving faith, 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:30.939 it's no wonder then 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:32.519 that we immediately see 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:34.440 them giving themselves 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:36.740 to learning more and more 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:37.720 from the same guys. 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:38.539 It's simple. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:40.139 They're hungry for more. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:42.179 Isn't that often the experience 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:42.860 of a new believer? 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:43.840 I don't know if we've got 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:44.759 any new believers in the room, 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.620 people who've been a Christian 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:47.600 maybe for a few weeks 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.879 or just a few months. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:51.120 I think the appetite 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:52.100 of a new believer 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:53.379 for learning 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:56.019 is an incredible thing to see. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:56.639 I mean, 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:57.759 a new believer might ask 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:58.460 an older believer, 00:08:58.580 --> 00:08:58.700 you know, 00:08:58.759 --> 00:08:59.679 what were you reading today? 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.379 And the older believer might say, 00:09:01.439 --> 00:09:02.080 oh, well, you know, 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:03.039 I just finished reading 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.120 four chapters of 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:05.759 Money McShane's reading plan. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:06.080 You know, 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:06.799 two of the old, 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:07.539 two of the new. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:08.860 What about you? 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:09.580 What have you been reading? 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:11.279 Yeah, I just read Psalms. 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:12.740 Like, all of them. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:13.419 You know, 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.519 I just read Romans. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.080 Like, all of it. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:17.320 Don't you find that 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:17.740 new believers, 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.240 they've got this great appetite 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:20.480 for just devouring 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.540 the word of God. 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:23.240 And I think that's what we see 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:24.480 in this text. 00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:25.540 There's good reason for it. 00:09:25.760 --> 00:09:26.560 Their experiences 00:09:26.560 --> 00:09:27.900 through the proclamation 00:09:27.900 --> 00:09:28.820 of this word, 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:30.320 through the declaration 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:31.460 of this truth 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.480 that God has confirmed 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.000 in their hearts 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:33.879 through their consciences 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:34.900 and by the Holy Spirit, 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:36.600 that this is what you want 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:37.780 to bank your everything on. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:39.160 This is truth 00:09:39.160 --> 00:09:40.360 to a world of lies. 00:09:40.780 --> 00:09:41.360 This is grace 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:42.240 to sinful people. 00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:44.040 That's why we pay attention. 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:45.340 And that's why people 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:46.399 who've become Christians 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.920 listen hard 00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:49.300 and devote themselves 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:50.120 to this teaching. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.560 Now, that level of learning, 00:09:52.680 --> 00:09:53.879 I want to argue with you, 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:54.899 kindly, 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.720 should never fade. 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:58.500 Maybe you've been a Christian 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.780 for quite a few years. 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:01.519 Well, the Christian life 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.780 is a lifelong devotion 00:10:02.780 --> 00:10:03.879 to knowing God more 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:04.720 and more 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.720 and being changed 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:06.920 into the likeness of his son 00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:07.540 more and more 00:10:07.540 --> 00:10:08.840 as we'll see in the next session. 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:10.740 But if you find yourself 00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:11.900 bored with sermons 00:10:11.900 --> 00:10:12.840 and Bible studies 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:13.700 and Bible reading, 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:14.740 you know, 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:15.700 you need to watch 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:16.520 because your faith 00:10:16.520 --> 00:10:17.620 might just be weakening. 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:19.820 Those are danger signs 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:21.120 and not things 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:21.780 that you should really 00:10:21.780 --> 00:10:22.460 put up with. 00:10:23.040 --> 00:10:24.040 These are the kind of things 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:25.080 where you need each other 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:25.879 to talk about 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:26.920 these things together. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.740 You have to find out 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.379 why it is 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.240 that your appetite 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:30.920 is waning. 00:10:33.140 --> 00:10:34.500 Maybe you're a lazy learner. 00:10:35.400 --> 00:10:36.180 Maybe it's just the case 00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:36.520 that there are 00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:37.360 too many distractions. 00:10:37.520 --> 00:10:38.100 Maybe it's the case 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:38.840 that you've just not 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:40.240 become disciplined. 00:10:41.020 --> 00:10:42.259 Get to the root of that 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.179 because what you will do 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:44.220 is you'll consign yourself 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:45.519 to immaturity in the faith 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:47.299 and thinking about 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:48.100 our life together, 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:50.159 you will not develop 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.159 the kind of maturity 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:52.500 that will serve 00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.460 the brothers and sisters 00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:54.480 around you well. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:56.960 So don't think for a second 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.639 that your lack 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.519 of Bible reading 00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.960 and your lack 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:00.639 of application 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.299 when it comes 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:02.919 to Sunday sermons 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.059 or Saturday sermons 00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:04.319 today 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:07.340 is just a personal 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.919 individualistic problem. 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:12.099 No, you make yourself 00:11:12.099 --> 00:11:13.259 ill-equipped 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:13.879 when it comes 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:14.559 to ministering 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.059 to your brothers 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:15.639 and sisters 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.860 and ill-equipped 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:17.360 when it comes 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:17.979 to ministering 00:11:17.979 --> 00:11:18.719 to unbelievers. 