Stewardship-Breaking Bread in the Early Church

Stewardship Moment
Read by Pat Kindvall
Sunday, November 20, 2022

We hear these words from Acts 2:43-47: “Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned church potluck! Isn’t it fun when your congregation gathers to share a lunch together after worship? You peruse the table to see who brough what. Delightful dishes fill the fellowship hall with wonderful aromas, all prepared with anticipation and joy. It’s just like the early church as described in the scripture from Acts, isn’t it—church members eating their food with glad and generous hearts? Perhaps those of us in the 21st-century church are astounded to read that the early church had all things in common, that people would sell their goods and give the proceeds to the church to distribute to those in need, not only their own members but others in the community. What inspired them to build this loving, sharing community? If we are honest, we would admit this probably could not happen today. People are too wrapped up in their own stuff. They sometimes hoard and hold back. Can we embrace the example of the early church? Yes, things were different—easier—“back in the day,” but aren’t we still called to share and support one another? That has not changed. We may have to be more creative about what we do to create community and unity, but breaking bread together is a way to say Jesus is in our midst.

Sharing our resources is the way we say we have absorbed Jesus’ lessons about caring for others. At the Table, we celebrate Jesus Christ among us, and when we take the cup and eat the bread, we are saying we commit ourselves once again to doing the work he began. And that work awaits us out in the community. People saw the early church in action. They saw them “putting their money where their mouths were.” They reached out to and helped others without reservation, without restriction. Whoever asked, received. It looks like we still have a lot of work to do.