Daily Bread 2011 - Acts 2
Daily Bread 2011 – Acts 2
Text: The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What Does This Mean?
Almost like the cork of a champagne bottle being lifted off, the Spirit explodes into the life of the early Christian community. First, it was the apostles’ speaking in different languages so that all who were gathered for this feast (that was required from the Old Testament) could hear the Gospel in their own native tongue. Then, Peter inspired by the same Spirit, preached a sermon in which 3,000 believers were added to the Church in one day.
With this explosive growth, there needed to be a way to group these new believers and provide a new community for them to grow up into what they had just experienced. Acts 2:42-47 is a famous description, regarding what the 1st century church looked like. We see several characteristics that are worth noting. The four main functions of the church were: the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread (communion) and prayer.
While there are many things churches are called to, these are the four main staples. Teaching, which is growing in knowledge of Jesus and his teachings as originated from the Old Testament. Fellowship, a deep kindred spirit amongst the believers created by the Holy Spirit, also called “koinonia”. Breaking of bread, which was a combination of a meal in the home shared by the believers as well as a remembrance of the Last Supper. And finally prayer!
What Does This Mean for Us?
One of the biggest challenges for us in the church is building an environment where these 4 main staples of the church can be encouraged and nurtured. The biggest barrier we face is “busyness”. It is hard enough to get people to commit to weekly worship, let alone another meeting where they might go deeper in their faith and relationships with others.
But without this new community that God creates through bringing people to faith and then gathering them around His Word and Sacrament, the Church will lack the vibrancy to draw people. Just as the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit draws people into the community of the Trinity; our love for God and each other will draw people to the Father’s love for them.
This is not a program but an organic process engineered by the Holy Spirit. You know it when you enter a church that has this type of “koinonia” and you know it when it doesn’t!
Prayer: Father as we gather in your name in worship, small groups and mid-sized communities, may the Fellowship of Your Spirit bind us together and draw people into the relationship we have with you and each other by Your Grace through Your Son. Amen.
Text: The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What Does This Mean?
Almost like the cork of a champagne bottle being lifted off, the Spirit explodes into the life of the early Christian community. First, it was the apostles’ speaking in different languages so that all who were gathered for this feast (that was required from the Old Testament) could hear the Gospel in their own native tongue. Then, Peter inspired by the same Spirit, preached a sermon in which 3,000 believers were added to the Church in one day.
With this explosive growth, there needed to be a way to group these new believers and provide a new community for them to grow up into what they had just experienced. Acts 2:42-47 is a famous description, regarding what the 1st century church looked like. We see several characteristics that are worth noting. The four main functions of the church were: the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread (communion) and prayer.
While there are many things churches are called to, these are the four main staples. Teaching, which is growing in knowledge of Jesus and his teachings as originated from the Old Testament. Fellowship, a deep kindred spirit amongst the believers created by the Holy Spirit, also called “koinonia”. Breaking of bread, which was a combination of a meal in the home shared by the believers as well as a remembrance of the Last Supper. And finally prayer!
What Does This Mean for Us?
One of the biggest challenges for us in the church is building an environment where these 4 main staples of the church can be encouraged and nurtured. The biggest barrier we face is “busyness”. It is hard enough to get people to commit to weekly worship, let alone another meeting where they might go deeper in their faith and relationships with others.
But without this new community that God creates through bringing people to faith and then gathering them around His Word and Sacrament, the Church will lack the vibrancy to draw people. Just as the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit draws people into the community of the Trinity; our love for God and each other will draw people to the Father’s love for them.
This is not a program but an organic process engineered by the Holy Spirit. You know it when you enter a church that has this type of “koinonia” and you know it when it doesn’t!
Prayer: Father as we gather in your name in worship, small groups and mid-sized communities, may the Fellowship of Your Spirit bind us together and draw people into the relationship we have with you and each other by Your Grace through Your Son. Amen.
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