CMLC 2026-04-26 Sermon

We have a wonderful opportunity here from Reverend

Chris Yang who will be sharing with us a bit

about his ministry and to share the Word of God

with us this morning In the name of Jesus For

people who know something about communism the

picture painted here in today's first reading

Acts chapter 2 verse 42 through 47 Reminds them

Acts 2:42–47

of people's commune life on their mall or to

some people of European descent the utopian communities

in the 19th century in Europe and in the United

States The Bible certainly does not promote communism

here But why does God not only allow this to

happen in this time of history, but write it

in the Bible and put it in such a positive way?

To answer this question, we have to think in

light of what had just happened and connect to

the overall picture of the mission of God to

save sinners. Remember. We are still in the Easter

season. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Hallelujah Right after Peter preached that this

Jesus whom you crucified God has made him both

Lord and Christ by raising him up and therefore

losing pounds of death on the first Pentecost

People were baptized and 3 ,000 souls were added

to the church. The Holy Spirit descending from

heaven on the disciples enabled them to do many

wonders and signs. Though this was a one -of

-a -kind event and part of God's mission in his

salvation history, the principles that God is

telling us here can apply to anytime, in any

place. Therefore, instead of mimicking the form

of communal life as communists did and failed,

we need to ask the right questions, such as,

for what purpose did God make it happen and write

about it? And what can we learn from all these?

It is true that one of the main impressions that

you will have when you read this reading is a

shared everyday life of a community described

in words like fellowship, together, in common,

all, and day by day. However, besides possessions

and belongings that they shared, First and foremost

is that they devoted themselves to the Apostles

teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of

bread and the prayers What is this? This is a

life of a church By this time Jesus had resurrected

from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit

and by the same spirit Jesus has just established

the Church with more powers and wonders. Now,

the Bible is to show us what the main elements

of a Christian Church are through the life of

early Church Christians. The Apostles' teaching

is basically the Word of God by the testimony

of the Apostles with interpretation of the Old

Testament in light of Jesus Christ and his cross

to tell us God's salvation plan that was ordained

before the foundation of the world. Last Sunday

we learned that Jesus taught the disciples how

to read the Old Testament beginning with Moses

and all the prophets Jesus interpreted to them

in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Now from Peter's sermon we see that Jesus' death

and resurrection to conquer sin and death has

become the core message of the church. Breaking

of the bread is the holy communion of Christ's

body and blood for the forgiveness of sins that

is shared by all members of a Christian community.

The fellowship is the communion of sins confessed

in the Apostles' Creed. The prayers are the prayers

of the Church to God the Father through Jesus

Christ. These are the fundamental elements of

a Christian Church that stand on Christ Jesus

and his justification of sinners so that people

in him can have a life they shall never die.

Secondly, they did have all things in common

by setting their possessions and belongings and

distributing the process to all as any had need.

This reflected the selfless love that the church

members had toward one another and their care

for the needy. The sacrificial love of God that

they just experienced from the cross Christ compelled

them and They remembered what Jesus had told

them before going to the cross Love one another

as I have loved you The following verses explain

exactly that the reason that they loved one another

was that they were fed with Jesus word and his

body and blood. Having received abundantly from

Christ, they thankfully, willingly, and joyfully

share with one another the love of God and the

abundant life that they have in Christ Jesus.

Verse 46 and 47 read, day by day, attending the

temple together and breaking bread in their homes,

they receive their food with glad and generous

hearts, praising God and having favor with all

the people. The purpose of the commune life of

early church Christians is to show that their

generosity comes from contentment and thankfulness

of receiving the new life that God has given

them in Christ Jesus our Lord. abundant life

increases even more when the Lord added to their

number day by day those who are being saved because

of their favor with God and all the people. As

Jesus continued his mission to save sinners through

the church by being with them, feeding and leading

them. The abundant life in Christ Jesus is exactly

what the Good Shepherd has promised us. Today

as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday we give

thanks to God in Christ Jesus who feeds us and

leads us to the abundant life in himself. He's

not only the Good Shepherd but also the door

of sheep. His mission is not only to forgive

us our sins but also to open the door of heaven

to all who believe to give dying humanity a life

on dying and To lead us the way worship to the

green pasture of eternal life As he says in today's

gospel reading I am the door if anyone enters

by me he will be saved and will go in and out

and find pasture. I came that they may have life

and have it abundantly. In the stewardship of

a Christian living, people instead of abundant

thinking, people tend to have a deficit thinking,

meaning to think of managing what God has given

us especially money as a zero -sum game. Namely,

when giving, for one to be blessed, someone else

has to suffer. This is a sin in Christian stewardship.

It is a sin because not only do they distrust

the Good Shepherd Jesus' ability to feed us,

but more importantly, they place their hope in

God's creation rather than God as creator. They

desire material things to sacrifice their souls

instead of the water and the bread of life from

heaven. Somewhere in our hearts, we have false

gods of power, status, security, or influence.

That's why in times of trials and tribulations,

They would rather complain or even grumble against

God than trust in him still for his goodness

to feed us and for his wonderful plan to lead

us all the way to eternal life. So what do we

learn today? We learn that the life together

as Christians is not about what kind of political

system or ideology you have. It's about Christians

gathering around the world and sacraments to

be fed and led by Jesus. It's not about sharing

one's possessions, but sharing the love and the

generosity of God in our good shepherd. It's

about trusting in His grace and mercy that at

every time, in every place, Jesus will feed us

and lead us in any circumstance. He will also

protect us. from the devil and the sinful world

of evil men who try to destroy us, snatch us

from Jesus and scatter his sheep. Because Jesus

is not only God, but also the good shepherd who

lays down his life for the sheep. By laying down

his life on the cross, Jesus has already defeated

the devil and death by rising up again to give

us abundant life that shall never die. I pray

that the Good Shepherd Jesus will feed you and

lead you all the way to life everlasting. Amen.

May the peace of God that surpasses all on standing

guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.