Years ago, while living in Madagascr myself and Fred, the missionary I was working with there, headed to the town of Antsirabe, just south of the capital of Antananarivo for the day. Our purpose there was to meet with some local government officials to set the dates and location for some basketball clinics I would be leading in the area. We also met with some leaders from some churches to set up the evangelism and follow up parts of what we were doing.
On the way out of town Fred wanted to stop for a minute to visit someone he had met on a previous visit and who had played a role in our coming there. His residence was above a small pharmacy by the side of the road on the way out of town. We stopped, and he was there and invited us into his home. My Malagasy was very weak at the time (still is really) and I relied on Fred to translate. Not long after we arrived I saw the man's wife head out the door with a basket.
She returned about 30 minutes later with the basket full. Fred and this fellow kept on talking and I began to grow antsy. An hour passed and she came in placed two bottles of Coca Cola and some glasses on the table. Then in a little while came the bread, and before long a full meal was in front of us. Much of what they made that day was stuff I would not eat normally, but I partook. This couple had spent basically two weeks salary to go and get food and feed us and welcome us into their home. This kind of hospitality was not unusual there.
We've lost some of that in America. Our time crunch and busy schedules and large house and fences and so much more keep us from breaking bread and interacting with people.
Our scripture this weekend is going to show us that fellowship in houses and around the table was a cornerstone of the early church. As we look at Inception: Steadfast, part 2 we are going to see that time spent with other believers was key to the church becoming the church.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 46-47 (NKJV)
On the way out of town Fred wanted to stop for a minute to visit someone he had met on a previous visit and who had played a role in our coming there. His residence was above a small pharmacy by the side of the road on the way out of town. We stopped, and he was there and invited us into his home. My Malagasy was very weak at the time (still is really) and I relied on Fred to translate. Not long after we arrived I saw the man's wife head out the door with a basket.
She returned about 30 minutes later with the basket full. Fred and this fellow kept on talking and I began to grow antsy. An hour passed and she came in placed two bottles of Coca Cola and some glasses on the table. Then in a little while came the bread, and before long a full meal was in front of us. Much of what they made that day was stuff I would not eat normally, but I partook. This couple had spent basically two weeks salary to go and get food and feed us and welcome us into their home. This kind of hospitality was not unusual there.
We've lost some of that in America. Our time crunch and busy schedules and large house and fences and so much more keep us from breaking bread and interacting with people.
Our scripture this weekend is going to show us that fellowship in houses and around the table was a cornerstone of the early church. As we look at Inception: Steadfast, part 2 we are going to see that time spent with other believers was key to the church becoming the church.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 46-47 (NKJV)
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