We Believe in the Communion of Saints

“Fellowship! Fellowship is such a unique word. It’s almost a churchy word. You don’t hear it used regularly. In fact, when you google it, it’s almost used exclusively for an educational association or a church. Actually, my favorite find was a church called ‘Koinonia Fellowship’, which is pretty funny considering that the Greek word for Fellowship is Koinonia. In other words, ‘what church do you go to?” Fellowship Fellowship! Very creative, right?

LORD OF RINGS

But in the popular imagination, what comes to mind most likely at the hearing of the word fellowship is probably “The Fellowship of the Ring” from the Lord of the Ring series. 4 Hobbits, 2 Men, 1 Elf, 1 Dwarf, and 1 Wizard. All of these fiercely independent characters converged in a very reluctant fellowship with one goal in mind – the destruction of the Ring. The word fellowship simply means ‘sharing’, and such a story has a strong impact on us because it’s a story we all yearn to live and share. Not just of adventure, but of fellowship. Not just a story, but shared experience. In fact, I would go as far as saying it’s something God created us for.

PROBLEM But, our problem is that we live lives of isolation and loneliness. A Huffington Post piece by Michael Hobbes entitled ‘Together Alone’ illustrates this by chronicling what he calls “the epidemic of loneliness.” Hobbes, basically asks the question, ‘in a time of civil equality and rights, how are people still epically depressed and lonely?’ In other words, is our loneliness just due to not getting the relationships and desires that we want? Be it friendship, marriage or parenthood? He answers by saying that basically there seems to be something inherent in marginalized individuals or groups that produces loneliness. I appreciate Hobbes candor, but would push back and say that there is something inherent about being human that produces loneliness, not matter what state we are in. There is something in us, since the fall that makes us keep a distance. We all have fallen emotions and sinful struggles. We are all lonely because we are all homesick for God ultimately. We crave fellowship!

PROPOSITION

And that’s why we delight in stories like Lord of the Rings, because we yearn for such a reality. And God knows that and has a design for it. It is this thing in the Apostles Creed called “The Communion of Saints”. In light of last week, we walked talked about the Global Church, this week we focus to the local level: the local church. It is here, that life is shared, relationships are built, and the church grows.

As I asked last week, why go to a local church? Because it’s right here that real Christian communion and fellowship takes place. Of course, you and I could try to be lone rangers and attempt to follow Jesus alone at home. But has that ever actually worked for you all that much? I mean, have you ever bought home workout equipment that is setting in your basement covered in dust? We all have, and we start using it with zeal. Then the zeal runs out and we have no one to push us. So, we leave the equipment at home, and we go to the gym, and we run on the treadmill right beside the guy sprinting, which makes us run harder than we would. That’s fellowship, that’s a picture of the communion of saints. You can’t have that in your home. You can’t have that with a church service on TV or a livestream on your computer. You will have to leave you couch, drive to the gym, and enter into a community pushing you beyond yourself to a shared goal and experience. You see, Christian Fellowship is a community Built Upon the Gospel. The Marks of this community involves and upward dimension of Shared Worship, an inward dimension of Shared Lives and an outward dimension of a Shared Mission.

Point 1 - Shared Worship (Acts 2:42)

Exposition

BACKGROUND

“In Acts 2, we see this played it. It had been 50 days since Jesus was crucified and resurrected. It had also been 10 days since He ascended back into heaven and gave His followers an assignment to pray and wait for the Holy Spirit to come. On Pentecost, as they were together, the Holy Spirit filled them and sent them out preaching about Jesus. This resulted in 3,000 people becoming Christians that day and the beginning of the Christian church community. Our passage picks up here to describe what that early church looked life. And the first thing you notice is that it’s an upward oriented worshipping community in verse 42.

4 PRACTICES

It’s clear from the text that these early Christians engaged in 4 shared worship practices: The Apostles Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking Bread, and Prayers. The Philosopher James K. A. Smith defines worship as “rituals of ultimate concern that are formative of our identity- both reflecting what matters to us and shaping what matters to us.” And what were these reflective and shaping practices? The Apostles Teaching refers to the teachings of Jesus as retold to them from the mouth of the Apostles, what we now know as the New Testament. Fellowship describes intentionally sharing life stories, temptations, and victories with one another. The Breaking of Bread refers broadly to the meals they ate together regularly. But more specifically it also refers to the Lord’s Supper or Communion they enjoyed regularly, where they fellowshipped with the Special Presence of Jesus and one another. Finally, Prayers refer to the prayer meetings in homes and at the temple, something we see them engaging in throughout the book of Acts.

