The Community of Believers

Acts 2:42-47

 

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.

 

Last week in the Philippines I was marvelling at how they live.  They are poorer than us, less comforts, less money, less food, no big screen TVs. But they have something we simply don't have in Australia... A true sense of community.

 

They live, eat, sleep, learn and worship in community. They share everything, from thongs and food to possessions or even children. And guess what... They are much happier on the whole than we are!

 

We sit alone in front of TVs, surf the Internet alone, drive alone in our cars, we rarely even car pool. Aussies crave community, but we live alone and for ourselves or at best our immediate family.

 

The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together, and we will be caught up together and spend eternity together. And eternity is a long day time to spend with people you don't like, so learn to love people now!  You’re not on your own anymore. You're community, you're family!

 

The early church understood this, they did things together and their lives were intertwined and connected with each other.

 

THE COMMUNITY OF TREES

 

The largest living things on the planet are Californian redwood trees. Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old. You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But that is not the case. Redwoods have a very shallow root system. The roots of these trees are, however, intertwined. They are tied in with each other; interlocked. Thus, when the storms come and the winds blow the redwoods still stand.

 

As we intertwine ourselves, we form community and become stronger. 

 

So many Christians today love God but hate church, and I get it because I've been there. I personally have suffered abuse at the hands of pastors and leaders, and that's why going ahead I am absolutely committed to not abusing you. As your pastor I want community and fellowship, I don't want servants or slaves!

 

The Greek word for fellowship comes from a root meaning common or shared. So fellowship means common participation in something either by giving what you have to the other person or receiving what he or she has. Give and take is the essence of fellowship, and give and take must be the way of fellowship in the common life of the body of Christ.

 

So getting back to our text, the first church devoted themselves to 4 things... Teaching, fellowship, communion and other meals together and prayer. Today, on our launch Sunday, I want to look at fellowship, at community...

 

 

THE DEATH OF THE LONE RANGER

 

Hi Ho Silver, away!

 

Author Randy Frazee says, "Scripture leads one to conclude that God intends the church, not to be one more bolt on the wheel of activity in our lives, but the very hub at the center of one’s life…..”

 

Yet in the church today we have loads of Lone Rangers, people who love God but refuse to lock into a church community for a variety of reasons and/or problems, with the church or with themselves.

 

But God designed the church, and Christ loved and prayed for the church in John 17.  Why? Because He knows the value of people living in fellowship. He does not want Lone Rangers Christians, so before you say, "Hi Ho Silver, away!" Stop and ask God what He wants for your life!

 

The church or a local community of believers is essential to our spiritual well-being. In the New Testament there are no “Lone Ranger” Christians. Believers needed each other and God expected them to be there for each other. 

 

Likewise, we need each other and God expects us to be there for each other. God has ordained that we play a vital part in each other’s faith. 

 

God in fact commands us to be in fellowship, to be in community and to be a part of a church...

 

Hebrews 10:24-25

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

He tells us that in unity He commands a blessing (Psalm 133).

 

Yet so many are so hurt or so discouraged they won't go to church. They might attend occasionally but never fully engage, they might visit a big church but feel overlooked and lonely in a crowd.

 

You can have 500 Facebook friends and be the loneliest guy on earth!

 

I'll be honest, I'm not about to tell you that I have it all together, or that Coast Church has all the answers.  We are a family, warts and all, and we have prickly, reactive, selfish and distant people, like anybody else.  We are not superior, but maybe it is our weakness and God's greatness that can make the difference in our community.

 

Or as Henri Nouwen points out, “We are unified by our common weaknesses, our common failures, our common disappointments and our common inconsistencies.”

 

So what is the big deal about community, and how do we achieve it?

 

 

1. COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BUILDS STRENGTH

 

We all face trials, troubles and tragedies in life. That's life, isn't it? 

 

Yet we do not have to face them all alone. God intends that we be supported, strengthened, encouraged and empowered through the community of believers. As we face the storms and temptations of life we should receive strength from each other. That's God’s plan. 

