Chapel speech: On the joys of church.

Originally presented at Luther Junior and Senior High School morning chapel, July 11, 2014.

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Acts of the Apostles. Have you ever read it? I highly recommend it. It tells the story of Jesus’ followers right after His death and resurrection, and the birth of the Christian church.

Life was not easy for the first Christians. Neither the Roman Empire nor the Jewish authorities were very fond of these people who claimed Jesus Christ was the Son of God and higher than the Roman Emperor. The Book of Acts contains many stories of believers in Christ who were killed for their faith. Elsewhere in Acts are stories of other believers who were shunned, put on trial, thrown in jail, or executed. It was dangerous to be a Christian at that time. And yet, strangely, there is an undercurrent of joy that runs through the whole book.

Today’s Scripture reading describes the fellowship of the early Christians. They prayed together, they ate together, they learned together, and they helped each other. It sounds like a wonderful life. And yet, all around them were people who wanted to kill them for their beliefs. How could they be so joyful?

The hope they had and the hope we have in Jesus is far beyond any threat or persecution the world can throw at us. In his first letter, the apostle Peter writes, "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Kuwamizu Church sanctuary, 2014.

It is that salvation, that forgiveness, that freedom that we have in Christ that enables us to live with joy despite our circumstances, because we know we are bound for eternal life with God. The kind of fellowship rooted in this hope that the early church enjoyed is the kind of fellowship Christians have with each other in churches even today.

I was raised in a Christian family, so I’ve gone to church every Sunday my whole life. When I was young, I didn’t like church. I didn’t like getting up early in the morning, the hymns were too slow, and I couldn’t understand the sermons. But as I grew older, I learned to value the time I had at church with other Christians, encouraging and learning from each other. If you are interested in Christianity, I encourage you to try to attend church at least once. Even if the songs are too slow and the sermon is incomprehensible, I pray you will grow to know God’s incredible love for you and will be able to experience that transcendent joy in fellowship yourself.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank you for the joy you give us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to know you more fully and live in the light of Your love.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)