Overview
Chris and Courtney Brown show that sharing the light of Christ begins wherever believers already live, work, gather, and build relationships. Through Acts 2, fellowship, hospitality, common interests, personal conversation, meals, and the example of Barnabas, the teaching presents grace as something seen in ordinary people who share Christ naturally and purposefully.
Transcript
Sharing Christ Right Where You Are
Well, it's a privilege to be gathered together with you today to share a little bit further about the topic of all ages, our Lord Jesus Christ. And the title of my teaching is Sharing the Light of Christ, right where you are. So where are you right now? Can you share Christ? Right there we are. Well, you can turn if you're not already there. Acts chapter two, we're going to continue in what we've been learning. But first an exercise. I have a survey of the audience and all you have to do is, is raise a hand if these questions apply to you.
So first question is, is there anybody out there that actively participates in a sport? Any sport we have some hands. Very good. You can put those down. Now let's just pretend for a moment, please don't actually do this, but you all could get together everybody that just raised their hand and go to that end of the room and start a group and discuss your passion for sports and your sport. And there are people that do these things and it can be fun, it can be beneficial. Who out there enjoys participating in arts and crafts? I know my wife does. Wow. More hands than I expected actually.
Okay, now let's just pretend that you guys start a group over there, the arts and crafts group on that end of the room and talk about your passion for your favorite arts and maybe techniques and mediums. And that could be fun, it could be beneficial, good time together. And finally, who enjoys reading books for a pastime A lot. And you could start your group in the back and discuss books and have a book club. Those are all wonderful things. But I have one additional question. Picture yourselves all in those groups, who has Christ in them? So for the record, every hand that I could see went up.
Christ as the Believers’ Common Ground
So the clear answer to my next question is yes, but what do we all share in common? Christ, we share Christ in common no matter what group, no matter what passion or interest we had. Because God made us all unique, didn't he? You all have different interests. You have different life experience. I could have asked questions to you about challenges of life. You might have went through, some of you might have suffered through different things and come out on top with God's grace.
Some of you have been healed from serious maladies, some have come through situations of assault and Lord knows what, but you came out on top with God and you have that experience to share. But through it all, it's that Christ that shines through that individual you. And that's what I want to talk about today. Acts chapter two, verse 42. If you don't have it memorized yet, and I'll go, I'll go Easy on you today. By the way. I don't think you're gonna have to turn your page once in your Bible since I made you exercise by raising your hands.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers. My lovely wife of 29 years is going to be sharing on breaking of bread. And I'm going to focus on this fellowship. Rico did a masterful job introducing us to this topic last night. This word fellowship. It's been translated a lot of different ways. Um, there's times when it's, uh, depending on the need and the the context it comes through as a partnership. Consider if you would, when you use the word fellowship in your day-to-day conversation, what visual imagery or what mindset comes across that might be different if you called it a partnership.
What if we read verse 42 and they continued steadfastly persistently, passionately in the apostles doctrine and the partnership. Is there a sense of ownership there? Is there a sense of responsibility there? Like you're really part of something, not just a hangout group, but you're really, you are invested in this at times. This word refers to a contribution. In fact, it's translated in the Bible other places as a contribution. When the saints would gather together funds, yes, money to help out needy saints or at times to help out the Apostle Paul on his journeys in the work of the ministry.
The gift that they gathered together was called a contribution of a koinonia because the saints chose to fully share in that ministry, the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ that Paul was carrying out. They were part of it. But the real meat of this is that they had those funds, they had those resources within their power. It was their money if they gave money, but they chose to take something that was theirs and make it common. They chose to share it in this partnership, in this great fellowship, in this koinonia. So really ultimately the heart of Koinonia, a fellowship is to share something in common.
And we already answered the question, what do we share in common? Christ, yes, don't worry, you still get to be individual. In fact, you'll never shine as much as an individual as you will unless you have the shine shining light of Christ from within outward. That's really as we shine as an individual. 'cause God's the one that made us that way. Well, we have Christ in common. Halloween's coming up, trick or treat's coming up. Some of you might have kids or had kids and it's a special time.