00:11:19.199 --> 00:11:20.039 That's serious. 00:11:21.339 --> 00:11:22.599 That's really serious. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.740 So what does this 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.899 devotion to the apostles 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.120 teaching actually look like 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.019 in terms of application? 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:29.339 Well, look at what 00:11:29.339 --> 00:11:29.939 they did here. 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:31.740 It seems like they met 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.099 in big and small. 00:11:33.959 --> 00:11:34.919 Verse 46 says 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:35.919 they went up to the temple 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:36.819 every day to hear 00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:38.139 the apostles teach. 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:40.519 Acts 5.42 confirms this. 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:41.840 This is their daily devotion. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:42.840 Day after day 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:43.720 in the temple courts 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:44.580 and from house to house 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.259 they never stopped 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.139 proclaiming that Jesus 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:47.080 was the Messiah. 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:49.279 Never stopped proclaiming. 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:49.919 Day to day. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.179 Big temple. 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.179 Just because it was 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:53.019 a big open space. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:53.960 Not because it was 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:54.899 a special sanctuary 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:55.519 to go to. 00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:57.039 It was a huge open space 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.980 where people could gather. 00:11:58.939 --> 00:12:00.620 And small 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:01.720 in their homes. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:03.519 Now I love that. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.080 I love what they do there. 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:06.080 I love it whenever 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:07.200 we gather together. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.400 I love it when 00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:09.440 a local church family 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:09.640 gets. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.360 I love being there 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.200 on a Sunday morning 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:12.860 whether I'm in the 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.640 congregation or in the 00:12:13.640 --> 00:12:14.879 pulpit at Charlotte 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.860 Chapel and I just 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.080 love being with the 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:17.740 people of God 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.160 as we hear it. 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:19.820 There's something 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:21.640 epic going on. 00:12:23.140 --> 00:12:23.720 Like God 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:24.879 changes lives 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.700 in those moments. 00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:27.780 And God shapes 00:12:27.780 --> 00:12:28.560 our lives 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.379 in those moments. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:29.480 things. 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.779 And it's vital 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.580 that we do that 00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:34.080 together. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.379 And if I 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.620 stop coming 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.559 to that 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:38.539 well that's a problem 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:39.139 because I'm a pastor 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:39.500 at the church 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.179 but if I stop 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:41.620 going 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.759 and if I stop 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.820 being concerned 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.759 for encouraging 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.240 one another 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.179 to pay attention 00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:48.879 as Jesus said 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.340 in Luke 8 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.320 take care how you 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:50.799 listen 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.039 I want people 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.840 to tell me 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.580 about that. 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:54.899 I don't want people 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.580 to shrink back 00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:56.019 from actually 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:56.740 letting me know. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.600 My soul's in danger. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:12:59.960 You know I want 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.519 people in Charlotte 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.580 Chapel to reprimand 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.399 me for that kind 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:03.740 of thing. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.080 And you should want 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:05.899 that from each other. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.340 Gentle rebuke of course. 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:09.100 But we know that we 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:10.100 need more than just 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.320 the big on Sundays. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.840 We need small groups 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.899 that provide a context 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.539 for learning and 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.440 growing as a community 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:15.940 of believers. 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:17.320 That's where 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.200 relationships are 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:18.740 deepened. 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.279 That's where we 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.060 really get to know 00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:20.480 each other. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.799 And this is vital. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.200 So my concern 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:24.820 is in our own church 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.680 and for you today 00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:26.500 is are you committed 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.799 to this small. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.179 It might be a small 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:30.840 group in the life 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.320 of the church. 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.360 It might be three 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:32.860 or four of you 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.419 getting together 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.639 regularly to do 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.519 the same things. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:36.799 It doesn't matter. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:38.440 Churches are full 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.059 of people who are 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:39.419 void. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.139 I find it again 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.120 and again and again. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.539 It's really surprising 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.000 to me. 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.379 When I became a 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:46.860 Christian and I 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.500 started reading 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.419 through this stuff 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.879 and recognising 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.740 what life together 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.559 actually looked like 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.519 I was really surprised 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.200 how few people 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:54.159 were actually committed 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:54.559 to it. