WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.419 ! use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:30.140 Good morning and happy Trinity Sunday. 00:00:30.460 --> 00:00:36.439 I'm Tonya and I'm a part of the Oikos in the Oaks and the Women Reading Women Friday monthly 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:37.200 book group. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:42.880 Today's scripture reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1, verse 8, chapter 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:49.100 2, verse 14a, and verses 37 through 47 as printed in liturgy. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:51.679 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:56.659 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses 00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:01.659 in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:06.680 Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed the crowd. 00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:12.060 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other disciples, 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.239 Brothers, what shall we do? 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:20.799 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.399 the forgiveness of your sins. 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:27.799 And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the promises for you and your children 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:33.359 and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:38.519 With many other words he warned them and he pleaded with them, Save yourselves from this 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:39.459 corrupt generation. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:45.519 Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:46.519 number that day. 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:52.459 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and 00:01:52.459 --> 00:01:53.060 to prayer. 00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:58.439 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:02.439 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:06.439 They sold property and possessions to give anyone who had need. 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:10.099 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:16.639 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:18.900 and enjoying the favor of all the people. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:23.439 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:26.819 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:28.780 Thanks be to God. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:32.299 Thank you, Tonya, for that reading. 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:40.820 Well, we're considering the question, what is the Christian church? 00:02:41.980 --> 00:02:45.000 What is the church's nature? 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:46.860 What's the church's message? 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:48.380 What's the church's mission? 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:51.660 Who are Christians? 00:02:52.580 --> 00:02:53.920 What are they supposed to do? 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:00.680 If we want to know the answers to those questions, we need to look at the origins of the church. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:06.620 We need to go back to the beginning and discover how the church started, what the church did. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:09.560 And what do we find in the Acts of the Apostles? 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.180 We've been just kind of marinating in this text for several weeks now. 00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:20.900 What we find is really the only divinely inspired authoritative account of the Christian church. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:28.260 If you want to know the identity of the church, the task of the church, the character of the church's proclamation, 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:33.299 you need to look at the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of the Apostles in the New Testament. 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:43.340 Because here we have an authoritative statement about what Christianity is and what it really means to be a Christian. 00:03:44.139 --> 00:03:47.039 This is God's blueprint for the church. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:51.280 And it's not just an exercise in theory. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:58.879 It's a blueprint against which we can test ourselves and we can examine ourselves. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.280 And we can make sure that we're Christians. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:08.719 We can look at these marks and characteristics of the Christian church and what it's meant to be. 00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:12.560 And we can ask, am I like that? 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:14.899 Are we like that? 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:18.620 Do we conform to this pattern that they've set? 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:20.439 Is this true of us? 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:24.899 Is this the sort of thing that we do and are planning to do? 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.079 G.K. Chesterton once wrote, he said, 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:32.199 Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:34.899 It has been found difficult and not tried. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:41.960 And so what we want to do is explore this difficult thing called Christianity. 00:04:41.960 --> 00:04:43.300 And we want to try to do it. 00:04:43.300 --> 00:04:48.819 And so we want to ask the question today, what are the marks of a healthy church? 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:50.819 What are the marks of a living church? 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:54.879 And I want to talk about five things today. 00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:57.319 And don't worry, I've got a plane to catch this afternoon. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:59.220 So I got to get out of here. 00:04:59.220 --> 00:05:08.580 But we're going to talk about a learning church, a caring church, a worshiping church, a praying church, and an evangelizing church. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:13.600 A learning, caring, worshiping, praying, and evangelizing church. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.020 I want to start with a learning church. 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:17.520 And just look back at verse 41. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:26.000 One, that those who accepted the apostle Peter's message, that Pentecost day when the Holy Spirit was poured out. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:28.000 Those who accepted his message were baptized. 00:05:28.219 --> 00:05:30.919 And about 3,000 were added to their number that day. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:37.319 And it says they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:43.420 On Pentecost, the resurrected Jesus poured out the spirit of truth. 00:05:43.599 --> 00:05:49.439 And the result was about 120 disciples who were praying there on Pentecost Sunday. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:58.420 They began to declare the wonderful works that God had done to save humanity through his son, Jesus. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.159 And one of those disciples stood up, Peter, the apostle Peter. 00:06:02.159 --> 00:06:04.399 And he preached the first Christian sermon. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:09.219 And as a result, 3,000 people were called by God. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:10.699 They were baptized by God. 00:06:10.739 --> 00:06:11.719 They were saved by God. 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:15.779 They were added to the number of the church by God that we talked about last week. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:21.139 And it says that they immediately devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles. 00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:25.439 Which means that they were hungry and they were thirsty for doctrine. 00:06:27.099 --> 00:06:32.519 They wanted to, and they had a deep desire to learn the truths. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:41.279 That Jesus had given to his apostles, Peter, John, Matthew, that he was going to give to the apostle Paul. 00:06:41.979 --> 00:06:48.719 These spirit-filled Christians, they didn't just stop thinking on Pentecost. 00:06:49.039 --> 00:06:50.379 And go, wow, we're filled with the spirit. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:51.219 Don't have to think anymore. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:55.139 They didn't neglect their intellect. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.479 They didn't check their brains at the door. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.460 Therefore, they didn't despise theology. 00:06:59.460 --> 00:07:07.020 Rather, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, came and made their minds begin to feast on the truth. 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:12.939 Of the divinely inspired and authoritative revelation of God that's given to us in the scriptures. 00:07:13.400 --> 00:07:17.220 And was interpreted for us by Jesus and by his apostles. 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:22.200 And this really started, you can go back to Easter Sunday. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.760 Jesus, he was raised from the dead. 00:07:24.880 --> 00:07:26.200 And what's one of the first things he does? 00:07:26.280 --> 00:07:29.640 He finds two people and he says, let's do a Bible study. 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:31.540 This is Easter Sunday afternoon, okay? 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:34.900 If you're raised from the dead, are you starting a Bible study that afternoon? 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:38.140 Jesus went and he found two people, started a Bible study. 00:07:38.140 --> 00:07:42.580 And it says in Luke 24, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:47.039 Jesus explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself. 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:55.399 And Jesus said, he said, everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms. 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:58.180 He'd been doing this for three years. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:02.979 But when somebody's raised from the dead, you start really paying attention to the Bible study, right? 00:08:03.979 --> 00:08:06.060 And don't you wish you had been there? 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:14.480 Jesus pulls out the Old Testament, as it were, and he says, look, this is all about the promises that God made. 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:23.939 And you, my apostles, are going to go and write the New Testament about how all those promises of God have been fulfilled in me. 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:27.399 In my life, in my death, in my resurrection. 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:33.820 In Acts chapter 1, we learn that Jesus spent the next 40 days after his resurrection. 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:37.800 He spent 40 days, all day, every day with his apostles. 00:08:37.900 --> 00:08:40.900 And it says he was teaching them about the kingdom of God. 00:08:41.020 --> 00:08:44.100 Teaching them about that grand theme of the Bible. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:49.660 That God is king and he's bringing everything under his kingship through Jesus. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:57.240 Well, the apostles would do what Jesus told them to do. 00:08:57.760 --> 00:09:01.200 Which is that they would go on and they would write it all down. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:02.960 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.060 Romans. 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:07.960 First and second Corinthians. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:11.600 Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.080 First and second Thessalonians. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:14.019 First and second Peter. 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:14.900 First John. 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:15.639 Hebrews. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:18.620 All of it is the apostles' teaching. