fishwitz - acts 2:42
Kung Fu Hometeam
Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Say it with me: “Here is the church, here is the steeple. Open the doors, and see all the people!”
If you go to Church, why do you go? Why does the Church exist? What is the Church?
Each of these questions could easily become the subject for a doctoral dissertabion. But the pattern we have in scripture begins with this passage: “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Three of Rick Warren’s “Five Purposes” are listed in this verse (discipleship, fellowship, and worship), plus prayer, which is really the sixth purpose. The last two, evangelism and service, come right after this verse. This is what the first century Church focused on.
What does your Church do well? In the congregation I grew up in, “Coffee Hour” was called “The Eighth Sacrament” and sometimes was the best part of Sunday morning. Fellowship is important enough that God made it one of the six Purposes of the Church. Today’s comic captures well the combination of two of the six: Discipleship and Fellowship. My guess is they also prayed over the “tatersalad” as well as anyone injured in the Kung Fu.
What about Evangelism? I once heard a radio preacher describe evangelism as “one beggar telling another where to find bread.” When was the last time you asked a hungry friend to join you for the Bread of Life? For me, it’s been a few weeks. I wish it were more like a few hours…
What about Service? Given the name “Steven” I think often of the first deacon, and the Greek word for “deacon” conveys both “ministry” and “menial service.” In some of our churches, deacons are ordained ministers, and in others they are menial servants set aside for the hard physical work inside the church building. If the last shall be first, and the first shall be last, why make a distinction between “minister” and “menial servant” - let’s do both “as unto the Lord.”
What about Worship? I don’t mean the singing we do in the “Worship Center” or “Sanctuary” during Sunday morning or Midweek services. Do you worship God in other ways? What is “Worship?” I’m a musician, and making music, whether vocally or instrumentally, is an intense form of worship for me. But so is writing. So is witnessing. Worship is anything I do that glorifies God. Hopefully that’s everything I do. Whether I am praying, serving, evangelizing, fellowshipping, or discipling, I want to be worshipping God.
I will pray for you, and will you please pray for me? Pray that in all we do, we will glorify God. Glorify Him through our Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship, Service, Discipleship and Prayer. And even our Kung Fu!
Thanks for the time you took to read this!
Stevene