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.379 I was like 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.219 I've not had 00:13:56.219 --> 00:13:56.859 any of this 00:13:56.859 --> 00:13:57.799 for 19 years 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.279 of my life. 00:13:58.619 --> 00:13:59.239 I'd spent most 00:13:59.239 --> 00:14:00.079 of my teenage years 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:00.819 in drug addiction 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.859 and utter loneliness 00:14:01.859 --> 00:14:03.079 and come into 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.879 the understanding 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.319 that God 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:05.919 in the gospel 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.939 is true 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:07.899 it's real 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.919 and what he does 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.379 is he pulls 00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.059 people together 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:10.599 so that even 00:14:10.599 --> 00:14:11.259 the families 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.559 that are dysfunctional 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.259 or don't work 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:13.859 wherever you are 00:14:13.859 --> 00:14:14.779 like you've got 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.599 a real family 00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:17.259 where your ties 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.779 are thicker 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.459 than blood 00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:22.900 then to 00:14:22.900 --> 00:14:24.560 not engage 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.100 in that 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.519 is surprising 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.360 to me 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.740 never mind 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.379 disobedient 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.160 when it comes 00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:33.940 to God's words 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:35.519 we cannot 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.320 expect to grow 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.019 if we don't 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.379 have people 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.840 gathering around 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:40.519 us and if we're 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.080 not gathering 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.620 around other 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:41.980 people 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:44.240 as we heard 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:44.639 in the reading 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.139 earlier on 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.740 let us not 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.080 give up 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:46.680 meeting together 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.040 as someone 00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:47.440 in the habit 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:47.840 of doing 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:49.340 let us spur 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:49.800 one another 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.360 on toward 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.120 love and good 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.399 deeds 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:51.920 and all the more 00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:52.379 as you see 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.000 the what 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.500 the day 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.700 what's that day 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.220 the day of the Lord 00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.879 day of joy 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.399 for us 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.240 those who believe 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.399 but a day 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.460 of severe 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.200 judgment 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:02.820 for those 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.680 who don't 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:05.259 a day 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:05.620 when it's 00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.220 preferential 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:06.660 to have 00:15:06.660 --> 00:15:07.180 an avalanche 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:07.680 of jagged 00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.100 rocks 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:08.780 fall on you 00:15:08.780 --> 00:15:10.280 than to experience 00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:11.639 what an unbeliever 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.460 will experience 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.639 serious 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.420 so 00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.700 does 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.340 word 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.940 devotion 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.920 describe 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:19.520 your commitment 00:15:19.520 --> 00:15:19.860 to the 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.140 apostles 00:15:20.140 --> 00:15:20.560 teaching 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:23.820 this is the 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.300 word of God 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:24.740 of course 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.160 apostles 00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:25.720 and prophets 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.520 do you read 00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:28.140 it every day 00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:28.560 do you have 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:29.040 a plan 00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.540 ask people 00:15:30.540 --> 00:15:31.240 afterwards 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.000 what's your 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.320 plan 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:32.920 how do you 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.160 read the 00:15:33.160 --> 00:15:33.320 bible 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:33.780 every day 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:34.560 are you a 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.120 mcshane guy 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.460 do you take 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:35.840 four 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.200 do you take 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:36.820 ten chapters 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:37.200 a day 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.000 are you like 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.820 apollos mighty 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.480 in the scriptures 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.420 or are you 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:41.840 actually 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.900 I much prefer 00:15:42.900 --> 00:15:43.820 two or three 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.160 verses 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.280 consecutively a day 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.019 and I mull it 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.559 over my head 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.519 for a long time 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.120 throughout the day 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.500 it doesn't matter 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.720 as long as you 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.159 read 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.899 as long as you 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.240 read 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.000 and then what about 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.259 making a priority 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.019 to attend every 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.399 Sunday 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.259 the big non-negotiable 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.419 you know 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.459 two things go into 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:01.019 your calendar 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.639 as far as I'm 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:01.959 concerned 00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:02.639 it's Christmas 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.019 day 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.120 and every Sunday 