I remember when I was a child, my brothers, uh, well there's three of us brothers, one's in the room here today and I have a sister. And we would go out trick or treating with whatever bag we had, usually a pillowcase. And, uh, fill it up as much as you could. Now, when we all got home, we all had a sack full of candy. We could say we shared that in common. Mark had a sack. I had a sack. Jenny had a sack. Tim had a sack. We all had that in common, right? Did we want to share our candy? We didn't.
In fact, there might have been feuds over these things. But what's the difference with Christ? He's meant to be shared. His nature. You know, the Bible tells us we have the mind of Christ. Your spiritual DNA has been imprinted with the nature of Christ himself. There's no limit to us to this, to our ability to share him. It doesn't run out like my candy did when I was a child. In fact, life gets richer the more we share him. So we have Christ in common. It's our choice to actively stare him in common, right? And that's the excitement, that's the zeal of life.
The First Christians and Their Shared Life
So these guys here in Acts 2 42, they had a wild ride that they came through. Rico shared a lot about that. Tom did. They had quite the experience. Let's look at their background just briefly here in verse five of chapter two. Acts two, five, there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews. And what's the next two words? Devout men out of where Every, every nation under heaven. So these were devout guys, meaning they believed in God. They were at the temple area where they were supposed to be for this feast. They were obeying. They traveled to be there. They respected him.
And yet they had been in this area on this very special, memorable Pentecost of all Pentecost. They knew of Jesus, they knew of his miracles. They heard of it. It was the buzz of the city. And they still hadn't believed. I would suspect that every one of us knows somebody that's a God-fearing person, loves God, and yet doesn't fully embrace what Jesus Christ accomplished for them. The crucifixion, the resurrection. Do they lack peace? Well, he's the prince of peace, unsure about the future anxiety, who's gonna gather us together and make it so we can be like him? Christ is our past is taken care of.
We're new nourished in this very present by him Christ in us, the hope of glory. And he's the hope and the assuredness of our future. Our everything is wrapped up in him. Every soul, every challenge, every hurt, every wrong, every right in the end of time is going to be handled and taken care of by Christ. We're bought with the price. Our whole life is wrapped up in him. We share him. So my, the point I'm trying to get to here is these guys word ofout, but yet they needed somebody to share Christ with them. And that's what happened the day of Pentecost. Yeah, they saw a marvelous miracle happen.
But then they heard Peter preach Jesus Christ as Tom just enlightened us with and their lives were changed. And then it says that they were out of every nation under heaven. They had different backgrounds, they had different cultures, different ways of dressing, thinking. And yet they all came together. We read about in verse 42 and they were continuing steadfastly, persistently, passionately in the fellowship that shared reality of Christ in them. That's the only thing that brought them together because they were vastly different. What about us? I, I know people out here were born in different countries and different cultures, but here we are all together sharing Christ.
One thing I like to think about, the first time Jesus ever gave thanks the first time recorded in the Bible that Jesus gave thanks, it might surprise you. Matthew 1125 says, I thank the oh Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou has hid these things from the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes. Jesus was thankful that God wasn't showing his truth and revealing the fullness of it to the people with the pedigrees of the day, the people with the PhDs, the priest with all the accolades and the authority.
But here's these mostly a group of fishermen on this day of Pentecost, blue collar workers, regular dudes like you and me that changed these people's lives. It wasn't Jesus walking around, it was these guys with Christ in them. What does that mean to you? What does that mean to me? That we can make an impact when we share Christ, we share him in common, but we choose to share him outwardly as well. Acts two 40 and with many other words, did he testify and exhort saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation or this crooked generation Rico hit on that last night.
Fellowship as Spiritual Partnership
But in regards to the fellowship of the Saints for a moment, that fellowship does involve getting together. But that's not all it is. If we're in this spiritual partnership, this commonality, this communion does involve getting together, doesn't it? Does it at times involve sharing talents? Sure. Does it involve our time? Sure. Does it involve speaking and sharing Christ? Sure it involves all that it's a heart matter. But save yourselves from this crooked generation. In other words, they had nothing else in that past that was beneficial for them anymore.
The old religious systems that they were accustomed to no longer was going to feed them their nourishment was now the bread of Christ that they shared in common plug for Courtney's teaching coming up. So where else do we possibly go except the fellowship of the Saints. Is that worth something to you? Is it worth getting out of our PJ's on a Sunday morning and and driving 20 minutes? Yeah, it is. I guarantee you it is. There's a benefit to being together. And I encourage you to make that a bigger priority. We're told in Hebrews to, to not forsake this sibling of ourselves together.
And part of the reason for that is that we encourage one another to good works by the Christ in us, our very presence. We encourage one another. We share Christ sometimes just by how we act, sometimes by our words, sometimes our giving. But we encourage one another to live that Christ in them to recognize the accomplished works that we have as within us. So how much do we want to be in that partnership with God, with Jesus Christ and with one another? I'm always looking to increase. I'd like to tell a story briefly here. Uh, I am a truck driver.
Everyday Conversations That Point to Christ
I drive a commercial truck around different places in Ohio and Indiana. And one stop I have in north Baltimore, Ohio. And there I have to scale in. I go on a scale loaded and then I go dump my product and I leave on a scale empty. And in that little scale house, which is just a mobile home, a little office is a guy working in there named Anthony. And for those few moments that I see him, when I scale in and I scale out, sometimes it's more than others. We have conversations and maybe it's football and maybe it's something else. He loves football.
And uh, but it is on my mind to bring the conversation to Christ. And I have a, a question I like to ask people. If I can't think of anything else to bring it to Christ, I will ask this question. And I told God that if you got something else for me, show me. But I'm gonna ask the question. And, and he didn't. So I asked my question and uh, and you can borrow it if you want. It's not complex. You can have your own questions. Y'all are great. But I asked people if they're born again. I told him, well, it looks like trucks are coming in.
Well actually they weren't. That was another time. But I said, well, I need to get going. And uh, but I would feel bad if I did not ask you this question. And that's true. I would've felt bad if I didn't 'cause I wanted to. And I asked him and that just his face lit up. At first he didn't know what I meant 'cause he wasn't sure. And you know, I've asked that question a lot of times and most people aren't sure. I've never once had a bad reaction. Nobody's ever got mad at me. In fact, almost everybody ends up being a yes answer, but most of them aren't sure.
They start talking about their works. I try to be a good person. I I haven't been to church in a while. What do we introduce into the picture? Christ, it brings right to Christ. So now we've had conversations for several times now. It started with Christ on that occasion and now it's to the point, whenever we get together, we talk God's Word. He now and another work coworker of his who we had a symbol of our con conversation with. When I'm with them now, they ask me, how's it going? Have you been going to church lately? They're making sure that I'm keeping the faith. And I love it.
I absolutely love it because we have fellowship right there at the scale house and they're encouraging me to good works. It doesn't have to be in a church building, it's not in my living room. Or we have believers singing and praying. It's right there at a scale house for 10 minutes, five minutes. And we share Christ and encourage one another to good works. Thank you very much. My wife Courtney will be next. I love that illustration, that story, because it's a true story. It's not a docu, it's a documentary. Um, well thanks sharing grace, sharing Christ, sharing space, breaking bread.
Hospitality and Breaking Bread
Um, I enjoy cooking and I enjoy people who enjoy my cookie. It's taken a few years to master some meals, but I've figured it out with my gracious husband who has eaten every single one. And here during this opportunity for grace and hearing the wonderful teachings just encourages my heart to shine forth more that Christ inside. Because really that's what we have in common and that's what's perfect. My cooking might not be perfect at times, but my heart to serve those that come to my house to eat a meal, that's what shines through that love when they walk in that door, that hug that come on in.
What is more intimate than your home? That's where you live. That's where I live. And when someone comes in that door, you've got that opportunity, that shine, shine, shine. You don't have to turn it on. It's already there ready to go. That Christ in you that love, that grace in your heart showing forth, giving it in. Here we have this great example on acts of this time and period in life. Grace, the opening of the grace administration here in Acts chapter two, verse 42, where Chris opened it said, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, which we just learned about.
And in breaking of bread and in prayers, this breaking a bread with meals, it's stated quite differently. We don't go around saying, Hey, would you come to my house and break some bread? They look at you kind of like, I don't know, it's not something we say today, but meals they had to eat. Well that is something that's necessary to survive. You need three meals a day. Some people take snacks, you know, that's just something God made us. We need to fuel our body in here. They needed to take time to eat. They had the Apostles doctrine, they were sharing grace fellowshipping with one another.