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:22.180 It's the teaching that Jesus gave to us through the apostles. 00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:26.139 And a Christian is somebody who feasts on that. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:32.840 And they didn't just learn this teaching for one hour a week. 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:38.259 It says in verse 46 that every day they continued to meet together. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:40.960 They came together regularly and willingly day by day. 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:42.340 When they finished their day's work. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:43.940 They go to one another's house. 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:45.420 And they would study the Bible. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:49.960 Because they were hungry and thirsty for the truth. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:53.879 They were eager to sit at the feet of the apostles and learn. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:10:00.000 And they would say, tell us, how is Jesus our prophet and our priest and our king? 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:06.720 How did Jesus in his death, how did he bring God's covenant with his people to a climax? 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:12.620 How did Jesus in his resurrection launch the kingdom of God? 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.860 How did Jesus in his life? 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:14.620 How did Jesus in his life? 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:19.220 What are the, if this is true, how should we then start living? 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:20.919 If that's true. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:24.960 And this is what they were devouring. 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:32.259 Every day was the doctrine of God's word so they could apply it to their lives. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.799 And let's just pause here for a little bit of application. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:41.639 If you're exploring Christianity and you do not yet have a modern translation of the Bible, 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.879 we want to give you one of those because we're really excited about it. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:51.159 We think it's great that we have the Bible in our own language and we can have a copy in our hands. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.819 We would love to give you a copy. 00:10:53.199 --> 00:10:56.779 And we'd love to encourage you to start reading the Gospel of Mark. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.559 And just read the shortest of the stories of Jesus that we have. 00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:01.759 Read it with a Christian friend. 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:03.340 Read it with a group of people. 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:07.779 We actually have an exploring Christianity group that's been meeting on Thursday night. 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:11.779 They would love to welcome you this week to explore the Gospel of Mark. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:21.500 Secondly, if you are a person who's wanting to learn the big picture of the Bible and the golden thread of the Bible and the great themes of the Bible, 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:26.059 I brought a stack of about six of my favorite children's Bibles today. 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:28.879 And I found that these are not just good for children. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:33.559 They're wonderful for adults, especially if you like pictures in your books. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:39.979 These are phenomenal Bibles and I'd encourage you to get one if you don't have one. 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:42.519 And it's a great way to learn the Bible. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:48.599 But also if you're a parent, if you're a grandparent, I just want to encourage you that part of your, if you're a Christian, 00:11:49.119 --> 00:11:58.500 part of your duty, part of your responsibility is to get your kids or your grandkids on a daily IV drip of the apostles' teaching. 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:01.399 And if you don't have a way to do that, I've got a way for you to do that. 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:07.699 Third point of application is that if you're a newer Christian and you're trying to build your life on a solid foundation, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:18.559 think about the fact that they devoted themselves to gather together before work and after work on a daily basis to learn the apostles' teaching. 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:27.199 They literally could not imagine owning their own copy of one of these and having it at their fingertips. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:32.879 And they also couldn't imagine owning one of these but only reading it one day a week. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:42.580 So, if that's you, if you're not, if you've got one of these but you don't really open it very often, 00:12:43.420 --> 00:12:49.560 I think Peter and the other apostles will say, you're not yet devoted to the apostles' teaching. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:54.579 And if you read it about five minutes a day, that's better than nothing. 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:58.139 But I think these first Christians on the day of Pentecost would come to you and they would say, 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:00.019 why are you starving yourself? 00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:02.859 Why are you dehydrating yourself? 00:13:02.979 --> 00:13:03.639 Aren't you hungry? 00:13:03.739 --> 00:13:04.739 Aren't you thirsty? 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:11.699 Fourth point of application is that if you're one of those solo Christians, Lone Ranger Christians, 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:17.920 and you're not yet part of a weekly small group that's reading the Bible together and exploring the Bible together, 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:21.720 I want to encourage you to make that a top priority this summer. 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:25.220 Because we won't grow without other Christians. 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:29.600 We need other Christians to help us learn about the love of God the Father 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.879 and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:41.439 We need other Christians to help us develop a personal relationship with this God, 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:45.659 the Father who made us and the Son who delivers us and the Holy Spirit who transforms us. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:52.120 We need other Christians who can help us learn what it means to submit my reason 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:59.460 and to submit my experience to something greater than my reason and my experience. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:07.240 to God's authoritative word, which is our only infallible rule for faith and practice. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:14.660 We need other Christians to help us think through all of those downstream moral implications 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:18.620 and all those downstream ethical consequences of the gospel. 00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:22.600 What does it mean to live my life in line with the gospel? 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:26.000 What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel? 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.660 You're not going to figure that out on your own. 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:33.719 And my fifth point of application is that if you're a more established Christian, 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.779 I want to remind you of something you probably already know, 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:42.639 which is that the verse 42 is a divinely inspired order. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:50.759 The teaching and the doctrine is first and most important in all the marks of the church in this series. 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:51.839 Why is that? 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:59.480 Because the teaching defines and the teaching controls and the teaching determines everything else in the life of the church 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.460 and the life of a Christian. 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:05.220 And when the church lowers the authority of the teaching, 00:15:05.780 --> 00:15:09.680 and when the church puts something else at its center, 00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:14.120 the problems that follow are sadly predictable. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:18.360 If you know anything about the New Testament or the history of the church, 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:23.000 if a church tries to substitute ethics for doctrine, 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:26.039 or politics for the gospel, 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:31.940 or philosophies and isms for the apostles' teaching, 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.480 the church is in serious danger. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:38.200 And the apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about this. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.680 He says in Ephesians 4, he says, 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.320 it's possible to be tossed back and forth by the waves 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.539 and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.539 every wind of doctrine, 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.519 and by the cunning and craftiness of people 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.700 and their deceitful scheming. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:55.159 If you want to get a sense for the problems that arise 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:57.759 when churches lower the authority of the teaching 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.700 and they put something else at the center, 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.139 read Galatians. 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.340 Read Corinthians. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:09.139 Paul's worked up because the church has gotten into a mess. 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:14.399 I have the privilege the next few days 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:17.120 of going to a gathering of pastors. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:19.240 We're going to be with a great teacher 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.179 from the University of Oxford. 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.259 His name's N.T. Wright. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.460 He's a great Bible scholar. 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.299 And he writes this. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:24.600 He says, 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.819 where no attention is given to teaching 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.379 and to constant, lifelong Christian learning, 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.260 people quickly revert to the worldview 00:16:32.260 --> 00:16:34.740 or mindset of the surrounding culture 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.760 and end up with their minds shaped 00:16:36.760 --> 00:16:39.800 by whatever social pressures are most persuasive 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:41.760 with Jesus somewhere around 00:16:41.760 --> 00:16:44.460 as a pale influence or memory. 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:47.760 And because we don't want that to happen 00:16:47.760 --> 00:16:48.700 at Christ Church, 00:16:48.760 --> 00:16:51.140 we put together some classes this summer, this fall, 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.080 and we hope that they'll help you learn 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:53.840 the apostles' teaching. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.800 We hope that you'll take advantage 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.899 of these great opportunities. 