UNSTOPPABLE LOVE

We are inspired by a heart-warming story when people help those who suffered a tragedy or have learned they have a devastating disease. When there is a weather disaster, people from all over the country step-up to help. The United States is well known around the world for its humanitarian aid to other countries, and the citizens give to a host of organization seeking to help various forms of suffering. A few years ago our church collected many items for northwest Africa. Also think about all of the love involved in the Operation Christmas Child. While motives for giving to these people and groups may vary, giving within the church is motivated by love. This is a love for Christ expressed in love for the person. Out of our common love for Jesus, the early church expressed love for each other. Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

Read Acts 2:41-42

Due to so many Jews accepting Peter’s message on Pentecost, this became one of the most important events in establishing the Christian message. Besides being the unstoppable message, it also was the unstoppable love that met the spiritual needs of those in attendance. The new converts joyfully spent much time together studying the apostles’ teaching. Who were those ordinary men to do the teaching? They had n theological degrees to display on their walls. These men had spent their young years studying the Scripture in synagogue schools. They did their “graduate work” under Jesus Himself. The experience of the resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost served as powerful catalysts for recall. The apostles were qualified to teach the new converts.

Real fellowship, always a hallmark of the church, expressed itself in two ways: breaking bread and prayers. Note in verse 42 that the believers’ devotion in prayer helped to bring the community together. Though the theology of the Lord’s Supper was far from formed, there is little doubt that this community from the first days of its existence remembered the Lord’s sacrifice through the reenactment of the Last Supper. While many churches exercise an exclusive protection of the Lord’s Supper, others let individual worshippers make their own decision whether to participate. Each person can submit to the judgment of God as to his or her own worthiness for this celebration.

As has been noted previously, about 3,000 people became new believers when Peter preached the Good News about Christ. These Christians were united with the other believers, taught by the apostles, and included in the prayer meetings and fellowship. New believers in Christ need to be in groups, where they can learn God’s Word, pray and mature in the faith. If we had just begun a relationship with Christ, we would need to seek out other believers for fellowship, prayer and teaching. Wait a minute- that is true for all of us no matter when we started our relationship with Jesus. This is the way to grow.

Read Acts 2:43-45

The new community was further flavored by a healthy fear. Indications are that all manner of marvelous deeds were done in their midst. Some of these deeds had to at least confuse these new believers- but many most of them had felt some true fear. Regardless, a contagious commonality sprang up among them. They sold what they had and shared everything together. Through the centuries we who cling to things too much have tried to put that communalism in “perspective”. Many people probably have missed some great adventures in living while unnecessarily weighing ourselves down with a frantic pursuit of things. History does have its examples of communities that have lived selflessly with varying degrees of success, but most of us remain suspicious of such extreme expressions of church. One spin-off of that primitive practice has been an endless series of grand philanthropic acts. If we have been unwilling to sell all, we have at least been willing to sell some for the benefits of others. We can admit that we have not gone far enough, but the world is infinitely better off because of the distance we have gone.

Recognizing the other believers as brothers and sisters in the family of God, the Christians in Jerusalem shared their things so that all could benefit from God’s gifts. It is tempting- especially for those who have material wealth – to cut ourselves off from one another, concerning ourselves with our interests and enjoying only our own little piece of the world. But as part of God’s spiritual family, it is our responsibility to help one another in every way possible. God’s family works best when its members work together. Unstoppable love meets physical needs: Unity, Selfless ness, and Mutual Care.

Read Acts 2:46-47

These verses show how social gatherings and meetings creates opportunities to share the gospel. A summary of the flavor of the first weeks of the church is given in verse 46. They frequented the Temple (they had no other place of worship to which they could go; nor would it occurred to them to find another place); they joyfully fellowshipped together in an attitude of Praise and celebration. And for those first few months, before the radical nature of the demands of the new community began to emerge, the church found favor with all the people. Every day enthusiastic followers were added to their number.

Never again would life be so blissful for the church. They were honestly fulfilling the best of who they perceived themselves to be, and their world was enthusiastic. As time moved along, however, their popularity dramatically and painfully waned. Acceptance gave way to suspicion, which in turn gave way to ostracism and overt persecution.

A common misconception about the first Christians (who were Jews) was that they rejected the Jewish religion. But those believers saw Jesus’ message and resurrection as the fulfillment of everything they knew and believed from the Old Testament. The Jewish believers at first did not separate themselves from the rest of the Jewish community. They still went to the Temple and synagogues for worship and instruction in the Scriptures. But their belief in Jesus created great friction with Jews who didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, believing Jews were force to meet in private homes for what we now call the Lord’s Supper, prayer, and teaching about Jesus. By the end of the first century, many of these Jewish believers were excommunicated from their synagogue.

A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ. The Jerusalem church’s zeal for worship and brotherly love was contagious. A healthy, loving church will grow in numbers. So we all need to do what we can to make our church a place that will attract others to Christ.

This unstoppable love was real and as a result, “the Lord added these new believers to the community of faith.”