INTENTION

It’s important to note that the text says they devoted themselves to these practices, it wasn’t flippant occurrences. And they did it together. These were shared practices, not just individual spiritual exercises.

Illustration

MY STORY OF LEARNING TO SHARE PRACTICES

“Now I know what some of you are thinking, “it’s a nice way to live, but not for me!” I understand, I’m a tried-and-true individualist learning to break my way out of the shell. I’ve lived most of my life by myself and for myself. The initial thought of learning with people, or sharing my deepest struggles with people, or having meals with people, or praying out loud with people was all very daunting. Yet, something changed in me when I became a Christian. I’ve slowly and progressively over time, grown to appreciate these shared practices. I have learned the most from Bible teachers. There’s nothing like sitting under the physical teaching of a teacher. I’ve changed the most through confessing my sins to friends. There is nothing like being vulnerable with a safe friend who can listen and forgive and encourage. I have been sustained the most through receiving communion with other Christians and sharing a meal around my table. There is nothing like receiving communion each week and setting across the table over a good meal with someone. I have been impacted the most in prayer meetings where I’ve learned to pray. There is nothing like pouring out your heart to God, truly and authentically.

Application

PRACTICING THE PRACTICES

“And the same can be for you. These shared worship practices as seen in this text are open and available for you. All you have to do it become intentional about engaging them with others. In fact, whether you are a Christian or not, I think you already have practices or ritual according to what you worship as ultimate. For everything that we worship there are corresponding rituals. Be it worship of the body through the rituals of exercise or worship of the mind through rituals of learning. But if we want to follow Jesus, what does that look like? It looks like gathering around the Bible together with others in, be it hearing the preaching of the Bible here every Sunday and also committing to a regular Bible study with others. This is why we have Missional Communities. It means having a regular time with a few close friends where you can share your current struggles and defeats, then hear how the good news of Jesus applies to you. It means having meals around your table with friends, strangers and neighbors; sharing stories and enjoying one another. It also looks like receiving the Lord’s body and blood in the sacrament of Communion. And it means starting or attending prayer meetings to pray for each other, the world, and worship the Lord God. This is one reason we are doing the 24 hour Prayer Room. In other words, God’s Design for Christian Fellowship includes Shared Practices. And I’ve already seen this starting to happen here!

Point 2 - Shared Lives (Acts 2:44-46)

Exposition

BEING TOGETHER & HAVING ALL THINGS IN COMMON

“Yet the text doesn’t end there. In fact, it describes more than a community built on shared practices. In verses 44-46 this account of the early church describes them as ‘being together’ & ‘having all things in common’. The lived an inward life with each other. For them, this looked like actually selling things they owned and giving the money to someone in need! It also looked like actually being together, on their way to the temple or while they’re eating, or while they are at home. This is a very beautiful picture of the shared lives of these Christians.

NO FORCED SHARING

What is most interesting about this is that it wasn’t forced. Nowhere in the text do you find a rule that they had to share belongings. There was no shared purse. This wasn’t a form of early communism. They didn’t have to give up everything for the good of the community. Instead, because they shared lives with each other, when a need rose to attention, they did whatever they could to meet that need. Even if it meant selling things so another could have something! That’s real fellowship!

NO FORCED BEING TOGETHER

They also weren’t forced to be around each other. This wasn’t a prison or school. But it almost appears as if they lived with each other. From homes to the temple, they were together. Think of the private dwellings of your house to the most public places in the city. They were there, and they were together!

Illustration

STORY OF COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Now I’ve seen this play out a few times in my life. When I was in Bible College, our class prayed together, went to class all 4 years together, and any time one of us had a financial need, we banded together to pay for it. Particularly I remember not being able to pay rent for a few months. I let a few friends know about my situation and one day after leaving class, I found an envelope in my backpack with twice the amount of money I needed. My friends had told the class of my situation and they had secretly collected money for me. I shared my life with my community that day, and they shared their lives and resources with me. And I have already seen a number of you opening up about your life and needs with one another. Even more, I can name several situations where this time of meeting a need has already occured here!