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.279 But we see that clearly 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:01.279 we're called to be a learning church. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:04.659 But also we're called to be a caring church. 00:17:05.419 --> 00:17:06.779 We're called to be a caring church. 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:08.259 Look at verse 42. 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:10.460 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:12.119 and to fellowship. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:16.679 The message of the apostles, 00:17:16.679 --> 00:17:18.039 the message of Peter, 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:20.399 led to this inward change. 00:17:20.699 --> 00:17:21.779 And then that inward change 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:23.500 was expressed outwardly 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:25.039 through these 3,000 baptisms. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:27.459 And the reason they immediately 00:17:27.459 --> 00:17:29.039 devoted themselves to the teaching 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.339 and to fellowship 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.339 is because these people 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:34.500 had been born again from above 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.439 by the Holy Spirit. 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.579 This is how Peter puts it. 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.699 Peter who preached that sermon, 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.299 he wrote a letter called 1 Peter. 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.120 And he says in 1 Peter 2, 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.480 he says, 00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.380 like newborn babies, 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:49.460 crave pure spiritual milk 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.519 so that by it you may grow up 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.620 in your salvation. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.019 That's what fellowship is about. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.180 Fellowship is about 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.700 having the same cravings. 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:04.740 Fellowship is about 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.680 being a bunch of newborn babies 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.460 that are growing up 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.620 to become like Jesus. 00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.580 You see, 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.480 that word fellowship 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:14.920 has become so watered down 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.920 that, 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.560 and so, 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.779 so shallow, 00:18:19.080 --> 00:18:20.100 so superficial 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.240 that we think 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.400 the word fellowship means 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.640 that we'll gather together 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.820 two or three Sundays a month. 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.500 We'll get together 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.259 in a church building. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:29.140 We will shake hands. 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:31.539 We'll do a thing 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.259 for about an hour. 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.500 We'll have a cup of coffee. 00:18:33.580 --> 00:18:34.420 We'll be friendly and nice 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.039 and we'll go home. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.539 We'll come back 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:36.379 and we'll do it again. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.339 But the word koinonia 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.480 in Greek, 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.519 that word koinonia 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:43.259 means a deep sharing in common. 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.420 And what is it 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.039 that we share in common? 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.659 Peter says we're newborn babies 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:52.619 who are sharing 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.700 the same new life. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.559 We're sharing 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.579 in the same cravings 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.920 for the same nourishment. 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:03.580 and we've been born 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:05.039 of the same spirit. 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.060 We've been regenerated. 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.000 We've experienced 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.400 the new birth. 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:11.200 We've had the divine life 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.920 of God the Father 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.820 planted in our souls 00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:15.019 so that we now 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.340 are members. 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.420 We're sons and daughters 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:19.300 of a royal family. 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.080 We're rejoicing 00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:21.400 in the same king 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:23.000 and the same savior. 00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:24.120 That's the koinonia. 00:19:24.300 --> 00:19:26.080 We share Jesus together 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.220 and we delight 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.159 in the same message 00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:29.720 about Jesus. 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.299 We delight 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.339 in the same teaching 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.559 of Jesus. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.659 We've come into 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.759 this realm 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:36.659 of grace 00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:38.799 so that we share 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.359 in the resurrection 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.519 life of Jesus. 00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:41.699 We share in the righteousness 00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:42.659 of Jesus 00:19:42.659 --> 00:19:43.599 and all of our eyes 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.019 are fixed 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.379 on the same person 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:46.579 and on the same thing. 00:19:47.419 --> 00:19:48.460 We're looking out 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.199 to where we're going. 00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.240 We're looking out 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:53.000 to the eternal glory 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.679 for which we're 00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:54.779 preparing ourselves. 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:56.059 that is what 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.319 fellowship means. 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.299 That's what we share 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:58.960 in common. 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.500 The new life 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.279 of God. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.559 The new cravings 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.720 for God 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.740 and that cannot help 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:06.420 but express itself 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:08.460 and that's why 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.379 they were meeting together 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:10.339 every morning 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.379 and every evening 00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:12.480 before and after work 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.200 because they said 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.740 to themselves 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.660 if we've been united 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:17.480 by these eternal bonds 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.379 in the spirit 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.240 with Jesus 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.519 and in the presence 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.220 of the Father 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.299 well we've got to 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.420 express that 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.279 in real life 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:27.300 and that's why 00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:28.120 the Apostle John 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.160 said in 1 John 3 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.960 he said we know 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.740 that we pass 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.400 from death 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.279 to life 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.519 because we love 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.220 the brothers 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.900 and we love 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.620 the sisters 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:38.300 and from that moment 00:20:38.300 --> 00:20:39.380 that those 3,000 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.000 were converted 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.580 and baptized 00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:42.420 nothing could keep 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:42.960 them away 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.320 from Christian fellowship. 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.820 Nothing of lesser worth 00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:49.820 nothing of lesser priority 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:52.359 was going to crowd out 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.379 or distract them 00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.960 from Christian fellowship 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.279 because it had become 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.439 the biggest thing 00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:57.939 it had become 00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:58.939 the deepest thing 00:20:58.939 --> 00:21:00.240 in their lives 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.299 and how do we know that? 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:02.480 Well look at verse 44 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:02.980 it says 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.279 all the believers 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.740 were together 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.399 and had everything 00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:05.980 in common 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.539 they sold property 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.099 and possessions 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:09.159 to give to anyone 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:10.939 who had need. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:14.059 they put their money 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.019 where their mouth was. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.660 The first fruit 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.320 of the Holy Spirit 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.980 is love 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:21.220 and when needs 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.360 began to arise 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:24.160 in the community 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.019 they began 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.059 to practice love 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.500 they began 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.019 to practice 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.580 radical 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.539 voluntary 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.559 generosity 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.279 because they thought 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.700 to themselves 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.559 well the father 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:33.340 shared his son 00:21:33.340 --> 00:21:34.180 and the son 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.380 shared his life 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.180 and therefore 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.640 we 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:39.300 are going to mirror 00:21:39.300 --> 00:21:40.060 the gracious 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:41.120 generosity of God 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.300 by sharing our resources 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.480 to care for our brothers 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.860 and sisters in Christ. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.620 They were not just 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.600 devoting that most 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:49.560 precious resource 00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:50.400 of their time 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.520 but they also said 00:21:52.520 --> 00:21:53.600 that if God 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.140 has given me 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.020 a super abundance 00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:58.080 and I find my brother 00:21:58.080 --> 00:21:59.220 or sister in Christ 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.000 in need 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.580 or maybe even suffering 00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:02.660 because of their faith 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:04.320 I'm prepared 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.320 to help them 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.859 as I would 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.960 my own flesh 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.419 and blood. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.700 No wonder 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.539 the Acts 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.179 later says 00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:12.899 in Acts 17 00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:13.279 that they 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.359 they were turning 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:14.859 the world 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.740 upside down 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.519 because they were 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.399 living in a way 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.460 that was totally 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.259 countercultural 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.059 to the world. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.939 They weren't just 00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:24.000 caring for their family 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.799 and their nearest kin 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.819 they were caring 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.480 Jews caring for Gentiles 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.759 Gentiles caring for 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.659 Jews. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.079 So let's just 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.700 pause here 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.500 for some practical 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.019 application. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.940 If you identify 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:39.420 as a Christian 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:41.019 and someone 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.960 were to audit 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.700 your time 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:44.259 and they were to 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.220 audit your money 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.559 would it be clear 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.400 to that person 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.200 would it be obvious 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.080 to them that you 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.680 are devoted 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.920 to a caring 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.860 Christian fellowship? 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.059 And I say that 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.259 because our society 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.080 is experiencing 00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:56.680 an epidemic 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.319 of isolation 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.940 and loneliness. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.660 Our society 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.400 is experiencing 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.019 an epidemic 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.700 of addiction 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.880 to dopamine 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.000 to distraction 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.019 to our devices. 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.040 Our society 00:23:06.040 --> 00:23:07.060 is living 00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:07.700 in incredible 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.259 fear 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.420 and despair 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:11.040 about a coming 00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:12.440 nuclear holocaust 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.460 a coming robot 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.300 apocalypse. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:14.980 Our society 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.140 is like really 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.640 afraid 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.340 but the church 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.700 is called 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.400 to be different. 00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:22.160 The church 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.540 is called 00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:23.060 to be 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:24.200 a counterculture 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:26.100 and the church 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.940 says 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:28.559 to God 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.360 and to one another 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:31.880 we're going to live 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:33.420 like family. 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.400 We're going to live 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.519 devoted to each other. 00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.319 We're going to care 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.960 for each other 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.920 in the most practical 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.059 of ways. 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.279 We're called 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.000 to discipline 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.059 our time 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.759 so that 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:47.440 we 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.120 will get together 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:50.759 often 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:52.140 with the people 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:52.680 who share 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.100 our same cravings 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.859 for God 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:56.399 and that is going 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:56.819 to remain 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.099 a top priority 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.559 for us. 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:58.959 We're not going 00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.659 to let sports 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.399 we're not going 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.099 to let entertainment 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.740 we're not going 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.480 to let social media 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:02.899 we're not going 00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:03.579 to let all these 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.819 things just drain 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.459 the time 00:24:05.459 --> 00:24:06.879 out of our lives 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.859 and then we give 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.719 God and his people 00:24:09.719 --> 00:24:10.319 the leftovers. 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:10.779 No. 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.139 We're going to have 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.759 predictable 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.179 persevering patterns 00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:14.740 of time. 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.399 We're going to have 00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:15.959 continuing 00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:16.719 consistent 00:24:16.719 --> 00:24:17.879 habits of money 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.899 so that we can show 00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:20.659 our father's care 00:24:20.659 --> 00:24:21.679 for our brothers 00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:22.419 and sisters 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.299 in Christ 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.940 in practical 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:27.019 ordinary 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.099 everyday 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.039 ways. 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.379 The second point 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:31.960 of application 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.720 is again 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.220 if you're not 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.019 part of a small 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.319 group 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.019 which is our 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.000 matrix for 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.759 belonging 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.680 and care 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.440 and accountability 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:40.640 it's our way 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.220 of making sure 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.640 that people 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.100 are getting 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.440 together 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.460 to read 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.900 the Bible 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.680 and to pray 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.500 and to encourage 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.059 and strengthen 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.580 each other. 