The Gospel Embodied in Community¹

As we continue to experience the Word of the Lord together, Let us Pray. Great Spirit, you have stirred in us individually, but not only so, you have also stirred in the world. We ask that you move in us and among us now, so that we might live and grow in you. Speak Lord, your servants are listening. If these words are not Your Word, may they be forgotten and come to naught. But if they be Thy Word, may they adhere to our hearts, forever transforming us from glory into glory, into the creatures you would have us be, Thou who art our Rock and Redeemer, Amen.

You may have heard me talk about how certain things in the Bible were never originally there. Things like the subheadings that many Bibles have in them were never in the original documents. Things like verse numbers or chapter numbers, never in there. In fact, there is a long standing joke among Biblical scholars about the person who is responsible for putting them in there. Robert Estienne, or Stephens for the English transliteration, is said to have been riding from Paris to Lyons “on horseback” whereupon he undertook this mammoth task. The horse is said to have jumped a bit as Robert Estienne put his separated pencil mark on the text. This is to explain how it sometimes looks odd. A first two verses of a new chapter would really seem to go with a previous chapter, that’s when the horse jumped a little, or the like.

There are plenty of other things in Bibles that were never in the original documents. One of those things is spaces. Parchment was in rare supply, and margins were never going to happen. And spaces between words were a waste of such a limited supply of paper, so they were a luxury never used. \ Another thing not in the originals are those notes at the bottom of your pages. I have several in this Bible. You know the notes, the ones which tell you what it means. I’ve known well too many people who believe in those as much as, if not more than, the words that come above the dividing line that compose the actual bible. And another thing that wasn’t on most originals is titles. When Paul wrote to the people in Colossia, he didn’t put the title on it, “Paul’s letter to the Colossians.” Though I like that idea. I’m going to incorporate it in my email letters. “Matt’s email to Melissa, his wife, about what should be for dinner tonight.” Maybe it will be a fad that will catch on. \ Maybe not.

All of that is to say, the book of Acts is mistitled, in my humble opinion. People call it Acts of the Apostles, and certainly the book includes some historical references to what happened to a number of the Apostles. However, I think in the book, and especially in this chapter, the real protagonist is the Holy Spirit, enlivening and driving the young church. Peter and Paul have their place in the story of Acts, but neither is developed with much depth of detail. They are important characters, but only insomuch as they fulfill the real goal of the book, community that is moved by the Holy Spirit. So, I propose a change in the title. Lets move it from ‘Acts of the Apostles’ to ‘Acts of the Holy Spirit that move the followers of Christ into further community with each other and with the whole world. Further, this book includes some of the work and life of the Apostles, as they learn to live together for God.’ What do you think, catchy no? We may not have enough parchment for that title today.

One other thing to note, before we get to today’s reading. Chapter 2 is often remembered for its first 41 verses, recounting the story of Pentecost. If it were a newspaper story written today, we would expect verse 41 to be the end of the story. There is a large enthusiasm, and Luke writes that three thousand souls were added to their number. Luke intends that to impress, but we see today’s world that is plagued by periodic outbursts and superficiality. In the parlance of our times, times where 3,000 souls are added often signifies a short term high that does not have root in long term commitment. We have seen revivals and outbursts of piety come and go.

But Luke will not leave us there. Instead he shows the way to embody the Pentecost enthusiasm. So, hear now The Word of the Lord as it comes to us in Acts. Listen. Acts 2.42-47. The Word of the Lord…Thanks be to God.

There are several specific things that go on in this post Pentecost experience, where the embodiment of the gospel is described in the passage today.

First, they devote themselves to the apostle’s teaching. The church is not meant to drift from one momentary emotional high to another, or to re-create Pentecost on a weekly basis. Rather, the church moves immediately to the task of teaching, keeping itself learning about what it is and what it is called to be. The church certainly exists for the people outside of it. Certainly the church exists to perform charitable acts, and to work for justice, to feed the poor, and to bring about the expansion of the kingdom of God. But the church does not exist solely for that purpose. The church also exists as a means of a way for people who already live in the kingdom to continue to live in the kingdom, and continue to grow into who they are meant to be.

