Horizon: Strategy - What guides you to abundant life (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonian 1)
Jordan Byrd
In the first Disney movie Cars, the main character, Lightning McQueen – a rookie sensation—must travel across the U.S. to Los Angeles for a final race that will determine the season's champion. While traveling to LA in his transport, Mack, Lightning McQueen accidentally rolls out while asleep. He wakes up to find himself facing the wrong way on the road, with oncoming traffic blinding him with their headlights and honking for him to move. Once Lightning regains his bearings and starts driving, he frantically searches ahead, trying to catch up with his transport, Mack. Lightning, being a race car, doesn't have functional headlights—only stickers. He scans the road for Mack’s lights and spots some in the distance. Thinking it's Mack, he exits and takes turns to catch up. When Lightning catches up to the lights, he discovers they don't belong to Mack but to another truck, which wants nothing to do with him and leaves him stranded. Without headlights of his own, Lightning McQueen let himself be guided by a deceptive light, leaving him lost and uncertain about where to go or what to do when he was stranded.
The scenario from this movie is very similar to how we find life in reality. We’re tempted, pulled, and drawn toward abundant life by guides other than Jesus. We’re tempted, pulled, and drawn toward different guides – hoping they will show us where to go and what to do, when we’re stranded and searching for abundant life.
We’re tempted, pulled, and drawn toward political or thought leaders as guides to abundant life. Or, news channels or cultural commentators as guides to abundant life. Or, actors or musicians as guides to abundant life. Or social media or tv or movies as guides to abundant life. Following their light to know where to go and what to do. Following their light and guidance to shape our: thoughts, feelings, priorities, actions, rhythms, use of time, use of energy, and use of resources.
When we give ourselves to these guides, they shape: What we listen to and where we go to listen (channel, page, app, station, etc.). What we schedule and make time for (5 o'clock news, checking feed, looking at notifications, what we play, where we listen and watch (songs, shows, movies), etc.). What we talk about and where we talk about it (latest outrage, gossip, reactions and comments and reaction posts, language and references we use [song, shows, movies], etc.). What future we live into and where we live into it (divisive society (politics), dehumanized interaction (social media), technology enslaving, acceptance of crudeness and lewdness, etc.). And what we invest time, energy, and resources toward, and where we invest our time, energy, and resources (cable bill, subscription service, time on social media, time alone, money and service toward causes, money and time toward entertainment, etc.).
What guides you to abundant life?
What guides you to God’s abundant life?
When we look at our lives, do we see who or what is guiding us toward a version of abundant life different from the abundant life of God in Jesus? Do we see what and where we’re being guided to participate in these versions of abundant life? Do we see what and where we’re being asked to invest our time, energy, and resources toward those versions of abundant life? What guides you to abundant life? What guides you to God’s abundant life?
Good news that we see in God’s word in the example of the early followers of Jesus, and specifically in the example of the Thessalonian church is that they were guided to abundant life by Jesus. We see at least these three patterns emerge. They were guided by Jesus to God’s abundant life by: Meeting with Jesus. Sharing their life in Jesus. And investing in Jesus’ mission.
How can Jesus guide us to God’s abundant life?
God’s word invites us to answer the questions: What guides us to abundant life? What guides us to God’s abundant life? And how can Jesus guide us to God’s abundant life? And God’s word invites us to respond to these questions by regularly participating in the following rhythms:
Meet consistently with Jesus.
Share vulnerably from a life with Jesus.
Invest sacrificially for Jesus.
Meet consistently with Jesus’ presence. Share vulnerably from Jesus’ presence. And invest sacrificially for Jesus’ presence to be made known in the world. Meet consistently with Jesus’ word and people. Share vulnerably from Jesus’ word to his people. And invest sacrificially for Jesus’ word to be made known to those who aren’t yet his people.
The example of the early church in Thessalonica shows us how those early followers of Jesus were guided by Jesus to God’s abundant life by: Meeting consistently, sharing vulnerably, and investing sacrificially.
Lord Jesus, Guide our thoughts and imaginations, as we reflect on the example of the Thessalonian church, and how you want us to step into these rhythms of participation to live further into your abundant life, and guide others to experience your abundant life as well.
What guides you to God’s abundant life?
And how can Jesus guide you to God’s abundant life?
