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Easter 4: First Reading, Acts 2:42-47
I honestly don’t know if there is any single book of the Bible that is more exciting to me than the Book of Acts. If you want to see what Jesus meant for the church in terms of their life, their dependence, their doctrine, AND the ground of their method, this is the place to plant yourself. For an entire life. Not just that Luke’s writing is that good. It is. But because the church raw, real and ravenous to proclaim is seen on every single page. Martyr’s included. The passage considered in our meditation points the whole church for all time to the keys to the life and growth of the church. And guess where the church usually likes to look? Just about everywhere else. This is holy ground and if we would truly take the position of dependence on the Spirit of Christ, we would learn so much here.
Verse 42 reads, “And they (the disciples) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” The last five verses of the passage speak to us of the result of those four steps. And twice therein, comments on the activity of the Lord adding to His church, His people. Quickly now let’s consider. 1) The Apostles’ Teaching. The disciples were convicted by and committed to the teaching Jesus Christ had authoritatively given through His chosen emissaries. 2) The Fellowship-the disciples loved, sacrificially loved one another. 3) The Breaking of Bread. Eucharist. Holy Communion.The Lord’s Supper was believed to be and experienced as absolutely indispensable for living in Christ. 4) The Prayers. Not prayer as we would normally use the word, but yes the written, prescribed prayers of temple, liturgy, psalter and gathering.
This is what launched the church? This is what sustained the church? This is what could be methodology for the church in 2020 and bring it to the day of Christ’s visible return? Well let’s answer with a question. How do we compare with those first believers? More sophisticated? More educated? Wealthier? Here’s one: more dependent? Ah. Yes, now there is an issue to really chew on. I believe from the testimony of the rest of Acts that the newborn church received the Holy Spirit as direct promise-fulfillment from God and knew that they dare not make a move without His power and guidance. And it's interesting to note that nowhere else in the New Testament are we given such a succinct listing of the “necessities” for the people of God.
Am I naive enough to believe that the church only needs these four elements, under the hand of the Risen Christ, to thrive in any age? In any culture? In any circumstance? Yes. Yes I am.
- Read the entire second chapter of Acts a few times through between now and Sunday. Then go back and revisit the questions in our devotion. I think you will be blessed.
