I know that I will keep the sermon shorter today as we are all ready to grab some food. Some of us probably missed breakfast this morning! So, I will try to keep this shorter.
I thought it might be good to talk about fellowship since we are experiencing a fellowship meal. I will say that I believe we experience a great fellowship at 5 Rivers. There is something happening here that is very special. There is a sense of joy and freedom that is very evident. We had a friend visiting with us last week. He commented that if he lived here this would be his church! Why did he say that? I don’t think it was just the preaching or preacher. I don’t think it was just the music or hymns. I don’t think it was the order of service or the elements of worship involved in the service. I don’t think it was the wonderful food items we have every Sunday…Or maybe it was! Just kiddin’. I think it was something larger that involves all those elements.
You have heard the expression the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Examples: Teamwork: A sports team with average players who have excellent chemistry might perform better than a collection of talented but uncoordinated individuals. We see this every year when a superior talented team is beaten by a less talented team.
Food: A pizza made with dough, cheese, and pepperoni is far more delicious and satisfying than eating each ingredient separately.
Music: A band or orchestra creates a richer, more complex musical experience than the sum of its individual musicians’ solo performances.
In the experience of fellowship in the church body, we see that when we gather, we find greater power and energy than when we are alone or try to accomplish a task by ourselves. Perhaps this is why Jesus said…Where two or three or more gather in My Name…I am in the midst of them (Mt 18:20). This carries the reality that when we fellowship together…Christ is mysteriously but fully present. There is something greater happening than just another assembly of people gathering for other events like ballgames or concerts or theatrical productions. There is something sacred and eternal that happens as we gather. Surely, we can say there was something happening that was being directed or led by the Holy Spirit when the believers met together. I want to look at the qualities of the fellowship of believers that Luke mentions which I think are important as it relates to our own time.
First, V43 Everyone was filled with AWE!
When was the last time you were filled with awe? Some of you may say, “Well, I woke up this morning! I am filled with awe.” Ok that is good. But awe is the experience of something that is way beyond a normal encounter that almost leaves you breathless! There was a story that came out of the old west. A cowboy was riding along with his friend and came upon the Grand Canyon. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head, looking across the vastness of the canyon. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. He looked over at his friend and said, “Something has happened here!” For the believers fresh after Pentecost and the infilling of the Spirit something very different and exciting was happening. And it changed the whole landscape of their mindset and experience. They were excited to see each other and enjoying the Presence of Jesus. There was a spirit of great expectation even though they were not sure exactly what might happen. But that is why there were in awe, they were not sure what might happen on any particular worship event. Sadly, there is a shallow form of this fellowship that can be experienced in other places…Remember CHEERS the TV show which began in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons about people meeting at that bar. Some of you may be wondering about the preacher talking about a bar. But I’m sure most of you remember the program. And the unforgettable theme song…Where everybody knows your name and their always glad you came! Gosh! That sounds a lot like the church, right? Honestly, it is a lot like the church. I think parts of our world have borrowed some key themes about fellowship from the church. But it is a poor substitute. It has a fellowship but one that is very superficial and often reinforces bad behavior. One thing I learned in sociology class, and studies verify this…misery loves company! I have discovered in the world there is often a fellowship of sorrows and heartaches where people come to commiserate. But the problem is there is no real healing or release from heartaches. Hurts and heartaches play out like a broken record and are nursed but never truly cured. This is a shallow and incomplete fellowship that can never replace the true fellowship of believers. In Christian fellowship there is a freedom and celebration of what the Lord has done and will do! It is an incredible testimony of people whose sins are not celebrated or concealed but forgiven and cleansed. It is a place where grace is greater than all our sins. But grace that moves us to victory and a continual movement to encounter the Living God. It is a fellowship where we rejoice with joy, unspeakable and full of glory. It is a fellowship where believers are still in AWE of the saving work of Christ. And we stand in AWE of the One who took the nails for us! And it is a fellowship where we look in wonder and amazement like that ole cowboy and say, “Something is happening here!” I hope we never lose our sense of AWE and WONDER at the work of God in our fellowship!
Second, V44 All the believers had everything in common
So, what did the believers have in common? Maybe we can think about this from a reverse angle to come to a greater understanding. You remember in school they would have pictures with 3 or 4 objects and then asked, “What does not fit in this picture?” It was designed to help you identify similar or different objects. Since its football season let’s use an example from football. Let’s say you have a picture with an Auburn helmet and Auburn jersey and an Auburn war eagle but then there is a “Roll Tide” T-shirt placed in the picture. What does not match in that picture? All you Bama fans might say, “All the Auburn stuff does not match in that picture!” Yet here we are in a place where what we have in common is greater than what makes us unique or different. AU fans and Bama fans and even out of the way places like WV fans, are all combined in this fellowship of believers. What do we have in common that is larger and more important, and so important that it overrides differences? Paul makes a great appeal for unity in the church and emphasizes what we all have in common in his great teaching in Ephesians.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6). This gives us an incredible listing of things that we have in common that serve to unite us.
Another great example of things we have in common is that each Sunday, as today, we say what we believe in the Apostle’s Creed. We have a common set of beliefs. These beliefs shape how we live and give us solidarity and purpose. In further thought, we have a common enemy, Satan. We have a common need forgiveness. And a common need to be loved and give love. We are all sinners saved by grace. We have a common faith journey and a common destination of heaven. The more we keep focused on the things we have in common the stronger our fellowship will become. And all this implies humility. In this respect, these believers in this fellowship were thinking of others above themselves. They recognized that whatever they possessed was owned by God, not themselves. This fellowship involved another “ship” we call it stewardship wherein we recognize that we are not owners but stewards. And we have all things in common. This leads to the next quality of fellowship.