And then they were sitting down in meals at homes, maybe on the road in here. Meals could also include, which I've read, communion or the Lord's supper. Because when Jesus sat with them, it was during a meal where he took his bread, which he said was his body, which would be broken for us. And the wine that he gave, he instituted that with the apostles and they continued in that 'cause it's part of the Apostles doctrine and you see it through the Book of Acts. So, and that's a big deal to sit down and consider what your Lord and Savior did for you. His crucifixion as a resurrection.
And that's what we remember at communion Lord Supper, but also other meals were shared. Let's go to Acts chapter two, stay there. Let's go down to 46. We're gonna see a little bit of the heart or the attitude and then says, and they continuing daily with one accord. Wow. In the temple and in breaking bread from where house to house. Come to my house, I'll go to your house, go to your friend. I mean, it's just what they did did eat their meat with what? Gladness and singleness of heart. I've read in some versions that the singleness is simplicity. It doesn't have to be China.
You don't have to be Mo or Stewart to invite somebody in your house to eat. You don't have to have lobster and steak every time you get together. Here. The heart is that they were glad. What were they glad about? They're savior Jesus Christ. That they're just born again and they're getting this new reality in their life.
And things were changing and things also changed for you and me when we decided to make him Lord in our life, that it wouldn't be our will only, but God's will that we'd be seeking and seeking to let others know why our life was impacted when we found out who Jesus Christ was and who we are, what our identity is. That's life changing. I don't know about you, but for me, definitely. So they had gladness and singleness of heart. Their attitude was, what they shared was grace. They came together. And what did they talk about?
Oh, they talked about things they were seeing and hearing and sharing it with one another. And I imagine when you sit at a meal with fellowship fellow Christians, believers that you have tons to talk about. And it's so connecting when you're together in a home. I mean, I've had meals where the table was full, the couch was full. People reading on little tray tables. Thanksgiving at my house. That's the day we celebrate. We have things we gather in homes with meals to celebrate if it's birthdays or anniversaries or Thanksgiving. But fellowshipping together with a bunch of fellow believers and Christians in your home is so unique and it's so encouraging.
It strengthens you. It refreshes you like nothing else. I mean, it is awesome. And that's grace when you do that. You are walking in the steps of the apostles here and the disciples did an ask. And you have someone come in your home. Do you ever think about that? You're doing that. You're sharing Christ and Jesus Christ. His example was in the home. Think of all the things he shared in the disciples Homes or Zacchaeus house. Words of encouragement, words of love and light about his heavenly Father that he was out doing the will. We can talk about our savior.
Grace Around the Table
We can do the same thing in our home, around the table, eating nutritious and delicious food that someone cooked. We have that in common. Um, I'll share a story here. Um, labor Day is a day. I get a few holidays off at work. Chris and I happen to have, I knew the Labor Day we're gonna have it off. I had made plans to invite my friend Chrissy over. I know her from Juujitsu. And then I just, over some time period, I've invited her to my house. We hang out for four or five, six hours talking, watching movies, hanging out.
And I invited Chrissy over and she's fairly, um, new to coming around and hanging out at my house. And she's come to fellowship a few times with us. And I offered in fellowship, we have fellowship in our home, uh, twice a month. And we have meals. We start at 11, sometimes, not all the time. 11 and then 12. We'll have a teaching. And sometimes these meals can be fun. We make it fun like a theme. Like if it's a new year, think of whatever New Year, meals around the world and come bring it. So it's very interesting.
But, um, we had her over for Labor Day, Chrissy, and then I opened it up in a fellowship ahead of time and said, Hey, anybody who's not doing anything on Labor Day, come on over. I'm gonna have some hamburgers, you know, hot dogs, maybe steak. We did have steak. But, um, so they came, you know, I invited people and then I got an email from Wonderful Lady, you might know her, Nelda Barker. And she said, Hey, I can come over what time. And I had her come over. So we're sitting at the table, get this, sitting at our table eating and the door knocks the doorbell and then somebody's knocking.