What guides you to abundant life? What guides you to God’s abundant life? And how can Jesus guide you to God’s abundant life?
Each spring, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts 300,000 or more people to watch the Indianapolis 500 Indy Car race. Over 300,000 people consistently meet, year after year, to participate in this racing spectacle. The speedway venue was constructed and added onto – to have the capacity for that number of people to meet and watch the Indy 500 each year.
During the time of Jesus, the footprint of the Jewish temple was like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The temple in Jerusalem was the venue that hosted the large gatherings of Jews who came to Jerusalem for the three major, annual, Jewish festivals of: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. During these festivals, the city of Jerusalem could swell from one-two hundred thousand people to one million people.
In Acts 2, the early church, which began primarily with Jews living in Jerusalem, continued the rhythm and habit of worshipping God at the temple. The early followers of Jesus continued to gather at the temple with other followers of Jesus to worship. Earlier in Acts 2, we can see that the original core of 120 disciples of Jesus increases to over 3,000 followers of Jesus. It’s very likely, that the temple was the obvious meeting location for thousands of followers of Jesus. But, instead of meeting together at the temple for sacrifices, they would meet together to be grounded in the life of Jesus. They would meet together to hear, learn, and be formed by the teachings of the apostles who spent one-on-one time with Jesus, during his earthly life. The teaching of the apostles was the oral communication of God’s word, reveald in Jesus. As it wasn’t codified in writing, like we have in book form today. The early church met together to be with God’s word – to encounter Jesus’ presence – to meet with Jesus. Followers of Jesus would then mentally and orally carry the word of God that they encountered from the apostles, at the temple into their daily lives – into their houses – into their relationships.
Beyond the temple gathering, early, Jewish followers of Jesus would also be accustomed to meeting more locally in Synagogues. Today, the Bills will play their game at the stadium in Orchard Park. But many people around the country will be watching them play in Bills Backer Bars. These sports-bar gatherings are localized gatherings of Bills fans living throughout the country. Many people can more accessibly engage with the Bills in these localized gatherings. But, many of these people will still make the pilgrimage to Orchard Park, every so often to experience what can only be experienced at the football field in Orchard Park.
Synagogues were like the temple-backer gathering places of their day. They were the localized gathering space for Jews, who didn’t live in Jerusalem so that they could still worship and pay attention to God’s word. But they were a lesser version, than the full experience of the temple. Just like the Bills, now, need the actual football field in Orchard Park to play, so also Jews, then, needed the temple to offer sacrifices. Just like we have larger conference gatherings of thousands of Christians in our day and age, but still meet in mid-sized gatherings like we’re doing right now. So also, synagogues were mid-sized gatherings of Jews. A gathering of fewer people than the thousands that gathered in the temple, but with more people than family or close friends. Similar to how our gathering now, is bigger than just your family and closest friends.
We see followers of Jesus adapting Synagogue worship in the early church as well. In Acts 17:1-4, when Paul, an early leader of followers of Jesus, came to Thessalonica, he, as a follower of Jesus, still gathered with others at the synagogue. Paul maintained the synagogue's central focus on God’s word, but now, through the lens of the life and teachings of Jesus. Here, we see that Paul sets a precedent for the new church in Thessalonica, of consistently meeting with God’s word – to encounter Jesus’ presence – to meet with Jesus.
We also see in Acts 17, that followers of Jesus carried this pattern into smaller, house gatherings. In Acts 17:5, we encounter Paul, and his co-worker, Silas staying and meeting in the house of Jason, a follower of Jesus. Here, we see that Paul sets a further precedent for the Thessalonian church to meet with Jesus – to meet God’s presence – to meet with God’s word within the rhythm of daily, household living. The accusations made against them in Acts 17 demonstrate that they were formed by Jesus’ presence in their everyday life, not just in their gatherings in the synagogue.
Paul also points to this in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, as he describes the life of the Thessalonian followers of Jesus. Highlighting that their work was produced by their faith in Jesus. Their labor was prompted by the love of Jesus. And, their endurance of faith was inspired by their hope in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
By Paul’s example, and the example of the Thessalonian Christians, we see that they were guided to God’s abundant life by Jesus. And we see how they were guided by Jesus to God’s abundant life by meeting consistently with Jesus: personally (daily meditation and focused on God’s word and prayer (relationship with Jesus) and consistently meeting with Jesus: corporately/publically (weekly hearing and responding to the proclamation/preaching of God’s word).
