Yesterday, we explored how a church community is meant to be a gathering, sometimes even just for fun and fellowship.
You might think church has always meant a religious gathering of Christians on Sunday morning. But in the Bible’s Greek language, church had another meaning before that. The Greek word for church is ekklesia which literally means “an assembly” or “gathering of people”. But not just for its own good. It’s called out to be and do something specific. This week’s passage says gathering together is not just for encouragement to love, but for encouragement to good works.
We are meant to be a preview of the world as God wants it to be. We are meant to make people say wow. Unlike the church I described yesterday, people are supposed to look at our community (even at its business meetings) and say, “Wow! That’s how we are supposed to relate with each other, and our world, and God. I can see it now!” They are meant to see the Kingdom of God in us.
Aristides was a philosopher in Athens in the second century and he observed the first Christians, the early church, and this is what he recorded about them in 125 AD.
“They walk in humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them. They love one another. He that has distributes liberally to him that does not have. If they see a stranger they bring him under their own roof and rejoice over him as if he were their own brother.”
Aristides looked at that first church, that earliest gathering of Christians and he said WOW.
Have you ever looked at a team, group or organization and said, wow? Why? Think of the Snowbirds, or a great dance troupe.
Our church today meant to make people say wow…because of our generosity and love of one another, that spills over to the lives of others near us.
We’re intending to becoming this kind of church through our discussion groups first, and also when our discussion groups come together as one community for celebration.
Challenge: If you’re not already meeting with a group, please do. What act of generosity and service can you do with your discussion group, or family, that will make others in your life say wow? Think of one thing internal to your group that you do for each other, and one thing your group does for others.
Reminder: Last week we saw the importance of reading the Bible together in sync, so our new daily bible readings start today in our mobile app and web site.
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CloseRyan Sim - May 21, 2014
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer People
We read an important passage yesterday, and today we’ll focus on just the ending. Here it is again: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:32-41 ESV) The audience were “cut to the heart”. Peter’s words transformed them, not into a state of sadness, but into action. They asked, “What shall we do? How do we make this right?” Peter has three steps: Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit. Repent means to turn. This is the first step of change and transformation. If you’ve been heading the wrong way in life, away from God, then the moment of regret and decision to turn around and head back to God is the moment of repentence. Being baptized is a sign that God is washing away someone’s sins. By washing that person on the outside, we show the invisible washing on the inside that only God can do. It’s a public act of having sin washed away from your heart, and having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Receiving the Holy Spirit speaks of continued transformation, well beyond the moment of repentence and baptism, and into the future. The Holy Spirit enables Christians to keep going that new direction, even when it’s hard. What did the Holy Spirit do for disciples? We saw last week that he enabled them to speak of Jesus in every language. These brand new disciples, too, will be sent by Holy Spirit to proclaim good news to everyone in the world. Their numbers are growing, and this good news is meant for everyone of all ages and around the world. 3000 people took on this challenge in one day. They became pioneer people – some of the first members of the church, the global phenomenon of people following Jesus and being transformed by him. Next week, we’ll see what they did, their practices when they gathered, and how their actions changed. But first, Question: What do you think changed for those 3000 people? Internally, spiritually, but also relationally?
Related Topics: Early Church, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Pioneer, Spirit, Transformation | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Pioneer Story"
We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Wednesday - Change It - Revolutionary | October 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Revolutionary | September 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Revolutionary | September 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Shepherd | September 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Shepherd | September 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Shepherd | September 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Shepherd | September 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Act On It - Shepherd | September 22, 2014 | AGT | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Potential | September 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Potential | September 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Potential | September 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Potential | September 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Potential | September 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Power | September 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Power | September 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Power | September 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Power | September 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Power | September 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Profit | September 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Profit | September 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Profit | September 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Profit | September 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Profit | September 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Philosophers | August 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Politics | August 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and Politics | August 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and Politics | August 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and Politics | August 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and Politics | August 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Prerequisites | August 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 14, 2014 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And Prerequisites | August 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and Pagans | August 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And Pagans | August 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And Pagans | August 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pork | August 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pork | July 31, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pork | July 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday- Study It - Pioneer Pork | July 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pork | July 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Prodigy | July 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Prodigy | July 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Prodigy | July 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Progress | July 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Progress | July 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Progress | July 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Progress | July 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Progress | July 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Players | July 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Players | July 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Players | July 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Players | July 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Players | July 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pain | July 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pain | July 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pain | July 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Pain | July 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pain | June 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Priorities | June 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Priorities | June 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Priorities | June 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Priorities | June 24, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Priorities | June 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Proof | June 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Proof | June 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Proof | June 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Proof | June 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Proof | June 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Pushback | June 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Pushback | June 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Pushback | June 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Pushback | June 10, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Pushback | June 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Preaching | June 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Preaching | June 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Preaching | June 4, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Preaching | June 3, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Preaching | June 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Practices | May 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Practices | May 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Practices | May 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Practices | May 27, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Practices | May 26, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Act On It - Pioneer People | May 23, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer People | May 22, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer People | May 21, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer People | May 20, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer People | May 19, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Spirit | May 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Spirit | May 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Spirit | May 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Spirit | May 13, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Spirit | May 12, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pioneer Story | May 9, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Story | May 8, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer Story | May 7, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Story | May 6, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer Story | May 5, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - 2014 Status Update - Grace in Lifestyle | May 2, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - 2014 Status Update - Generosity of Resources | May 1, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - 2014 Status Update - God in Worship | April 30, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - 2014 Status Update - Groups in Community | April 29, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - 2014 Status Update - Growth in Discipleship | April 28, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Resurrection | April 25, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Good Friday - Death for Jesus | April 18, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 17, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 16, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 15, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - Death is Coming for Jesus | April 14, 2014 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Disappointment | April 11, 2014 | Watch | Listen |