10 Characteristics of a Vital Congregation

For the new “Call to Action Plan” this is from Acts 2:41-47.

10 Characteristics of a Vital Congregation

Acts 2:41-47 Amplified Bible

Acts 2:41  Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.

Acts 2:42  And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord's Supper] and prayers.

Acts 2:43  And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).

Acts 2:44  And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;

Acts 2:45  And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.

Acts 2:46  And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord's Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,

Acts 2:47  Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

It should go without saying that a “vital congregation” is one that is filled with “those who have accepted [the message of] Salvation, been baptized and ‘added to’ the number [of the church].” (Acts 2:41) Therefore:

• A Vital Congregation is steadfast or devoted. (Acts 2:42) The concept literally means “to be strong toward…”  People are “devoted” to a variety of things; these believers were devoted to four areas of responsibility in particular.
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to the study of the Revealed Word of God. (Acts 2:42) Each “saved” person was nurtured in the faith and continued to learn the doctrine of the apostles.
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to the community of believers (Acts 2:42) AKA “the fellowship” or the koinōnia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah) which means “partnership” or “sharing.” In other words, those who receive Jesus Christ become partners with Him AND with all other believers (see 1 John 1:3)
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to “the breaking of bread” or “The Lord’s Supper.” (Acts 2:42) Devotion to this sacrament brings with it a devotion to remembering Who Christ is and what He did as well as to the equality of believers at the Lord’s Table. It has been said that, “In Communion all believers meet on common ground at the foot of the cross.” (See Galatians 3:28)
• A Vital Congregation is devoted to prayers. (Acts 2:42) This is not just individual prayer, but the prayers of the congregation. A Vital Congregation prays and shares burdens with others of the same such precious faith.
• A Vital Congregation is reverent and awe-filled. (Acts 2:43) There is nothing “lackadaisical” about worship as the congregation realizes that they are indeed “standing on Holy Ground.”
• A Vital Congregation touches lives. “(Acts 2: 44) Wonders and signs” continue to take place as hearts are mended, worth is proclaimed, and relationships are restored.
• A Vital Congregation is a sharing and caring congregation where needs, both inside and outside the congregation, are met through sacrificial giving. (Acts 2:45)
• A Vital Congregation is a worshiping congregation whether they are in a “church” setting or in one another’s homes. (Acts 2: 46) “Worship” spills over into the everyday life of the believers. A Vital Congregation works out their salvation with fear and trembling; (See Philippians 2:12.)
• A Vital Congregation praises God and is well spoken of by the community. (Acts 2:47) As “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:52) so a vital congregation is continually growing spiritually and relationally as well.

A Prayer for Caregiver Decisions

“Oh, if I just knew what to do” a friend cried to me recently. And I thought, “Oh yeah… I’ve been there.” 

We’ve been called “the sandwich generation” – taking care of parents as well as children. But, in reality, ever since Adam and Eve’s children, had children, there has been a “sandwich generation.”

Still, having a “title” doesn’t make it any easier. So – if you are there, just know – you are being prayed for…

O Heavenly Father of comfort, I lift up those with extremely difficult decisions to make today. Give them wisdom and peace. And, I pray Lord, for those “about whom” the decisions are being made. How difficult it must be to have to give up the freedom to make your own decisions about your own life. May we always be sensitive to that dilemma. (For, as we know – we’ll one day be there, too.)

I also pray Father, for those who are not making “big” decision, but are instead, continuing in the struggle of a thousand daily decisions that never seem to let up. Comfort them too, Lord, and give them Your strength, because I know, they feel theirs is nearly gone. 

For those of us who’ve been through it, give us a spirit of remembrance that we may offer our hand of help for we remember Paul’s words when he said that You comfort us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others*. 

And for those who’ve yet to face it, give them a spirit of understanding and patience that they too may lend support. For we each, need each other, and we thank You for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and it is in His precious name we pray – Amen.

 

(*2 Corinthians 1:4)

You Can’t Thumb Through a Kindle

Have you ever been thumbing through your Bible, turning to a particular scripture, when your eyes fell on an “underlined” passage that just “jumped out” at you and spoke to your heart? Well, we’re quickly losing that type of encounter in our society because…

You can’t thumb through a Kindle
Smart phone or I-Pad
There’s no “random” experience
In the latest gadget or fad.

“But” (the retort comes back)
“I’ve quit ‘chasing rabbits’
I’ve streamlined my time
It’s all at my fingers
The reason and rhyme

I’ve stopped the distractions
I’m focused you see
I’m in charge of my study
I’ll decide what I read.”