Third, v45 They sold their properties and possessions to give to anyone in need
You may be thinking that this is not normal. And yes, you would be correct. This was not a normal offering. Back to the analogy…something different is happening here! This is giving way beyond their regular tithes or normal offering. I am confident that they gave tithes and offering but this was beyond their normal giving. And we can mention here about acts of kindness that we experience. Letting a person out in traffic. Giving someone your place in line. Paying for someone in line behind you. Acts of kindness generate other acts of kindness! But selling your house or property? That is rather extreme, isn’t it? This was a sacrificial offering. I love the old story of the pig and chicken walking together and a sign read: Ham and eggs breakfast 5 dollars. And the chicken said, “Let’s go get some breakfast”. The pig said, “I don’t think so! For you it is a small sacrifice. But for me it is total commitment!” I was reminded of Peter who told the Lord, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mt 19:47) This was no small sacrifice for the early believers, but some were actually giving up their homes and livelihood, especially those men who Jesus called as leaders. In that same passage in Matthew 19 Jesus told the rich younger ruler to go sell all he had to feed the poor and he would have treasure in heaven. Now Jesus did not tell everyone to sell their homes and possessions. But I wonder over this…Is this something I would be willing to do if Christ wanted me to make that sacrifice? In this case, his possessions possessed him in such a way that they were his idol. He would not give up his possessions, even to follow Jesus.
On the opposite side of this you remember Mary who came to anoint Jesus’ feet. She had an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. John 12:3 records this event. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (ESV)
Mary could have done a lot of different things with that expensive perfume. And she may have kept it for herself or sold it to earn more money. But she used it to anoint Jesus. He indicated this oil was to prepare for his burial. I love what the scripture says here…the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume! This act of generosity was not contained in a specific spot, but it filled the whole house. It’s like the food you brought today. The aroma is spreading out over this whole building! And it smells SO GOOOD! Generosity is like that…it becomes contagious and effects everyone involved, and it fills the house with a wonderful aroma. May our fellowship be a sweet aroma that fills this whole house and spills out into Spanish Fort and beyond!
Fourth, v46 They broke bread and ate together with glad and sincere hearts
Fellowship often involves food. Just like our experience today. Most churches have a “fellowship hall”. We do not but we have a fellowship time. And what happens in a fellowship time? Eating, right? As you look through the scriptures, they indicate that Jesus did a lot of eating. So much so that he was accused of being a glutton! (Matthew 11:19). In this regard, I am becoming more and more like Jesus! But seriously, Jesus also fasted and prayed. However, the gospel accounts often record that he was eating, even with sinners! Before he was crucified, He ate the Last Supper with his disciples. After his resurrection from the dead, he had breakfast prepared for his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and invited them to come and dine! (John 21:12).
There is something mysterious and profoundly important that happens when we share meals together. Studies have shown this to be true in-home life. Here are just a couple of important positive consequences from eating meals together:
Families that eat meals together are proven to be healthier and do better in school and less likely to have behavioral issues.
Eating together can reduce stress, anxiety, and the risk of depression for both parents and children, fostering a greater sense of mental well-being.
Mealtime is an opportunity to pass on family/spiritual values, and important life lessons in a positive and engaging way. It is often said that the family that prays together stays together. We might add here that the family that eats together creates an environment where lasting values are instilled and creates positive memories that endure for our entire lives and even beyond our lifetime to the next generations!
Thursday there was a service for Theresa “Sue” Cox, sister of Judy Berry. After the service we went back to the fellowship hall for a nice meal. I have witnessed this so often in churches I have served when a death has occurred. These experiences are a time where families and friends can meet and experience a meal. But it is more than a meal. There is something greater happening. It is not just fried chicken and apple pie to fill our stomach…No! Something much greater is happening! In that meal as family and friends gather round the tables there is a great sense of solidarity in our grief. It is a fellowship where we weep and mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. We are not alone! But even more…This is a fellowship of HOPE that carries us through the times of loss that we all experience. In some ways, I think it reminds us of the meals we have shared with loved ones who have graduated to glory! But more significantly, it points us toward a greater meal we will share in glory. It represents the ultimate Homecoming and Reunion when we eat at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Rev 19). It gives us a glimpse of heaven. Or as the great hymn says, “O what a foretaste of glory divine!” In this fellowship, when we break bread together like today, we are getting an appetizer, only a foretaste of something greater that will come! And back to the beginning…I don’t know about you, but this gives me sense of AWE and wonder about the glory to be revealed!
As I share this, I was reminded about a story of a woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three months to live. She asked her Pastor to come to her home to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral, and what scriptures she wanted read, and which outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Then she said, “One more thing… I want to be buried with a fork in my hand.”
The pastor was surprised. The woman explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably say to everyone, “Keep your fork”.
It was my favorite time of the dinner, because I knew something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie or pound cake…Yes… something wonderful. So, she said, “I want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and wonder, “What’s with the fork?” Then, I want you to tell them, ‘Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come!”
The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he bid the woman goodbye. He realized she had a better grasp of heaven than he did and knew something better was coming.
At the funeral, when people asked him why she was holding a fork, the pastor told them of the conversation he had with the woman before she died. He said he could not stop thinking about the fork and knew they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. “Keep your fork. The best is yet to come.”
Friends, our fellowship is only a foretaste of glory divine. And I’m so glad you are here to join this fellowship today! This is good! But what is coming is more glorious than we can imagine! Keep Your Fork. Which is a way of saying don’t leave or forsake the fellowship. There is no greater place in the world for there is nothing in the world like it! Let’s pray!