The Christian Community Shares a Life in Common (Acts 2:42–47)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 11, 2024

Biblical Fellowship, let’s talk about this idea for a few minutes.

Today, we are going to look at a summary passage of the early church.

What are things the world would call fellowship? Football games, basketball games, golf, time at a bar or at a pub? Any others? Name a few… (Actually allow people to name some things)

What are some things that are purely Christian fellowship? Bible study, youth group, communion, baptisms, church dinners, what else? Name a few.

Where do you see these overlapping and where do they not overlap? Just think with me for a minute or sixty.

What breaks up fellowship? Clicks, gossip, secrets, racism? Name a few things.

What encourages fellowship? Love… Name a few things.

Context: this is a summary passage following Peter’s Pentecost message.

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1. As an early church, they were disciples of Christ, and this convicted them to worship, ministry, and evangelism, and this all happened in fellowship.
   1. We see discipleship specifically in verse forty-two, but I think it really had to do with the way they lived. Look at verse forty-two.
   2. Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
   3. This word actually means “continually devoted.” think about it: James 4:4 says that “Friendship with the world makes us enemies with God.” But the world pushes and prods and tempts us. But the early church faithfully endured.
   4. People in the church struggle with health and other needs. So, how can we do that? How can we still live the Christian life? What is key is the fellowship of believers. We’ll come back to that.
   5. Apostle’s teaching??? (Matthew 5-7), (Matthew 22:36-40)
   6. An open application is a simple question: How are we doing as a disciple of Christ? How is this working corporately?
   7. Acts 2:43: And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
   8. Worship: Worship is an individual spiritual discipline, but worship is also a corporate spiritual discipline. Worship is adoring God.
   9. In a worship service, we have times of praise. These are songs that help us praise God. Then we have times of adoration. These are the more contemplative songs. They are more Theological. They are more meditative. We do this as a community of Christians.
   10. Out of their discipleship and worship, they saw signs and wonders, and there was a sense of awe. This happened in fellowship.
   11. Ministry: Now, how are we doing with sacrifice? Are we sacrificing for the body of Christ? Are we sacrificing our money and our lifestyle for others?
2. Fellowship: we must be a support in our trials, in our struggles and in our joys.
   1. In fellowship: they had a sense of awe which is godly fear (verse 43).
   2. They experienced miracles and wonders (a miracle regarded as startling , imposing, amazing, often used elsewhere for a strange appearance in the Heavens) and signs (the word refers to miracles with a different end and for a purpose).
   3. Fellowship includes accountability as a group: Proverbs 27:17: as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens his brother.
   4. Fellowship includes building each other up as a group: Ecclesiastes 4:13: a cord of three strands is not easily broken.
   5. Bearing each other’s burdens: 1 Corinthians 12:26.
   6. If one rejoices, we all rejoice: 1 Corinthians 12:26.
   7. So how can we live the Christian life? In community.
   8. Evangelism: Notice that evangelism was an outflow of their discipleship, worship, ministry, and fellowship. Verse forty-seven says that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Close:

Fellowship, what helps, what hurts, what is fellowship?

I read the following a few weeks ago:

“I’ve asked the Lord to take from me
My super-sensitivity
That robs the soul of joy and peace
And causes fellowship to cease…”

This group was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they were a Godly community on fire for God. In fellowship, they were about evangelism, discipleship, worship, and ministry.

Do you have the Holy Spirit? Are you of Christ?

Do you know that you are a Christian and you are going to Heaven?

In 2 Cor. 13:5, Paul said to examine yourself and make sure that you are in the faith?

In 1 John 5:13, John says that you may know that you are a Christian.

Are you? You can go to church every Sunday of your life and not be saved.