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.939 at church 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:06.500 these are things 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.179 that we must 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.860 commit to 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.240 and we wouldn't 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.799 go a whole day 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.439 without food 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.039 of course 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:12.439 so what makes 00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.079 us think we can 00:16:13.079 --> 00:16:13.699 live without the 00:16:13.699 --> 00:16:14.179 living bread 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:14.919 that Jesus said 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.699 we need daily 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:17.179 of course 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.859 the question here 00:16:17.859 --> 00:16:18.620 is not just 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.259 life together 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:22.000 in a big 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.539 setting 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.099 and a small 00:16:23.099 --> 00:16:23.539 setting 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.139 it's really 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.339 are we interested 00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:26.019 in one another's 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.379 lives 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.679 are we ready 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.899 to step up 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.639 to that level 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.479 of commitment 00:16:30.479 --> 00:16:30.979 because that's 00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:31.479 actually what we 00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.339 see in the 00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:33.099 second point 00:16:33.099 --> 00:16:34.159 where people 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.279 devoted themselves 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.099 to loving 00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:37.799 one another 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.959 truly living 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.399 as the people 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:39.740 of God 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.139 together 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.799 what we see 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.159 in this 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.299 section 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:43.759 is that 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.279 they became 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.879 involved in 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.299 each other's 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:46.659 lives 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:47.359 these people 00:16:47.359 --> 00:16:47.839 who had just 00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.579 become Christians 00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.139 together with 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.740 the apostles 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.479 and the 120 00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:51.259 that reported 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:51.779 in Acts 1 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.139 we see them 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.339 commit to life 00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:54.879 together 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.379 now fellowship 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.240 is a biblical 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.059 word that in my 00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.779 opinion has lost 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.299 its punch 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.339 I think many 00:17:00.339 --> 00:17:00.799 people have 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.479 neutered it 00:17:01.479 --> 00:17:02.120 of its meaning 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.259 fellowship is 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:05.059 not just when 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.720 Christians get 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.379 together to have 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.000 a coffee and a 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.359 chat 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.759 it's way more 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.240 than that 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.119 the root meaning 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:10.919 of this word 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.160 for fellowship 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.980 is the word 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.779 common from 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.300 which we get 00:17:14.300 --> 00:17:14.700 our word 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.240 community 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.960 where we share 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.440 our common 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.380 unity profoundly 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:18.380 through our 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:18.940 union with 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.259 Christ 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:19.900 it's really 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.600 straightforward 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.660 and these 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.120 brand new 00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:22.720 Christians take 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.300 life together 00:17:23.300 --> 00:17:23.880 as something 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.600 elementary 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:26.400 and basic 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:26.920 Christianity 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.640 then involves 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.360 sharing life 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.400 together with 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.240 other Christians 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.580 and devoting 00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.620 yourself to 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:33.680 that kind of 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.060 commitment 00:17:34.060 --> 00:17:35.500 actually requires 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.180 a new mindset 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.759 if you look 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.140 with me at 00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:38.880 verse 44 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.040 see if you 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:40.420 think these 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:40.760 guys are 00:17:40.760 --> 00:17:41.220 guilty of 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.740 keeping people 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.140 at arms 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.380 laying 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.480 see if they're 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.900 guilty of 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.100 rugged individualism 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:47.380 all the believers 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:48.060 were together 00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:48.760 and had everything 00:17:48.760 --> 00:17:49.280 in common 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:49.900 selling their 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:50.520 possessions and 00:17:50.520 --> 00:17:51.220 goods they gave 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.280 to anyone as 00:17:52.280 --> 00:17:53.680 he had need 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.280 now what we see 00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:56.020 even in that is 00:17:56.020 --> 00:17:56.900 that they had a 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.420 healthy ecclesiology 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.680 from the start 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.860 they knew what the 00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.600 church was 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:03.080 they just started 00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:03.720 living it out 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.460 it was part and 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.080 parcel of their 00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:05.580 conversion 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:07.020 they understood 00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:07.660 that God is 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.460 creating a new 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.100 people for his 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.660 own to bear 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.160 his name 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.299 