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.799 We have three 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.380 new groups 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.820 they've just 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.240 started. 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.059 We have 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.700 community groups 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.299 restarting 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.600 at the end 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.000 of the summer. 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.799 I want to urge 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:56.519 you to do 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.180 something different 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.720 than our culture. 00:24:57.820 --> 00:24:58.360 I want to urge 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.720 you not to walk 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.100 alone. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.400 I want to urge 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.019 you to find 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.299 people. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.559 Take a risk. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.519 Have some courage 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.119 to just find 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.639 some people 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.519 that are total 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.420 strangers to you 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.779 now 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.720 that God 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.400 probably has 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.900 designed to 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.660 become some 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.379 of your deepest 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:12.900 and closest 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.400 friends. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.019 We have a 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.519 staff member 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.519 coming starting 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.440 on July 1st 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:18.740 Dylan. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.019 He's really 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.639 tall and 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.019 convincing. 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.680 His job 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.279 he's our 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.759 groups and 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.519 formation director 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.259 and his job 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:25.680 is going to be 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.119 to come and 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.879 help you find 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.440 a group 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.279 that's right 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.900 for you. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.140 He told me 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.300 I don't take 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:32.120 no for an 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.340 answer. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.600 I get people 00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.160 in groups. 00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.120 Just know 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.700 he's coming 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.100 for you. 00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.019 He's coming 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.380 for you. 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.060 It's a learning 00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:39.460 church. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.259 It's a caring 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.780 church. 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.840 But also 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.160 we're called 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.460 to be a 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.940 worshiping 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.340 church. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.640 A worshiping 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:44.880 church. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.360 The apostles 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.060 teaching led 00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:46.759 to this deep 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.759 daily Christian 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.519 fellowship and 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:48.940 the breaking 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.440 of bread. 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.620 It says 00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.560 that in 00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.200 verse 46 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.920 that every 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.320 day they 00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:53.960 continued to 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.600 meet together 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.200 in the temple 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.660 courts and 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.100 they broke 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:56.620 bread in their 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.100 homes and 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:57.440 they ate 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.920 together with 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.380 glad and 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:58.800 sincere 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.000 hearts praising 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.559 God and 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.059 enjoying the 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.980 favor of 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.259 all the 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.559 people. 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.079 There were 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.599 no church 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.000 buildings. 00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.399 They met 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:05.639 in each 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:05.879 other's 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.200 houses. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.139 They would 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.579 share a 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.220 meal together 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.079 like lunch 00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.480 or breakfast 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.940 or whatever 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.319 and then they 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:11.659 would take 00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:12.299 one loaf 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.220 of bread 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.460 and they 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:13.859 would break 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.099 it into 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:14.379 pieces. 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.680 They would 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:14.980 hand it 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.339 around to 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:15.720 the others. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.259 They would 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.299 take a 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.700 cup of 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.000 wine. 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.279 They would 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.779 pour it. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.240 They would 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.619 drink it. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:19.859 They would 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.259 pass it 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.579 around to 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.019 the others. 00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:22.119 And they 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:22.500 did this 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:22.899 because on 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.220 the night 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.059 before Jesus 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.500 crossed he 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.000 said do 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.460 this. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.279 So that 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.519 when the 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.039 Holy Spirit 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.500 was poured 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.879 out at 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.319 Pentecost 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:30.819 these new 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.279 converts 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.879 immediately 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.799 began to 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.579 gather early 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.139 on Sunday 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.579 morning. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.500 The time 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.160 when Jesus 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.779 was raised 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.119 from the 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.440 dead. 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:37.920 And they 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.279 said we 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.720 want to come 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.420 together at 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:40.859 that very 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.259 moment. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.960 and we 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.200 want to 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.539 share in 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:43.819 holy 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.279 communion. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.059 And that 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.779 ensured that 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.279 their worship 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.900 was unified 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.539 and centered 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.140 on Jesus 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:51.319 and on 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.839 his cross. 