Preaching for Community Transformation
“What shall we do?” This was the question posed by the Jews who heard the Gospel preached on the Day of Pentecost by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:37). Their inquiry was prompted by the work of the Holy Spirit who had come upon them, evidenced by the conviction of their pierced hearts, in receiving the Word.
Their inquiry is helpful for us today in re-thinking how we do church. Many American churches have succumbed to the pressures of the church growth movement and programmed culturally relevant activities that have proven to be a deviation from the devotion and disciplines of the early church.
After preaching the Gospel, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ was the first order of business (Acts 2:38). Turning from this perverse generation (politics, culture, false religion, idolatrous traditions, etc.), that maligns our Savior and Lord, means our allegiance has shifted from sin, the devil, and the world system (Jn 3:19; Eph 4:17; 1 Jn 2:15–17; Jude 1:19). We trust His salvation, but we also commit our lives to Him.
The church must never succumb to easy believe-ism — the practice of growing the church with unregenerate souls. Invariably, those who have not been born again of the Spirit will fall away (Heb 6:4–6). The authenticity of true believers is their endurance in the faith (life walk with Jesus). Simply stated, saints persevere in surrendered discipleship, while others pretend to be Christians navigating the path of least resistance.
The affections of natural man are sinful (Jn 3:19; Eph 2:1–3). As our allegiance shifts from the world to the Lord Jesus, the new man emerges as a manifestation of the sanctifying work of the Spirit of Christ living in the believer (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; 15:16; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2).
To identify someone as a “believer” or a “Christian” is not different than calling him “a disciple.” The disciple practices the discipline of his Master. His disciplines are spiritual and the result of works of God’s grace in His new creation (2 Cor 5:17). The world is progressively purged from his mind, heart, soul, and strength (note the war between the Spirit and the flesh in the Christian; see Rom 7–8).
The new man has new affections growing in the Lord. He becomes a man of prayer. This is an uncomfortable exercise for the one who has no relationship with God. Therefore, the disciple of Jesus is taught to pray by his new community.
This community gathers regularly for corporate worship and in smaller group settings, sharing meals together in each others’ homes and in communion (Lord’s Table). The new disciple begins to learn the teachings of Scripture (Mt 28:19–20; Acts 2:42). He is taught to obey the whole counsel of God, as it is revealed in the Bible.
The disciple is transformed by the Spirit and the Word renewing his mind (Rom 12:2). In other words, this new man begins to think in alignment with the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) and shares one mind with other believers (Acts 1:14; 2:46; 15:25; Rom 15:5; Phil 1:27; 2:2) who are being directed by the Holy Spirit into compliance with Scripture (Ezek 36:27).
The community of Christ operates with one mind because it has one Lord (Eph 4:4–6). It is the Lord Himself who transforms the individuals and the local church (Phil 2:13). The community that resists His transformation is in rebellion (see Rev. 2 -3). This is the community that is not in prayer, not in the Word, not together in fellowship, and not sharing with one another.
When a church repents and embraces the spiritual disciplines, it becomes healthy enough for the Lord to add to its numbers, even daily, those who are being saved. What shall we do? Repent, be baptized, pray, learn the Scriptures, attend corporate worship, share food in each other’s homes, share resources when there is need, and break bread in communal remembrance of Jesus’ death until He comes again. May God be pleased to add to His church, as the Spirit produces the fruit of faithfulness (Gal 5:22–23), to do as He commands (Mt 28:19–20).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 25, 2021
