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Study #2: Becoming Community
The contagious early church
in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:42-47;
4:32-37
These passages of
Scripture are used by many churches to describe the ideal fellowship, and for
good reason. There are many details that are worthy of studied and purposeful
imitation. Let’s look at that first church and let the Lord challenge us with
their example.
Acts 2:42-47
The First Fellowship.
1.
What four or five things did the believers devote themselves to? Do you
think this describes the events within their church assemblies, or is it more
the characteristics of their relationships?
2.
They were continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
(didach).
The apostles were studying the Old
Testament Scriptures and were teaching the good news as God the Spirit revealed
it to them. They recalled the words and deeds of Jesus, and interpreted the
workings of the Spirit within the church. Later, they made the conscious
decision not to allow themselves to be distracted from this ministry of prayer
and the word of God (Acts 6:2,4). The church today also devotes itself to the
apostles’ teaching when believers teach and study scriptural principles. Within
an assembly, the Scripture readings and the message might fit into the category
of the apostles’ doctrine, as would Sunday School or other Bible studies
throughout the week.
How can the church today
devote itself to the apostles’ teaching?
3.
They were also continuing steadfastly in the fellowship
(koinwnia)).
They were sincerely devoted to one
another, especially to those believers who were in need (see
Acts 4:34;
Galatians 6:10). Being devoted to the fellowship has to do with giving
generously to one another. In fact, the same word is used to refer to the
offering in
2 Corinthians 8:4;
Hebrews 13:6;
1 Corinthians 16:1,2;
Romans 15:26
and
2 Corinthians 9:13.
How can the church today
devote itself to the fellowship?
4.
They were also continuing steadfastly in the breaking of the loaf.
In
verse 46, Luke says that they were
breaking bread from house to house, meaning that they were having meals in their
homes. But here in
verse 42 he says they were breaking the loaf,
referring to the supper instituted by the Lord in
Matthew 26:26-29;
Mark
14:22-26; and
Luke 22:19-20. This meal was a significant centerpiece to their
assemblies, because Jesus made it clear that he wanted them to keep remembering
him by it. So when they broke the loaf, they were meeting around the
table, keeping the feast.
Acts 20:7 seems to imply that the very purpose
for meeting on the first day of the week was for the purpose of breaking bread.
Today’s church can also commit itself to making the supper a pillar around which
its assemblies are fashioned.
How can the church today
devote itself to the breaking of bread?
5.
Lastly, they were continuing steadfastly in the prayers.
Again, notice the article included here;
the prayers. This term may refer to the 19 prayers that were recited by
rote every day in the synagogue. It seems that the early believers, being almost
exclusively Jewish, had no qualms with continuing in Judaistic traditions of
synagogue and temple. Moreover, they were devoted to prayer itself, to talking
to God. In the apostles’ doctrine, leaders spoke to the people on God’s behalf;
in the fellowship, the people focused on one another to God’s glory; in the
breaking of the loaf and especially in the prayers, the people commune with God.
This is a goal of worship: to commune with God. The church today can give itself
to many things, but if it is not given to prayer, it is incomplete. Jesus said
his Father’s house “will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13; from
Isaiah 56:7). Christians do more than just “go to” the gathering; they “pray”
the gathering. In the New Testament, public worship was synonymous with
corporate prayers.
How can the church today
devote itself to the prayers?
6.
This passage describes their commitment to one another.
·
They were together
(they spent a large quantity of time in close proximity),
·
they were sharing all
things in common (what we sometimes call living in community),
·
they were selling their
possessions and goods to meet others’ needs,
·
they were devoted
(the same word is used here as “continuing steadfastly” in verse 42) to these
things:
o
to meeting daily in the temple courts
(large group assembly),
o
and to sharing meals in their homes
(small informal groups).
·
Terms that describe their early
fellowship include
o
“with one mind” (unity),
o
“with gladness,” and
o
“with sincere hearts.”
The church today can
devote itself to the fellowship by similarly being generous and devoted to one
another. How
can the church today be together and have everything in common?
Acts
4:32-37
The first fellowship
continues.
1.
As the early church continued, and the first exciting days spread into
weeks and even months, what stayed the same in the fellowship? What changed?
2.
What is your favorite phrase from these verses, that you think could
serve as a good theme for our church?
3.
Did you have any nicknames as you were growing up? How did you feel about
your nickname(s)? Was it an accurate description of who you were? What evidence
is there that Joseph would have earned his nickname? What other Bible nicknames
were there?
4.
How long do you think the first fellowship could have gone with this
level of commitment? (Check out
Acts 11:28;
Rom. 15:26;
1 Cor. 16:3 for some
interesting clues.)
What is God calling you
to do today, in light of the passages we have just studied?
#1: We Are Christ's
#2:
Becoming Community
#3:
How People are Commissioned
#4:
The Case for This Local Community
#5:
Household Evangelism
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