Application

INTENTION

In fact, this isn’t a foreign idea. You and I share portions of our lives with people all the time. Either at work or class; when someone asks how we are doing or when we give money to a charity. But what is presented in this text is different than haphazardly giving time or money. There is an intention about these early Christians, a dedication to sharing life with one another.

DEDICATION & PRACTICALS

To do this, you have to have a dedication to this community, apart from its weaknesses. You have to see each other as important enough to invest our time, talents, and treasure into. You can to do something as simple as inviting each other to go to the store with you or going on vacation together. This is also one reason we are starting our Missional Communities by focusing on discipleship. When you meet up regularly to Discover something about the Bible, Nurture the Gospel into each others hearts, you go away Acting different because you are changed. You have shared your lives. In that moment, you also have the chance to be brave enough to seek to meet one another’s needs when they come up. But that will only happen, if you are courageous enough to share your own needs. And all of this can only take place, if our pride can be restrained for the good of each other. What do you think this community would look like if you spent time with each other and met each other’s needs? That, my friend, is God’s Design for Christian Fellowship: Shared Lives!”

Point 3 - Shared Mission (Acts 2:43,47)

Exposition

RESULTS IN FEAR & WONDERS

“So, what came out of these Shared Practices and Lives? To the watching world, they may or may not have seen anything like this before. These early Christians were always together, sharing resources, praying all the time. It was either a cult or a family. The result of this Christian fellowship was something unusual. The text in verses 43 and 47 describes an awesome fear coming upon those in the surrounding community. Signs, wonders and miracles were taking place in the midst of the Christian church. Not-yet-Christian people favored working with these Christians. And the Lord was increasing their numbers, as He continued saving more and more.

OUTWARD FACING CHURCH

In other words, this wasn’t a closed community existing for itself. Everyone gets to play and every single person is welcome! This early Church was facing outwards, towards the surrounding world. The shared practices and lives were for a purpose, for the sake of the world. And the world indeed was watching and saw amazing things. The text describes actual miracles and wonders taking place before watching eyes. People were actually being healed through prayer in Jesus’ name! People were actually being converted and transformed by committing their lives to Jesus. This early church was gaining a reputation because something was happening in the name of this Jesus. And it was a scary and attractive thing.

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REPUTATION OF CHURCH ON THE ROCK

In 2004, I had heard about this large church in our area. I wasn’t a Christian and in fact, had a very negative view of Christianity and religion. But I kept hearing about this church. They had just built a new large building. People were speaking highly of it. Some were calling it a cult. I was surprised to hear of a variety of notable people in the city going to it. I found out that a bunch of my high school classmates were going. Even one of the deacons who frequented the Dairy Queen I worked at befriended me.

STORY OF SALVATION THERE

After being repeatedly invited to attend the youth group, I finally agreed to go. What I discovered was something I hadn’t ever seen before. They prayed and sang songs, they greeted each other and me, and they spoke about Jesus. But even more, there appeared to be something or Someone else involved. I remember being spooked a little bit because it felt like there was someone invisible in the room. In the midst of the worship and singing time, it all suddenly connected to me and I realized that this was Jesus. I was in awe and a great miracle happened that night when I was converted and born again.

Application

MODEL OF MISSION TOGETHER NOT ALONE

This happened simply in the context of a shared mission, much like that of the early Christians. We, too, can have this type of shared mission and reputation. Many times, when people think of Mission and evangelism, they immediately think of individual confrontations with a not-yet-Christian. Yet the model laid out here is a community and fellowship on mission together.

TOGETHER ON MISSION PRACTICALS

So instead of thinking you only have to go by yourself to a street corner and start preaching, think of a group of your friends or your family living like missionaries together in your neighborhood, school, workplace or in a network of relationships! This is what our Missional Communities are designed for. That goal is that you become an open, safe, and hospitable community. A family or small group that you are excited to bring your not-yet-Christian friends or neighbors into, just so they can see and experience the fellowship between you all. It means that together, you seek out the last, the least, the lost and the lonely to care for and minister to. It means you actively pray for the world and you’re not-yet-Christian friends and neighbors, including directly praying for those who are sick to be healed. We don’t need to be afraid of that. When you see someone sick, ask to lay your hand on them and ask Jesus to heal them. My friends, this is fellowship. God’s Design for Christian Fellowship includes Shared Mission.

