Introduction

We’ve been talking every week at the beginning about how the world has changed. But really, what we’re talking about is that our world has changed, in our lifetimes.

In the grand scheme of things, we know from Scripture, that there’s “nothing new under the sun.”

In fact, even the changes we see around us aren’t new to the world. While there are clearly major differences (mobility, technology), Western society today is shockingly similar to the environment of the early church in the Roman Empire.

This is the kind of cultural environment in which the early church exploded in the first century, and within a just a few decades, the gospel had gone to every corner of the Empire.

The queston is, will we respond to the gospel the same way they did? Will we follow their example and spend our time/energy on the same things those early disciples did?

Acts 2

What comes next is a description of what life looked like for the early church:

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2:41–47

They devoted themselves: “gave themselves to.” Abandoned themselves to these things. They did this in response to the gospel. It was a natural reaction to Jesus’ gospel.

What did they devoted themselves to?

1. The Apostles’ Teaching

2. Each Other

3. God’s Presence & Worship

4. Generousity

We are generally pretty good at the large group meeting; most of us are here on any given Sunday, and if you’re not, we generally know why.

Where we need to grow is in the “every day… breaking bread from house to house, eating our food together with joyful and sincere hearts.”

Missional Communities

This is the most effective way I’ve ever seen of truly living out of these identities we’ve talked about these past 5 weeks.

1. Family

You’re not going to have a close-knit, call me any time of the day or night, relationship with even 50 people. Not really, not long-term.

The idea is that this is not just another Bible study, not just meeting with a small group of people once a week. This is family, God’s family.

2. Servants

This is where the majority of the service happens, where it originates.

Which leads to the next part of our identity…

3. Missionaries

This is one of the biggest difference between this and a lot of the things other churches. Lots of churches meet in homes during the week for what they call community groups, life groups, cell groups, Bible studies, prayer.

MCs are all that and more; missional is right there in the name.

It’s gonna be awkward at first, and then it’s gonna get wonderfully, gloriously comfortable. That’s the moment we’ll be in the greatest danger! It can’t be us four and no more.

Multiplication in mind from the very beginning.

We’ll decide together, who were called to. Has to happen for it to be missional.

4. Disciples (who make disciples)

Remember, this is our primary measure of success/fruitfulness—
more and better followers of Jesus, baptized and taught.

Breaking Bread

Also means taking the Lord’s Supper.

Every time they met together, they were