Pattern of Internal Church Activity in Acts 2

Driving home: The Bible, which sets before us the highest ideals for the church, also records the realism of the church in its imperfect state, a state that will exist until the glorious consummation, when the Lord Jesus will come and…

The church is contrasted with a neighborhood club to emphasize that the church is Christ's, and His Word, not human preference, must regulate all its affairs.

and something of the majesty and the overwhelming glory of what the church is purposed to do in the will and design of God in any given generation. We then spent a few moments considering the regularity, regulating authority for all of our thinking about church membership. And I hope you will remember the illustration about our neighborhood club. The church is not our club.

3:39 - 4:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon shifts to what happens after people join the church, focusing on Acts 2:42. Martin describes the 'manner' of their internal corporate activity as inclusive of all…

The human body moving as an organic whole (e.g., getting up, sleeping) illustrates the inclusive nature of the church's corporate activity, where all members function together.

Luke emphasizes is that it was an inclusive activity involving all of the members. In that healthy, spirit-filled church, there was a fundamental sense of corporate identity and mutual commitment to corporate means of grace. And although the glorious truth of the church as the body of Christ had not yet been revealed, had not yet been articulated, the reality was constituted on the day of Pentecost. And instinctively, before the head could even articulate the concept, the entire body was functioning in terms of its true identity. When my body got up from that pew to come to this pulpit to prea...

13:56 - 14:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Catch a vision of the glory of the church so that commitment to corporate gathering is not seen as a burden but an excitement.

The church as a 'living temple' of 'living stones' is used to highlight the importance of every member's presence, asking if one would want a 'hole' in the temple by their absence.

A broken leg, a sick child, the care of the family where husband and wife switch off in coming to church, a broken down car, that's a providential hindrance, not the motions of indisposition. That are the pumping up into the level of consciousness of the remaining corruption in our own hearts. And it's when we catch a vision of the glory of what the church is, that we will not regard this concept as an unbearable yoke or as a legalistic burden. We will be excited at the thought that something happens when the body gathers in its corporate identity that happens nowhere else. We are described in...

18:43 - 19:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Catch a vision of the glory of the church so that commitment to corporate gathering is not seen as a burden but an excitement.

Simon's continuous attachment to Philip (Acts 8:13) illustrates the meaning of 'continued steadfastly' as a constant, tag-along relationship.

God is steadfastly. in prayer. And then again, a beautiful description of it as far as what it means in a human relationship is found in Acts 8.13. And Simon himself believed in being baptized. He continued with, that's the same word in the original, he continued with Philip. He attached himself constantly to Philip. There was a continuous tag-along relationship between Simon and Philip. And then in chapter 10 in verse 7, another beautiful illustration of the significance of the word when it's used in relationship to spiritual disciplines. And when the angel that spoke

21:29 - 22:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon shifts to what happens after people join the church, focusing on Acts 2:42. Martin describes the 'manner' of their internal corporate activity as inclusive of all…

Cornelius's servants who 'waited on him continually' (Acts 10:7) illustrate the continuous, constant attendance to needs and commands, applying to spiritual disciplines.

unto him, that is, unto Cornelius the centurion, was departed, he, Cornelius, called two of his household servants and the devout soldier of them. Here's our word, that waited on him continually. Those who were constantly attending to his needs, waiting for his commands. So you get something of the emphasis of Luke in the passage.

22:19 - 22:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon shifts to what happens after people join the church, focusing on Acts 2:42. Martin describes the 'manner' of their internal corporate activity as inclusive of all…

This phrase describes the continuous, steady, consistent activity of the early church, emphasizing perseverance in the means of grace despite life's challenges.

As he's describing the manner of their internal corporate activity, he not only underscores that it was inclusive of all the members, but it was continuous by all the members. And for you fledgling Greek students, he uses a construction called a paraphrastic imperfect. You have an imperfect use of the verb to be, and then you have a present participle. And so by this construction, Luke is underscoring that in all of these points, there was continuous, steady, consistent activity. In other words, the life of this church is not described in terms of fits. The life of this church is not described...

22:43 - 23:57 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon shifts to what happens after people join the church, focusing on Acts 2:42. Martin describes the 'manner' of their internal corporate activity as inclusive of all…

The unusual event of God shaking the building in response to prayer is mentioned to contrast with the ordinary, mundane means of grace that sustain the church.

There was a gracious disruption that came in the course of their ordinary life. Some of them were described. God didn't shake the building every time they met. There is a description of a time when in the midst of an emergency they prayed and God shook the building.

25:48 - 26:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Question your spiritual state if you are not excited about the Word of God.

Madison Square Garden being filled with people wanting a circus is used to contrast carnal excitement with genuine excitement for the Word of God, challenging those who seek sensationalism in church.

If you don't come to the place where you get cited about the Word of God, you better question whether or not you're a child of God. Because this Word is the divinely constructed mirror of Jesus, the will of God, the glory of God, the purpose of God. And if you're taken up with, you'll be taken up with His Word. Madison Square Garden is filled week after week with people that want a circus.

32:14 - 32:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And oh dear people, when we get hold of the concept of what that means, in any age, but particularly this age, where the glue of common grace has well nigh been eroded from society, where in all kinds of relationships th…

The church is described as God's 'theater' and 'new humanity' where He displays His manifold wisdom and grace, emphasizing its witness to the world.

Follow me very closely. One of the purposes of God, as we saw two weeks ago with the church, is that the presence of the church on the earth might be God's theater in which He displays to principalities and powers and then also to the world His manifold wisdom and His manifold grace. The church is God's new humanity come to expression in terms of living interaction of living people. And what is our God ordained that the church should be? It should be, among other things, the monumental witness that the salvation of God not only blows off the roof that has cut man off from fellowship with God, ...

39:28 - 40:47 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And oh dear people, when we get hold of the concept of what that means, in any age, but particularly this age, where the glue of common grace has well nigh been eroded from society, where in all kinds of relationships th…

The salvation of God is depicted as blowing off the 'roof' (man's separation from God) and knocking down the 'wall' (barriers between men), illustrating reconciliation with God and one another.

Follow me very closely. One of the purposes of God, as we saw two weeks ago with the church, is that the presence of the church on the earth might be God's theater in which He displays to principalities and powers and then also to the world His manifold wisdom and His manifold grace. The church is God's new humanity come to expression in terms of living interaction of living people. And what is our God ordained that the church should be? It should be, among other things, the monumental witness that the salvation of God not only blows off the roof that has cut man off from fellowship with God, ...

39:28 - 40:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not hide behind reserved temperaments or backgrounds as an excuse for not engaging in fellowship; allow the Holy Spirit to free you for joyful involvement.

The breaking down of the 'reinforced concrete walls' between Jew and Gentile in Christ (Ephesians 2) illustrates the church's power to unite diverse people in fellowship.

Now that's not by accident, because sin has not only tragically cut us off from fellowship with God, it has set us at odds with those who are made in the image of God. And that's the great glory of the church, in its full new covenant manifestation, according to Ephesians 2, that in Christ Jew and Gentile, the greatest symbols of people who had reinforced concrete walls between them, and some of the reinforced concrete was put there by God Himself. But He says the wall has been broken down and God has constituted one new man in Christ! And oh dear people, when we get hold of the concept of wha...

41:42 - 43:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not hide behind reserved temperaments or backgrounds as an excuse for not engaging in fellowship; allow the Holy Spirit to free you for joyful involvement.

Pastor Martin shares his own heritage of Swedish and Highlander stock (reserved temperaments) to counter the excuse that social disposition limits fellowship, asserting the Holy Spirit's power to liberate from emotional and social bondage.

He's done it for many of us. It isn't often that Highlanders chuckle, but when I was emphasizing this aspect of truth in another context in Scotland recently, it came to my mind that some of them might think when I was emphasizing it, oh, you're just projecting your own gregarious outgoing American temperament, and I said, wait a minute, dear people, don't you call this native temperament. I've got pure Swedish stock on one hand, and what's the image of the average Swede? Very reserved, emotionally staid.

45:35 - 46:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Be free to let all masks come off and be known for who you are, confident in Christ's love through others in true koinonia.

A simple ditty, 'Brother, are you bound? Christ can set you free,' is quoted to emphasize Christ's power to liberate from emotional and social bondage, enabling true koinonia.

But there's a song, I wouldn't sing it now, but I say the words of it because it's got a lot of truth in it. Brother, are you bound? Christ can set you free. Brother, are you bound? Christ can set you free. Brother, are you bound? Christ can set you free. Shouting glory, hallelujah.

46:29 - 46:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Be free to let all masks come off and be known for who you are, confident in Christ's love through others in true koinonia.

The liberating experience of being fully known and loved in a godly marriage is compared to the preciousness of true koinonia within the church, where masks can come off.

Christ can set you free. That's a little ditty, but I tell you, it's got a lot of good theology in it. Now, I want to change it. Brother, sister, are you free? Brother, sister, are you free to let all the masks come off and really be known for who you are? Confident enough that people will love you for Christ's sake? Even if they know who you really are? To me, that's one of the most liberating things of true koinonia. It's what makes a godly marriage so precious that another human being can so completely know me, and yet so unqualifiedly love me.

46:53 - 47:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: How can a church ever become corporately hardened to sin when it comes to that feast of remembrance and thinks that sin demanded nothing less than the bloodletting of the incarnate God?

The hymn lyrics 'Vile and full of sin I am. Thou art full of truth. Nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to thy cross I cling' are quoted to illustrate the humility and acknowledgment of sin required at the Lord's Supper.

What then can be the great significance for a healthy spirit-filled church? Well, let me just trace out a couple of lines of thought for you. How can a church ever descend into cursed self-righteousness when periodically it gathers to a simple meal of remembrance in which the whole body says, vile and full of sin I am. Thou art full of truth.

50:35 - 51:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: How can a church ever become corporately hardened to sin when it comes to that feast of remembrance and thinks that sin demanded nothing less than the bloodletting of the incarnate God?

Recalling Gethsemane's bloody sweat and Golgotha's darkness is used to emphasize how the Lord's Supper reminds believers of the cost of sin and prevents corporate hardening to it.

the dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there have I, as vile as he, washed all my sins away. How can a church ever become a company of Pharisees who are shocked when they see a real-life sinner, who are crusty in their self-righteousness, if they are coming with discernment to that supper of remembrance, the very foundation of which is acknowledged and owned sinnerhood? This due in remembrance of me, of me as your only Savior who saves in the virtue of my obedience unto death, even the death of the cross? How can a church ever become corporately hardened to sin when it c...

51:22 - 52:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: How can a church ever become corporately hardened to sin when it comes to that feast of remembrance and thinks that sin demanded nothing less than the bloodletting of the incarnate God?

The general diffusive heat of the sun's rays being focused by a magnifying glass to burn through wood illustrates how the Lord's Supper concentrates the light and warmth of Christ, consuming sin and self-righteousness.

Because though li feed upon Christ continually in the general ministry of the Word. And we feed upon Christ in our ministry one to another. And that's a biblical concept, our treatment of one another is regarded as of Him. He who receives the least of my little ones receives me. Inasmuch as you do it unto the least of my little ones, you do it unto me. Christ is present in the preaching of the Word, in our involvement with the people of God, but in a unique way. All of the faculties of the mind and the soul are concentrated as the gentle rays of the sun bring more diffusive heat upon the whole...

53:28 - 54:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: How can a church ever become corporately hardened to sin when it comes to that feast of remembrance and thinks that sin demanded nothing less than the bloodletting of the incarnate God?

Martin humorously disagrees with Lutheran commentator Lenski's interpretation of 'the prayers' as general worship, asserting it refers specifically to corporate prayer meetings.

the fellowship of the saints, always present when the Spirit is present, but at the supper they pass through the magnifying glass, and they are all concentrated, and they burn afresh, and they consume sin, they consume self-righteousness, they consume narrow-heartedness. And that's why this healthy church was marked by all-inclusive, continuing remembrance of the Son of God. And then finally, Luke concludes the description by saying, they continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread. And the prayers. Now I know there's a student here who almost venerates and has raised to sainthood the Luthe...

54:28 - 55:30 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I'm still convinced after close to 25 years in one pastoral situation that the most telling matter with respect to the health of a local church is the attendance and the quality of its prayer meetings.

Martin imagines what neighbors would think seeing a half-full parking lot early Saturday morning, contrasting their likely assumption of a fundraising scheme with the reality of people earnestly praying to an unseen God, highlighting the significance of corporate prayer.

And it is prayer. Do you have not the energy in your heart because you ask not of God and ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you I could not help but think the last Saturday morning prayer meeting we were together I wonder what the neighbors would think if curiosity overcame one or two of them and I was almost hoping and praying it would and they come by at 8.30 and they see a parking lot half full of cars I know what the average person would probably think if you had any acquaintance with professional religion probably thinking well you know I ...

59:16 - 60:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I'm still convinced after close to 25 years in one pastoral situation that the most telling matter with respect to the health of a local church is the attendance and the quality of its prayer meetings.

Martin shares that his newfound love for prayer as a teenager, spending hours praying with friends, was the greatest evidence to his own heart that God had saved him after many false starts.

who speaks and speaks well and speaks with conviction and has something worth saying and lays it out so I can understand it well you see there can be an aesthetic intellectual stimulation in preaching there can be a self-centered attraction to koinonia there can even be a miscommunication there can be a mystical attraction to the Lord's table even superstitious but I tell you there's not much you can bluff when you come to pray and if God is not real and if your walk with Him is not a sensitive walk and if you cannot come with an uncondemned conscience into His presence and if you know nothing...

62:12 - 63:39 Read in full sermon