indwelt by him 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.240 to carry the 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.039 gospel out 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.400 and that's what 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.019 conditioned the 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.680 way they lived 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.000 they had everything 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.980 in common it says 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.500 even their 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.039 possessions 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.700 now it should be 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.759 clear that this 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.860 is not communism 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.600 where the state 00:18:25.600 --> 00:18:26.620 force is sharing 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.960 this isn't even 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.220 communalism where 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.259 no one has any 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.420 private property 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.799 no what we have 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.759 here is genuine 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.120 biblical community 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:37.119 and their sharing 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.419 is marked by a 00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.479 love for each 00:18:39.479 --> 00:18:40.039 other and a 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.659 recognition that 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.500 what we have is 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:43.019 not ours 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.699 we're just stewards 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.279 of the stuff that 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:45.739 we've got 00:18:45.739 --> 00:18:47.219 when I was at 00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:48.139 Bible college a 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:48.559 number of years 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.959 ago I lived with 00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:50.619 a friend two days 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.079 a week as I 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.839 studied in Glasgow 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.079 and I would often 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.759 go up to him and 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.759 say it's alright if I 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.459 use your computer 00:18:55.459 --> 00:18:56.279 I could just check 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.079 my emails he said 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.439 feel free it's 00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.039 God's computer 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.079 you know it 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.619 started to get a 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.279 bit ridiculous where 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.619 I said do you 00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.079 mind if I have a 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:02.699 couple of slices of 00:19:02.699 --> 00:19:03.339 toast before I go to 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:03.639 bed he would 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.139 say it's God's 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:05.139 bread you know 00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:06.119 it's like okay I 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.759 get it I get it 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:07.259 but I mean that 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.259 that was a strong 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.279 testimony to me of 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.279 actually this we're 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.019 just stewards of the 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.779 stuff that we've got 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.480 it's all God's we 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.559 should be willing to 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.539 hold to it loosely so 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.359 that we can help and 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.119 serve one another as 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:19.399 best we can but 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:21.639 maybe you know I 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.119 don't know what this 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.759 looks like in 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.740 Brunsfield for you 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.359 but I've seen in my 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.199 own experience in two 00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:26.839 churches I've been 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.359 pastoring where people 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.240 have sold stuff to 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.019 help another person 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.079 out you know maybe 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.039 someone's lost their 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.319 job the family 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.819 has not been able 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.720 to make ends meet 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.799 you know I've seen 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.539 people say well let 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.139 me just see what I 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:38.079 can sell on eBay so 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:39.000 that I can help out 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:40.519 and that's a glorious 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.659 thing to see and 00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.159 because that 00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:44.039 demonstrates real 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:46.639 love Dietrich Bonhoeffer 00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.240 has written a great 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.859 book called Life 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.579 Together it's worth 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.339 getting your hands on 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.039 it and he says 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.220 loving one another in 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.399 this way to this 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.960 extent speaks the 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:55.379 Christian language with 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:57.460 overwhelming eloquence 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:59.839 the problem is 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.740 sometimes we prefer to 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.539 be a little less 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.859 eloquent the idea of a 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.859 shared life together is 00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:06.920 a bit of a nightmare for 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.659 some of us I mean we 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.539 go out of our way to 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.579 make sure our 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.940 conversations at times 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.359 with fellow believers 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:14.460 are mundane arms length 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:16.200 very self-protective 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:18.920 well if we do that 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.839 Paul Tripp would say 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.500 that we become 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.359 co-conspirators in a 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.379 church that prefers 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:25.680 superficiality to true 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.139 worship and true life 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:29.500 together or worse we 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.440 shrink our understanding 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.340 of church to an hour and 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:32.120 a half on a Sunday 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.620 and as a result this 00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.920 would be God's call to 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:37.019 us to love one another 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:39.820 and to lay down our 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:40.860 lives for one another 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:42.299 even as Christ has for 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:44.920 us so what does 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.559 devotion to the 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.420 fellowship look