And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. -- Acts 2:42-44
The Lord once said that it is not good for man to be alone. I shared in my last article that our Savior and Lord promises to replenish our empty hearts and lives with his saving grace. He does this as we gather to be refreshed together in his presence. This is the essence of Christian community.
Our God has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the Holy Trinity. Our God reveals himself this way as the origin of the family and the Christian community. The church is modeled after the Trinitarian God! The early believers devoted themselves to word of God and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Christian community is strengthened in Communion! The ancient word translated as Communion means a unity shared and also expressed in a common meal. As I have shared, we are saved and strengthened in our Lord's presence as we gather together and receive the
Sacrament. Our Lord does wish for us to come prepared however, leaving our sins behind and turning once more with repentance and faith to our Savior. To refrain from worship and the Holy Communion is to deny our connection to our God and to one another. This neglecting to gather compromises Christian community. However, when the Church shares in Communion by way of repentant faith we are strengthened together in God's word and worship!
We are grateful to God for those new families among us. Although we say goodbye to members who have gone on to be with their Lord we are grateful for those new among us joining with long-standing members in our family of faith. No, it is not good for God’s people to live alone. So it is that God has called us into his family. May the Lord continue to bless us as his people at Saint John Lutheran Church!
Pastor
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