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.220 On his 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.720 sacrificial 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.740 self-giving 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.180 love and 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.579 his broken 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:56.140 body and 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:56.660 his outpoured 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:58.019 blood to 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.519 forgive our 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:00.019 sins and 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.640 to win a 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.160 victory for 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.619 us over 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.000 death. 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.940 This bread 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.240 and this 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.119 wine was 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.660 for them a 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.680 symbol of 00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.220 their savior. 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.279 And what 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.019 happened in 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.500 their hearts 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.180 as they broke 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.819 the bread of 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.279 their savior 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.799 it says that 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.119 they had 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.819 glad and 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.779 sincere hearts 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.819 and that 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.059 they were 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.039 praising God 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.420 and they were 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.619 enjoying one 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:18.880 another. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.500 Why were they 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.920 full of 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.400 gladness? 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:20.940 Why were they 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.339 full of 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:21.799 praise? 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.140 Why were 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.680 they full of 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.460 joy? 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.460 Because they 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:24.680 had been 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.400 set free. 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.460 They had been 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.240 set free from 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.220 sin and death 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.779 and hell and 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.200 the devil. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:30.940 They were 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.920 excited about 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.259 that. 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.819 The apostle 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.420 Paul writes 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:35.920 in Galatians 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.619 2.20 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.039 I've been 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.059 crucified with 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.140 Christ and 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.980 I no longer 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.440 live but 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.660 Christ lives 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.720 in me and 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.380 the life I 00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.880 now live in 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.400 the body I 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.279 live by faith 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.880 in the son 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.380 of God who 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.880 loved me and 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.740 gave himself 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.820 for me. 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.660 They were so 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.960 full of joy 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.340 that my 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:55.220 God, the 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.700 God who 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.320 created the 00:27:56.320 --> 00:27:57.400 universe, loves 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:59.580 me so much 00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:01.799 that he died 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.920 the cruelest and 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.820 most heinous 00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:05.279 grotesque death 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.900 possible. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.500 Death on a 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.460 cross in 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:09.120 order that he 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.860 might bring me 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.240 into a 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.079 relationship with 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.679 him of 00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:13.079 holy communion. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.459 And gladness 00:28:16.459 --> 00:28:17.519 and joy and 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.579 praise filled 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.240 their hearts and 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.759 it began to 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.779 erupt from 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.419 their hearts like 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.699 a geyser because 00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.479 it just had to 00:28:23.479 --> 00:28:23.859 come out. 00:28:23.939 --> 00:28:24.379 It had to 00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:25.259 express itself. 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.079 And I love one 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.579 of my favorite 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.419 stories in Acts 00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.279 is Acts 16. 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.979 Paul and Silas 00:28:30.979 --> 00:28:31.919 they take the 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.859 gospel to 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.139 Europe. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.799 They go to 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.159 Philippi and 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:36.299 they preach the 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.599 gospel and people 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.059 don't like it 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.740 very much so 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.839 they're stripped 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.119 and they're 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.000 flogged and 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.399 they have their 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.359 backs beaten 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.059 with rods and 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.359 they're thrown 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.000 into this dark 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.859 prison and 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.359 their feet are 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:45.939 fastened in 00:28:45.939 --> 00:28:46.319 stocks. 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.519 And you 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.919 remember what 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.259 happened? 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.439 It says that 00:28:48.439 --> 00:28:49.159 at midnight 00:28:49.159 --> 00:28:50.039 Paul and 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.659 Silas were 00:28:50.659 --> 00:28:51.500 praying and 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.139 singing hymns 00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:53.079 to God and 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.740 other prisoners 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.500 were listening 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:54.980 to them. 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.659 And why did 00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.179 they sing? 00:28:59.959 --> 00:29:00.740 How did they 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.500 worship in the 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:01.779 darkness? 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.259 How did they 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.659 worship in 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:05.779 pain and 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.220 persecution? 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:08.040 How did they 00:29:08.040 --> 00:29:08.740 have a worship 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.380 service in the 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.160 most unlikely 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.759 of places? 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.660 And how in 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.259 the world did 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.720 they worship 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.240 with low 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.940 budget non 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.340 professional 00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:16.540 music? 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.700 I mean no 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.460 AV team, 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.660 no slides, 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.080 nothing. 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:21.580 How did 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.040 they, we 00:29:22.040 --> 00:29:22.480 don't know. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:22.840 How did 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.120 they, you 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.500 work that 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.740 out. 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.160 But what I 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.519 want you to 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:25.900 know is that 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.420 they had a 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.800 joy that 00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:28.240 was not 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.200 dependent on 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.880 or determined 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.759 by their 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.440 circumstances. