I want to talk with you today – and for the next several weeks, about the “C” word: COMMITMENT.
Some people say that the world we live in is afraid of commitment. I disagree. I believe that people will be committed to that which is personally valuable to them.
As people of faith – it is appropriate for us to review and reflect on our commitments.
Specifically, I want us to consider what God expects of us in terms of our commitments as His people.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I see in this text three major commitments that the early church made and kept:
Commitments to…
ß Communion – deepening relationship with Jesus Christ
ß Community – deepening relationship with Jesus’ people
ß Commission – deepening relationship with Jesus’ world
I’m going to give a brief overview of these commitments today, and then we will go into depth on each one for the next several weeks.
I. COMMUNION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Nothing is more important – or has greater value – than your relationship with Christ! He is all that matters.
Paul said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” Philippians 3:10, NIV.
Now the early church pursued their relationship with Christ with a major commitment to...
vs. 43 – Commitment to GOD’S WORD
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” vs. 43
They were filled with awe because they encountered the Living Word of Christ – they felt His Holy Presence.
Doesn’t that sound valuable to you? Doesn’t that sound like something worth being committed to?
My desire as your pastor – and as a fellow journeyer – is that in our gatherings, the Presence of Christ would be felt by all!
And as we pursue the presence of Christ – we will also experience a new level of…
vs. 46 – Commitment to WORSHIP
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” vs. 46
The early church made gathering together to worship and praise Him a major priority! I believe that God is calling us into a deeper experience of Christ through more intensive and Spirit-directed worship.
As we get closer to Christ, we will also get closer to Christ’s people! The second major area of commitment that I see in Acts 2 is a commitment to…
II. COMMUNITY: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS’ PEOPLE
Again, Acts 2 teaches us two aspects of HOW to achieve this commitment:
Vs. 42 and 46 – Commitment to LEARNING
Vs. 44 – Commitment to LOVING
The commitment to LEARNING is different than a commitment to teaching. Most churches are filled with tremendous TEACHING, but teaching isn’t what counts – LEARNING is what matters. Look at vs. 42 and vs. 46 and you’ll see that the early church was a group of people dedicated to LEARNING through the Apostle’s teaching, genuine Christian relationships (iron sharpening iron) and the power of Love Feasts.
And the other commitment that leads to deepening relationships with Christ’s people is the vital commitment to loving one another.
Vs. 44 says… “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44, NIV.
These people became dear friends. So much so that they not only spend great amounts of time together, but they all experienced genuine ‘commonality’.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34, NIV.
Again, we will go into the depths of this in a few weeks.
The third major commitment is a commitment to Christ’s COMMISSION
III. COMMISSION: DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JESUS’ WORLD.
The word ‘commission’ speaks to our task as God’s people. Christ has given us a specific task – that to impact the people around us with the love of Christ – that they might enter into relationship with Christ!
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14, NIV.
The problem is, we’ve been hidden for too long.
I see in two specific commitments that the early church made in order to fulfill this commission.
Vs. 45 Commitment to SERVING
Vs. 47 Commitment to SHARING
Look at verse 45:
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45, NIV.
Now that is serving the needs of the world. And by meeting genuine needs – the world takes notice of the reality of who Jesus is.
Not only are we called to SERVE the unbelieving pre-Christian world, we are all called to a commitment to SHARE the good news of Jesus.
Look at verse 47: “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47, NIV.
God added to their number those who were being saved – as the people of God shared the Gospel with them. We have an amazing story to share – the story of what Christ has done for each and every one of us personally. And as we live out this commitment – Christ will add people to His family!
CONCLUSION:
Commitment to Communion with Christ
Commitment to Community with Christ’s people
Commitment to Commission to Christ’s world
Question: Are these commitments worthy of your investment?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment