March Madness
Did your team advance in March Madness? Were you rooting for a ‘Cinderella’ story? My team isn’t necessarily considered a Cinderella, but it sure has felt like a rags to riches story. As you may know, my favorite sports team is Michigan. Even though I didn’t grow up in Michigan, I have enjoyed watching them since I was 8 years old. Last year, Michigan finished in last place in their conference. And this year, the story has completely flipped. After winning the Big Ten tournament championship, they have gone on to advance to the Sweet 16. And I suspect, that’s where their story will end.
But, enough about basketball. What does this have to do with the story that we looked at in Acts 4:32-5:11 on Sunday?
I compared church life, and our church community to that of a team in March Madness.
Anyone who has been a part of a team (and it doesn’t have to be sports), recognizes the challenges and joys that they face, in their efforts and attempts to survive and advance.
Teams face adversity from the outside. Players on the same team have common opponents. And the coach strives to give the team a shared mission and goal. And he strives to create unity and chemistry within the group. And as the team develops, each player recognizes that they have a role to play that might look different than someone else’s, but it serves for the benefit of the entire team. When a player doesn’t support or share in the same mission, they either get disciplined in some way, or now days, they enter the transfer portal.
Well, as I’ve said, a church community is a lot like a team.
In Acts 4:32-5:11, Luke gives us another brief summary of the early church (see Acts 2:42-47). The early church was a fellowship of believers that expressed itself in unity, generosity, and holiness.
They were united around the gospel of Christ. They shared their possessions with one another. They displayed generosity. But when one couple failed to live this way, the Lord brought judgment upon them. And this served to highlight the need for holiness and integrity in the church community.
And there are a lot of lessons that we can learn from their example. Let me list 3.
#1 – We are to be characterized by unity. (Acts 4:32-33)
This involves having...
(1) A Shared Mindset. One that seeks what is best for the team. One that recognizes our common opponent, which is not people, but Satan and his minions.
(2) A Shared Message. This message is the good news of Jesus Christ.
A church’s statement of faith, which summarizes the essential Christian beliefs also serves to unite a church community around the same Biblical convictions.
(3) A Shared Mission. It shouldn’t take you long to figure out what our mission is at Pleasant Ridge. I share it almost every week when we gather together. It is “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.” It is a mission that we are to carry out beyond our walls. It is a mission to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
#2 – We are to be characterized by sacrificial love and concern. (Acts 4:34-37)
If my first application highlights ‘who we are’, this point emphasizes ‘what we do.’
When a group is united in the way we are called to be, this is often evident in what we do for each other. We are to display a sacrificial love and concern for one another, as we meet their practical needs. When we do this, like Barnabas, we encourage not only the one we bless with our gift, but the entire team.
What are ways you have encouraged someone with your sacrificial care? How have you joyfully met the needs of others? Was it with your time, your service, or your possessions?
I have experienced this in countless ways from our church. I am extremely grateful for the generosity that is displayed to me on a regular basis. Let’s pay it forward and bless others as well.
#3 – We are to be characterized by holiness. (Acts 5:1-11)
Sometimes when we see teams that are succeeding, we think everything is perfect. They don’t deal with any problems. I have been coaching different sports for a long time (over 20 years), and I learned quite early on, that just because your team is succeeding, it’s not perfect. Behind closed doors there are still challenges. The same is true in church life.
Even though the early church was growing and the gospel was advancing, they were not perfect. Even with 'the best coaches' out there (who wouldn’t want Peter, James, and John leading this team?!), they still had challenges in the group.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira reminds us of the early challenges. It reminds us of what God thinks of sin. It reminds us that if sin goes unchecked, it can spread throughout a group like a cancer. It reminds us of the mercy of God toward us, sinners saved by God’s grace. In God’s kindness, he warns us of judgment, that we might pursue holiness and integrity, so that we might be better used by Him, and display His beauty to those around us.
My encouragement to you is to Pursue Christ! Pursue Unity, Generosity, and Holiness. Strive to be a light shining in a world of darkness, deceit, and division.
For this week: Read Acts 5:12-26
But, enough about basketball. What does this have to do with the story that we looked at in Acts 4:32-5:11 on Sunday?
I compared church life, and our church community to that of a team in March Madness.
Anyone who has been a part of a team (and it doesn’t have to be sports), recognizes the challenges and joys that they face, in their efforts and attempts to survive and advance.
Teams face adversity from the outside. Players on the same team have common opponents. And the coach strives to give the team a shared mission and goal. And he strives to create unity and chemistry within the group. And as the team develops, each player recognizes that they have a role to play that might look different than someone else’s, but it serves for the benefit of the entire team. When a player doesn’t support or share in the same mission, they either get disciplined in some way, or now days, they enter the transfer portal.
Well, as I’ve said, a church community is a lot like a team.
In Acts 4:32-5:11, Luke gives us another brief summary of the early church (see Acts 2:42-47). The early church was a fellowship of believers that expressed itself in unity, generosity, and holiness.
They were united around the gospel of Christ. They shared their possessions with one another. They displayed generosity. But when one couple failed to live this way, the Lord brought judgment upon them. And this served to highlight the need for holiness and integrity in the church community.
And there are a lot of lessons that we can learn from their example. Let me list 3.
#1 – We are to be characterized by unity. (Acts 4:32-33)
This involves having...
(1) A Shared Mindset. One that seeks what is best for the team. One that recognizes our common opponent, which is not people, but Satan and his minions.
(2) A Shared Message. This message is the good news of Jesus Christ.
A church’s statement of faith, which summarizes the essential Christian beliefs also serves to unite a church community around the same Biblical convictions.
(3) A Shared Mission. It shouldn’t take you long to figure out what our mission is at Pleasant Ridge. I share it almost every week when we gather together. It is “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.” It is a mission that we are to carry out beyond our walls. It is a mission to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
#2 – We are to be characterized by sacrificial love and concern. (Acts 4:34-37)
If my first application highlights ‘who we are’, this point emphasizes ‘what we do.’
When a group is united in the way we are called to be, this is often evident in what we do for each other. We are to display a sacrificial love and concern for one another, as we meet their practical needs. When we do this, like Barnabas, we encourage not only the one we bless with our gift, but the entire team.
What are ways you have encouraged someone with your sacrificial care? How have you joyfully met the needs of others? Was it with your time, your service, or your possessions?
I have experienced this in countless ways from our church. I am extremely grateful for the generosity that is displayed to me on a regular basis. Let’s pay it forward and bless others as well.
#3 – We are to be characterized by holiness. (Acts 5:1-11)
Sometimes when we see teams that are succeeding, we think everything is perfect. They don’t deal with any problems. I have been coaching different sports for a long time (over 20 years), and I learned quite early on, that just because your team is succeeding, it’s not perfect. Behind closed doors there are still challenges. The same is true in church life.
Even though the early church was growing and the gospel was advancing, they were not perfect. Even with 'the best coaches' out there (who wouldn’t want Peter, James, and John leading this team?!), they still had challenges in the group.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira reminds us of the early challenges. It reminds us of what God thinks of sin. It reminds us that if sin goes unchecked, it can spread throughout a group like a cancer. It reminds us of the mercy of God toward us, sinners saved by God’s grace. In God’s kindness, he warns us of judgment, that we might pursue holiness and integrity, so that we might be better used by Him, and display His beauty to those around us.
My encouragement to you is to Pursue Christ! Pursue Unity, Generosity, and Holiness. Strive to be a light shining in a world of darkness, deceit, and division.
For this week: Read Acts 5:12-26
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