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:34.059 Paul later 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.740 will sit in 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.559 another prison 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:35.980 cell and 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.240 he'll be 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.160 chained to 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.259 two Roman 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.940 guards and 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.400 he writes 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.779 this letter 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:39.980 to the 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.460 Philippians, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.420 he says 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.160 Philippians 4, 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.019 rejoice in 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.299 the Lord 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.600 always. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.120 I will say 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.440 it again, 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.900 rejoice. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.480 In Romans 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.240 5 he says 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.019 we rejoice in 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.440 the hope of 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:49.920 the glory of 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.779 God and we 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.460 rejoice in 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.360 our sufferings. 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.700 Peter writes 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.360 these suffering 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:56.860 Christians and 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.640 he says you 00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.380 rejoice with 00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.660 joy unspeakable 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.340 and full of 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:00.860 glory. 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:03.160 Their joy, 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.900 it wasn't a 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.860 superficial or 00:30:04.860 --> 00:30:05.720 shallow joy 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.680 because verse 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.880 43 says everyone 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.539 was filled with 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:08.940 awe. 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.940 It was an 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.740 awesome joy. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.360 It was a 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.259 reverent joy. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:13.880 It was a 00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.860 deep and 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:16.480 holy and 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.539 wonderful joy 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.340 because they 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:19.460 realized we 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.640 are here in 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.700 the presence of 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.600 almighty God 00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:25.039 and he is so 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.080 great and we 00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:28.140 are so small 00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:29.880 but he and 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.420 his greatness 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.620 became small 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:33.580 and had his 00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.400 body broken 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.039 and his blood 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.680 poured out and 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.220 when they broke 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.860 that bread and 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.360 they poured out 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.200 that wine their 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.019 hearts were filled 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.340 with joy and 00:30:41.340 --> 00:30:42.400 with praise and 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:42.980 with gladness 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.960 because God 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.600 loved me and he 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.400 gave himself for 00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:46.880 me. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.500 They were a 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.259 learning church, 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.320 a caring church, 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.259 a worshiping 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.240 church and at 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:53.640 this point you're 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.380 like he has two 00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.340 more points but he 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:55.900 only has a few 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.380 more minutes. 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:58.300 Watch this. 00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:00.540 They were also a 00:31:00.540 --> 00:31:01.300 praying church. 00:31:01.760 --> 00:31:02.240 They were a 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.780 praying church. 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.260 The apostles 00:31:03.260 --> 00:31:05.020 teaching defined 00:31:05.020 --> 00:31:05.680 and directed their 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.380 fellowship and 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.120 their bread breaking 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.780 and their singing 00:31:07.780 --> 00:31:08.680 but also their 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.020 prayers. 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.380 You got to 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:09.800 remember that 00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.920 these are Jewish 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.300 people. 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.740 The people of 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:15.200 God, they would 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.560 pray two times a 00:31:16.560 --> 00:31:16.920 day they would 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.660 pray the Shema 00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.480 from Deuteronomy 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:18.880 6. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:20.060 Every night when 00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:21.480 they would go lay 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.220 down for bed and 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.880 every morning they 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.180 get up from their 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.500 bed they would pray 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.079 Shema O Israel. 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.000 Hear O Israel. 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:29.099 The Lord our God. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.079 The Lord is one. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.880 You shall love the 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.619 Lord your God with 00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.599 all your heart and 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.799 with all your soul and 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.900 with all your strength. 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.759 That's the praying 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.759 life of the people of 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.700 God from Moses 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.700 forward. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.359 All the way back to 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:43.980 Abraham. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.640 All the way back 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.380 probably to Adam. 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:46.799 Right? 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.259 And then we get this 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.160 great prayer book 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.319 called the Psalms. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.539 And King David writes 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.700 in Psalm 55 he says 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.900 morning, noon, and 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.860 evening I will cry 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.799 out to you three 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.440 times a day. 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.819 And so there's this 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.740 prayer pattern where 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:03.900 the prophet Daniel he's 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:05.039 told by the king of 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.180 Persia you know he's 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:07.720 living as an exile 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:10.200 very far away from 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.299 the presence of God 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.100 the temple of God. 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.440 He's living out in 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.340 the empire of Persia 00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:16.019 and the king of 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.180 Persia says Daniel 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.120 you're not supposed to 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.920 pray to the living 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.299 God. 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.019 In fact the only 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.660 person you're supposed 00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.759 to pray to is me 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:23.299 the king of Persia. 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.899 And what does 00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:25.559 Daniel do? 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:26.799 He says nope. 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.579 Daniel 6 three times 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.599 a day he got down on 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.639 his knees he prayed 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.720 giving thanks to his 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.059 God just as he had 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:35.159 done before this habit 00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:37.019 of morning, noon, and 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.799 evening prayer. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.460 These first Christians 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.919 this early church they 00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:41.960 devoted themselves to 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.859 the habit of praying 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.599 this pattern from 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.899 Moses to David to 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:46.480 Daniel to Jesus and 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.079 Jesus said I want you 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.359 to have private times 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:51.119 alone of praying 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:51.659 before God. 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.840 He says in Matthew 6 00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:53.720 the heart of the 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.259 Sermon on the Mount 00:32:54.259 --> 00:32:55.019 he says when you 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.380 pray go into your 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.300 inner room, go into 00:32:57.300 --> 00:32:58.759 your closet, close the 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.779 door and pray to your 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.940 father who is unseen. 