6/24 at The Gathering
Blake Coffee and Tony Diamond each taught on Sunday, June 24. The videos and listening guides from both those lessons, followed by the scripture, are below.
Core Lesson (Tony Diamond)
His, Ours, Together.
Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35
Core Listening Guide
Never alone
While Christianity relies on individual devotion manifested through belief in Jesus Christ, the Church relies on group devotion to:
- Learning and applying teaching of apostles
- Fellowship
- Breaking of bread / the Lord’s Supper
- Prayer
An investment with eternal payback
Sharing involves both things and time. Our “write a check” culture doesn’t cover all needs. It takes care and concern for and with one another to complete the transaction. We’re truly in this together…with each other and for each other. And the results are eternal.
From Owner to Steward
Step one: stop believing what we have is ours (time, money, things) and begin thinking in terms of it belongs to Him.
Step two: as anyone would treat something of great value entrusted to them, treat all with utmost care and use it as the true owner would want it to be used.
The challenge of our (and all) time
Self-reliance is a trap. It robs us of leaning on others and robs others of supporting us. Itre destroys community and, as a consequence, robs us of both the horizontal and the vertical orientation of the cross.
How much are we acting like a “New Testament Church,”
really in Christianity together?
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Venture Lesson (Blake Coffee)
Living Our “Life Together”
Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35
Venture Listening Guide
The basic elements of New Testament community (i.e., life together as Christ-followers) have never changed: Bible study together, forging friendships, breaking bread together, and praying with and for each other.
At the heart of New Testament community is not any specific form of sharing, nor any particular structure for ministry; rather, it is simply a desire to know each other better and to minister to one another’s needs.
We (not God) are the ones who came up with structure and “rules” about who should be ministering to whom and how. Sometimes, out of the desire of my heart, I just need to break a few of those rules and go help someone who needs help.
Christ followers understand that none of their possessions belong to them, that we are all merely stewards to whom God has entrusted some of His possessions. That changes how we treat what we have.
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Scripture
Acts 2:41-47; Acts 4:32-35 (New American Standard Bible)
Acts 2:41-47
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 4:32-35
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Next: Always Encouraging Acts 4:36-37; 11:19-26; 15:36-40
