Jon Mulvey spoke about the early church referring from Acts 2:40-47.
He talked about how one man's (Jesus) mission in 3 years turned the world upside down. There were four choices for the early church to model their lives on:
- Pharisees and Sadducee lifestyle - Very legalistic and uncaring to the poor and sick
- Roman lifestyle - Trample others out of greed for money and power
- Gentiles lifestyle - Many different theologies and understanding about God
- Jesus way - A new life style as in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Why was there favour from all the people? Acts 2:40 - Peter pleaded with the people to leave the ways of a corrupt generation and live a life set apart for Christ
The early church was counter culture. In our modern day it is easy to become sub culture shaped Christians.
John 15:19 " If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Is our lives as Christians being clear to others around us to see that we are people who are counter culture just as the early church was?
Jeremiah 15:19 "Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them."
NOTE: Next Sunday (June 1st) -Venue Change! Service will be at St Martin's Church on East Stockwell Street.