like 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:48.980 well I'm convinced that 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.200 in churches the size of 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.759 Brunsfield it's it's 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.440 really difficult to do 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.440 this without finding 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.240 ways to know each other 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.400 better than just on 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:00.160 Sundays so my 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.940 encouragement for you is 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:02.079 to practice hospitality 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:04.000 how many Sundays in the 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.339 month or even Friday 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.440 nights or Saturday nights 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.220 do you have people around 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.039 your house for a meal 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.440 how many times do you 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.259 just invite people who 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.559 are just like you or how 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.420 many times do you ask 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:15.279 people who are really 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.480 reflective of the bread to 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.400 the congregation is there 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.680 a seat at your table for 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.680 people who are single is 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.519 there a seat young people 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.460 is there a seat at your 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.460 table for that for an 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:26.140 older couple or a 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:29.880 widow widower we should 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:31.240 be sharing in our life 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.360 together in intergenerational 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.660 ways generational ways 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.759 much in the same way that 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.420 Charlie and Beth were 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.220 encouraging us to do 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:39.620 earlier this is how we 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.779 start to know what needs 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:43.319 people have and especially 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.600 as we gather together in 00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.900 our small groups that 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.480 really serves us very well 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.720 we've just gone through a 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.940 complete revolution in our 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.120 small groups recently at 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:53.579 Charlotte Chapel and I am 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:55.439 stunned at the way that 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.659 our commitment to reducing 00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:57.599 the size of the group 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.699 basing our commitment 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:01.839 together and forming our 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.839 groups around the basis 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.579 of relationship where 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.460 people are ready and 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.159 willing to share and 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.119 setting up from the very 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.539 start these are called 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.679 growth groups because 00:22:09.679 --> 00:22:10.339 they're going to help us 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.319 grow to be more like 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:14.019 Jesus and the basic gist 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.099 of everything that people 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.079 come to do is a reminder 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.460 for them on every single 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.599 study sheet that they look 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:20.539 at how will this study 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.859 help us grow more in the 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.579 likeness of Jesus and love 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.619 one another and love God 00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:26.939 better and we just drum 00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.879 that home because it's 00:22:27.879 --> 00:22:29.439 absolutely vital for us 00:22:29.439 --> 00:22:31.539 I think this is the kind of 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.479 thing that we see in the 00:22:32.479 --> 00:22:34.159 church in Acts as these 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:34.879 people who become 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:36.819 Christians it's part and 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:38.659 parcel of the faith to love 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:40.179 each other and live a 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:42.599 shared life together what 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.500 about the third thing 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:46.019 praising remembering the 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.559 gospel of God together of 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:49.299 course verse 42 they 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.740 devoted themselves to the 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.599 breaking of bread I 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.759 realize I am taking my 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.940 life in my hands speaking 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:57.039 in a brethren church on 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.159 this wow what is he going 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.279 to say he's a Baptist 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:02.859 well they devoted 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.059 themselves to the breaking 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.980 of bread they became 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.839 worshipers of Jesus 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.619 together I should say in 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:09.919 this context and in a 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.680 couple of contexts so for 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.720 example when Paul later in 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.599 Acts is in Troas and he's 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.319 he's I think in this 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.439 context in Acts 2 what 00:23:19.439 --> 00:23:20.279 we're talking about here 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.159 is the Lord's Supper 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:22.439 it's adhering to the 00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:23.259 command of the Lord 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:25.039 Jesus but there are other 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.259 couple of occasions in the 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.099 book of Acts where it's 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.399 not necessarily talking 00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.879 about the Lord's Supper 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:31.219 for example it says 00:23:31.219 --> 00:23:32.219 there's breaking of bread 00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:33.819 on when Paul is on the 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:35.359 boat in Acts 27 I think 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.079 it is with a bunch of 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:39.179 pagans I don't think he's 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:39.980 sharing communion with 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.359 them but I think in the 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.879 context this is what's 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:44.159 going on here they are 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.340 remembering the gospel of 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:47.620 God together worshiping 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:49.400 Jesus and that's one of 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.180 the primary things that 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:52.420 we do now the Lord's 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.200 Supper for these guys 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.540 wasn't something that's 00:23:55.540 --> 00:23:56.540 tagged on at the end of 00:23:56.540 --> 00:23:58.160 a service it certainly 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.040 didn't involve