October 28, 2007

Why?

Why Fellowship?

Acts 2:41-47

Opening Words: There are five basic questions. There is who, what, when, where and why. Each question is important but the most probing question is the question of why. When you ask why it means you are digging below the surface. It means you are trying to understand the complete situation or concept. It means you are using the brain that God has given you. Never underestimate the question of why?

This is sermon number six in a seven part sermon series I have called, Why? Why does the church cling to certain practices and beliefs? There is more to it than simply tradition. To date we have looked at Jesus, the Bible, communion, baptism and missions. Next week, on All Saints Sunday, we will look at the church, itself. What makes the church different from any other organization? Today, we answer the question, why fellowship? Why is fellowship a big part of the disciple making process? We are instructed this morning from the second chapter of Acts.

Acts 2:41-47
41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In 1989 I found myself in a wonderful church near Medina. It was my only year in that congregation. However, I enjoyed that year with those individuals because the church was full of energy. The people enjoyed one another so the church’s calendar was filled with many social activities. In October the annual hayride was held. I didn’t think much about it that evening but that annual hayride changed the way I viewed this morning’s topic, fellowship. I could not help but to think about that wild hayride when I wrote this message. Let me tell you the story.

The hayride was held on a church member’s farm. The evening began with a hot dogs and a roasted marshmellow. It moved to a sing along around the fire. Everything seemed normal at this point..then it happened. A large man with a low voice stood up and announced that the hay rides would begin. The man who made the announcement was named John, the lay leader of the congregation. They would begin with the mild hay ride. Those that wanted the mild hayride went first. Old people and small children stepped forward and climbed on the hay wagon. John looked at me and said, “Rev., you may want take the mild ride. I don’t think you can handle the wild ride.” I took that as a challenge so I looked at John and said, “I think I will be taking the wild ride.” (The truth is I didn’t have a clue what he was even talking about.) The wagon left with the mild riders and returned about forty-five minutes later. They sang church camp songs as they road in the dark.

The wagon emptied with smiling riders, John walked up to me and said, “Well, Rev, are you ready for your wild ride?” I said, “I"m ready!” I found my seat on the wagon. We waved good-bye to the mild riders and turned the corner into the dark night sky. It was at that moment the ride turned wild. John grabbed me and knocked me down and sat on me. (It was only at that moment I discovered why they called it the wild ride.) I could not breathe but I started to laugh. I did the only thing that seemed Christian at that moment. I grabbed a handful of straw and stuffed down the front of John’s shirt. John’s sister started to laugh so I grabbed her heel and knocked her down. I ripped off her right shoe off and threw into the cornfield. Before I knew it I lost both of my shoes. Everybody was knocking everyone down. Everyone was laughing. Everyone was stuffing straw down everyone’s shirts and pants. I got a bloody nose and laughed myself to sleep that night. I had a great time that evening. The truth is we never prayed or read the Bible. (However, someone did mention the Lord’s name.) It was a fun night but it wasn’t until later that I discovered that the wild hayride changed the way that I looked at Christian discipleship. For rooted in that experience of the wild hayride, I discovered why fellowship is so important to the disciple making process.

This morning we are instructed from the second chapter of Acts. That chapter is famous because it holds the wonderful account of the day of Pentecost. The church was born and the Holy Spirit of God was unleashed on the world. The words you heard this morning summarize the events of those sacred days. No words in the entire Bible have influenced my ministry more then those words. The passage ends by saying in verse 47, “God added to their number daily those that were being saved.” In other words, the church was growing.

No pastor hungers for a growing church more than me. What were they doing that we need to do? They did four things. They are found in verse 42. First, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. I cannot resurrect the apostles but we can read their writings, the Bible. Second, they devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, communion, Jesus. Third, they devoted themselves to prayer, communicating with God. Forth, they devoted themselves to the fellowship. I overlooked that simple word, fellowship, for years. It doesn’t really seem very important in our time. However, fellowship is extremely important to the life the church. Let me ask you two questions. First, what is fellowship? Second, why is fellowship so important to the disciple making process?

