The other day at Lifegroup (basically house church) we were discussing Acts 2:42-47 where it essentially depicts the first church.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
We focused in on verse 44, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” We talked about what that meant for us as believers and how beautiful it depicted community. All the believers were together and had all things in common – wow. What sacrifice, what selflessness that must take. When what’s yours is mine then essentially nothing belongs to anyone and everything belongs to everyone. Now before you start thinking the Disciples were the original authors of the communist manifesto consider why they were living in such community, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul” verse 42-43. They first started by spending time with Jesus, building a relationship with him, and then falling in love with him and everything he stands for. They were moved by compassion to pursue such community where nothing mattered but the ‘breaking of bread’ and supporting one another.
This next year (2 days away – eek) I will have the opportunity to live in community as depicted in Acts 2:42, however it’s not as easy as making the choice to live selflessly – it comes from an overflow of love for the holy spirit, for when we devote ourselves to a relationship with the father our whole lives begin to change and begin to resemble the selflessness, love, and acceptance the father poured out for us on the cross. Thankfully on one of the last nights of training camp we were asked to sign a contract that had a list of various rules we were to abide by, however, instead of skimming over the fine print and scribbling our excuse for a signature, they took the time to go through the whole contract and why each rule was there, we were then given about an hour to sit in prayer by ourselves and look over the contract to decide if we were ready to commit to it, because they didn’t want just our signature, they wanted our hearts to be in it. Before finally signing the bottom line, our squad leader Madie gave a presentation that visually depicted a portion of her testimony, she laid out sins on a table that had consumed her before she knew Jesus and told us that she had given these things a seat at her table, she then began to show how knowing Jesus transformed her life and replaced the sins with truth, goodness, and love – she no longer allowed the enemy a seat at her table and instead invited the holy spirit to dwell. Afterwards we were invited to consider what we were allowing to sit at our table that had no place there and decide to offer it no place in the future. I then sat down, contract in hand, knowing I was committing to far more than a few promises on a paper, but I was creating a new covenant with my team, my squad, and my father in heaven. I couldn’t wait to sign it. I then joined my squad at a series of white tables our leadership had put out that resembles a modern day last supper. One by one we all signed our contracts and joined the others at the table where bread and grape juice lay in front of us.
All week we had been sitting at meals in groups of 8 so this was the first time our whole squad was sitting at one long table that seemed to almost extend infinitely both ways – and perhaps it did. All I know is that moment will be the driving force for when I am struggling to pursue community like depicted in Acts 2:42, the idea that we all sat at that table on a hot day in July to commit to one another, to choose one another – through good and bad – is enough.
We were then invited to take communion together – if you know anything about communion you know how sacred and special it is. In Jewish culture when a man wanted to propose to a woman he would present her with a cup of wine – if she chose to take it she essentially was saying yes to his proposal. So it was even more special to say ‘YES’ to my squad and to say yes for whatever this next year may bring.
And if you are reading this and not on my squad (probably the majority of you) I want you to know you have a seat at the table as well. Wherever you are sitting now whether that’s in shame, regret, denial, unworthiness, know that at any moment you can choose to stop allowing those things a place at your table and instead replace it with the goodness of fellowship with fellow believers. The idea that ‘the table never ends’ is a beautiful depiction of how heaven is going to look like. Believers gathered all around to simply enjoy each others presence and the presence of the father, while choosing to say yes to one another with the breaking of bread. No one left out or forgotten simply because the table never ends.
It’s like olive gardens endless bread basket – BUT BETTER.
Squad W: it is a privilege to sit at a table in the presence of such wonderful men and women who I get to be encouraged by daily and who I get to live in TRUE community with for the next 9 months!! It is going to be so hard but so worth it to get even an inch closer to a life like Jesus’.
supporters & fellow believers: it is a privilege to sit at a table with such support as a community of believers and I would appreciate nothing more than your prayer during this time of newness and adjustment.
And if you are not sitting at the table – what are you waiting for? Your seat is waiting.
With-chairs-to-spare,
El
