Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10
There are 28 chapters in the Book of Acts, and they are our record of the formation of the church after Jesus’s death & resurrection.
For just over 2 years, and ending in January, the Vestry read through the Book of Acts one chapter at a time for our scripture reflection at the beginning of our monthly meetings.
And each month we would ask ourselves these two questions:
How was the church then like the church today?
What can we learn from the church then?
First let me say that the Book of Acts is a wild ride. There are some wild stories about the people of God in it. It’s a great book to sit down and just read, and there are some wonderful companion books you can easily read alongside it. If you’re interested in learning more drop me an email.
But Acts is at its core, like most of scripture, a collection of stories about humans learning how to be in relationship with God and each other.
That’s why every month we found ways that the church then is like the church today, and there was always something we could learn from the church then.
Today’s reading from Acts comes from the 2nd chapter and it directly follows the telling of the Pentecost event – when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and they were able to speak and be understood by everyone around them, whom they taught about Jesus.
Verse 41 tells us that those whom welcomed the message were baptized, and that day about 3000 persons were added.
It was these new followers of the Way of Love that our reading today refers to then.
A community of people who devoted themselves to the apostle’s teach and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers.
Who held all things in common and took care of those in need among them.
Who day by day spent time together in worship and study, praising God with glad and generous hearts
And whose example burned so brightly that people were drawn to it and day by day God added to their number.
The disciples had just faced two live-changing events – the death and resurrection of their friend and teacher, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
And after their initial period of fear and confusion (remember how long they stayed locked in that upper room?) – we finally see them getting down to the work they were sent out to do.
One of the first things Jesus does in all four Gospels is pull together a community around him, and here we see the disciples doing the same.
Community is the foundational shape of Christianity.
In our Gospel reading for Good Shepherd Sunday today, Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Our abundance lies not in things, but in lives big enough to be shared.[1] This is what it means to be in community.
And for the last two thousand years, through both upheaval and times of relative stability, Christian communities have survived – or least those who were willing to change and adapt – who faced uncertainty like the disciples and still stepped forward in faith.
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We are in our own time of upheaval and uncertainty and it is our turn to face the challenge in front of us and find the opportunities in it.
I will share more during announcements, but it now looks like it will be some time before we will ALL be able to return to worship together in the ways we have always known.
Our Governor and our Bishop have laid out stages of gradually being able to re-gather in groups, but the reality is that until there is a vaccine or other treatment in place, there will some among us for whom gathering is not safe for a good long while.
We are looking at an extended period of time in which there will be challenges and opportunities – and we will have to be creative and adapt to continue to stay connected, stay church, and take care of each other.
But we’re not doing this blindly.
We have the example of our ancestors in faith to follow, and the Holy Spirit to guide us.
We don’t know what tomorrow or next month or next year will bring, but I trust that this community will rise up and come together in new ways – and be stronger because of it.
Amen.
[1] Young Clergy Women Project meme.