They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
(Today’s post is inspired by the launch of the outstanding book Simple Church: Unity Within Diversity – edited by Eric Carpenter. For more information about the book click here.)
As significant events go, few beat the events of the day of Pentecost.
The Spirit falls on men and women. They are empowered and enabled to speak about the greatness of God in a language that people from different cultures understand. That sets up the opportunity for the good news of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed.
Sometimes my sophisticated and complex brain can look to make more of things, where it’s not necessary. The Holy Spirit is sent to point people to the good news of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Every follower of Jesus follows because of the good news; follows because of the Spirit and follows for God’s glory. The road to follow may be tough and there may be lots of questions along the way, but there’s a remarkable simplicity about it.
Likewise Acts 2 shows a remarkable simplicity about the life of church after the proclamation of the good news:
People dedicate themselves to teaching; to a life of mutual sharing; enjoying meals together; witnessing amazing acts pointing to the Kingdom; living selflessly for the enhancement of all in the community particularly those in need; recognising the importance of constant interaction and engagement; focusing on praising God.
That is not complicated stuff at all. The Spirit motivates followers to live together in order to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. This knowledge is not intellectual alone, it is holistic – it impacts relationships both in and out of God’s family.
It’s sad how we have often complicated it. Often in our convoluted efforts we can miss the point of the purpose of church. In our complications we completely bypass the simplicity of church. As we do so the world misses the glorious witness that happened in the immediate aftermath of Pentecost.
Thankfully the Holy Spirit has not stopped changing hearts and lives. He still transforms individuals by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He still knits the hearts of these individuals together in the glorious expression of the called-out community. He still inspires the selfless living that acts as an amazing witness to reinforce the words of the good news we share with others.
God is still adding to His glorious and simple church those who are being saved.
(For more information on how important this scripture is to our understanding of church check David Alan Black’s brilliant short book Seven Marks of a New Testament Church.)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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