7.11.10 – For the last four weeks I’ve been talking about our mission statement. Why?

Mostly, it’s about focus. We’re not a big congregation (as you may have noticed), but we are a congregation that—I believe—was put here by God for a reason.

We’re limited in our resources. A larger congregation might be able to offer a singles class and a ministry to expectant moms and a dozen other distinct ministries. At this point in time, we can’t do that. So we narrow our focus to what we can do and what we must do.

I want you to read with me a story from the founding of the church on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:37-47
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

Things were just starting out. While there would later be a ministry specifically to widows (Acts 6), on this day none of that had been developed, yet. Look at what was happening:

Community => Transcendence => Significance

This passage is filled with community! Transcendence? They were being saved in the midst of a corrupt generation. Significance? They were changing lives—their own and the lives of all who saw them!

How were they doing this? How were they meeting the three fundamental desires of all men and women?

By drawing together (community); by focusing on what’s important: the apostles’ teaching and the things of God (transcendence); and by taking this message to their neighbors who were still in need (significance).

The Christian Church has long held Acts 2:42 in high regard—it’s one of the main reasons we take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday—and I think we’d do well to return to giving this verse prominance.

Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NIV)

It starts with God (the apostles teaching), who provides us with community (fellowship) in which we find significance in God’s eternal family (breaking of bread) and we transcend beyond what we were to become significant co-heirs with Christ (prayer).

In a simple way, those are the four elements we try to incorporate into worship here each Sunday morning.

--Apostles’ Teaching: in the sermon, the responsive reading, and the communion meditation we focus on God’s word.

--Fellowship: we sit together, sing together, and we shake hands and hug (and get together outside of this building).

--Significance: we highlight our membership in the family of God, worldwide and eternal, by partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

--Transcendence: in several prayer times, we go beyond just human concerns and try to mold ourselves to God’s concerns; and we do all this to try and lift each other from where we are to closer to God.

But what about outside of here? Because remember, the last thing Jesus told us was, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

Jesus’s final command (commission) to us all was to get out in the world and welcome everyone, wherever they are, to be a growing follower of him. Bring them into fellowship (with us first, and work toward bringing them into fellowship with the family of God); teach them to be more than they’ve ever been (transcendence) and let them know they are eternally significant—and can make an eternally significant difference!

What do I DO with this?

Look around. In what ways is this congregation at NPCC living as “2:42 Christians”? In what ways do we need to strengthen our “2:42ness”?

And what about ourselves? Are we each living as “2:42 Christians”? Where do we need to improve? Start working today toward making those improvements.

We’re talking about eternity here and it’s a glorious possibility!!