00:33:03.060 --> 00:33:04.180 And that was the power 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.080 of the early church. 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.240 But they also came 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.759 together in corporate 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.000 prayer meetings and 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.600 they were in the 00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:11.220 middle of a prayer 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.000 meeting when the Holy 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.060 Spirit was poured out 00:33:13.060 --> 00:33:13.740 on the day of 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.120 Pentecost. 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.660 They're in the middle 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.480 of a prayer meeting 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.960 in Acts chapter 4 when 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.100 it says the place where 00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:18.779 they were meeting was 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:20.259 shaken and all the 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.240 people were filled with 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.279 the Holy Spirit and 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.259 began to speak the 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.359 word of God boldly. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.319 The Holy Spirit 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.460 devotes his people to 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:28.880 prayer. 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.880 And when we pray we 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.839 say Lord give us more 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.519 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.240 and the Holy Spirit 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.160 intensifies our 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.559 praying. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.779 This is one of the 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.720 great tests for people 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.700 who say I have 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.920 Christian beliefs is to 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:42.799 say well how do you 00:33:42.799 --> 00:33:43.880 live out those beliefs 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:44.900 in your practices of 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.220 prayer? 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.359 Do you have a set time 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.299 and place every day 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.720 where you meet with 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.059 God? 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.799 Do you have a set time 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.819 and place every week 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.500 where you meet and 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.079 pray with other 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:56.480 Christians? 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.940 Have you learned how 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:00.519 to pray by the Holy 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:00.839 Spirit? 00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:01.440 Have you learned how 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.559 to pray willingly and 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:04.099 pray freely and pray 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.659 with power? 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:06.480 I want to urge you to 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.879 put this on the top of 00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:09.279 your summer must do 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:09.779 list. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.539 So learn how to pray. 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:14.179 Learning church, 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.900 caring church, 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.719 worshiping church, 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.480 praying church, 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:20.079 finally all this has 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.820 to flow outward 00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.340 somewhere. 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:23.599 Right? 00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:25.740 It needs to move out 00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:26.579 like a river to the 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:26.880 ocean. 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:28.659 And so the church 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:30.320 began to be an 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:31.360 evangelizing church. 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.139 And it says in verse 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:33.360 47 that the Lord was 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.280 adding to their number 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.719 daily those who were 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:36.400 being saved. 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:38.119 And because I'm out of 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:39.280 time I just have to ask 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:41.719 is that our expectation? 00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:46.059 Or do we think oh 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:47.199 we're that was 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:48.899 Jerusalem but we live 00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:51.359 in Berkeley and God 00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:52.159 doesn't work that way 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:52.500 anymore. 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.839 You see the church 00:34:55.839 --> 00:34:58.359 they were praying that 00:34:58.359 --> 00:35:00.059 the power of the 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.839 gospel would go out 00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.480 from the church. 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.959 And they were 00:35:04.959 --> 00:35:07.659 prioritizing outreach 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:10.119 because the Holy 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:11.319 Spirit was filling the 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:12.379 church with love 00:35:12.379 --> 00:35:13.420 and joy 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.219 and peace. 00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:16.679 And because of that 00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:18.039 people were looking 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:19.039 around at the family 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:19.940 members they had and 00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:21.019 the friends and the 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.779 co-workers and the 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.559 neighbors that they had 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:24.519 and saying Lord before 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.339 we were just kind of 00:35:25.339 --> 00:35:26.039 annoyed with them 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:27.239 because they weren't 00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:27.940 parking their car 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:29.940 correctly or they 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.839 weren't turning in their 00:35:30.839 --> 00:35:31.739 reports at work on time 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.839 but now what I'm really 00:35:32.839 --> 00:35:33.980 concerned about is where 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.460 are they going 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:34.940 ultimately? 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:37.639 what's going to happen 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.460 to them eternally? 00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.619 And they began to pray 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:41.440 Lord let your kingdom 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.340 come in his life. 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.440 Lord let heaven come 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.820 down into her heart. 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:48.019 Lord open up their 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:51.579 hearts so that they 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.619 might be dissatisfied 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:53.480 and say there's got to 00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.500 be more to life than 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:54.960 this. 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.440 Lord open up a door of 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.260 opportunity when I 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:59.460 when I invite them over 00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.440 to my table would you 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.940 please would you please 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:03.059 let them feel the warm 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.059 welcome of the father? 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:07.400 Lord open my lips so 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.619 that I can ask better 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.340 questions. 00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.740 Open my ears so that I 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:13.000 can be a curious 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.860 listener. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.360 Give me courage. 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:17.639 Open my heart so that 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.519 I can have a simple 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:19.760 conversation that become 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.000 a serious conversation 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:22.380 that becomes a 00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.519 spiritual conversation 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:26.039 because what we're 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:27.059 expecting as a church 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:28.000 Lord is that you want 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.200 to add to your number 00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:31.240 those who are being 00:36:31.240 --> 00:36:31.780 saved. 00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:31.820 ignored. 00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:34.960 And so the question 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.320 is is that what we 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:36.840 pray for? 00:36:38.080 --> 00:36:39.320 Is that our priority? 00:36:40.220 --> 00:36:41.120 And is that our 00:36:41.120 --> 00:36:41.660 expectation? 00:36:42.240 --> 00:36:43.960 To be a learning 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:45.860 church, a caring 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.780 church, a worshiping 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:47.600 church, a praying 00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:49.840 church that is 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:51.220 ultimately an evangelizing 00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:51.660 church. 00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:52.900 It may be so in the 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:53.380 name of the father, 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.240 son, and holy spirit. 00:36:54.240 --> 00:36:54.700 Amen.