Today it seems that the “good old days” come with a price tag. I can buy all kinds of retro cool things straight from the past. With the right amount of cash you can acquire nearly anything …..
Perhaps you have caught yourself waxing nostalgic and wishing for the “Good Old days?” Perhaps it was a song on the radio, or the smell of something baking in the oven, or a pending holiday, or a voice that suddenly triggers those wonderful thoughts of the way things use to be. We all have those thoughts or moments.
I am sure as the early church struggled, they often wished for the good old days. After all, their leader had just been crucified. Their followers were scattered. Many having run off like cowards. Outsiders certainly must have thought this Jesus movement is finally over. Many of the believers probably longed for the days when Jesus was with them … they might have even caught themselves wishing for “the good old days”!
We often find ourselves wishing for “the good old days.” Even as a church we often find ourselves saying, “I wish things were like they were when ... (you fill in the blank).”
But what are the good old days? Luke pauses at the end of Acts chapter 2 to give a summary of the early church’s good old days:
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. Acts 2:41-47
Pentecost has occurred and the church has grown to over 3000 believers. There is a sense of you can’t believe what is happening. I wondered if Luke didn’t stop to record this summary so that they would remember what it was like during the Good Old days of The First Church. Certainly there would be hard times ahead.
As they moved from the quiet of the Upper Room and into the lands of Samaria and Judea a strong wind blew that still blows today. It is a movement of God. A movement still rooted in the “Good Old Days” that Luke writes about. So, what were the good old days of the early church like?
The
early church was marked by 4 traits:
1)
Instruction or “the
teaching of the apostles”
This education was based
on the telling of the life story of Jesus.
The disciples told the stories of their adventures with Jesus over and
over again. They taught from the Old
Testament. They related the prophecies
that Jesus fulfilled. They taught one
another to love as Jesus loved and to live together in unity of spirit and
purpose.
2)
Fellowship or “the
life together”
They spent time
together. This was not communal living
but a coming together in spirit and purpose of action. They shared their belongings not as communal
property, but rather as recognition that amassing wealth was NOT their purpose
- everything that they had belonged to God. This recognition allowed them to
take care of the needs of the church in the manner that God had provided. They met in each others homes and practiced
hospitality as it had never been known.
3)
Worship or “the common meal”
This was a consistent
practice of the believers. Some
maintained the practice of going to the Temple
while others met in homes. The home was
the meeting place for Christians for the first three centuries. They continued the practice of “breaking
Bread” or the sharing of the Lord’s Supper.
This would have been a part of the common meal that they shared, but was
accentuated by a time of quiet reflection as well as a time of thanksgiving and
praise for the death and resurrection of Jesus.
4)
Prayer or “prayers”
The early church
prayed. They prayed in private. They prayed in public. They prayed alone. They prayed together. They prayed the old prayers of the
temple. They prayed new prayers led by
the Spirit. Many maintained the Jewish
tradition of praying three times a day.
Their prayers centered on blessing and praising God. They also prayed for guidance in their
actions and for boldness as they witnessed to all they seen and experienced.
We can have the Good Old days of the early church right here, right now. The example was put forth in the “good old days” recorded by Luke. We must have a unity of purpose with everyone on board on pulling in the same direction and sharing the load. We have to individually decide that the overall purpose of the church is important enough to give of ourselves in more than a casual way. We must decide to be committed.
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal,
and the prayers. Acts 2:42
We need to be completely committed and sold out to the priorities of God, each other, and our community. We must decide that we are going to give more than just our leftover time to this endeavor, that we will be supportive, involved and active participants in the task of reaching this community with the message of Christ.
The Good Old days are within our grasp.
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal,
and the prayers. Acts 2:42
Will you commit your self to the Good Old days?
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