The early church was composed of disciples, called anointed ones, who lived in community. What were the characteristics of these anointed communities that began in Jerusalem?
1. disciples abandoned the synagogues and lived together in homes
2. the leaders went from house to house teaching and ministering
3. no one owned anything
4. they shared everything in common
5. they worked but not for themselves
6. those who didn't work didn't eat
7. they invited strangers (homeless?) into their homes
8. they took care of one another physically and spiritually (using spiritual gifts, i.e. miracles)
9. they reached out to the unsaved with the necessities of life as well as miracles, indeed they were respected and honored
10. when they prayed buildings shook
11. they were accused of turning the world upside down
SEE Acts 17:1-9
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and* three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy*, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying*, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
When Paul was on one of his missionary journeys and came to Thessalonica it was here that the disciples were accused of turning the world upside down. In this case it was the envious Jews who made this accusation trying to get the government involved in persecuting the disciples. These Jews did not like the challenge to their religion and finally figured out a way to make this challenge political by claiming that the disciples preached about loyalty to a different king, King Jesus.
But the disciples turned the world upside down in another way.
SEE Acts 19:24-41
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised**, and* her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And* certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore* cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all* with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what* man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought* to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore* if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
This passage describes how a silversmith named Demetrius riled up those who made idols of Dianna for a living and accused the disciples of threatening their business.
So let's ask some questions.
1. Who made this accusation.? Businessmen.
2. Why do people engage in busy ness? To make money.
3. Why do people want money? To buy "things".
4. Why do they want things? To bring them pleasure.
This pattern is the way of the world --- to get money to buy pleasure. The disciples totally violated this pattern by NOT seeking money to buy things to give themselves pleasure. No one claimed to OWN anything. They shared everything with each other.
The world seeks happiness based on owning things. The disciples possessed joy, rather than happiness, based on relationships --- to God and one another.
Do today's modern churches resemble ANYTHING concerning the anointed communities established by Jesus?
1. disciples abandoned the synagogues and lived together in homes
2. the leaders went from house to house teaching and ministering
3. no one owned anything
4. they shared everything in common
5. they worked but not for themselves
6. those who didn't work didn't eat
7. they invited strangers (homeless?) into their homes
8. they took care of one another physically and spiritually (using spiritual gifts, i.e. miracles)
9. they reached out to the unsaved with the necessities of life as well as miracles, indeed they were respected and honored
10. when they prayed buildings shook
11. they were accused of turning the world upside down
SEE Acts 17:1-9
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and* three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy*, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying*, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
When Paul was on one of his missionary journeys and came to Thessalonica it was here that the disciples were accused of turning the world upside down. In this case it was the envious Jews who made this accusation trying to get the government involved in persecuting the disciples. These Jews did not like the challenge to their religion and finally figured out a way to make this challenge political by claiming that the disciples preached about loyalty to a different king, King Jesus.
But the disciples turned the world upside down in another way.
SEE Acts 19:24-41
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised**, and* her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And* certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore* cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all* with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what* man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought* to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore* if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
This passage describes how a silversmith named Demetrius riled up those who made idols of Dianna for a living and accused the disciples of threatening their business.
So let's ask some questions.
1. Who made this accusation.? Businessmen.
2. Why do people engage in busy ness? To make money.
3. Why do people want money? To buy "things".
4. Why do they want things? To bring them pleasure.
This pattern is the way of the world --- to get money to buy pleasure. The disciples totally violated this pattern by NOT seeking money to buy things to give themselves pleasure. No one claimed to OWN anything. They shared everything with each other.
The world seeks happiness based on owning things. The disciples possessed joy, rather than happiness, based on relationships --- to God and one another.
Do today's modern churches resemble ANYTHING concerning the anointed communities established by Jesus?
-
3
- Show all
