We have a wonderful opportunity here from Reverend
Chris Yang who will be sharing with us a bit
about his ministry and to share the Word of God
with us this morning In the name of Jesus For
people who know something about communism the
picture painted here in today's first reading
Acts chapter 2 verse 42 through 47 Reminds them
of people's commune life on their mall or to
some people of European descent the utopian communities
in the 19th century in Europe and in the United
States The Bible certainly does not promote communism
here But why does God not only allow this to
happen in this time of history, but write it
in the Bible and put it in such a positive way?
To answer this question, we have to think in
light of what had just happened and connect to
the overall picture of the mission of God to
save sinners. Remember. We are still in the Easter
season. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
Hallelujah Right after Peter preached that this
Jesus whom you crucified God has made him both
Lord and Christ by raising him up and therefore
losing pounds of death on the first Pentecost
People were baptized and 3 ,000 souls were added
to the church. The Holy Spirit descending from
heaven on the disciples enabled them to do many
wonders and signs. Though this was a one -of
-a -kind event and part of God's mission in his
salvation history, the principles that God is
telling us here can apply to anytime, in any
place. Therefore, instead of mimicking the form
of communal life as communists did and failed,
we need to ask the right questions, such as,
for what purpose did God make it happen and write
about it? And what can we learn from all these?
It is true that one of the main impressions that
you will have when you read this reading is a
shared everyday life of a community described
in words like fellowship, together, in common,
all, and day by day. However, besides possessions
and belongings that they shared, First and foremost
is that they devoted themselves to the Apostles
teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of
bread and the prayers What is this? This is a
life of a church By this time Jesus had resurrected
from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit
and by the same spirit Jesus has just established
the Church with more powers and wonders. Now,
the Bible is to show us what the main elements
of a Christian Church are through the life of
early Church Christians. The Apostles' teaching
is basically the Word of God by the testimony
of the Apostles with interpretation of the Old
Testament in light of Jesus Christ and his cross
to tell us God's salvation plan that was ordained
before the foundation of the world. Last Sunday
we learned that Jesus taught the disciples how
to read the Old Testament beginning with Moses
and all the prophets Jesus interpreted to them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Now from Peter's sermon we see that Jesus' death
and resurrection to conquer sin and death has
become the core message of the church. Breaking
of the bread is the holy communion of Christ's
body and blood for the forgiveness of sins that
is shared by all members of a Christian community.
The fellowship is the communion of sins confessed
in the Apostles' Creed. The prayers are the prayers
of the Church to God the Father through Jesus
Christ. These are the fundamental elements of
a Christian Church that stand on Christ Jesus
and his justification of sinners so that people
in him can have a life they shall never die.
Secondly, they did have all things in common
by setting their possessions and belongings and
distributing the process to all as any had need.
This reflected the selfless love that the church
members had toward one another and their care
for the needy. The sacrificial love of God that
they just experienced from the cross Christ compelled
them and They remembered what Jesus had told
them before going to the cross Love one another
as I have loved you The following verses explain
exactly that the reason that they loved one another
was that they were fed with Jesus word and his
body and blood. Having received abundantly from
Christ, they thankfully, willingly, and joyfully
share with one another the love of God and the
abundant life that they have in Christ Jesus.
Verse 46 and 47 read, day by day, attending the
temple together and breaking bread in their homes,
they receive their food with glad and generous
hearts, praising God and having favor with all
the people. The purpose of the commune life of
early church Christians is to show that their
generosity comes from contentment and thankfulness
of receiving the new life that God has given
them in Christ Jesus our Lord. abundant life
increases even more when the Lord added to their
number day by day those who are being saved because
of their favor with God and all the people. As
Jesus continued his mission to save sinners through
the church by being with them, feeding and leading
them. The abundant life in Christ Jesus is exactly
what the Good Shepherd has promised us. Today
as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday we give
thanks to God in Christ Jesus who feeds us and
leads us to the abundant life in himself. He's
not only the Good Shepherd but also the door
of sheep. His mission is not only to forgive
us our sins but also to open the door of heaven
to all who believe to give dying humanity a life
on dying and To lead us the way worship to the
green pasture of eternal life As he says in today's
gospel reading I am the door if anyone enters
by me he will be saved and will go in and out
and find pasture. I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly. In the stewardship of
a Christian living, people instead of abundant
thinking, people tend to have a deficit thinking,
meaning to think of managing what God has given
us especially money as a zero -sum game. Namely,
when giving, for one to be blessed, someone else
has to suffer. This is a sin in Christian stewardship.
It is a sin because not only do they distrust
the Good Shepherd Jesus' ability to feed us,
but more importantly, they place their hope in
God's creation rather than God as creator. They
desire material things to sacrifice their souls
instead of the water and the bread of life from
heaven. Somewhere in our hearts, we have false
gods of power, status, security, or influence.
That's why in times of trials and tribulations,
They would rather complain or even grumble against
God than trust in him still for his goodness
to feed us and for his wonderful plan to lead
us all the way to eternal life. So what do we
learn today? We learn that the life together
as Christians is not about what kind of political
system or ideology you have. It's about Christians
gathering around the world and sacraments to
be fed and led by Jesus. It's not about sharing
one's possessions, but sharing the love and the
generosity of God in our good shepherd. It's
about trusting in His grace and mercy that at
every time, in every place, Jesus will feed us
and lead us in any circumstance. He will also
protect us. from the devil and the sinful world
of evil men who try to destroy us, snatch us
from Jesus and scatter his sheep. Because Jesus
is not only God, but also the good shepherd who
lays down his life for the sheep. By laying down
his life on the cross, Jesus has already defeated
the devil and death by rising up again to give
us abundant life that shall never die. I pray
that the Good Shepherd Jesus will feed you and
lead you all the way to life everlasting. Amen.
May the peace of God that surpasses all on standing
guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.