TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we begin a new series about how to be the kind of church that God wants. In our modern church culture there are numerous ideas from books, conferences, and websites trying to figure out the best way to do church. Most of these ideas are based on Western models of numerical and financial growth. However, the Bible gives us a very clear picture of the church. ‌ What is the Church? Grk. ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) - a regularly summoned group, assembly, congregation. Ekklesia comes from the root kaleo or “called out ones.” ‌ The Church is called... - The Body of Christ ‌- The Family of God ‌- The Kingdom of God ‌- The Temple of God ‌ The Church is the regularly assembled family of God made up of disciples who are devoted/faithful to Jesus. ‌ How should the church be devoted? The best way to understand how to be the church is to study the first church in the New Testament, which was led by the apostles. The book of Acts, which was written by Luke, tells the story of the first church. In Acts 1:1-11, Luke retells the ascension of Christ. Then in Acts 1:12-26, Luke tells us that there were 120 disciples in the first church. Acts 2 describes the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the results of that event. ‌ Acts 2:42 ESV 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ‌ Devoted = Grk. proskarterountes - to stick close with, be faithful, hold fast to, continue in, persevere. This word is also used in Acts 2:46; 6:4; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2. In Acts, the early church is described as a family of devoted disciples. This means that they remained close with one another and gathered regularly to learn the Word of God. ‌ In the Bible, there is no such thing as a casual believer. There are only devoted disciples and unbelievers. ‌ Four Areas of Devotion: ‌- Teaching: devoted to learning ‌- Fellowship: devoted to sharing ‌- Communion: devoted to Christ ‌- Prayer: devoted to worship ‌ How to be a good student/disciple: If Jesus called us to be disciples, then we are called to be students of the Word of God. James, one of the brothers of Jesus, tells us how to be good students. Good students are devoted to learning, but also devoted to doing what they learn. ‌ James 1:19–20 ESV 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ‌ Quick to hear = Disciples are devoted to listening and learning. Disciples are life-long students, always willing to be taught. ‌ Slow to speak = The more you listen, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. This leads us to be slow to speak, because we realize we could be wrong. ‌ Slow to anger = The Greek word for “anger” here is orge, which can also be translated as “wrath.” Disciples are slow to wrath because we follow the God who is also slow to wrath. ‌ Righteousness of God = James says that the anger of men “does not accomplish” the right ways of God. Anger and wrath is not the way to do God’s will, nor is it the way to convince people to follow Christ. ‌ James 1:21 ESV 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ‌ Filthiness = Grk. rhparia - moral impurity, corruption, vulgarity. ‌ Rampant wickedness = Grk. perisseia kakia - excess evil. This is less about everyday missteps and more about a lack of self-control. Rampant wickedness occurs when we have removed all boundaries and do whatever we desire. ‌ Meekness = Grk. prautes - gentleness, humility. ‌ Implanted word = Grk. emphytos logos - the Word of God is implanted in us like a seed that will grow into a fruitful tree of life (Psalm 1). As followers of Jesus, we are called to receive His Word with humility. This means that we realize who we are and see our need for correction. ‌ Able to save your souls = The word for “able” here is dynamai, which means “powerful” from which we get our word for dynamite. The Word of God has the power to save us. Paul wrote in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” ‌ James 1:22 ESV 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ‌ Doers = Grk. poietes - doer, keeper, obeyer. The phrase “be doers of the word” translates literally, “be word doers.” ‌ Not hearers only = Hearing without action is useless. Modern church leaders are exceedingly frustrated because their churches are full of irregular listeners who don’t intend to practice what they hear. This is a result of the belief that people can be casual Christians and still be in a right relationship with God. However, the Bible declares repeatedly that to listen is to obey. ‌ Deceiving yourselves = The Greek word for “deceiving” here is paralogizomai, which refers to being a fraud or being fake. James is saying that people who listen to the word without obedience are fake Christians. ‌ James 1:23–24 ESV 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ‌ Forgets what he was like = Listening without obedience is like looking in the mirror, seeing a problem, and ignoring it. The Word of God is like a mirror that shows us our problem and gives us the solution. When we listen to the Word and ignore it, we are ignoring the solution to the problem. ‌ James 1:25 ESV 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. ‌ The perfect law = There is nothing wrong with God’s Word. It doesn’t need to be updated or changed to fit our culture. The Word of God defines our culture and tells us how to live differently from the culture around us. Law of liberty = While many people read the Bible and feel offended or feel like God is constraining them, the Bible actually gives us instructions for our freedom from sin. The Word of God constrains us from evil and sets us free to do what is good and life-giving. ‌Perseveres = Grk. parameno - to abide. Same word Jesus used in John 15. This word means to remain faithful no matter what. Jesus said, “Abide [meno] in me, and I will abide in you...” (John 15:4). A doer who acts will be blessed = In the Bible, blessing is not about material possessions but about a peaceful life. Listening without doing will never lead to a blessed or peaceful life. When we obey we can rest in the fact that we are doing what God wants. ‌ Devoted disciples gather together to learn the Word and help each other live what we learn. ‌ Vision of Grace & Truth We are a family of disciples helping each other to be more like Jesus. ‌ Conclusion ‌Now that we have devoted ourselves to a time of teaching, we respond by devoting ourselves to prayer, worship, and Communion. Take time to pray—repenting of sin and thanking God for all that He has done for you. Take Communion as a sign of devotion and faithfulness to Christ. Then ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be a devoted disciples of Jesus.