Acts: Life On Mission - Week 2 - 2024 Kickoff Sunday

2024 Kickoff Sunday: Acts - Life on Mission

The second week of the series "Acts: Life on Mission" focuses on a core question: What should the church look like today? This message, drawn from the early church’s example in the book of Acts, brings to light three powerful mandates for believers—worship, spiritual battle, and celebration. It also touches on how the Bible addresses aspects of church life, such as dress and behavior during worship, with a call to build a stronger, mission-focused church community.

What Does the Bible Say About What to Wear to Church?

The Bible has little to say directly about clothing for church gatherings, especially in the New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, there were some subtle indications, like covering one's head for worship, but the New Testament mentions it only briefly.

Paul, in his letter to Timothy, writes:

1 Timothy 2:8-10

"In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."

Here, Paul doesn't refer to church buildings as “sanctuaries” but as places of worship, emphasizing that worship should be the primary focus. Men are instructed to lift holy hands, drawing attention to God, not to themselves. Likewise, women are told to dress modestly and appropriately, not to create barriers for outsiders or make it about self-image, but rather to make God the focal point.

Learning from the Early Church (Acts 2:42-47)

The book of Acts provides a powerful model for how the early church functioned. Written by Luke, it describes a church devoted to key practices that every believer and church community should emulate. This passage offers a glimpse of what church gatherings should look like:

Acts 2:42-47

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

Luke emphasizes five critical aspects of the early church:

1. Devotion to Teaching
   The believers were serious about learning and applying the apostles' teachings. It wasn't a passive experience. They actively engaged with the teachings, discussed them in their communities (Life Groups), and applied them in their daily lives. This example challenges the modern church to not just listen but live out the Word of God.

2. Fellowship
   God created humanity for fellowship. Even in the Garden of Eden, God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone, despite his companionship with nature and animals (Genesis 2:18). Fellowship builds up believers, providing the encouragement needed to continue through life's struggles. The church should be a place of genuine connection and mutual support.

3. Communion and Sacraments
   The early church gathered to share meals, including the Lord’s Supper, a key practice commanded by Jesus. Beyond individual spirituality, the church provides the necessary context for celebrating the sacraments—baptism, communion, marriage—and these are essential for the life of the believer.

4. Prayer and Miracles
   Prayer in the early church wasn't just ritualistic; it was Spirit-filled and led to tangible results. The apostles performed miracles and signs as a result of their deep connection with God. Church gatherings are not just social events but spiritual meetings where the power of God should be evident.

5. Generosity
   The early believers shared everything they had. This radical generosity is a challenge to modern believers to adopt an open-handed approach toward material possessions. As they shared, God provided for them. The message here is clear: God calls His people to be generous, and He will meet their needs in return.

Mandates for the Modern Church

Drawing from the example of the early church, three mandates emerge for believers today:

1. Worship God
   Worship must be central in the life of every believer and church. It’s not just about singing songs on Sunday; it’s about placing God above everything else—work, sleep, sports, and all distractions. As Psalm 115 warns, we become like the things we worship. If we worship the idols of the world, we will become blind, deaf, and mute. But if we worship the living God, He will transform us.

Psalm 115:3-8

"Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them."

True worship forms us into the image of Christ and brings freedom and truth into our lives. It is a daily, intentional act that should take priority over everything else.

2. Defeat Dragons
   Revelation 12 paints a vivid picture of the spiritual battle believers face. Satan, described as a dragon, was cast down to earth and now fights against God’s people. But the message is clear: through Christ, believers have the power to overcome.

Revelation 12:9-11

"This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, 'It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.'"

Christians are called to fight and defeat the enemy. They must not fear the spiritual battles they face but embrace them as part of their mission. God has placed His people on earth at this time for a reason, and they are equipped for victory.

3. Feast with Joy
   The church should be a place of joy and celebration, even in difficult times. Nehemiah encouraged the people of God to feast and celebrate because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The early church rejoiced, even in persecution, because they knew the end of the story—they were more than conquerors through Christ.

Nehemiah 8:10

"And Nehemiah continued, 'Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!'"

Believers are not called to live in fear, sadness, or defeat. They are called to celebrate, knowing that Christ has already won the ultimate victory. In times of spiritual battle, the church is to fight with joy in their hearts, confident that God is in control.

Conclusion: A Call to Devotion

The early church was committed to living life on mission. They devoted themselves to worship, fellowship, prayer, generosity, and the sacraments. This commitment transformed their community and grew the church. Likewise, today’s church is called to follow this example—to devote themselves fully to God and His mission.

Will you join this mission? Will you devote yourself to worshiping God, fighting spiritual battles, and celebrating His victories? The time is now, and the church must rise together to fulfill its purpose. As G.K. Chesterton once said, "The one glimpse of God's paradise given on earth is to fight a losing battle—and not lose it."

Let’s fight the biggest battles and throw the best parties, for we serve a God who knows the way out of the grave. Together, we can slay the dragons of this world and celebrate our victory in Christ.

Did you like Acts: Life On Mission – Week 2 - 2024 Kickoff Sunday? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.