Sunday Morning Message - “Bleeding On One Another”

“Bleeding On One Another” The importance of Fellowship - Acts 2:42-44 The challenge of creating friendships and seeking roots.

Over the last few weeks I have been preaching on the theme of EASTER PEOPLE living in a GOOD FRIDAY world. The title of the theme was preached on Easter Sunday morning. I made a comment during that message - "EASTER PEOPLE move towards brokenness and pain and not away from it"  Last Sunday I preached on that theme in the morning service with the sermon title "Moving towards brokenness and pain" I was encouraging the congregation to live resurrection life out in this broken world, by showing three examples of doing so....1. William Booth and the beginnings of the Salvation Army. (Historical Example)  2. Jesus sending out the 12 disciples.(Theological Example) 3. the World of St Georges Crypt in Leeds (Contemporary Example) This morning I have been developing this theme a little further and giving a clear example of engaging in a Good Friday world from another perspective. Below is my morning message. It is only a humble attempt to aid discussion among us.

Introduction:  Loneliness and Isolation. We live in the crowd for most of the time, our cities are bustling places of industry and commerce, but despite this our cities are becoming places of real isolation and loneliness. According to recent reputable research by one of the main charities. that deal with Loneliness and isolation, between 6 and 13 per cent of the UK population are  described as being often or always lonely. In another of the main charities the findings are: 7 per cent of older people were often lonely and 31 per cent sometimes lonely, 11–17 per cent were socially isolated. A recent survey of university students highlighted the feelings of loneliness and isolation were experienced. This was an issue even among people their own age, who had similar interests and outlooks on life. The strong feelings and issues that some students have had to deal with were, not having someone to share their own feelings with, finding it difficult to make new friends, adjusting to a new lifestyle or culture away from home. Also according to the main asylum seekers networks, there is a increase in isolation and loneliness among asylum seekers which often leads to other social issues as well.  There is also an increased feeling of isolation and loneliness among disabled people according to information on disability action, websites.

1. A Devoted Community: This is a common life of togetherness and connection.

Listen to Luke's simple description in Acts 2:42-44 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. (Acts 2:42-44)

The meaning of the word “fellowship” Association, Community,  Communion,   Joint participation, Sharing, Intimacy, Participation

The meaning of the word “devotion” Attentive, Unremitting, Go the extra mile,  Persevere, Constant Obstinate. This is the essence of a true faith community, the true church.


It seems to me that the early church engage right from the start with the issues of loneliness and isolation in their own GOOD FRIDAY world.

Lets go a bit deeper in our understanding and ask the question, “What does this "Devoted Fellowship" look like in practice?”

           

2. A Bleeding Community:  This is a common life that bleeds on one another.

Church attendance is often substituted for fellowship. To some fellowship is like a jar full of marbles. The marbles are in the same jar but there is little togetherness. The marbles have little effect on each other as they roll around in a jar. They just bump into one another. But real fellowship is more like a jar of grapes that bleed on one another. Fellowship should allow our faith, our struggles, our hopes and dreams, our sufferings to rub off on one another. The first believers had real spiritual needs that led them into fellowship with others. As they came into this fellowship of other believers with the same needs, they naturally bled on one another.

A powerful example of what “Bleeding on one another” should look like can be found in a study of the phrase “one another” in the Bible. 


Scripture commands us to be Devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), Honour one another (Romans 12:10), Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8), Accept one another (Romans 15:7),  Serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13), Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), Offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), Love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11-12).

Lets go a bit deeper still in our exploring of "Fellowship". There are consequences of bleeding together, of sharing life, wounds, brokenness with one another.

3. A Holistic Community:  This is a common life that provides belonging and wholeness.

I was seeking out a definition of the word “Holistic” I feel that is what comes when a community is connected in relationships, bleeding together if you like. I rather liked this definition – “Holistic” – Inclusive with out missing anyone out, or overlooking even apparently damaged and unimportant people, gifts, skills, talents and abilities." This creates a real sense of belonging, of putting down roots for rootless people, of family for the orphans and the isolated. It seems to me that this is what happens in the beginnings of the earliest faith community, that devoted fellowship was like this. A true brother and sisterhood of compassion, service and care. This after all is what we read in Acts 2:42-44

Conclusion:

It seems to me that the church, the community of faith has something real and tangible to offer the wider community in answer to the issue of Isolation and loneliness. It seems to me that we need to be practicing this kind of “Fellowship” ourselves, among ourselves as a constant, never ending challenge. Also it seems to me that the mission of the kingdom is further advanced when we continue to extend this to the wider community and neighbourhoods around us.