My relationship with Mitch – one of our ministers here – really developed into a relationship throughout 2019, when we would meet almost every week at a Wegmans dining area to openly and vulnerably discuss: life, faith, doctrine, ethics, personal struggles, angsts, etc. Mostly, we’d discuss life concerning following Jesus and God’s word. The development of our relationship as brothers in Christ was a result of our common surrender to Jesus, and our consistent meeting to vulnerably share from our personal life with Jesus.
In Acts 2:46, the early church was known for sharing their life with Jesus beyond the temple, specifically in people’s homes. The early followers of Jesus extended their life of worship beyond the worship gathering, and into their relational network, where they’d meet in each other’s homes, eating together, with glad and sincere hearts.
I heard this week about a dog who had an encounter with a porcupine and had quills stuck all over and inside of its mouth. A porcupine doesn’t give off the vibe of being approachable. Whereas, a soft-cuddly dog or cat does give off the vibe of being approachable. One is guarded. The other is unguarded. This is the imagery that accompanies being a sincere person of faith that is referenced in (sincere, Acts 2:46). It’s being a person whose faith is approachable. Being a person who’s willing to share one’s life with Jesus. Also, it’s being a person who’s open to encountering Jesus through the life and testimony of another following Jesus. This is a glimpse of early followers of Jesus sharing vulnerably from their life with Jesus – encouraging each other, comforting each other, helping each other hear and see and live into Jesus’ words and actions of abundant life.
We also see this pattern of participation in the precedent Paul sets in Acts 17:2-3, Where, Paul reasoned, explained, and proved the value of a life with Jesus. This required Paul to be vulnerable and share his life in Jesus with others. This required Paul to be vulnerable and open to criticism. This required Paul to be open to how Jesus was working in the lives of others. He ends up encountering this specifically by how Jason vulnerably welcomes him into his home, which likely encouraged Paul’s faith, and also challenges Paul to trust how God was working in Thessalonica, by the persecution they all experienced in Thessalonica. They, along with Silas had to cling to each other’s faith and encouragement to persevere through such opposition to their faith in Jesus.
Lastly, we see this pattern of participation in the life of the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7. First, we see how Paul set a precedent for the Thessalonian Christians to imitate. Elsewhere in Paul’s writing to the Christians in Corinth, he encourages them to follow his example, as he follows the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul’s relationship with Jesus forms his relationship with the people of the church. It forms where Paul meets consistently for worship. It forms who Paul shares vulnerably with. It forms what Paul invests sacrificially for.
Meet consistently.
Share vulnerably.
Invest sacrificially.
Here in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6, we see that Paul guided all followers of Jesus to take up the patterns of his own life with Jesus: to meet consistently with Jesus. to share vulnerably from a life with Jesus. and to invest sacrificially for Jesus. And as Paul relied on Jesus to guide him to God’s abundant life, so too, Paul expects his example to be an extension of Jesus’ guidance for others to live into God’s abundant life as well. Paul even commends the Thessalonian church for taking on these patterns when he references that they became a model to others of what a life with Jesus looks like (1 Thessalonians 1:7). People were able to encounter Jesus, not just in God’s word that was proclaimed, but also in the lives of the Thessalonians who: met with Jesus, shared from Jesus, and invested for Jesus.
Paul is describing what a life with Jesus looks like, and where one participates in it – a life that is beyond a worship gathering, and broader than private devotion to Jesus. Paul is describing a life with Jesus that is vulnerably shared, where there are open spaces in one’s life for others to encounter Jesus, and for us to encounter Jesus in the lives of other believers as well.
We just came through an election campaign season. Beyond the candidates themselves investing their time, talents, and treasure into getting elected – to impact policies that impact society – many, many, many other people also invest their time, talents, and treasure into the mission of getting those candidates elected.
While the kingdom of God is not an electoral process, it still is a mission that requires investment of time, talent, and treasure to make Jesus known all around the world. And what we see at the heart of God’s mission is his sacrifice for its fulfillment – in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to make his presence unmistakably known.