(But my friend, what you don’t realize is…)

There’s no surprise encounter
With the Word to be had
You can’t thumb through a Kindle
And what we’ve lost is so sad.

 

Yeah, it’s a hokey little poem (not my best literary work by any means) but it captures the anguish of my heart. I fear we are fast becoming a world in which God’s Word is not allowed to “speak” to our hearts. “WE” are too much “in charge” of our own study these days.

Mark up your Bible. Underline passages that speak to you. Make notes that you (or your great-grandchildren) will read in the future.

If you remember… folks died to make sure you had God’s Word… in print… in your hands…

Almighty God… El-Shad-dai… my All Sufficient One, thank You for this living, breathing Word in my hands. Speak to me today in my reading, and remind me tomorrow of what You have said.

When I am so troubled that I cannot read, may I “thumb through” and just read the “underlined” so that I remember Your presence, Your faithfulness in the past, and hold to that promise for the future.

I pray this in the Name of the One Who Is the Word made Flesh – Jesus Christ my Saviour – Amen.

Losing the “Oh!” from our hearts

A.W. Tozer said, “When God Himself appears before the mind, awesome, vast and incomprehensible, then the mind sinks into silence and the heart cries out ‘O Lord God!’ There is the difference between theological knowledge and spiritual experience, the difference between knowing God by hearsay and knowing Him by acquaintance…”

He goes on to say, “We Christians should watch lest we lose the ‘Oh!’ from our hearts…”

What do you pray when you absolutely have no words? Don’t you just pitifully utter “O Lord…”? I once wrote a poem which said in part, “O Lord, hear our cries. O Lord, hear our sighs. O Lord, hear our ‘O Lord’s…”

There are times when there are simply no words. Tozer added, “When the calm listing of ‘prayer requests’ and the courteous giving of ‘proper thanks’ take the place of the burdened prayer that finds utterance difficult we should beware the next step, for our direction is surely down, whether we know it or not.”

Yes, we have the freedom, even the boldness to come into the “throne room of God” but we must never take that for granted.

Job said, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (Job 42:5)

Have you gone from “knowing about” God to “knowing” Him? How often do you stand speechless before Him uttering only “O Lord God!”?

Oh Father, we know that it is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can even come before Your throne to pray to You. Perhaps that’s why we so often pray “Oh Father” rather than “O Lord my God…” Praying to “our Father” is comforting and uplifting, while praying to “Lord God Almighty” leaves us speechless and breathless. But sometimes Lord, perhaps that’s just where we need to be…

We praise Thee, O Lord God Almighty, through the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Seek Your Elders

When I was a young woman I sought the advice of older Christian women. I often called my mother, my mother-in-law, my aunts, and older women in the church asking, “what do I… how do I… when should I…” There was so much that I needed to learn. In fact, I felt so lost (even at age 51) when my last “go-to” lady died. To whom would I go for advice now?

To whom do you go for advice? There is much we can learn from 1 Kings 12:1-11. Solomon was dead, and Rehoboam his son was king. The elders who had been Solomon’s advisors came around him to help him and advise him, but Rehoboam scorned their advice and turned to his buddies – and oh, what a mess that got him (and all of Israel) in!

Most of my “elders” have passed on, and, as the Werther’s Originals commercial says, “Now I’m the grand [parent]…” (Well, I’m not really a grandmother, but I’m old enough to be!) But, things have changed now. The younger “leaders” don’t want our advice. The last 4 out of 5 pastors we’ve had were either under 35 years old and/or had no experience in the pastorate, but yet, they seek the council of their peers rather than the experience of their elders. It’s so sad – and makes me feel like I’m the one who’s out of touch and not needed anymore…

Prayer for Help in Time of Struggle

The two on the road to Emmaus were “Easter people” and didn’t even know it. Jesus came alongside them, and they didn’t recognize Him. All they saw was the “doom and gloom” that clouded their eyesight. The war had been won, but the battle raged on.

And so are we “Easter people” and though we say we know it, we still walk with our eyes and our hearts downcast. We say we know that Jesus walks with us, but our feet drag and our shoulders sag.

Oh Father, warm our hearts and revive our spirits. Cause us to reach for the Living Bread, and allow us to see the nail-scarred hands reaching out to us. Then, oh Father, may we jump up and run to tell others that He IS alive, and we CAN face whatever the day may bring! Because He lives, we CAN face tomorrow (and today, too.)

In His precious Name I pray – Amen.

Servant-logue 23 June, 2011 6:30am

Droughts? Floods? Thirst? “The Living God invites us to the Stream of Living Water – the only perennial stream in the world that never runs dry, the only stream that never overflows and destroys.” (Tozer)