The Importance of Christians Gathering Together with Each Other
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday November 2, 2014
Special: The Importance of Christians Gathering Together with Each Other
Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 2:42.
The Bible teaches that Christian fellowship has two directions: (1) Vertical: The Christian’s fellowship with God which is accomplished by obeying the Spirit inspired teaching of the Word of God which constitutes being filled or influenced by the Holy Spirit. (2) Horizontal: The Christian’s fellowship with the body of Christ, which is accomplished by obeying the Lord Jesus Christ’s Spirit inspired command to love one another as He loves the Christian.
The believer cannot experience fellowship with other believers unless they are first experiencing fellowship with God.
Christian Fellowship denotes the following concepts:
(1) Relationship with Christ: We are all permanently united together by the common (eternal) life that we share as a result of regeneration and the Baptism of the Spirit (Acts 2:42; 1 C. 1:9; 1 Jn. 1:3).
(2) Partnership: We are to work together for a common purpose to obtain common objectives for the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 1:27; Phlp. 1:5; Gal. 2:9; Heb. 1:9).
(3) Stewardship: We must recognize that all we have belongs to the Lord and has been given to us as trusts from God to invest for His purposes (Rom. 12:13; 15:27; Gal. 6:6; Phil. 4:15; Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:13; Heb. 13:16; 1 Tim. 6:18).
(4) Companionship: We are to communicate with one another and have fellowship with one another sharing with one another the things (viewpoint and thinking) of Christ (Acts. 2:42; Heb. 10:25; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 1:11-12; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Thess 5:11; Philem. 6).
One of the subjects of the Bible that is absolutely essential for the spiritual growth of the Christian and the Christian church is that of adhering to the four disciplines that were practiced daily by the first century apostolic church.
Acts 2:42-47 reveals that the apostolic church in the first century practiced assembling together on a daily basis in order to hear the teaching of the apostles, to enjoy fellowship with each other, to observe the Lord’s Supper and to share meals with each other and to meet for corporate prayer.
The first century apostolic church serves as a model in practice for churches here in the twenty-first century.
A study of Acts 2:42-47 reveals what was essential to the first century apostolic church and as a result condemns much of the activity going on in churches throughout the world or lack of activity taking place in churches throughout the world in the twenty-first century.
Acts 2:42-47 records the events that took place after the apostle Peter’s evangelistic message to the Jews who were gathered together from around the world in order to worship in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost.
If you recall, three thousand souls came to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Acts 2:42-47 gives us insight as to how the first century church worshipped their Lord and Savior under the authority and leadership of the apostles.
Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (NASB95)
Acts 2:42-47 teaches that the first century apostolic church practiced daily four disciplines, which composed their corporate worship of God: (1) Teaching of the Word of God. (2) Fellowship between believers. (3) Lord’s Supper and taking meals together. (4) Corporate Prayer.
Characteristics of early first century apostolic church: (1) Zealous (2) Visible (3) Joyful (4) Unselfish (5) Gracious (6) Unified (7) Powerful (8) Prayerful.
This passage in Acts reveals the early first century apostolic church was involved in the companionship aspect of Christian fellowship.
The first century apostolic church gathered together daily to practice the first spiritual discipline, namely, to hear the teaching of the apostles since the Word of God is the believer’s spiritual food (Matthew 4:4).
The believers in Berea practiced the daily intake of the Word of God (Acts 17:10-11).
The Christians in the early first century church were not content to meet once or even twice a week for “services as usual.”
Acts 2:46 reveals that they met “daily” and cared for each other “daily” according to Acts 6:1-7.
Acts 2:47 reveals that they won souls “daily” and they searched the Scriptures “daily” according to Acts 17:11 and they increased in number “daily” according to Acts 16:5 and Acts 2:47.
According to Acts 2:42, the next discipline that the first century apostolic church practiced was “fellowship.”
Fellowship means being a part of a group, a body of people.
It is opposed to isolation, solitude, loneliness, and our present-day independent kind of individualism.
The first century apostolic church experienced fellowship together not only by assembling together as a whole body and hearing the Word of God (Acts. 2:42; Heb. 10:25) but also by assembling in smaller groups (Matt. 18:20).
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (NASB95)
They also met together one-on-one (1 Thess. 5:11), and shared and communicated truth together and built up one another (Rom. 1:11-12; Col. 3:15-16).
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (NASB95)
They also shared together in worship, i.e., the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:16-17), and sang hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), practiced corporate prayer (Acts 2:42; 12; Phlp. 1:19).
Ephesians 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (NASB95)
Fellowship meant that the first century apostolic church shared together as partners in each other’s needs, burdens, concerns, joys, and blessings.
The purpose of this was for encouragement, comfort, challenge or exhortation, praise, prayer and physical help according to each one’s needs and ability (cf. Phil. 1:5 with 1:19; and 2:4 with 1:27; also 4:3; Rom. 12:15; Galatians 6:2; 1 Thess. 5:11-15; Heb. 10:33).
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith. 7 If service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (NASB95)