I always ask folks who are in a joining type of class this question, “Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?” I ask it of Discover class attendees as well as Confirmation classes. The response I usually get is that no, going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. And this is correct. But folks usually add that going to church helps them, it keeps them on the right path, teaches them ways to grow, and helps them along in their journey. And this is also correct. Mountain-top experiences will almost always go hollow unless you have the grounding beneath it. We devote ourselves to teaching.

Second, we see that the people of God devote themselves to fellowship. Around here, that is not an admonition, but is an affirmation. It has been said that the real miracle of Acts 2 is that people from so diverse backgrounds, “from every nation under heaven,” reads verse 5. The church is in fellowship, especially with a diverse group of folks. In 6 days, or as I am counting it, 149 hours from now, we will begin to do one of the things that I think helps define this church. The Fish Fry and Crawfish Boil is one of my favorite things of the year. And not just in church. I mean that the Fish Fry and Crawfish Boil is one of my favorite things of the year, period. Up there with Christmas. Because fellowship is what makes us the church, it is what helps us grow, it is a foretaste of the kingdom to come. Fellowship is something we will do for eternity in the kingdom of God, and we get to do it in doses here on earth. So, when we fellowship, we get to experience heaven on earth. And the church is supposed to be about that kind of thing, because it strengthens us on our journey, and reminds us of what is to come.

Third, the church participates in the breaking of the bread and prayers. Remember that Luke wrote Acts, come on, say it with me, Acts of the Holy Spirit that move the followers of Christ into further community with each other and with the whole world. Further, this book includes some of the work and life of the Apostles, as they learn to live together for God. Catchy, no? Anyway, remembering that Luke wrote Acts, go back into his gospel, and find how many times we read that Jesus was at table with the disciples. Eating together is a mark of unity, of deep friendship, a visible sign that barrier like social barriers are broken down. Probably, the early church didn’t really distinguish between merely breaking bread, and the breaking bread as a sacramental religious activity. Anytime they were together eating, anytime they prayed together, they though of themselves by doing so proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes again. The table becomes a holy place, and eating together is a sacred activity. So, we do things like Wednesday night Suppers and monthly Fellowship dinners, and Fish Frys and BBQs and Easter Brunches because it makes us into the community that God calls the church to be.

Fourth, they gave of their possessions. By participating in the community, they were filled with gladness and generosity, so they gave of what they had, so that needs of the community could be properly met. This has never meant just needs outside of the church, though that is certainly included. They gave so that the community could continue to thrive, so that the teachings could continue to be great, so that the fellowship would flourish, so that the breaking of bread would maintain and be enhanced. Because of their joy, they gave.

I have mentioned before my history with this passage.

Lastly, and this one isn’t as spelled out like the others, there is a sense of joy involved with the church. The church from its inception has always been meant to be a positive experience, and the people who are in its community are required to bring a sense of joy to it. There is less a sense of duty than there is a sense of joy. You don’t come to church because you have to, or because you ought to, but because it brings joy. Which is ironic, because in a recent survey half of the people who go to church report that the main reason they do is out of a sense of duty. Nothing wrong with duty, but the early church was founded on joy. Bring joy to it, that is the purpose of it.

So, in summation, this passage, this book of Acts, is about community. May we find good teaching that helps us grow, vibrant fellowship that puts us in touch with the kingdom of God, a place to break bread and pray with each other, so that our lives take on a sacramental character, opportunities to give, and may we find joy, so that our lives will be known by it. There is in our house a hanging cross-stitch. It is from my Gramma, and is an old Minnesotan saying. May our lives be born of love, kept by compassion, nurtured by patience, and known by joy. Amen.