We also see this sacrificial investment in Jesus' original disciples – of whom all, but John, are traditionally known to have been martyred as a result of their investment of time, talent, and treasure to make Jesus known locally, regionally, and globally. And John still sacrificed his comfort, in being exiled and isolated to an island, for living for Jesus.
We see a similar sacrificial investment in the life of Paul, and the followers of Jesus in Thessalonica. In Acts 17, we see that Paul and the Thessalonian believers are opposed, insulted, accused of causing trouble, accused of being insurrectionists – declaring Jesus as Lord and not the Roman Caesar, and arrested and forced to post a bond to be released. For Paul and the Thessalonian followers of Jesus, they not only invested their time, talent, and treasure for the mission of Jesus, but they did so sacrificially. Someone has to believe Jesus at a sacrificial level to endure persecution of all varieties. Inconvenient sacrifice rarely comes from convenient belief.
Paul also highlights the sacrificial investment of the Thessalonian believers in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, where he highlights and praises the Thessalonian’s endurance. The kind of endurance to live for Jesus, at the expense of their time, talent, and treasure – for others to encounter Jesus’ presence. Paul also notes that their sacrificial level of investment in Jesus’ mission has led people everywhere – beyond Thessalonica, beyond their region – to encounter God’s abundant life in Jesus through their sacrificial investment of: their time, consistently meeting with Jesus, their abilities, vulnerably share Jesus with others, and their treasure, investing in making Jesus known to all people. The Thessalonians are the followers of Jesus that Paul references in 2 Corinthians 8 – who gave to God’s mission – amid poverty and trial. The Thessalonians modeled personal, sacrificial investment in God’s mission.
What guides you to God’s abundant life?
The early church, Paul, and the Thessalonian followers of Jesus were guided to abundant life in Jesus. What guides you to abundant life? What guides you to God’s abundant life? The early church, Paul, and the Thessalonian followers of Jesus were guided to abundant life by:
Meet consistently.
Share vulnerably.
Invest sacrificially.
How they met consistently with Jesus’ word and people. How they shared vulnerably with each other – to allow Jesus to speak through each other’s lives. And how they invested sacrificially for Jesus’ mission – for others to also encounter God’s abundant life. How is Jesus guiding you to God’s abundant life?
What guides you to abundant life? Who are the functional lords in your life right now? Who are you turning to – to guide you to some form of abundant life? And how is that abundant life lacking? If you find yourself here, I invite you to turn to Jesus – to allow him to guide you to God’s abundant life – the fullness of life God designed for you to live into and experience. If you’d like to take a step of faith in that direction, please find me, or another trusted follower of Jesus – whom you know, and we’d be glad to help you take that step toward Jesus becoming your Lord and your guide to abundant life (questions, prayer, baptism).
If you’ve already looked to Jesus – to be your guide to live into God’s abundant life? If you’ve already confessed Jesus as your Lord Do you recognize the temptations in your life that seek to pull you toward lesser versions of abundant life? Do you recognize the guides tempting you to participate in a lesser version of abundant life? Do you recognize these habits of Jesus these habits of the early church these habits of Paul and the Thessalonians.
Meet consistently.
Share vulnerably.
Invest sacrificially.
Of meeting consistently with Jesus' word and people? Of regularly sharing vulnerably from your life in Jesus with at least 1-2 people: with believers (allowing Jesus to speak through each other); or with unbelievers (allowing Jesus to speak through your life with him)? Of regularly investing sacrificially for Jesus to be made known around the world: Of sacrificially investing your time, talent, and resources for: service in the local body of Christ (your role in this body), and furthering God’s mission in other countries, cultures, and peoples?
Is Jesus guiding us to God’s abundant life?
And how are we allowing Jesus to guide us to God’s abundant life?
Through meeting consistently with him (privately and publicly), through sharing vulnerably from life with him, and through investing sacrificially for his mission?
Can we locate these three habits in the rhythm of our life as a church? In our personal lives? We desire for participation in these rhythms to be CCC’s strategy for living on mission to guide all people to abundant life in Jesus.
What guides you to God’s abundant life?
Meet consistently with Jesus.
Share vulnerably from Jesus.
Invest sacrificially for Jesus.
What guides you to abundant life? What guides you to God’s abundant life? And how can Jesus guide you to God’s abundant life. By meeting consistently with Jesus? By sharing vulnerably from Jesus? And by investing sacrificially for Jesus?