Fellowship is not just friendship. You can make friends at the bowling alley or at work. Friendships are based in a common interest. Fellowship is different. Fellowship is deeper. The Greek word that the author uses for fellowship is "koinonia". What it means is responsibility or accountability to others. Christian fellowship means we are pulling together to encourage one another in the faith. Sometimes it takes the form of an encouraging word. Sometimes it takes the form of a correcting word. Being in fellowship means you are not living the faith alone. You are living the faith in connection with other people. Never underestimate Christian fellowship.

Christian fellowship is the soul of every small membership church and the Achilles heel of every mega church. For years the church growth community has been writing off the small membership churches. At some point in the past they were revolutionary. They took the church to the people. Transportation was difficult so small church buildings were built in every little community. Then people bought these things called cars and people drove to churches out of their communities. People drive farther to church today than ever. The smaller membership churches exist and have every reason to close. The preacher was always moving. The choir is always bad. The building is ancient. The congregation is always old and change never happens. From a church growth stand point these churches should close but they live to see another day. Why? The fellowship within those congregations is second to none. Never underestimate real Christian fellowship!

The latest studies tell us mega churches are no longer growing. They have leveled out in membership and some are in a state of decline. Why? Mega churches have climaxed because while they have marketed themselves as well as any company in America with wonderful music, powerful preaching and high tech electronics,they lack one thing. They lack the one thing small membership churches have, fellowship. Within the crowd of people of mega churches you can come and go and not know a single soul. Never underestimate the power of fellowship!

The greatest challenge we have as a church is fellowship. We are not a little country church. We are not a mega church. This year we will average about 250 worshippers every week. We are growing and that is a wonderful thing but how many people do you really know? Do you feel any spiritual connection with the people around you? Do you feel spiritually responsible for the people around you at this moment? Never underestimate real Christian fellowship! Consider three things with me.

Common Past

First, true Christian fellowship is rooted in a common past. I do not know everyone’s faith story here today. I do not know if you accepted Christ through the care of a wise parent or a loving pastor. I do not know if you accepted Christ at a camp meeting or a church camp. I do not know if your testimony includes drugs or a gentle prayer. There are a lot of things that I do not know but I know one thing about you. At some point in your life you acknowledged that you needed Jesus in your life. He was the only one who could fill your spiritual void. Real Christian fellowship is rooted in a common past. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Common Experience

Second, true Christian fellowship is rooted in a common experience. I do not know everyone’s faith story but I do know life is hard. As Christians we face some hard situations and are forced to make some hard choices. Never forget you are ambassadors of Jesus Christ. You are representing Jesus today. You may be the only Bible someone ever reads. We must be in fellowship, accountable to one another, because we can’t disappoint Jesus. He gave us his very best. Shouldn’t we do the same for him? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Common Future

Third, true Christian fellowship is rooted in a common future. The Good News says it clearly. We are saved by grace and by grace, alone. We are going to heaven because Jesus died for our sins. Salvation is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Heaven just wouldn’t be the same without you. We share a common future because we are going to heaven together. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

In October of 1989 I went on a wild hayride. In December of 1989 John’s wife had a miscarriage. John’s big voice was lowered to a whisper when he called to tell me. They had wanted that baby in the worst way. They had been trying for years. I called some of my fellow wild hay riders and we went to their home. When we arrived it was a little uncomfortable. The women had cooked a mountain of food. The men shook hands and the women hugged. Someone brought up the wild hay ride. Everyone laughed. Everyone told what they had done and what was done to them. By the way, everyone’s shoes were found but my left one. At the right moment we joined hands and we prayed. I began the prayer but one by one everyone prayed. We prayed for John. We prayed for his wife, Shirley. We prayed about life’s disappointments and asked God for some divine understanding. When the prayer was over everyone had moist eyes. Someone quoted a piece of scripture that spoke to them during one of their hardships. Maybe it would speak to John and Shirley. I will never forget the feeling in the room that evening. There were fifteen people in that small room but in many ways we were one person. We weren’t just friends, we were disciples encouraging one another to live the faith. It wasn’t just a hay ride; it wasn’t just a wild hay ride. Do you know what it was? It was true Christian fellowship!

Have you ever experienced true fellowship in the life of this church? True fellowship is rooted in a common past. At some point everyone here has discovered they need Jesus in their life! True fellowship deals with a common experience. Living a Christian life is not easy. True Christian fellowship deals with a common future. Who are you accountable to with your spiritual life? Would anyone here like to go on a wild hay ride? Be careful. It may change your life! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”