YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU (3 OF 8)
Scripture: Acts 2:36-47
This content is part of a series.
Your Reputation Precedes You (3 of 8)
Series: Acts: The Gospel Gone Viral
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 2:36-47
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people (vv. 46-47).
WHAT'S YOUR REPUTATION?
You've probably heard the saying ''Your reputation precedes you.'' It can be used in both a positive or negative way. If good things have been heard about a person, their good reputation precedes them. But if bad things have been heard about a person, their bad reputation precedes them.
If a realtor has a good reputation, you'll probably listen to her advice on selling your house. If a car salesman has a bad reputation, you'll probably ignore his sales pitch. And a Christian's reputa-tion will affect people's receptiveness to the gospel.
[Read Acts 2:36-47.]
A SHARING CHURCH
The church in Jerusalem (whom we might call the first Christians) was ''devoted'' to four things: ''the apostles' teaching,'' ''the fellowship,'' ''the breaking of bread,'' and ''the prayers'' (v. 42). The church's devotion to '' the fellowship'' included spending time together and sharing: ''All who be-lieved were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need'' (vv. 44-45). This church was a sharing church. They shared their time (''together,'' vv. 44, 46), food ''breaking bread,'' v. 46), and money (''selling their possessions and belongings,'' v. 45).
Do we need to do this? No, it was voluntary (5:4). Description does not equal prescription. But we shouldn't be quick to dismiss it. ''How easy it is to justify our lifestyles and our attachment to things by writing off threatening texts.'' Darrell Bock ...
Series: Acts: The Gospel Gone Viral
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 2:36-47
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people (vv. 46-47).
WHAT'S YOUR REPUTATION?
You've probably heard the saying ''Your reputation precedes you.'' It can be used in both a positive or negative way. If good things have been heard about a person, their good reputation precedes them. But if bad things have been heard about a person, their bad reputation precedes them.
If a realtor has a good reputation, you'll probably listen to her advice on selling your house. If a car salesman has a bad reputation, you'll probably ignore his sales pitch. And a Christian's reputa-tion will affect people's receptiveness to the gospel.
[Read Acts 2:36-47.]
A SHARING CHURCH
The church in Jerusalem (whom we might call the first Christians) was ''devoted'' to four things: ''the apostles' teaching,'' ''the fellowship,'' ''the breaking of bread,'' and ''the prayers'' (v. 42). The church's devotion to '' the fellowship'' included spending time together and sharing: ''All who be-lieved were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need'' (vv. 44-45). This church was a sharing church. They shared their time (''together,'' vv. 44, 46), food ''breaking bread,'' v. 46), and money (''selling their possessions and belongings,'' v. 45).
Do we need to do this? No, it was voluntary (5:4). Description does not equal prescription. But we shouldn't be quick to dismiss it. ''How easy it is to justify our lifestyles and our attachment to things by writing off threatening texts.'' Darrell Bock ...
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