Jump Start # 1078

Acts 2:46 “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.”

  Folks that know me, especially the home congregation, know that I love Sunday. Sunday is the best day of the week. Our routines are different on Sunday. We get to see each other on Sundays. Our attention and emphasis is upon praising and worshipping God that day. Sundays are great. I wish every day was a Sunday. But they are not. Some days are Mondays. Some days are Fridays. Some days we can seem so far away from Sunday. Some days the chaos of life can make it seem like Sunday may never come.

Our verse today reminds us that the first Christians were connecting with each other and with God every day. “Day by day” is the expression. Day by day they were eating together. Day by day they were teaching and learning. Day by day. We read this and think, “Didn’t they ever go to work?” Where does the kid’s soccer practice fit in? Did they have nothing else to do? We don’t know all those details. We know that they were people like us, and like us, it’s a thoughtful and purposeful choice that we must make to stay focused and connected to the Lord. It’s important to do that. If the totality of our spiritual life is lived on Sunday at the church building, we will suffer greatly. Satan’s attacks are stronger away from the church building and when we are together. Fear and worry are greater when we are by ourselves. The lion, which Peter compares Satan to, looks for the animal that has strayed away from the flock. He’s eyes are upon the one that is vulnerable. Together we are strong. Together we are encouraged. Together we believe we can make it.

Day by day…how do we do that? How is it possible, especially in urban congregations when we are spread out, shopping at different places, unlike the first Christians seeing each other in the daily market places, working in different places and not seeing each other? Is it possible in these days to keep a “day by day” relationship with each other?

We may not be able to be with everyone day by day as the first Christians were, but there are wonderful and powerful ways to stay connected with each other. This is a choice we must make. This choice involves looking and finding ways to be with each other. This choice sees the positive value of Christian relationships. There is no reason for any Christian to feel alone.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Use your time in the car to call someone in your church family. Just a short “hi, I was thinking about you today,” can be all it takes to make someone’s day. Talk to the elders once a week. This helps them and this helps you. Sitting in airports, construction traffic, waiting on the kids—use the time for good. Prayer time. Connecting time.

• Use social media to stay connected. Facebook messages, email’s are a great way to connect with others, ask questions, let others know that you are praying for them. Just a short note can do so much to encourage another.

• Have lunch with others. This helps when you work in the same area as others. During lunch allows you to draw closer to others. It can be a time to have prayer together. It can be an opportunity to have a Bible study. In time, deeper relationships are formed. Serious conversations can take place.

• Have families over for dinner. This is a great way to know others. The meal doesn’t have to be over the top. It can be simple things. You are not showing off, you are drawing closer to each other. Have a couple you know well and a couple you do not know well. This expands your relationships, fellowship and friendships.

• Go to events, such as ballgames, concerts, movies, vacations with others. This is a great way to share wonderful memories.

All of us need those close ties in Christ. It makes a difference in our lives. Those that don’t build those relationships, will often turn to family and friends for advice. Often that advice may not be Biblical, helpful or accurate. They may be encouraged to leave a marriage, when they should have hung in there and got things going. They may be encourage to skip services to do family things. They become weaker by spending time with weaker people. Strong Christians recognize the importance of surrounding themselves with spiritual giants.

Day by day. It’s powerful, it’s wonderful, it’s the next best thing to Sundays.

We are one day closer to Heaven…then we will never be separated again!

Roger

Jump Start # 1033

Acts 2:46 “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart”

  Our passage today gives us a brief look into what the first Christians did. Here we see a daily connection and routine. Day by day—they were in the Temple. Day by day they were eating meals together. Day by day they were sharing, growing and being there for each other.

Other places in the N.T. reveal that they were teaching every day. They were spreading God’s word every day. Every day they were feeding their faith and walking with the Lord. Every day.

Our culture tends to pull us apart. The first Christians were Jews and they lived very close to each other. Grocery shopping meant a trip every day to the market place. Their lives were intertwined with each other. Today, we live apart from each other. We work, shop and do things in different places. It is literally very realistic that we do not see one another outside of the church building. The sense of belonging, community, fellowship and togetherness doesn’t impact us as much. Our daily spiritual activities are done more alone than they are with others.

Togetherness does something positive for us. God realized that and that is why we are brought together in a congregation. The “one another” factor is important. Alone, doubts rise. Alone, we get discouraged. Alone, we find excuses to lag behind. Alone, the feeling of quitting is greater. One of the best solutions to these things is to quit being alone. Get around other Christians. Connect throughout the week. Find each other. Share with each other. Do things with each other.

Our culture is creating loners. Sure we connect on twitter and facebook—but that’s at a distance. It’s not the same as being there. Nothing beats the pat on the back or the hug from another Christian. Nothing beats the way their eyes light up when you talk to them. Nothing beats the genuine smile on the face. It’s hard doing these things because we are so busy. We have places to be. We have so much to do. We do not live next to each other. We are not walking down the same road to the same market place as the first Christians did. Our lives are separate and that creates hearts that are separate. It’s not uncommon for folks to worship with each other in the same congregation for years, and yet not know much about each other. We tend to be guarded and protected. We don’t interact other than the usual superficial things. So we are alone even in a crowd. We are alone even in a congregation of many. This loneliness of heart creates a longing for friendship, sharing and connecting. Is it any wonder that many feel closer to co-workers or neighbors than they do their fellow Christians. Worship services, for many these days, is similar to going to a movie. You attend not for the crowd, but for what is on the screen. You rarely talk to anyone and you certainly hope no one sits right next to you. You enjoy the show, gather your stuff and head home. There is no interacting with the rest of the audience. Our church services can quickly move to that state if we don’t do something about it. Lonely Christians in a crowded church just doesn’t make sense. There is so much that is missing when that happens. Could it be our rate of drop outs is connected to this loneliness factor. Had someone known. Had someone connected. Had there been a greater sense of belonging. If there was more to going to services than just what is happening up in the pulpit…

Here are some thoughts.

First, we ought to recognize this in ourselves and others. How often, during the week, between services, do you have contact with other Christians? How often are others doing the same? Are we eating meals just with our family? Are we doing things just with our family? Include others. Invite others. The solution to the spiritual loneliness that may experience is to open the door to your heart and your home. Begin with little things. Ask another Christian to meet you for lunch. Invite a family over on Friday night. Include other Christians when you go to a movie, show or ballgame.

Some are doing these things and this is just as natural and easy as breathing. For others, this is huge. It’s scary to them and they are uncertain. Give it a try. Recognize that there are others who are not connecting. They are alone. They are not at other gatherings. They are missing out. Reach out to them.

Second, develop strong friendships within the congregation. That takes time. That takes spending time. That takes sharing and caring. That takes doing things together. Those strong spiritual bonds help hold us together. They help us fight Satan. They help us keep going. It is wonderful to have a Christian that you can count on. It is amazing that there is a Christian that cares and is praying for you. It is great to have a Christian that you can talk to and confide in. The words of a fellow believer, one who is serious about going to Heaven, will be so much more helpful than the words of one who doesn’t know the Lord.

Day by day…every day. Things were happening among the first Christians. They were growing and connecting. We need that.

Day by day, begins with THIS DAY.

Roger