What κοινωνία Looks Like

Introduction

I don’t do a lot of deep dives into Greek words in my sermons. I may mention a Greek word here and there, but I try not to get too far into the weeds when it comes to word studies as I find them less-than-helpful for the majority of the church today.

However, there are a couple Greek words I think are important for the church to be familiar with. One of those words is the Greek word κοινωνία. While this word doesn’t actually show up in our text this morning (in fact, it’s only used in Acts in chapter 2), we see examples of κοινωνία throughout the book of Acts.

The Greek word κοινωνία literally means “participation fellowship.” It is a noun that is defined as, “the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group; especially used of marriage and churches.” A couple of things to take note of here:

“sharing in the activities or privileges”

In true κοινωνία, there is an active involvement together. There is no such thing as passive or partial κοινωνία, biblically.

In fact, for the early church, κοινωνία was often costly and, at times, even dangerous. And yet, they recognized that it was a non-negotiable of being a follower of Jesus. A true follower is in fellowship with other believers.

“intimate association or group”

There is an intimacy in κοινωνία that is beautifully illustrated by a good marriage. In a good marriage, it’s not two individuals working towards similar goals. In a good marriage, the two become one, working towards the same goals.

Good times, bad times, hard times, celebrations, suffering, and life in general is lived in close fellowship. Yes, we have our own perspectives, experiences, and roles to fulfill, yet the intimacy of the relationship requires that what effects one of us effects the whole.

This depth of κοινωνία is, unfortunately rare in marriages today, and even rarer in churches.

This morning we are going to see κοινωνία on display in the early church and see how we, the modern church of Christ Jesus, can prepare for what’s to come by striving for a beautiful κοινωνία.

Body: Acts 4:23-31

Verses 23-24a

The Early Church’s κοινωνία

They found strength in the fellowship of believers.

After Peter & John are released, they returned to the other believers.

This would have been a sobering experience since the young church had never experienced resistance before.

Acts 4:18–21 “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.”

It’s no surprise then that they would seek out the fellowship of the believers.

In fact, it says here that they went to their “friends.” Now, the Greek word here for friends is ἴδιος...don’t think this means it was just a group of men!

The word actually means a “particular group of people” and “one’s one.” Basically, in modern language it means they went to find their people.

Make no mistake about it, they are afraid. They are aware that this isn’t the last conflict they will face for the sake of the Gospel; a fact that Jesus had promised them.

Matthew 24:9 ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.”

Luke 21:12 “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.”

They prayed persistently together.

In the face of the fear of what was to come, they prayed together.

They knew they couldn’t take on the Jewish religious establishment. They were powerless in their own strength. But, they knew the God who has always been sovereign over all. So, they followed the example of Jesus, praying consistently and persistently together.

Verses 24b-28

Seeing the Sovereignty of God in All Circumstances

They acknowledged their God as the Lord of everything.

Going back to the Creation of everything, they acknowledge God’s divine rule of everything.

In fact, the words translated as “Sovereign Lord” here are the same word we get the word “despot” from. It means “one with absolute control.” But, unlike an earthly despot, who only truly loves himself, his power and authority, God’s sovereignty is characterized by love for His people, mercy and grace extended to the undeserving, and blessing upon blessing poured out on His people.

This is the character of the Sovereign Lord who the early church was seeking in all circumstances.

They saw the Scriptures as being fulfilled through Jesus ministry.

This quote is from Psalm 2:1-2, a Psalm of David. It is a Messianic Psalm that the church saw as fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus.

The believers use parallelism here to link the OT prophecy with who was to blame for Christ crucifixion:

Gentiles…peoples….kings…rulers.

Gentiles = Gentiles (Romans)

Peoples = the peoples of Israel (especially the religious leaders)

Kings = Herod

Rules = Pontius Pilate

And yet:

They recognized that nothing happens out of the divine purposes of God.

While there was blood on all the hands mentioned (and, by the way, there is blood on our hands as well, since “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”), it was ultimately plan of God being fulfilled.

See, this reminds us that God is not a passive observer of history. He is constantly at work, despite the actions of sinful men and women.

Verses 29-30

The Content of their Prayers:

They prayed for boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus in the face of growing opposition.

Notice that they don’t pray for deliverance or safety, but for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel.

I sometimes wonder if we don’t see God answer our prayers all the time today because we pray for the wrong things. We often pray for comfort, leisure, safety, or pleasure, while God wants to stretch our faith and is calling us to live for greater purposes.

In fact, so often throughout Scripture God calls us to trust His power in our lives to do far greater things than we thought possible.

One example is found in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:6–8 “Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.””

