Day 8: Chew it Up, Swallow the Meat, Spit Out the Fat
by Simon Netznik
Scripture
“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
Application
A mentor told me, “You can have ‘no money’ and still have a church. You can have ‘no worship team’ and still have a church. But you can’t have ‘no people’ and still have a church.”
To clarify the double-negative, he was explaining that our church – as well as the worldwide Church – is comprised of people, not buildings or physical resources.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting countless churches, and either served or led within a wide variety of worship styles (from liturgical hymns to urban Gospel; Pentecostal Holiness to Methodist and Lutheran; suburban family settings to inner-city youth; from house churches to a 12,000 seat stadium; even multi-faith services). Since my family “church-hopped” growing up, it’s been a natural part of my journey to explore this spectrum of cultures and preferences. I struggle to find any one doctrine or denomination that I would claim as my home base.
I asked the same mentor how I’m supposed to tell what is true or what to believe when there are so many preferences, so many options, so many pathways. You may have shared this feeling of being “saturated” when scrolling social media, choosing a political candidate to vote for, or even trying to decide what to order off a long restaurant menu.
His advice was, “Take a bite, chew it up, swallow the meat, and spit out the fat.” He was using this as an illustration to say that no one is perfect, and no church or small group is going to do everything just the way you like it. While it is good to expose ourselves to a wide range of influences, we must compare everything we hear to Scripture and ask the Lord to show us that which is true.
Biblically, the mission of every Bible-believing church is the same: to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The culture of worship in a body of believers is first shaped by the heart posture of its people, as the Word of God is taught from the pulpit, taken home into families & small groups, and then lived out as a community of disciples.
Consider the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47, where believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Their unity, shared resources, and love for one another led to growth and a strong witness to those outside their community. Their example shows us that the heart of worship is not in ritual but in relationship with God and with each other.
Reflection
What drew you to be part of your church? How have your church experiences shaped or impacted your relationship with God over time? Are there any lingering hurts, thoughts, or fears about church that are preventing you from going “all in?”
Identify 2-3 opportunities where you can practically apply the principles of unity, shared resources, and devotion to teaching and prayer from Acts 2:42-47 at your job, school, or home. How could you reflect the early church’s example of living out their faith?
How can you cultivate a sense of community and shared mission among your family, small group, or Young Adults ministry?
Prayer
“Lord, thank you for the blessing it is to be part of a local church. As a part of your church, I ask for your guidance as we navigate the diverse expressions of faith and worship that are present within our small groups and Young Adults ministry. I forgive any believers and church members who have hurt me, whether they did it on purpose or inadvertently. I commit to rely on Your strength alone and steward the resources you’ve given me to be a positive testimony for others. Please use me to help people know You, through both communion with You and community with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”