Could this portrayal of the early church be used to depict our present-day church?  Or does reading this passage of Scripture, and using it as the standard to evaluate what we now call “the church”, cause an unsettling discontentment within you?  Have we fallen far short of the mark our early brothers and sisters set for us?  How many people do you know in our church body who have real and desperate needs?  Let’s bring it closer to home – within our own Life Group, are you aware of someone who needs a tank of gas, groceries for the week, or money to pay an electric bill?  If you do not presently know of someone with a need, why don’t you?  And if you are currently the one in need, why haven’t you told someone?

According to Acts 4, within the early church, NO ONE had a need because those who had excess would sell it in order to give to those without!!   Members of the church body considered no possession to be their own, but rather, belonging to everyone!

You might consider the “early church” model to be a “radical” idea, or perhaps just not possible in the day and age we live in.  Scripture speaks to the contrary.  After all, we claim to be Christ-followers, and our Lord Jesus was likely the greatest “radical” to ever walk this earth!  This is the Man Who said things like: “Go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21), and “ ‘If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison – your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple’ ” (Luke14:26).  If Jesus said it, we are to follow.  If His early church modeled it, then it can be assumed that we, as His present-day church, are to also go and do likewise.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus stated, “ ‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.’ ” If, on any given day, someone from “the world” were to observe our church, or even a Small Group, would they be able to tell that we are disciples of Christ, as evidenced by our deep love for each other?   Would they be able to tell any noticeable difference between us and the world?

Brothers and Sisters, it is time to put the early church principles into practice!  Attempting to transform our entire church with these ideals would likely be too large a task.  But it can certainly start a Small Group!

How can this happen?  You can begin a “no-one-in-need” provision chain.  This will require that each of us learn to: 1. Listen closely for the Spirit’s prompts, as He shares with us specific needs that one of our brothers or sisters might have; 2. Be willing to give of our excess, and even in our lack, if the Spirit says we have something someone else needs; and 3. Practice humility, by being open to admitting when we have needs that we are unable to meet on our own – otherwise, how will the rest of the body know?

As often as necessary, send email notices of either:  1. A current need you are unable to meet on your own (from food, to gas, to a washing machine b/c yours broke down); or 2. Something you have that you no longer need (an old car, a dryer, a set of sheets, etc) – or simply that the Holy spirit has alerted you that someone else is in need of…even if you do not know the specific individual.  Through the no-one-in-need chain, we will make sure provision gets to the right individuals.
When  a Small Group begins to truly function as a body, with each part reliant on the other parts in order to function at full capacity, not only will no brother or sister ever have an unmet need, but those watching will be able to tell that we are truly disciples of Jesus Christ!  Ultimately, our love for one another will draw others to Him!

The selflessness and boldness of the early church forever changed the world.  Brother and Sisters, it is time for God’s people to once again radically affect the world around us!!

I had to really think about that and I realized that the Lord absolutley LOVES everyone, INCLUDING homeless!  They are people that have all different types of stories and lives.  They have all gotten in this situation from by a different way and my heart just broke for them.  Even now I am thinking about one of the guys that said, “THANKS FOR REALLY SEEING US!”  He took a bagged lunch from us and a gray hooded sweatshirt.  He was ecstatic to have a hoodie to wear.  Are you kidding?  I almost cried when I heard that, because I don’t stop my crazy American christian life long enough to just LOVE the way my KING did and does!  Oh, Lord help me to SEE what you see and be moved by LOVE alone.

We cooked hotdogs all morning and my girls colored and made drawings all over paper bags at the house.  We also made cookies, took as much money as we could get together, and just asked the Lord to lead us!  HE DEFINITLEY LED US!  My girls, they are only 4 and 6,  were a hit with all the people as they just handed out bagged lunches along with a bunch of clothes and jackets that we had in our closets.  We just drove all around downtown Nashville looking for people that were in need and stopped whenever the Lord told us to.   We gave money to people that seemed just hopeless and helpless and we shared JESUS with them the best we knew how!  We talked to a guy named RED; I will never forget him.  He was huddled up by himself against the wall as we drove up to him and we just began to talk.  He was a broken man, torn by the years of bad decisions that he made; he carried them all on himself.  He was a prime canidate who needed hope, love, and FAITH.  We talked to him about Jesus and he just said I NEED HIM!  He was so ready for the Lord to step in and do a miracle and He did!  He cried out with us to Jesus in his own words and began to tear up and so did I.  I heard a man in his despondant and desperate situation from the depths of his soul cry out to the only One that could change him for eternity.  Our Lord saved RED 2000 years ago as well as took care of his sins and today for the first time he BELIEVED Him!  We gave him a hug some cash and told him how much we loved him and wouldn’t forget him.  This is one of the many we met along with only one of the stories we heard today.  My wife met someone she had known for years back from her hometown who is now homeless.  It broke her heart and we gave him a meal and just loved on him.  It made me think how quickly life can change, how sin can creep into someones life, how the enemy will DESTORY lives!  I was able to pray for a guy who had a sexual addiction, a man who was in such pain from his back and injuries that he got high just so he didn’t feel it; his name was Dennis and I prayed for healing for him.  Whether he got it I don’t know but I believed the Lord was ready to do it for Him, just like He ALWAYS is!  Ok so the DAY was great!  It was the first christmas that I didn’t think about myself and my presents and my needs, but about Christ and others!  HOW BLESSED I AM TODAY!  This is only the begining!

Let it be known…..

N

“DISTURB US, LORD, WHEN WE ARE TOO WELL PLEASED WITH OUSELVES. WHEN OUR DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE BECAUE WE DREAMED TOO LITTLE. WHEN WE ARRIVE SAFELY BECAUSE WE HAVE SAILED TOO CLOSE TO THE SHORE. DISTURB US LORD!”

On another note my kids are healthy well, which I have four!  2 girls and 2 boys

My wife is the hottest godliest woman I know and for that I cannot wait to see her and listen to her everyday! (She just had mouth surgery so she is a little under the weather right now!)

Nathan