And I'm like, oh, I'm not expecting anybody. You expect anybody? No, no. And my husband goes to it, we're still talking and eating and I hear who it is. It's our next door neighbor, which we don't know too well. And I've wanted to meet them and really talk, but just hasn't happened. The connection. So I go to the door and I see they have our package. So an Amazon package was delivered to 'em three days ago. We saw the picture, if you have the app, and it was on their doorstep. He went over to Knock, couldn't get a response, and the package was gone within an hour.
So we had been waiting three days for our vitamins to come. Inconvenient. But here it was, our neighbor, Damien was delivering the package. And I had a thought, well, I'm standing there and they're talking and we still have people eating and I'm away from my plate and my food getting cold. The thought came in my head, invite them in. Whoa, okay, God. And I thought, oh, surely they're not gonna come in and eat, but like, so random and spontaneous. And I, and then I was like, just invite them.
And so I did, I asked the husband, I said, Hey, we're having, you know, labor Day hot dog, you know, hamburgers and steak. Do you wanna come in to eat? You wanna, are you hungry? He just looked at me like, uh, yeah, my wife is actually hungry. She was on the front lawn. She hadn't come up on the porch. And so they're talking back and forth going, Hey, you wanna come eat? You want some food? She's a minus in. So she comes up and we bring them in and graciously, you know, introduce each other at the table.
And I walk to the kitchen and I'm realizing I really didn't count how much food I had, but, uh, we're good. We're good. I will, I can make more. And we sat down at the table and found out that he's, um, a teacher and she's, um, a nurse. And we found out way more about them. Our next door neighbor, they've been there for probably seven months and we hadn't had this opportunity. And then Chrissy's telling, hi, I'm Chrissy, I'm a friend from Jujitsu. And then Mel's like, oh yeah, I, I'm here, come here for fellowship Bible study. So it was just a great sharing grace. And you know what?
It was so enjoyable and so refreshing to give and to do it spontaneously because God, he makes those connections. You probably have similar stories of sharing grace, sharing a meal or maybe at a park you shared a meal. Yeah, spontaneous. God is in the business of making the connections. We just have to shine, be the light. That's what you are. That's what you have in you, whether you know it or not. And just walking partnership with your heavenly Father. We'll close out with this verse or with this um, section here. Let's go to Acts 11, verse 22. I'll read, um, 21 through 22 or through 23.
Seeing the Grace of God in People
You can listen And the hand of the Lord was with them. These were people in Antioch, was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. There's that turning onto the Lord. And tis of these things came unto the ears of the church, which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch who Barnabas, when he came and had seen the grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. We encourage each other to cleave unto the Lord. That's what we have in common.
He saw the grace of God and was glad. Oh, when you see it, I'm sure you're glad. And wow you can just rejoice with one another. What did he see? What did he hear that showed him the grace of God? What does grace look like? Grace, it looks like you and me. That's Christ than us. The hope of glory. And it also looks like you and me at the table breaking bread. Wow. Thanks.
Key Takeaways
- Believers can share Christ in the places, interests, professions, and relationships that are already part of their lives.
- Christian fellowship is more than attendance; it is partnership, shared responsibility, and common participation in Christ.
- Hospitality and meals create natural settings for encouragement, conversation, and the sharing of grace.
- The light of Christ can be communicated through words, conduct, generosity, listening, and a willingness to make genuine connections.
- Grace becomes visible when people see Christ expressed through believers living and sharing life together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can believers share the light of Christ?
They can share Christ wherever they already are—at work, at home, through hobbies, in conversation, around a meal, and within ordinary relationships.
What does fellowship mean in this teaching?
Fellowship is spiritual partnership and shared participation in Christ, not merely being present at the same gathering.
How can hospitality help share God’s grace?
Opening a home or table creates space for people to connect, be encouraged, discuss Christ, and experience grace through practical love and generosity.
Scripture References
Acts 2:5–11, 42, 46–47; Matthew 11:25; Hebrews 10:24–25; Colossians 1:27; Acts 11:19–24
Verification Note
Prepared from user-provided auto-generated captions. Verify speaker changes, names, quotations, verse references, punctuation, and unclear phrases against the original video and a Bible before publication.