 

It works for trees, and it works for people.

 

If you are facing trials, tests of faith, heartaches or loneliness, you cannot afford to stand alone or try to make it on your own. 

 

If you feel God is distant, and we all do at times, then without fellowship you will fall away in your faith. In fact, many who are struggling with sin pull away from fellowship, and more the isolate themselves the more they get entangled in their sinful ways. When someone mysteriously falls away from fellowship for no apparent reason, frequently sin or discouragement are at the heart of it.

 

During the times when we are overwhelmed by trials, heartaches and the burdens of life we, too, need God's people to strengthen and encouraged us.  When we wonder if God really does love us and care for us we need God’s people. God, in His providence, has chosen to come to us through His people. 

 

Through our fellow believers we can sense and know God’s love and care. When we are loved and cared for by another believer, especially during painful times, we gain a new sense of God’s love at work through them for us.

 

Author Gary Burge says “When God ‘s love feels distant or non-existent, the body of Christ’s love is real and tangible….”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

 

Sadi Sundar Singh the great Christian Indian teacher related a true story of traveling in Tibet when a snow storm hit him and his Tibetan guide.

 

"Suddenly, we stumbled upon a man who had slipped from the path and was lying in the snow. Looking more closely, I discovered that the man was still alive, though barely. 'Come,' I said to my companion, 'help me try to bring this unfortunate man to safety.' But my companion was upset and frightened for his life. He answered: 'If we try to carry that man, none of us will ever reach the village. We will all freeze. Our only hope is to go on as quickly as possible, and that is what I intend to do. You will come with me if you value your life.' Without another word and without looking back, he set off down the path.

 

"I could not bring myself to abandon the helpless traveler while life remained in him, so I lifted him on my back and threw my blanket around us both as best I could. Slowly and painstakingly, I picked my way along the steep, slippery path with my heavy load. Soon it began to snow, and I could make out the way forward only with great difficulty.

 

"How we made it, I do not know. But just as daylight was beginning to fade, the snow cleared and I could see houses a few hundred yards ahead. Near me, on the ground, I saw the frozen body of my guide...he had succumbed to the cold and died, while the unfortunate traveler and I made it to safety. The exertion of carrying him and the contact of our bodies had created enough heat to save us both. This is the way of service. No one can live without the help of others, and in helping others, we receive help ourselves."

 

 

When the storms of life hit, we need to be standing close to other Christians. We need each other; we can’t stand alone, and the closer we stand, the better we will hold up.

 

 

2. COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BUILDS MINISTRY

 

The community of faith is crucial to our spiritual well-being because it is the place where we find special opportunities to minister or serve.  “Those in the community of faith do not merely absorb Christ’s love individually, their changed lives also reflect his love corporately.” 

 

We all have a God-given responsibility to reach out and minister to each other. Love acts; it serves God and others.

 

Acts 2:44 says, All the believers were together and had everything in common. 

 

Their ministry to each other included sharing of material goods to meet temporal needs. 

 

They didn't grasp material possessions, they shared them, especially when times were tough.

 

This is still God’s plan for meeting the needs of His hurting children. If we are not ministering to one another through a community of faith like Coast Church, then many needs go unmet and many reach the erroneous conclusion that God doesn’t care about them.

 

And where else provides as good a vehicle to pursue your ministry, whatever that may be. As your pastor, I am committed to encouraging your ministry and giving you opportunities to minister to others, here, in the Philippines or wherever you feel led. Talk to me, because God has called me to help make your ministry dreams come true!

 

Galatians 6:9-10

 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

If you want to be used of God to touch and impact people's lives, Coast Church is a great vehicle for you, whatever your dream for your ministry.

