Why Church? Week 3

Church is God’s people gathering for His purpose and giving him praise.

Context: Acts is a continuing of the Luke and show the unity of the story and ministry of Jesus and the beginning of the early church. Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus and Acts begins with with a summary of what happened in Luke and continues with what happens next: Jesus teaching until he ascends and the Apostles going to Jerusalem to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Recap - These new converts were devoted to four things: the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. These were the four activities that these new converts took part in.

Anyone remember from last week what we noticed as the meaning of being devoted in this passage? The sense of the word’s means to persevere in some activity or cause to the point of devotion.

We need to remember what was it like to be a devoted disciple in this period of Jewish history.

This week we will be looking at Christian fellowship.

What is fellowship and what role does it play in God’s plan for his church?

The word fellowship in this passage: Usually this word would mean to share but it likely more refers to holding a common religious experience. They shared a common religious experience as an intimate group. The intimacy of this group is commonly the kind talked about for a marriage. They were very close. This means we cannot have an intimate relationship with Christ and not have an intimate relationship with Christ’s people.

Acts 2:40–47 HCSB

40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. 43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.

Notice the other devoted activities happened in fellowship:

1. -the breaking of bread (Breaking Bread This term is describing the Lord’s Supper. The image is of a fellowship meal but it is more likely that they are continuing the actions that Jesus did during the last supper (Luke 22:19; Acts 20:7) and possibly as the risen Lord before his ascension.

2. -to the prayers (both Jesus and the early church were led by God through prayer see Luke 6:12-13 choosing Apostles; Acts 1:12-14 spending hours a day in prayer while waiting on God to give the Holy Spirit) but there were also hours of prayer at the temple.

3. -praise, extol the greatness of God and/or God’s works as an act of worship.

4.-they gave to each other as needed

Notice verse 46: The religious devotion of these early Christians was a daily affair and they met in public at the temple courtyard and in each other’s homes.

The early church was together more than just once in a while for worship services. They spent a lot of time together because their new relationship to Christ changed everything about their daily life.

Q. Do you that is different from how the church is today?

If your only interaction with others is on the weekend, you’re missing out.

Q. How can you interact with others from your church apart from weekend services at church?

The elements of early Christian fellowship was marked by being devoted together to the Apostle’s teaching, sharing their time, their possessions, prayer and giving God praise. All these things were done in public at the temple and in their homes multiple times a week. Notice how Luke refers to the process of becoming a Christian as being saved a reference to verse 40. Part of the process of being saved is God helping us to change the way we live. But to change the way we live comes with sacrifices.

Q. Tell about a time you were asked to sacrifice—either to give something or give up something. What happened? How did that feel?

Most people have someone for whom they’d be willing to make a sacrifice: their children, spouse, or perhaps another family member. Who is someone you’d readily sacrifice your comfort or resources for?

In this passage there are people experiencing change. Many times change comes at the cost or sacrifice of something else. What sacrifices are God asking you to make for the church—with your God-given time, possessions, and unique abilities. In other words, what particular skills or gifts could you give at your church in order to strengthen it?

Q. What could be some things that can make sacrificing for the fellowship with other Christians feel difficult?

Q. Why does this matter? Being devoted together in teaching, breaking bread, prayer, and praise are the essential elements of religious practice for the early Christian church. Sometimes we want to experience the presence and power of God our way and on our own terms and not the way He provided for us through his word and his people. But as we see in verse 47, as these new Christians pursued to be with God’s people and to be changed by God, their fellowship activities turned into opportunities for witnessing. God and what he has done through Christ is why we gather and shows God’s unique love for the people of this world.

Q. What is one change you could make in your thoughts, attitude or actions that might allow you to experience more of the power and presence of God with his people?