Covenant Community

Acts 2:40–47 NKJV

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 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.

“Going” to Church or “Being” the Church?

“Going” to Church

The church is seen as a building or organization.

Common arguments against going to church.

I don’t need to go to church.

The church is full of hypocrites.

I can be a good Christian without going to church.

I go to church when I feel like it and have time.

“Being” the Church

The church is seen as the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, and God’s family.

God’s Giant Jigsaw Puzzle

We are one piece in a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Without the big picture on the box, it is hard to discover the correct placement of an individual puzzle piece.

So it is with each member of the body of Christ. We must see the bigger picture of the body of Christ portrayed in Scripture to understand how we fit.

Too many fail to discover their place because they are trying to fit in the picture on another box!

The Meaning of “Fellowship”

Modern Misconceptions of Fellowship

The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinonia (Strong’s #G2844).

Strong’s Concordance defines it as: “fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intimacy, intercourse.”

BDAG defines it as a “close association involving mutual interests and sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close relationship (hence a favorite expression for the marital relationship as the most intimate between human beings.)”

This koinonia between believers is first dependent upon a shared koinonia with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 NKJV

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:6–7 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Community

The Basic Ingredient of community is RELATIONSHIP.

God is our heavenly Father (Ephesians 3:14-15).

We are God’s sons and daughters through the new birth.

We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are one big “Forever Family”.

We share a common relationship in Christ. We must live in the light of our relationship in Christ.

Example: When someone marries, they are now in a new relationship with their spouse’s family. The relationship is established. Living it out is our privilege and responsibility.

The Key to Relationship is COVENANT LOVE.

John 13:34–35 NKJV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 John 4:20–21 NKJV

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Ephesians 3:17–19 NKJV

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Evidence of Covenant Love is COVENANT COMMUNITY.

Establishing Covenant Community

Frank Damazio in his book The Dynamics of Corporate Gathering gives the following seven characteristics of covenant community:

Covenant community exists when people are more concerned with the corporate local body than with themselves.

Corporate life becomes more important than the individual’s own pleasure or will.

Covenant community exists when individuals are being knitted, built, framed, and joined together.

This speaks of close, long-lasting, and real friendships.

Covenant community exists when the spirit of sacrifice becomes the attitude in which the community meets the needs of all.

Covenant community exists when people want to spend more time together in both spiritual and natural activities.

This includes church services, picnics, camps, home meetings, sports, family activities, such as baby showers, and so forth.

Covenant community exists when the elderly retain proper godly authority throughout their lives and are cherished and respected by the community.

Covenant community exists when the family is in biblical order. This means:

The husband or father taking his rightful place as head of the home

The wife finds fulfillment in the same atmosphere.

The children are well-disciplined, happy, and secure.

Covenant community exists when humanism, selfishness, independence, and isolation are treated as intruding viruses.

These intruding viruses are overcome and destroyed by applying God’s Word so that covenant community may become a reality.

Response to the Word

It is time to give your life to Jesus so you might be part of God’s covenant community.

It is time to stop “going” to church and start “being” the church.

Jesus deserves the reward of His sacrifice!

It is time to rid ourselves of lives of selfish attitudes and unbiblical reasoning that undermine covenant community.

It is time to become a covenant community that is a living witness to the world that we are genuine disciples of Jesus Christ.