little 00:23:59.040 --> 00:24:01.380 squares of bread involved 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.580 much more of a meal 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:04.640 together a meal made 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:06.040 very meaningful by the 00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:07.040 sharing of a common loaf 00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:08.920 and a common cup and 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.740 Jesus therefore had 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.519 commanded these 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.779 observatants of course of 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:13.140 this feast until he 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.140 returns he had said 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.120 do this in remembrance 00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:16.980 of me and it's 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.880 intended as this 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.440 symbolic remembrance of 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.740 Christ's sinless life and 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.920 atoning death on our 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.720 behalf it's a proclamation 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:25.160 of his death and his 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.700 resurrection until he 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.620 returns at the individual 00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:30.080 level it's an opportunity 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:32.680 for self-examination but 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.000 communion is for the 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.800 church the people of God 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:38.320 shared in together as an 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:40.020 expression of the unity of 00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:42.500 the people in gratitude to 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:44.660 God for the gospel you 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:47.380 follow me so again in 00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:49.380 verse 42 it's unpacked 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.920 further down the page 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.519 verse 46 they broke bread 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:54.140 in their homes and ate 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.279 together with glad and 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.799 sincere hearts praising 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:59.400 God now why does Luke want 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.380 to highlight this commitment 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.460 as a feature of the early 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:03.759 church why does it matter 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.079 to their life together and 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:08.460 to our life together well I 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.059 think there are three 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:11.059 reasons one it's a matter 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.480 of simple obedience Jesus 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.419 commanded it two it 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.519 stimulates the church to 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.519 praise God for the most 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.960 important thing that he 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.179 has ever done for his 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:20.379 people it has to be 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:22.579 central I don't know about 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.899 you but when I'm at 00:25:23.899 --> 00:25:25.899 communion I'm reminded of 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:27.279 every time of why I follow 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:29.220 Jesus when I take bread and 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.379 wine I'm reminded of the 00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.659 fact that I am both torn 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.980 apart and put right back 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.960 together again by the 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:37.259 gospel and my love for 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:44.000 Jesus swells my my my 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:46.120 realization of my sin and 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:48.500 ongoing sinfulness is 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:51.400 unavoidably exposed in the 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:55.680 light of his blood and I 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.920 come as as a sinner as James 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.920 forces humbly repenting under 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.980 his welcome and grace and 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.080 I remember the beauty of 00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:10.180 the gospel and at times I 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.340 have a big smile on my 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:13.039 face at times I have tears 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.380 and a smile on my face but 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:17.100 on any occasion whatever's 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.779 going on externally inside my 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:22.539 heart is full of joy and 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:25.960 gratitude and love that the 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:28.360 Lord God himself would do 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:32.159 this for someone like me man 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:40.779 alive so don't be 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:42.119 distracted when it happens 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:44.199 when you share in the Lord's 00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:46.679 Supper together enjoy it 00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:49.879 reflect on it and never ever 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:51.179 forget that you do it 00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:53.639 together it's a mark of our 00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:56.179 life together we encourage one 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:58.160 another to remember the gospel 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.360 together I don't know what 00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.580 you guys do what often we eat 00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:02.019 at the same time we drink at 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:04.019 the same time where we're just 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:07.400 saying one great big fat yes to 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:09.620 the Lord Jesus for his salvation 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:13.240 so what does devotion to the 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.539 breaking of bread look like for 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:16.840 you well again it's like 00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:19.440 attending Sunday services it's 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:21.380 making sure that you have time to 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:22.920 and the priority to attend and 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.940 make the most of it don't let 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.860 minds wander whether it's to the 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.759 the roast that's in the oven or 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:31.980 whatever just meditate on that 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:34.200 I find Psalm 51 comes to mind 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.299 again and again I've memorized 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:37.080 passages of the Bible where 00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:38.360 there's the gospel in a nutshell 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.759 which both remind me of who I 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:41.740 was what God has done and what I 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:46.160 am now those are rich those are 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:46.900 the things that when you 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:48.940 concentrate on those things or it 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:51.160 might be a song for you you know 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.440 it might be a song don't sing it 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.920 out loud especially if you're a 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.440 you're the only one yeah people 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.620 might not join in that's a bit 00:27:57.620 --> 00:28:00.259 risky but that's those are helpful 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:03.019 things to do to make the most to 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:05.759 focus your heart your mind on what 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:07.980 you're doing in that moment