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CloseRyan Sim - May 27, 2014
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Practices
Remember what we studied last week? After the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ followers and enabled them to do their mission, we heard about Peter preaching to crowds, and 3000 deciding to follow Jesus at once. With 3000 people joining, they shifted instantly from a handful of people to a crowd, and needed to institutionalize a bit. That’s not a bad thing, it’s necessary with large groups. Otherwise, it’s too easy to lose sight of the group’s values, stories, etc. A group that large needs some practices to help. Listen to how their first communities were described by Luke in the book of Acts: And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV) The Apostle’s Teaching and Fellowship This refers to continuity with those who knew Jesus, and learned directly from him. They were devoted to learning Jesus’ original teaching, not changing it. In addition, they were not just isolated individuals, but a group…a community who spent time together around Jesus, and then in the upper room after that. These same activities spread to others who decided to follow Jesus. They had something to learn, and a community in which to learn it. Classrooms are important opportunities to discuss, refine, argue, and ultimately learn better than simply by reading alone, and a community was important here as well. Breaking of the Bread At first glance, this might just sound like they ate together. They probably did. Letters in the Bible written by one church leader, Paul, describe some feasts when Christians gathered. Many cultures gather around food, Christians are the same. But there is probably more to it than just a meal. The night before he died, Jesus gathered his disciples for a Passover meal. He took bread, broke it and said this is my body broken for you. He took a cup of wine, and said this is my blood shed for you. Whenever you do this, do it in remembrance of me. With shorthand like “the bread and wine”, it seems pretty likely Luke, the author of Acts, was referring to this practice we now know as “communion” or the Eucharist as well as or instead of a meal. They’d gathered, so it seems entirely appropriate they might have done what |Jesus told them to do whenever they gathered. Many years have passed since apostles taught and gathered, but these two practices would have helped. We’ll see two more tomorrow, but in the meantime, Question: What is our connection to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship today? In what ways is fellowship distinct from socializing?
Related Topics: Community, Discipleship, Early Church, Growth, Holy Spirit, Pioneer, Practices, Spirit | 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 From "Pioneer Story"
Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer StoryMay 5, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer StoryMay 6, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer StoryMay 7, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer StoryMay 8, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer StoryMay 9, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer SpiritMay 12, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer SpiritMay 13, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer SpiritMay 14, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer SpiritMay 15, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer SpiritMay 16, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PeopleMay 19, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PeopleMay 20, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PeopleMay 21, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PeopleMay 22, 2014 |
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Friday - Act On It - Pioneer PeopleMay 23, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PracticesMay 26, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PracticesMay 27, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PracticesMay 28, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PracticesMay 29, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PracticesMay 30, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PreachingJune 2, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PreachingJune 3, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PreachingJune 4, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PreachingJune 5, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PreachingJune 6, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PushbackJune 9, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PushbackJune 10, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PushbackJune 11, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PushbackJune 12, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PushbackJune 13, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer ProofJune 16, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer ProofJune 17, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer ProofJune 18, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer ProofJune 19, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer ProofJune 20, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PrioritiesJune 23, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PrioritiesJune 24, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PrioritiesJune 25, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PrioritiesJune 26, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PrioritiesJune 27, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PainJune 30, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PainJuly 1, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PainJuly 2, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PainJuly 3, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PainJuly 4, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PlayersJuly 7, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PlayersJuly 8, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PlayersJuly 9, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PlayersJuly 10, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PlayersJuly 11, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer ProgressJuly 14, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer ProgressJuly 15, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer ProgressJuly 16, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer ProgressJuly 17, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer ProgressJuly 18, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer ProdigyJuly 21, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer ProdigyJuly 22, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer ProdigyJuly 23, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer ProdigyJuly 24, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer ProdigyJuly 25, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PorkJuly 28, 2014 |
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Tuesday- Study It - Pioneer PorkJuly 29, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PorkJuly 30, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PorkJuly 31, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PorkAugust 1, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And PagansAugust 4, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And PagansAugust 5, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And PagansAugust 6, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And PagansAugust 7, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and PagansAugust 8, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers And PrerequisitesAugust 11, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers And PrerequisitesAugust 12, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers And PrerequisitesAugust 13, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers And PrerequisitesAugust 14, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and PrerequisitesAugust 15, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and PoliticsAugust 18, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and PoliticsAugust 19, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and PoliticsAugust 20, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and PoliticsAugust 21, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and PoliticsAugust 22, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and PhilosophersAugust 25, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and PhilosophersAugust 26, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and PhilosophersAugust 27, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and PhilosophersAugust 28, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and PhilosophersAugust 29, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and ProfitSeptember 1, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and ProfitSeptember 2, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and ProfitSeptember 3, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and ProfitSeptember 4, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and ProfitSeptember 5, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneers and PowerSeptember 8, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneers and PowerSeptember 9, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneers and PowerSeptember 10, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneers and PowerSeptember 11, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneers and PowerSeptember 12, 2014 |
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Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer PotentialSeptember 15, 2014 |
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Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer PotentialSeptember 16, 2014 |
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Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer PotentialSeptember 17, 2014 |
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Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer PotentialSeptember 18, 2014 |
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Friday - Reflect - Pioneer PotentialSeptember 19, 2014 |
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