Here is an interesting virtual reconstruction of the Temple Mount in Jesus’ Day:
Tag: Christianity
Acts Articles – Church 02C
In Acts 2:42, the early church devoted themselves to prayer. The context is the church. They were devoted to praying together. What about us? Are we devoted to meeting together for prayer? Do we love God and his people so much that we want to gather together before the throne? What is our attitude? Are we devoted? How might we grow in our devotion to praying together?
Church Quotes To Ponder
Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve,
and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.
– Tim Keller
Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good.
The bricks must be cemented together.
– Corrie Ten Boom
When people leave a church because they do not fit the program,
it communicates a deadly message: that our commitment is to the work
and not to the person, that our unity is primarily in the work
and not in Christ and the gospel.
– Ajith Fernando
When you choose a church you are choosing the people
you want to have around you when you die.
– Arthur Holmes
Acts Articles – Church 02B
In Acts 2:42, the early church devoted themselves to the breaking of bread. There is some debate as to whether this refers to simply eating meals together (part of their devotion to fellowship) or to the Lord’s Supper. As the Lord’s Supper was often connected to eating together (see I Corinthians 11), the answer might be both. As we already addressed their devotion to fellowship, let’s consider briefly their devotion to the Lord’s Supper.
As Jesus commanded, they were devoted to coming together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. They came together to remember Christ’s death for them. We too need this devotion. We too need to regularly remember what Christ has done for us. Indeed Christ’s sacrifice for us is a large part of our motivation for the other three devotions, and all of our devotion.
He died for me. In amazement and gratitude, I’ll live for him.
Passion Points
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Helpless Sacks of Sand – Tim Challies
The fundamental reality of sleep is that it assures us that we are not God. Apparently we all need the ongoing reminder.
Who’s Side Are You On? – Matthew Wynne
We mustn’t ask God to be on our team, we must ask to be on His. He is the Lord Almighty!
Perfect Your Work Within Our Hearts – Charles Spurgeon (via Kingdom People)
Perfect your work within our hearts.
We are saved, but we would be saved from sin of every form and degree;
from sins that lie within, and we are scarcely aware that they are there.
Prayer For The Ministry Of The Word – Tim Challies
There are a few hymns—just a few—that have been written to be sung as a petition to God immediately before the minister opens God’s Word. A favorite of mine is John Newton’s “Prayer for the Ministry of the Word.”
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping the Lord with His people!
Acts Articles – Church 02A
In Acts 2:42, the church devoted themselves to the fellowship. Fellowship has the idea of sharing – both sharing with and sharing together.
Verses 44-45 describe the sharing with. They were generous. They shared what they had with each other, and especially with those in need. They weren’t clinging to their stuff, but were willing to share, to even sell what they had to give to those in need. We need this generosity today – not only for the good of each other, but to break free of the materialism that grips our land. Generosity opens our clutching hands; it teaches us to give instead of hoard. We too need to be devoted to the fellowship – generously sharing with others.
Verse 46 describes their sharing together. They came together publicly (in the temple) and privately (in their homes). They gathered together regularly. They spent time together. They shared their lives together. Part of this sharing together was eating together. We like to joke about fellowship being tied to food, but fellowship is often tied to food in the Bible. Jesus is always eating with people. And here, the early church is eating together. Eating together implies friendship, a relationship. Refusing to eat with someone shows division. So we eat together in part to show our unity with one another. We need to make time in our busy lives to eat together, to do things together, to do life together. We too need to be devoted to the fellowship – sharing our lives together.
Verses 46-47 go on to tell us that they ate together with glad and generous hearts, praising God. Fellowship was a joyful thing for them. They delighted in one another. They enjoyed coming together. They praised the Lord for each other. Is that your attitude? Are your sharing together? Are you sharing with? Are you devoted? How might you need to grow in your devotion?
The Bible’s Grand Narrative
A new Sunday School curriculum called the Gospel Project has this helpful video summarizing the entire Bible’s story in three minutes:
Quotes To Ponder
Here are some good quotes on growing in Christlikeness – something we must do and something Christ does in us:
What we think about when we are free to think about what we will –
that is what we are or will soon become.
— A.W. Tozer
Christlikeness is born in us when we deny ourselves in the small tasks of life.
– Gary Thomas
The tapestry of Christlikeness is laid down stitch by single stitch, as God weaves events, attitudes, relationships, and personal affliction through our daily experience.
– Gary Thomas
Life is an incremental series of becoming what you are, in Christ.
– John Piper
Passion Points
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Calvin on the Good News in Christ – John Clavin (via Justin Taylor)
But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinners justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure, and slaves free. The gospel is the Word of life.
Twelve Propositions on Sanctification – J. C. Ryle (via Tim Challies)
Ryle defines sanctification as “an inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost, when He calls him to be a true believer.”
100 Quotes From You On Sanctification – Desiring God
Charles Spurgeon: “If he gives you the grace to make you believe, he will give you the grace to live a holy life afterward.”
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating Jesus and growing in your walk with Him!
Book Look: Holy Available
Holy Available by Gary Thomas is a wonderful book on an important part of the Christian life. The basic premise, which is fleshed out in the first part of the book, is that Jesus our ascended Lord is still active today through his people. We must go beyond merely avoiding evil and seek to be available for his use. Part two gets specific, looking at what it might mean for us to make ourselves available to God: our eyes, our mouths, our ears, our minds, our hands, our feet, and our hearts. Part three addresses being available for God’s glory, making progress, perseverance, and the context of the church. This is a book to read slowly and ponder and apply. Challenging and highly recommended.
For those on a budget, right now you can get slightly imperfect copies for only $4.99 here.
