Church Culture, Part 3: A Culture of Spirit-Filled Community
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Introduction
I am being a bit ambitious of how much content I can cover well, but there are things that for the sake of our church I need to declare in excess of what I can explain.
Acts 2:40–42 (ESV) 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
κοινωνία (koinōnia): fellowship, communion, sharing, participation. A term that conveys a sense of commonality and shared responsibility among households or individuals.
The Christian life is best lived in Spirit-filled Community.
Some ancient Church fathers took belonging so seriously that it was said (originally by Saint Cyprian of Carthage) “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” (meaning “outside the Church [there is] no salvation”). The Christian life from its origins with the Apostles from the Day of Pentecost onward was never identified as an isolated, individual pursuit. The description of those who came to faith in Jesus was always to bring them into a community of other believers. And what marked this early church was the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered, Spirit-led community.
“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” ~ A.W. Tozer
Life in a Spirit-filled Community is a Shared Life, a Generous Life, and a Miraculous Life.
Radical (even idolatrous) individualism poses one of the biggest threats to our apprenticeship to Jesus. It destroys our joy, elevates our pride and self-centeredness, narrows our world, and corrupts communities. We are called to resist the tide of radical individualism and live the Christian life the way it was intended: in a Spirit-filled community. So what does that look like? Were going to look at how the early church is described in Acts 2, 4, and 5 and see how these correlate with one another and what that looks like in the church today.
Life in a Spirit-filled Community
Acts 2:42–47 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Life in a Spirit-filled Community:
Shared Life — unity (“one accord”), togetherness
Generous Life
Miraculous Life
Acts 2:44, 46-47 (NLT) 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had…46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts 4:32 (ESV) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
This is why the Apostles were so emphatic in their letters to the church about working hard to maintain unity and getting rid of strife and gossip (Philippians 2:2-8, Ephesians 4:1-6, 29-32, Romans 12:18, Colossians 3:8-11, 1 Peter 3:7-8, James 3:13-18). Peter even connects how a husband honors, or dishonors, his wife with the effectiveness of their prayers (1 Peter 3:7).
Life in a Spirit-filled Community:
Shared Life
Generous Life — joy-filled, glad-hearted open-handedness about all that we have
Miraculous Life
Acts 4:32 (ESV) Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Do you see the connection between the Shared life and the Generous life? A shared life brings into close proximity of the other people and families in the community. It doesn’t mean you have deep friendships with everyone, but it does mean that their are a few people within the community that you are in close enough proximity to that you become aware of what is going on in their lives: sorrows and joys, gifts and abilities, strengths and needs.
Acts 2:44–45 (ESV) 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
This is not a prescriptive political strategy. It is simply the outworking of living in tune with the Holy Spirit and connected in community with other people. It’s personal, not political. A Spirit-filled community is close enough to each other to recognize each other’s needs. The church leadership also becomes a trusted source to identify the legitimate needs of the community and spreading resources to where it is most needed.
Life in a Spirit-filled Community:
Shared Life
Generous Life
Miraculous Life
Acts 2:43 (ESV) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
“Many wonders and signs” were being done. There should be power in the midst of the church that lives Spirit-filled.
Acts 5:12–16 (ESV) 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Again, “many wonders and signs” were being done. What was common was signs and wonders. The key is the end of the text, “all were healed.”
Acts 5:12 (ESV) 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.
Sometimes this is used to assert that these kinds of signs and wonders died with the last apostle, because here it says it was done by their hands. But look at what they prayed in Acts 4, it’s Jesus that stretches out His hand to heal as they stretched their hands. Jesus does the healing, we just are the hands.
Acts 4:29–30 (ESV) 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
It’s the name of Jesus that has the power, the signs follow those who believe and lay hands.
Mark 16:17–18 (ESV) 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Acts 4:31–33 (ESV) 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
A Spirit-filled community maintains the focus on nothing other than Jesus and His Kingdom.
This is the absolutely most critical point: the point of signs and wonders, the power of the Holy Spirit, the miraculous is for people to see, know, and experience Jesus.
Acts 5:12a, 15-16 (ESV) 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles…. 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Yes, many signs and wonders. The WAY in which these signs and wonders is not prescriptive. It will not look exactly the same all the time. It’s not like Peter’s shadow always healed people forever. Nor do I think Peter was ever the focus. The point is never on the person enacting the power, the signs and wonders, the point is only and always supposed to be JESUS.
A Spirit-filled community is impressed with nothing other than Jesus and His Kingdom.
I cannot emphasize this enough. Operating in the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit is certainly something we desire. We want the miraculous, the signs and the wonders, the power of God being present and active in our midst. However, there is a great temptation when that is happening to be impressed by the miracles and the person operating in the miraculous. And this is detrimental to a Spirit-filled community. We should be impressed only by King Jesus. We are all, all of us, just humble servants and vessels. Even the Holy Spirit doesn’t make a big deal about the Holy Spirit.
John 16:12–15 (ESV) 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
Fear of the Lord
The Word of God
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
Fear of the Lord — prayer, worship, honor
The Word of God
Acts 2:43, 47 (ESV) 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. … 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:43 (NKJV) Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Acts 9:31 (ESV) So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Acts 13:2–3 (ESV) 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
The Focus of a Spirit-filled Community:
Fear of the Lord
The Word of God — Kingdom, Gospel, Resurrection, Christ is King
Acts 12:24 (ESV) But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 13:48–49 (ESV) 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Acts 13:50–52 (ESV) 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 17:6–7 (ESV) 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
Acts 28:30–31 (ESV) 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Conclusion
Acts 2:46–47 (NLT) 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Read More
Lexham Theological Workbook, entry on “Assembly, Religious,” κοινωνία (koinōnia)
Saint Cyprian of Carthage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian
A.W. Tozer quote, https://www.thejesusgathering.org/aw-tozer.html
Acts 9:31 context: Saul had been persecuting the church, but upon his conversion, he powerfully defended Jesus and the persecution of the church was eased.
Acts 12:24 context: Herod, the one who martyred James the brother of John, had just died gruesomely as a judgment on his arrogance and self-glorying.
Acts 13:52 context: Paul and Barnabas’ mission trip, and taking the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles.