Biblical Foundations of Discipleship: “The Community”

By Vernell Ingle

Text: Acts 2:42-47

Introduction:

1. In this passage we have a snapshot of what the church should look like. It serves as a pattern and outline for the life of the local church.
2. Church = represents the community of God on earth. The church is known as the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. The Church is not an organization as much as it is a living organism. We are members of the Body of Christ.
3. The church is pictured here as a group of believers who are not only involved in the work of Christ on earth but they are very much involved in interaction, interpersonal relationships with one another. There is mutual care, encouragement, ministry and it is all bathed in the love of Jesus Christ.
4. The common denominator of the church is fellowship with one another. And we have fellowship with one another because it is rooted in our fellowship with God. If we can get along with God then we can get along with each other or at least we should!

I. THE MEANING OF FELLOWSHIP

1. Definition: fellowship is defined by Webster as the following, “association; communion; intimacy; society; joint interest or feeling.”
   
2. Biblically speaking:
   1. “Fellowship” comes from the grk term, koinonia.
   2. This is where we derive our English word “common.”
   3. This word has to do with companionship and speaks of those who have something in common.
   
   
3. Practically Speaking:
   1. As Christians we first have fellowship with God and as a result of that fellowship we fellowship one with another.
   2. The dynamic of this common bond is the love of God.
   3. This Christian fellowship entails the following . . .
      1. Confessing and confronting one another in love if need be.
      2. Praying together.
      3. Worshipping together.
      4. Provokes to good works.
      5. Participating together in the Lord’s Supper.
      6. It results in ministering to one another’s need and for mutual edification.
      
      
4. Spiritually Speaking:
   1. Jesus prayed that we might all be “one” in Him.
   2. This union or oneness is an intimate fellowship that reflects not only our relationship with the Lord but also mirrors the unity and fellowship of the Godhead!
      ILL.- that is why division, factions, fighting, quarreling and bickering in the church is not becoming to the Body of Jesus Christ. In fact Paul calls it for what it is – the work of the devil!
   3. As we are intimately related to the Father, through Jesus Christ and in the power of The Holy Ghost, there will be oneness in the Body of Christ.
   4. We must understand that this fellowship is eternal. This fellowship is not fragile. It is a fellowship that is strong in the Lord.

II. THE ORDINANCES OF FELLOWSHIP 2:42

1. The Birth of The Church.
   1. In Acts 2 we have the birth of the Church.
   2. There is the mighty pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the saints in the upper room.
   3. There is the attraction of the curious crowds.
   4. There is the first sermon (Pentecostal sermon) preached by Peter –now Holy Ghost baptized and anointed!
   5. 3,000 are saved and enter the kingdom of God.
   6. The infant church grows rapidly to over 8,000 by chapters 4 and 5.
   7. Chapter 6 the church begins to organize to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of the people. They become a closely knit group and there is blessed fellowship.
   
   
2. The Nature of The Church
   1. In this verse we have the 4 ordinances for Christian fellowship.
   2. This verse describes their practice not their creed. This is what they were actually doing.
   3. This verse implies that they put forth a conscious effort and were faithful to these ordinances of fellowship.
   4. This kind of fellowship does not just happen, it is a conscious effort of believers in reaching out to one another.
   5. These new Christians were not coerced into this fellowship, they were happy, joyous, and glad in their experience of fellowship. This was an active and joyous church.
   
   
3. The Life of The Church.
   1. Teaching = These Christians were active students of God’s Word. They taught, they listened and fellowshipped in God’s Word.
      1. “Apostle’s Doctrine” = refers to teaching – instruction.
      2. There was a hunger for the Word of God.
      3. There was a desire to learn and receive all that the Lord had for them.
      
      
   2. Fellowship
      1. These saints enjoyed fellowship with one another and were actively engaged in it.
      2. They saw each other more than just at assembly or worship time.
      3. They were excited about their new-found faith and therefore they looked forward to being together – again it was not forced or made to feel like they had to. “But then they were not as busy and stressed as we are today!” It was TRUE KOINONIA
      
      
   3. Breaking of bread = twice the breaking of bread is mentioned in this context.
      1. It is probable that this refers to both the Lord’s Table-Communion and fellowship with one another in each other’s homes.
      2. This also includes what was known as the Agape/love feasts where the saints would gather in various homes, since they didn’t have fellowship halls, and enjoy fellowship dinners – yes folks eating together was an important part of early church life!
      3. It was common at these meals, either at the beginning of the meal to observe the Lord’s Table-Communion.
      4. The key was that they gathered in fellowship around meals. Note that in Revelation 3:20, Jesus desires to come in and sit at the table with us.
         When we sit and take a meal together with a friend that is not a difficult or stressful experience. It is meant to be an intimate and enjoyable experience!
      
      
   4. Prayer = these early Christians prayed together often.
      1. Prayer meetings were common in the early church.
      2. This accounts for the unity, rich fellowship and the demonstration of the power of God
      3. This prayer was both personal and corporate. The personal prayer provided the dynamism for the corporate prayer.
      
      

III. THE RESULTS OF FELLOWSHIP 2:43-47

1. Their Faith Was Active.
   1. This fellowship produced wonderful results of Christian service.
   2. They were active on behalf of the Lord, in His work.
   3. This service was accomplished in an atmosphere of joy and excitement.
   4. They went everywhere gossiping the Gospel!
   
   
2. They Were a Giving Church.
   1. The church gave and shared with those in need.
   2. A healthy church is a giving church.
   3. Their giving and sharing pictured a giving, caring and gracious God. They gave because God is a Giver. God gave us His Son who Paul called, “His unspeakable Gift!”
   4. Their giving was accomplished voluntarily. Again there was no coercion.
   
   
3. They Were a Faithful Church.
   1. They were active in their fellowship and worship together.
   2. They knew the importance of meeting together in church to receive edification, education, and inspiration, especially in that day of persecution!
   3. They acknowledged that they needed each other.
   4. They were said to observe the daily prayer time together at the Temple during the week both at 9 am and 3 pm.
   5. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together especially due to the evil days. How easy it is to lay out of church once we start missing!
   
   
4. They Were a Growing Church.
   1. NOTE: verse 47, the church was growing miraculously and the Lord was blessing.
   2. There was growth, and the favor and blessing of the Lord.
   3. “The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved!” This means that the Lord was directing the growth of the church.
   4. If the saints are doing their part, the Lord will do His part and there will be growth!
   5. Such growth will be accomplished by the Lord through the power of the Holy Ghost working through His people.
   6. God has always made a habit of using people!!!
   7. ILL.- NOTE: Acts 18:9, 10 –“…for I have many people in this city.” This means that God has a definite harvest in every community but He reaps the harvest through humble and obedient saints. God entrusts us to do His work on earth. We carry on the work and ministry of Jesus Christ in this world.

Conclusion:

The church is known for a number of designations in the NT. It is known as “The Body Of Christ,” the Bride of Christ, the family of God, the community of God. All of these depict intimacy and unity. And rightfully so, because the church reflects Jesus Christ and His work on earth. What a privilege to be considered a part of this great Body of Christ! What a privilege to be adopted into the great big family of God! What a joy to be known as the Bride of Christ, the object of His love and favor. What a glorious opportunity to have all of this in common with each other – as fellow-believers!