 

As a young music ministry, I wanted to grow and sing all over the world. I was told that fastest way to do this was not to promote yourself, but to serve a man of God. I chose to serve evangelist Bill Newman, and forsook my own ministry ambitions. I went from doing a whole concert before 50-100 people, to singing 4 songs before tens of thousands in some far flung exotic location. My dream came true when I decided to serve another ministry. And so it is with your ministry here.

 

So I am challenging all of you to get involved in Coast Church. Attend a Connect Group, help and support leaders, bake a meal for someone, give someone a lift. Look for opportunities to minister, and don't give up, for you will reap a reward before you know it!

 

My job is to make your ministry dreams come true, because I take seriously God's challenge for me to train and equip the saints. 

 

Ephesians 4:11-12

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

 

If you want a vehicle for your dreams, come and serve here at Coast Church. Don't demand, don't self promote, don't try and manipulate me, just serve and watch God build your ministry.

 

Psalms 127:1

 

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

 

3. COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BRINGS GUIDANCE

 

The community of faith is crucial to our well-being because it is the source of much needed guidance, direction and even correction. 

 

As someone has aptly said, “we need the community of believers because none of us is as smart as all of us!” 

 

Ephesians 3:10

 

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known...

 

 

God wants to guide us but he has chosen to do it through His people in the community of faith. 

 

As we grow in the word and prayer together, He will guide and lead us, and use others to speak into our lives and situations.

 

 As we share our lives together God counsels us with advice that improves our relationships with Him, spouses, children and those around us. He guides us regarding proper priorities, values, morals and ethics. 

 

Through our interactions with each other and His Word He helps us make right choices and good decisions.

 

Stand alone, and you face making decisions in your own wisdom. Today, when right is wrong and wrong is right a lot of times, God uses the church to guide us away from sinful paths. So many ways of the world look so enticing and they are so acceptable. 

 

Hebrews 3:13

 

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

 

A community give you accountability, wisdom, experience and encouragement. A community can save you from the schemes of the devil, the temptations of the flesh and the stupidity of your own stupid mistakes.

 

It is a fact: we all need the community of faith more than we often realise.

 

4. COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BRINGS DIFFICULTIES

 

I was talking to a well know pastor this week who quipped, "Church would be a lot easier without people!" A joke of course, because the church is people.  I won't sugar coat this...

 

Being in the community of faith is not without its difficulties and frustrations. Know why?  Because it is made up of sinners. Hurt people hurt people... But the mark of community - true biblical community - is not the absence of conflict and difficulties but the presence of a reconciling, graceful spirit. 

 

Every community has porcupine Christians... They've got a lot of good points, but you can't get near them. In our humanness we all do things to rub others the wrong way and we all offend or get offended at some point. We all, at times, will be hurt and we will hurt others. Our old sinful nature often causes problems.

 

Nevertheless, we must not back away from being part of the fellowship of faith. 

 

So many leave or threaten to leave at the first sign of conflict, and if you do that you'll never find a church family. Don't try and find the perfect church... If you do, don't join it because you'll mess it up.

 

GET COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY

 

We must make an unwavering commitment to a community of believers where we can be strengthened, find places of ministry and receive much needed guidance. We must do this regardless of what others say, do, don't do, imply, insinuate or blow up about!

 

The benefits of a great church far outweigh the costs. People who believe in you, stand with you, love you, support you... People who actually like you. 

 

But fellowship doesn't just happen... You need to make an effort and get involved. We have great connect groups, see the sign up sheets at the back, and we have our courses starting next Sunday. We have hours of fellowship over coffee this morning.

 

Church, If we want to grow taller and wider and stronger then our roots need to go deep down into God, we have to desire Him and to know Him more. But our roots also need to spread out and connect with the roots of others like those redwoods, they achieve what no other tree can because they stand together. Let’s put roots down as we grow in God and let’s spread those roots out wide as we grow with each other into a community, into a family.

 

Today, rather than asking you forward for prayer, I'm going to ask you to pray for someone next to you.

 

Ephesians 2:19

 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,