The Church Is A Family
/As we looked at Acts 4:32-35 we saw something beautiful at work among the earliest Christians in Jerusalem:
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. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
With whom are you “of one heart and soul”?
To whom do you voluntarily say, “What’s mine is yours”?
With whom do you “have everything in common”?
It’s those with whom you share a home. Your family.
The Gospel (v33) Is What Produces That Family
And how did this group get that way? What made them a family?
If you look at v32-35, Luke does something interesting. He interrupts himself. If you read it through and skip v33 it reads nice and smooth:
v32 They were of one heart and soul.
And they had everything in common.
So, v34, there was not a needy person among them.
Because they sold their property and brought the proceeds to the apostles.
And it was distributed to each as any had need.
That’s nice and smooth. The argument progresses seamlessly. But Luke interrupts himself. He starts off in v32:
They were of one heart and soul.
They had everything in common.
But then he stops and interrupts his own flow:
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.
That chops up the narrative. It breaks up what’s otherwise a seamless story. Why? So we see how they got there. And how they maintained it.
Why did they sell their goods and care for one another?
Because they were one mind and soul: A family.
And why were they a family?
It didn’t come about because they thought the idea of family sounded nice.
It didn’t happen because someone forced it on them.
Think about it: Even if the government required you, by the force of law, to establish a community like this… you wouldn’t “be of one heart and soul” with everyone there. You have to actually be united around something for that.
What gets you to call strangers family?
It has to be more than an alma matter, a philosophy, a shared interest. None of that gets you to family.
How about this message?
There was a man.
Who broke death.
On my behalf.
Who offers me forgiveness for sin. And life eternal.
And more than that… adoption into his family.
That the most important thing ever to happen to me.
And he’s done the same for you.
Which means we share: The most important thing that’s ever happened to us. And a new family.
The “testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” – the gospel – forms the family we call the church. The Bride of Christ.
Luke gives us of this – that it really took hold… was watching people give up their own things for the people of God. “good of their family in Christ.
Why was there no lack in the Jerusalem church? Because parents don't let their children go hungry. And they understood themselves to be a family.
So, what does that look like us today?
The challenge we gave ourselves was to do one extra thing this week – on top of what you normally do – to give of yourself to make this more a church family.
Whether that’s join a community group or prayer pod.
Or make a phone call to check on someone.
Or deliver a meal.
Or ask a hard question.
Or follow up with someone who asked for prayer.
Or offer to help bear someone’s burden.
Or some other way the Lord is leading you to be a brother or sister to your brothers and sisters in Christ.