Our first reading this coming Sunday is often cited as a model of what the church should be. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. … 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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42,46-47).
Digging into this passage a little bit:
– The Apostles’ teaching refers to the faith and doctrine handed down to us, to what is summarized in the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds.
– Fellowship refers here not just to camaraderie, but to the unity of the Holy Spirit.
– Breaking of bread in the first instance refers most certainly to the Eucharist in corporate worship. In the second usage, it has to do with sharing table fellowship with one another in homes.
– Prayer is self explanatory. Every time the first believers gathered togethe, they prayed!
– Temple courts refers to the outer courts of the Temple in Jerusalem, a busy area open to all.
– Enjoying favor is most probably a result of the love the believers had for each other, and for their friends and neighbors as well.
I am encouraged as I reflect on the verses and consider CTR. More and more, I sense we are devoting ourselves to the Lord and to each other – to the Apostles’ teaching and unity, the breaking of bread, and prayer. We aren’t perfect and have a way to go, especially with gathering in homes for fellowship, praise, and prayer. But to a large extent, I feel these verses do characterize CTR. I rejoice in that!
It is the final verse that interests me most. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” It seems the Lord adding to their number came as a natural outgrowth of what the first believers did together and devoted themselves to. The same is true for us.
This serves to remind us yet again that building the church isn’t about big programs or slick campaigns, that it is the Lord’s church and not ours. Our job is to devote ourselves to the Lord and to each other, and then to simply share with others what God is doing in our lives. If we do that, God will take care of the rest.
But I do think it is appropriate for us to begin to pray along these lines, to ask the Lord to add to us daily those who are being saved. I ask you to incorporate a prayer like that into your own prayer time. And while I’m at it, I invite you to join us Monday evenings at 6:30 for a half hour of focused intercession for the mission and ministry of CTR.
May the 4th be With You
It is May 4th, which has become Star Wars day. (Hence the 4th instead of Force.) I like it! It is a made up holiday of course, but so is Cinco de Mayo, which actually is not celebrated in Mexico…
Hike Report
My poor arthritic knee has almost recovered from our recent Backpacking/Hiking trip with the RezMen and men from St. Andrew’s Mt. Pleasant. We had a great time, yet the hike was more than just fun. Once again we saw God move powerfully in the lives of many men. It confirmed to me yet again the value of this ministry. My one complaint: we hiked so long each day I never had time to fly fish! Since Eric Olson has his shirt off in our best group photo, decorum prevents me from posting it here!
Guys, look for word of fall hike!
See you Sunday!
–Bill
