What does a Christian Community look like?
Today I am not going to give a sermon, but instead lead a discussion, or a Bible study. I want us to look very closely at our readings from Acts for today and since it is a passage about Christian community, I think that it is important that we as a community examine this passage rather than following the more traditional format of having me, the assigned preacher for the day, prepare my thoughts on the passage and present them to you.
So take out your scripture insert and have it in front of you for reference while we struggle with some questions about this passage together. Let’s first listen to the passage again.
Acts 2:42-47
Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
So to summarize, the members of this early Christian community:
–They devoted themselves:
–to the apostles’ teaching
–to the apostles’ fellowship
–to the breaking of bread
–to the prayers
Which if you look closely at our Baptismal covenant, which all Baptized Christians promise to follow, one of the promises we make is to continue doing these exact for things by the way (Book of Common Prayer page 304). But anyway, to continue the summary, these early Christians also:
–were together
–had all things in common
–sold their possessions and goods and distributed the proceeds to all as any had need
–spent much time together in the temple
–broke bread at home
–ate their food with glad and generous hearts
–praised God
–had the goodwill of all the people
What might it be like to be a member of this community?
What would one have to give up to be part of such a community?
What would one have to take on to do so?
What would be the gain of living such a life together?
What might be the cost, price or downside?
As you look around your world today, where do you see people committed to one another and to a set of core beliefs in this same way?
How would you describe those people?
What are they teaching and believing?
What do you see them doing and not doing?
What wonders and signs do you see happening among them?
Day by day, do you see their numbers growing or diminishing?
What wonders and signs might happen in your life were you to live such a life with others?
Where do you see marks of such a community in the congregation of your church?
To the degree to which you see or experience them, what wonders and signs are happening among you?
What would have to change, shift, or tilt in your congregation were you to devote yourselves to the things these people do?
How might the list of activities in the weekly bulletin or newsletter be different?
What difference might it make in the budget of the congregation?
How do you suppose the numbers being added or leaving might change?
What wonders and signs might happen among us if we were to devote ourselves to the things that these early Christians did?
How would we begin implementing some of the things we have talked about this morning?
I would like us to close this discussion time, by having all of us turn to page 304 and let us together renew our baptismal covenant.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.
