“Next Exit”

August 24, 2008

Introduction

 

            “Next Exit” is actually the title of a book we bought at Cracker Barrel.  It is a book laid out by Interstate highway so that you can tell what is coming up at the next exit.  It’s a way to look ahead if you are needing to eat, or needing gas, or maybe just a restroom break.  It’s nice to know what is coming up down the road.

 

            This morning, we are not on the interstate, but we are all on the road of life.  As we think in terms of the “Next Exit,” what can we expect as Christians?  Notice, I said as Christians.  If we decide to begin the Christian life, what is the “Next Exit”?  Where do I turn to find what the Christian life is all about?

 

            In  Acts 2:41-42, we find these words: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. {42} And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

 

            Verse 41 tells us we are talking about those who were baptized, so verse 42 tells what the baptized believers did:  Acts 2:42,  “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

 

            Basically, we are looking at their lives being described by four statements:

1.  They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine

2.  fellowship

3.  in the breaking of bread

4  prayers.

 

Body

 

I.        They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.

 

  1. The apostles’ doctrine could be called their teaching.

 

(Acts 2:42 NASB)  And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

1.      Jesus told them to teach all that He had commanded them.

 

(Mat 28:18-20 NKJV)  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. {19} "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

 

2.      Where do we find what Jesus taught them?

 

(Acts 1:1 NKJV)  The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

 

a.  Luke is saying that his gospel account was a record of Jesus’ teaching.

b.  The other gospels also let what Jesus taught.

c.  Is there more to be added?

 

  1. The apostles teaching also includes their inspired writings for our benefit.

 

1.      The apostles were given the promise of being inspired, or guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

(John 16:13 NKJV)  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

 

2.      Peter refers to Paul’s writings as scriptures.

 

(2 Pet 3:15-16 NKJV)  and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, {16} as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

 

  1. So the implication is that preaching was part of the gatherings of the early church for worship.

 

II.     They continued steadfastly in fellowship.

κοινωνία  koinōnia

Thayer Definition:  (condensed)

1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation,

1a) the share which one has in anything, participation

1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution

 

  1. So there is the fellowship which would include a time to be together.

(1 John 1:3-7 NKJV)  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. . . {6} If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. {7} But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

  1. There is also the idea of sharing by means of a collection.

 

(2 Cor 9:5-7 NKJV)  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. {6} But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. {7} So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

III.   And they continued steadfastly in the . . . breaking of bread.

 

  1. We take this to be a reference to partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
  2. Paul recounted the Lord’s Supper for the Corinthians.

 

(1 Cor 11:23-29 NKJV)  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24} and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {25} In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." {26} For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. {27} Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

IV.  “And they continued steadfastly in . . . prayers.”

 

  1. These are obviously prayers that are prayed as a church.

 

1.      We participate in these prayers by praying with the one who is leading.

2.      We can voice our approval by saying our own “Amen.”

 

(1 Cor 14:16 NKJV)  Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

 

  1. Obviously, we are also taught to pray our private prayers.

 

(Mat 6:6 NKJV)  "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

 

V.     We haven’t made reference to singing

 

  1. Many songs are a form of prayer.
  2. Other songs are a part of fellowship—encouraging each other.

 

(Col 3:16 NKJV)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

Conclusion

.

I.        The Next Exit:  We have basically talked about the worship of the early church

 

II.     The Next Exit:  The next step, may be that you need to be baptized to become a Christian

 

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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