And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Lenten meditation 5

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)

We come to the final verses of Luke’s description of the church at its very beginning. Here we read that the early disciples worshiped together in the temple and shared common meals. We also read here that the church was growing – a sign of health.

These Jewish Christians did not abandon temple worship, but became even more devout. They did not see any reason to discard their Jewish traditions because as far as they were concerned, Christianity was the fulfillment of Judaism. Jesus had stated himself that he came to fulfill the law, not to do away with it. With this in mind, it seemed natural for the early Christians to continue to go to the temple and worship even more than they had in the past.

These earliest Christians were seeking to grow closer to God by whatever means were available to them. Fairly quickly, they would no longer be welcome in the temple, or in proper Jewish society, but for a brief time, they were taking advantage of the opportunity to worship, and even make a few converts, as they did not pass up a chance to talk about Jesus – something that did not win them any favor with the Jewish authorities.

In addition to daily worship, we read here that this group of disciples shared common meals in their homes. They spent time together over meals. The church pot-luck is nothing new. The early church used meals as an opportunity to build community.

Last, we read that this early congregation was growing, daily. This testifies to one simple fact: healthy congregations grow. The church is a living organism, and in biology, organisms are either growing or decaying. The fact that the early church was growing is a sign that it was healthy. We need to ask ourselves what was leading to the growth.

If we look back through the verses that we have been studying through this Lent, we see some key points.

First, this congregation was sure of what its identity. The leaders of this congregation had known Jesus. They were witnesses to his ministry, death and resurrection. There was no doubt in their minds that he was the Savior of the world. Led by the Holy Spirit, they even performed the same miracles that Jesus himself had performed.

Second, they loved each other with the sacrificial love that Jesus had modeled for them. They made sacrifices to provide for each other’s needs. They cared for one-another, even becoming family for those who had lost their natural family due to their new-found beliefs.

Third, they worshiped together in both old and new ways. They came together to celebrate the Eucharist and they continued to attend temple worship until that was no longer an option.

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. - Lenten meditation 4

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 2:44-45)

Of all of the characteristics of the early church, this might be the hardest for those of us living in the 21^st century to accept. These verses state that the early Christians lived in a commune of sorts. They gave up private ownership of their possessions in order that the community would share in a standard of living. This is also likely the characteristic of the earliest church in Jerusalem that was least exported as the church spread – all Christian communities were not communes, and every Christian did not give up private ownership of all possessions upon their conversion.

However, there is a lot that can be taken from this earliest group of believers. They cared for the needs of one another, and the community by relinquishing complete control of their worldly possessions. They did this out of a desire to grow closer to the God that had given up so much for them. This was in sharp contrast to the materialistic religions of the day, which sought favor with their gods in order to garner material wealth and well-being.

We do know that, while all early believers did not leave their homes to live communally, the early Christian communities were characterized by personal sacrifice to provide for the needs of others, especially other believers. The church in Ephesus supported St. Paul while he was ministering to the Corinthians. St. Paul took a collection from the Galatians to deliver to those in need in Jerusalem. Priscilla and Aquila provided for many of Paul’s needs. We also know that the first seven deacons were ordained to assist with the daily distribution of support to the widows and orphans. The church has always been an agency of social welfare. It was the church in Rome that started the first orphanages by roaming the streets at night, collecting the babies which had been put out in the streets to die from exposure – a legal practice in 1^st century Rome.

We are called to be “little Christs” by sacrificing what we have for the good of the Christian community. St. Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Php 2:5-7) While we might not be called into life in a Christian commune, we are all called into a life of sacrifice. We are to count our material wealth as nothing compared to the eternal wealth offered through Jesus Christ.

We are allowed to have possessions, even some luxury, but we should never allow our possessions to have control over our lives. We should always be ready to give up the things of the world for the purpose of winning souls to eternal life through Jesus. We are to follow the example of Barnabas: “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.” (Act 4:36-37)

Generosity and genuine caring were two things that drew people to the early Christians, and they will have the same effect on the world today. How many people can be brought to Christ by our simply being his hands and feet to our world? If we are to be the Body of Christ, we must approach our world with the same love, compassion and sacrifice that he has given us. If we are able to do that, even a callous and hardened world will have trouble ignoring us. It was with sacrificial love that the early church won the hearts of the people of Rome, and that is an example that we should do our best to follow.

...and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. - Lenten meditation 3

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Act 2:43)

One of the characteristics of the early church, much like Jesus’ ministry, was the presence of miracles. Healings took place, demons were cast out, and even the dead were raised. Signs and wonders are now, and always have been a part of the life of the church of Christ.

Jesus performed miracles as proof that he was the messiah, “And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” (Mat 11:4-5) He did not do any of his miracles for the sake of miracles, let’s face it, anyone who healed of an illness, will eventually get sick again, and even those who are raised from the dead, like Lazarus, will eventually have to die again.

The greatest miracle that Jesus performed took place when he took on human flesh, then went to the cross on Calvary. The fact that God became flesh and dwelt among us is a thing about which we should be in awe and wonder, and the early church was. They never lost that sense of wonder, and that was what drew people to them, but there were still miracles.

The Apostles performed the same miracles that they had seen Jesus perform. Peter meeting the beggar at the beautiful gate said, "‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”(Act 3:6-7) There were also accounts of the dead being raised given in the Acts of the Apostles. These are the signs and wonders of which Luke writes, but their purpose was the same as that Jesus’ miracles, they were proof that God had indwelt his church, and salvation had come into the world through Jesus Christ.

The greatest wonder that was taking place in the early church is that a band of disciples that had been cowering in an upper room the day before the Holy Spirit indwelt them on the Day of Pentecost, had been given the power to spread the Gospel to the Roman world that was extremely hostile to the message. And, of course, the greatest wonder of the early church was that people were accepting the message, and coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

The question arises, “Are miracles still present in the church today?” There are those who believe that miracles left the church at the end of the Apostolic Age. The fact is that miracles do still take place when the church comes together in prayer. The sick are healed. Demons are cast out, and even the dead are raised in many parts of the world, especially in the Global South. These signs and wonders, like those of Jesus, and the early church are performed by God for to bring people into his kingdom.

Of course the greatest wonder that the church performs on a regular basis is the wonder that takes place on the altar every time the Eucharist is celebrated. Every time simple bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we are invited to participate in the greatest wonder. “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’”(John 6:53-54) It is in the Eucharist where we are able to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus. When we receive the Sacrament, we are following the commandment of Christ, receiving him as a part of our own bodies and souls.

So, should we, like the early church, pray for signs and wonders? Absolutely. But, we should never seek miracles for the spectacle alone.  We should seek that everything that we do in the church be done to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that he offers salvation to all who will believe in him.