In considering the role of the church in the work of salvation and deliverance, Sunday's sermon included a look at the description of the early church in Acts 2. Today we will reflect on one characteristic of the church community: scholarship.
Scholarship, frankly, is out of vogue in the postmodern church. Do you want a huge congregation in a short period of time? Scholarship won't fill the pews. Feed them with great music, funny skits, and fifteen-minute sermons about how to be a better spouse/how to be successful/how to live a life of ease and prosperity. Cram their schedules with networking seminars and weekend trips to build houses in poor neighborhoods. Don't say a word about suffering and the way of the cross. Don't delve into the deep things of God. And whatever you do, don't challenge them- don't use the words 'sin' or 'disobedience' or 'fear'. Do this and you will have many sheep, but few true scholars.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.” The apostles taught the church community to obey everything that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20). Knowing what God has said, and doing what He has instructed: both are necessary components in the life of the scholar.
Pastor Sam noted that the concept of scholarship involves both principle and practice. Our love for God leads us to live lives that correspond to the things we say and believe about Him. It is not enough to know that the greatest among us is the one who serves. We have to take off our jacket, get the basin and towel, and get down on the floor. Some time ago Pastor Benji noted that we demonstrate our understanding of the love of Christ by imitating the One who washed the feet of Judas as well as the feet of Peter.
Are we ready to be identified as part of the church community by our scholarship?
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