Being Sent is a Family Affair

Acts 4:32-5:42

Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine and saved an untold number of lives, but that achievement was not done on his own, or from his garage. The March of Dimes was created in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt when the polio virus was one of the most devastating threats to children and adults. President Roosevelt, a polio survivor himself, began the March of Dimes to get rid of the dreaded disease. He encouraged people to give, even if it was just a dime, to fund a cure. Taking nothing away from Salk and his ability to create the vaccine, but a lot of his work may not have been done were it not for a grant from the March of Dimes. It is through community that we are lifted up to our potential (Danielle Bernock). Only a healthy church family can send a healthy disciple out on mission. Our next passage in Acts shows us a healthy church family and the beginnings of a disciple who would most certainly be sent on mission.

In this series, we are exploring the beginnings of the early church to get an understanding of the importance of sending (or going) out into the mission field as opposed to staying inside a family huddle. The first 7 chapters of Acts show us the preparation work God is doing in the early church to send them out to be His witnesses across the globe. I’d like to look at the part the church family plays, which I find interesting doing in a passage that includes one of the more intimidating stories about the early church. But that part of the story is important, because it takes a healthy church family to send out a healthy disciple on mission. That requires a healthy church family.

A Healthy Church Connects People to Jesus

I imagine that Peter and the others were quite surprised when Ananias fell dead because of the lie, but it offers a crucial understanding of the importance of church family regarding discipline and accountability. All Ananias had to do was be honest about the amount he sold the field for; that’s all Barnabas did. But Ananias wanted to keep secrets and gain a reputation instead of giving to the Lord with a pure heart. This then repeats with his wife Sapphira. Barnabas goes on to help out a new believer (Paul) and go on mission with him – the point is that fruitfulness (which Barnabas had a lot of) comes out of abiding health – connectivity to the vine (John 15). A healthy church is crucial for its people to be healthy and connected to Jesus. This is why I am so passionate about our Bible studies – the power to seek and connect with God on your own is such a vital tool of spiritual health. It is critical that we encourage, empower, and enlighten you on the scriptures and the power of God so that you can experience the full potential of your calling as a Christian! Look at what’s happening in this healthy church – a literal assembly line of people getting healed, with multitudes of people coming to Christ!

A Healthy Church Family Prepares for Mission

Peter certainly played a big part in this, but he wasn’t the only one – it was the full church. The family was at work – all together, all on the same team, all unified in the Spirit. Remember the intro at the end of ch4. The people were doing this – the family. Yes, God is preparing to send them out, which to many will individualize the mission somewhat, but we learn how to do this together. This is why we do outreach ministry – not just for the response, but mainly for the practice! As we practice ministry together, then we are prepared for being sent out for ministry. We practice together and then practice in our homes and neighborhoods. It’s practice doing the work of ministry AND even the more difficult things, like dealing with opposition and evil, such as Peter faces at the end of the story. When a healthy church works together, unified under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, there is nothing that can stop the progress of Jesus. A day will come when it is time for you to move on somewhere else. Maybe it’s a location move. Maybe it’s a job change or a move to a new neighborhood. No two paths stay connected forever. Eventually (like the church in Acts 8), you will be sent out. A healthy church prepares us for when our paths diverge and we must move on by practicing ministry together.

Next Steps

In the computer world, a beta test is a guarded release of a software so they can test it with normal users so that the wide release will be as bug-free as possible. We are growing spiritually and testing ourselves in ministry so that we can be ready when God sends us out – and remember that’s a promise: you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8)!

1. Allow people in the church to speak into your life and speak into theirs. We must be more than a “how’s it going?” group. Real relationships allow for accountability and discipline.
2. Engage in ministry activities with the church and practice your calling.
3. Invest in the church: financially, relationally, and prayerfully. Your fruitfulness needs the church to be in full thriving mode.

No person has succeeded on their own – we all need a family. A healthy church is engaged relationally and practicing ministry and thus able to send out healthy disciples. Let’s unify our church family like the early church did so that we can send people out to build His Kingdom on earth!