As with the young Jeremiah, I think too often we allow our fears limit our usefulness to God and His purposes for our day.

They prayed that God would continue to show His power through their ministry of the Gospel.

When they say, “while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” they are asking God to do what only God can do.

They are under no false assumptions of their own powers. They recognize that the Sovereign Lord is the only One who can do wonders in their midst.

And they want to see more for the purpose of the Gospel ministry.

So, they want boldness to do their part (share the Gospel) while they trust that God will do what only He can do.

Verse 31

God Confirms their Prayers:

The place was shaken!

This shaking is a clear sign to them that God had heard their prayers and was with them.

Why doesn’t God still shake the places we are at?

I don’t know. But, I know that these types of prayers today are rare. Maybe if we committed to praying like this we might feel Him shaking our churches?

They were filled with an extra measure of the Holy Spirit.

This is not a second Pentecost experience, but a fresh filling, or a renewed awareness of the Spirit’s presence.

He wants them to know that He has heard their prayers and is filling them with an extra measure of His Spirit for the challenges to come.

See, there’s a difference between receiving the HS (which all believers are upon our confession of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior) and a filling of the HS for a purpose that God has. They have received the HS, and now they are experiencing an extra measure of the HS for the task to come.

They continued to proclaim the Gospel despite the danger.

They didn’t shrink from the threats, but they proceed to do just what they said, Acts 4:20 “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.””

So What?

How can the modern church prepare for the challenges to come?

Each member must participate in developing the κοινωνία of the church.

The κοινωνία of our church is the responsibility of each and every member of the church. Yes, God makes it possible, but if God was completely responsible for the κοινωνία of the church, then every church would be healthy, reaching people for Christ and ministering to one another’s needs. But that’s obviously not the case.

The κοινωνία of the church is broken when we, the members of the church, stop participating in the development of the κοινωνία.

So, how do we develop the κοινωνία?

We are present...

We use our ministry strengths for the church’s benefit...

We reject all forms of gossip...

We deal with issues between one another biblically...

Each member must live like God is sovereign over every area of his or her life.

It was said by someone wiser than me that God is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. I think that is generally a true statement...but not entirely helpful either.

See, I think many of us live in two realities. Part of our hearts what to live under the total lordship of Jesus in our lives, and part of our hearts want to live for the things of this world, at least for a little while longer.

In fact, I’m convinced this is at the heart of the modern weakness of the church today. We love God with some of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. But, there are those other areas of our lives we aren’t ready to give Him.

So, a statement like the this tends to be so overwhelming that we wonder if it is really worth it, since I never can seem to live exactly like I should.

What are we to do?

I believe the key is this: start. What do I mean by “start”?

I mean, start somewhere in your life. Give God sovereignty over a part of your life and watch what happens. What you’re likely to see, if you don’t take that sovereignty back, is God doing things in and through you that you never saw before. And it will become easier to allow Him sovereignty over the other parts. But, you have to start somewhere.

Each member must consistently and persistently dedicate themselves to prayer.

The early church prayed together. The modern church usually prays together, though not nearly at the consistency or persistence of the early church. But, as we already said, sometimes we don’t see God responding to our prayers is because of what we are praying for. So, here’s two ways we can begin to pray that will bear significant results:

Pray for boldness in proclaiming Jesus to people.

It takes boldness to tell others about Jesus. Most here aren’t natural evangelists. That’s okay. But, when we start praying for boldness in our proclamation of the Gospel, doors will open we never thought possible.

Black Bears player last year...

Pray that God will show Himself mighty through the ministry of the church.

This means that God will do amazing things through the life of your friends here at church.

We have 18 youth going to Stuco...all 18 probably won’t end up coming to church each Sunday, but can you imagine that?

Each member must recognize that God-sized results will almost always lead to opposition.

Ugh, did you have to mention this? Yes, I did.

See, when a church experiences a sustained time of peace and tranquillity it could be that God is strengthening us for challenges to come or allowing us to rest after difficulties. But, it could be that we aren’t doing anything to threaten the kingdom of darkness, so the devil isn’t wasting time with us.

But, when we start really fulfilling God’s purposes and the place is shaken with the presence of God at work, then the kingdom of darkness takes note.

This might tempt us to say, “Okay, let’s just do barely enough to stay off of Satan radar!” The problem is that this isn’t what we were created for. And, Jesus has strong words for churches like this:

Revelation 3:15–16 ““ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

“Oh Lord, help us never be a church that makes you vomit! Help us to live in real κοινωνία, making you sovereign in every area of our lives, and praying consistently and persistently that You would do a work that only You can do and only You can get the credit for!”