and what 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:10.940 you're doing together lastly I'll make 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:15.279 this quick praying asking great things 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:17.620 from God together verse 42 again 00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:19.960 they devoted themselves to prayer where 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:22.380 they came as dependent children to a 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:24.480 generous father listen when our eyes 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:26.240 are open to the majesty and the 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:28.580 beauty of Christ we're drawn to desire 00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:31.300 more of him and prayer is simply the 00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:33.400 articulation of that heart's love the 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:35.420 heart's response to Christ and what 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:37.940 he's done and we pray with prayers of 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:40.360 adoration but I think in verse 42 what 00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:41.840 we're here what we're looking at 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:44.160 mainly is intercession and the reason I 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.460 say that is because that's the kind of 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:47.060 prayer that saturates the book of Acts 00:28:47.060 --> 00:28:49.680 it's intercession all the way through in 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.700 chapter 4 God's people pray together for 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.480 boldness to speak God's word in the 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:55.860 face of persecution in chapter 12 00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:57.600 God's people pray together for Peter's 00:28:57.600 --> 00:29:01.160 relief release from prison so prayer is 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:03.000 something that they ask God to do on 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.600 account of the fact that they have come 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:08.279 to be aware of his great power he 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:11.360 actually can do anything isn't it odd 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:13.799 that and as we recognize that and 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:15.600 understand that that at times we prefer 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:18.580 self-reliance we prefer to crack on 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:20.299 with our lives the way we think we 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:22.960 should do them and forget to take time 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:25.679 to pray well prayer is as one author 00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:27.460 has said the antithesis of this self 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:30.159 reliance it what it's what demonstrates 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:32.099 our dependence on God that we've 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:33.819 grasped the magnitude of his character 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:36.199 and honors him as the one behind all 00:29:36.199 --> 00:29:39.099 the blessings of our life so are we 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:41.279 devoted to praying together regularly 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:44.039 most churches find it difficult to 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.559 gather more than a small fraction of 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:47.559 their Sunday congregations to either 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:50.539 corporate prayer times or even to small 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.839 groups but I think it's an important 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:55.480 thing for us to do and even when people 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.879 meet to pray we all know how much 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:58.859 easier it is to spend time sharing news 00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:00.559 and requests than actually speaking to 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:05.240 God together in prayer why is this well I 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.639 wonder if it's because we don't get 00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:09.139 beyond the religion that we ought to 00:30:09.139 --> 00:30:12.799 pray to the reality of relationship that 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:17.740 we get to pray we get to speak to God so 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:19.279 when we devote ourselves to praying 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.339 together let's pray when we gather ask 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:23.279 great things of God together I don't 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.579 know if you have a membership directory 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:27.379 at Brunsfield but it's useful if you 00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:28.779 have a knowledge of who are the people 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.220 in your church whatever you read in the 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.919 morning by the way just we pray that 00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:33.779 not just for yourself but for each other 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:36.220 didn't Jesus teach us that the Lord's 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:40.660 prayer has that outward emphasis lead us 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:45.299 deliver us our father it starts with you 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:47.299 know it's not a prayer you're meant to 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:49.880 pray individualistically it's corporate 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:53.240 from the very off so learning loving 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.440 praising and praying one life that's 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.480 what we're called to that's what you're 00:30:57.480 --> 00:31:00.400 called to as a church together if you're 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:02.640 new to Christianity I hope that spells it 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.660 out for you if you've been a Christian for 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.960 a longer time I hope you'll maintain an 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.340 emphasis on these things and recognize 00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:11.820 that they are the heartbeat really of 00:31:11.820 --> 00:31:14.040 Brunsfield Evangelical Church your 00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:16.680 commitment to these things will serve you 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:20.600 well lastly very very lastly how many 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.980 times does a preacher say lastly he 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:27.080 never means it yes what do we see what's 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:29.779 the result of this you know this life 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.880 together I think the big temptation when 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.740 we look at a subject like this in this 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.599 sermon like this is that we just think 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:37.779 we do all these lives to all these 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.779 things together it's all about just 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:41.519 being a little commune a little closet 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:45.079 community together no way no way is 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:48.339 that the case you see in this passage 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:50.420 that they were not so preoccupied with 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.799 each other that they forgot about 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:54.319 mission it tells us that God added to 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:56.140 their number daily those who were being 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:58.039 saved and what that means is that they 00:31:58.039 --> 00:32:00.339 must have been so generous as a 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:02.339 community and bold and sharing their 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:05.899 faith that their attractiveness as a 00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:08.399 people their their attractiveness of 00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:10.839 their shared life together won many 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:14.699 people to Jesus so one of the reasons 00:32:14.699 --> 00:32:17.199 why we commit to our life together is so 00:32:17.199 --> 00:32:19.919 that we might better display the love of 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:24.639 Christ to people who don't know him and 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:28.080 we need to recover then this vision of 00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:32.380 Acts 2 42 and discover rediscover the 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:35.060 expectation then of steady growth in 00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:36.360 that amen 00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:38.500 you