Stop Going To Church // Week 3 Teaching Notes
Moving Beyond the Sunday
If Church is MORE than Sunday, how should we spend the rest of the week?
When we say “stop going to church,” we mean that there is way more to the big picture than simply showing up and filling a seat one hour each week. You were made for more than simply checking the “church attendance” box. So, how should you spend the rest of the week?
Let’s look closer at the earliest example of the Church. What did this first expression of the historical Church look like? You can read all about it in the book of Acts in the Bible, but we’re going to focus in on Acts 2:42-47 for our purpose. This passage says:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
As we read in this passage, the first century Church was devoted to three things:
- learning
- fellowship
- relationship
LEARNING
The Church devoted themselves to being learners. When we read this, it doesn’t look much like showing up for one hour each week, listening to a quick sermon, and moving on with life. It really looked more like their entire lives being centered around learning what the Apostles were teaching them: notably how to live like Jesus.
The Church watched the Apostles (who were also Jesus’ closest followers, or disciples) closely all the time, and try to imitate them, because they had spent lots of time with Jesus and had become the foremost experts on how to live as he instructed.
FELLOWSHIP
The Church devoted themselves to fellowship. This was, at its most basic level, a commitment to do life with other people. They were others-focused. That means…even when it cost them something–whether it be their time, their money, or their energy–they were more interested in those around them than themselves.
RELATIONSHIP
The Church devoted themselves to relationship. Being devoted to relationship can look a lot of different ways, but it often looked like sharing a meal together.
Eating together can lower people’s guard and help them feel more comfortable and experience true belonging. The Church would gather regularly, break bread together, and love one another deeply.
So, how can we take what the early church modeled for us and live it out practically today? Simple..we follow their lead (remember from the last post..we are developing followership). To follow this model, you can:
- Become a devoted learner. Bring your brain to church, and take learning seriously.
- Become devoted to fellowship. Find your people, and get committed to doing life with them…all of it.
- Become devoted to relationship. Love and invest in people and your neighbor. Find chances to share a meal with someone and get to know them deeply.
Now, we want to hear from you. Tweet us, message us, email us…whatever it takes: How will YOU become more devoted beginning today?