Closing

PICTURE OF COMMUNITY

When you put all of this together you get a beautiful picture of what the Communion of Saints look like. It’s a communion of believers in a local church. This is why being part of a local church like this is so important! It’s easy to float around the Holy Global Church and never root yourself anywhere. That’s like a plant always being moved around in a pot. Until it is planted, it will not grow to its full potential. We learn to live the Christian life in this community, not in books or videos. I know it can be messy because getting close to any person is not easy. The challenges are real, but they are exactly what we must face in order to grow. You and I were designed to be in such a nurturing community that worships together, becomes vulnerable with each other, and lives for a mission together. This makes us confront our selfishness, gives us opportunity to surrender and to serve, provides comfort in our suffering, forms our character, and produces humility and gratitude. This is the Communion of Saints. This is Fellowship! Won’t you join us and commit yourself to this!?

Here at Redemption Hill we have been organizing ourselves into 4 Rhythms so we can intentionally live this way together 4G’s: Glorify, Grow, Gather, Go. We want to see every single month, a variety of small group communities do these 4 things: Glorify God through a praying together each month, Grow in Christ through Discipleship Groups each month, Gather together for dinners and parties each month, but also Gather with the whole church every Sunday, and Go together on joint mission to share and serve each month. Glorify, Grow, Gather, Go. Where does this Rhythm of Life come from? Right here in this text!

LORD OF RINGS DISBANDS Now, with all that said, we return to the Lord of the Rings. In the final movie, Return of the King, the mission of the fellowship is complete, as the ring is destroyed. What happens? The Fellowship disbands, as they each go their own ways. They simply become fiercely independent individuals again. The fellowship existed only as long as the mission drove them. Their entire reason for being was centered on the ring.

OUR FAILURE You see, God’s design for Christian fellowship isn’t centered on the practices, lives, or even the mission we share. Once those face troubles or fulfillments, they end. Ultimately, because we are sinners, we can’t sustain this type of fellowship. Instead of sharing worship, we use it for our own benefit trying to perform spiritually. Instead of sharing lives, we hide away behind a variety of masks. Instead of sharing mission, we live for ourselves, hid away in our homes. There must be something more. And there is... there is a shared Savior who becomes the reason behind them all. We can live a life of Fellowship because of who Jesus is and what He has done.

CHRIST’S SUCCESS Jesus Fellowshipped like this with us. The author who wrote Acts, wrote it as a sequel to His gospel, Luke. And in Luke 6 we see Jesus display this life of Fellowship that the early Christians imitated. In Luke 6:12, Jesus shared worship: “One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” He prioritized time alone with God. He showed His disciples how to pray by talking to His Father right in front of them.

Then in Luke 6:13 He shared His life: “When morning came, He called his disciples to Himself and chose twelve of them, whom He designated apostles.” He prioritized time with His extended family. They lived out their lives together.

Finally in Luke 6:17-19 He led them on a shared Mission: “He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples were there and a great number of people… who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled with impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch Him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” Jesus led His community to reach the world, the crowds and the outcasts.

You see, Jesus came teaching us, sharing His story and emotions with us, sharing meals with us, praying with us, sharing His body and blood with us. Jesus came sharing His life fully with us, walking with us, living with us. Jesus Christ came sharing His mission to seek and save the lost together with us. THE FELLOWSHIP CHRIST INVITES US INTO

Ultimately Jesus came to invite us into a fellowship that we crave, we were designed for. This is a Fellowship with His Father, His Spirit, and Himself. If Fellowship is a unique word for our culture, it was Jesus’ motivation for coming and dying on the cross. On the night He was arrested He prayed for this for His disciples and for us in John 17:20- 23: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Jesus came for this Communion with His saints! That we may be with Him and Him with us, and the propels us to fellowship with others. That we may no longer live isolated or alone but may look at Jesus on the cross and realize, the search is over, our loneliness can end, and true fellowship can begin… it is finished. Amen.

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