What a Fellowship!

Info

Series: The First Church (Acts 1-10)

Title: 4. What a Fellowship! Acts 2:41-47: The #fellowship of the first church

Preached:

  • 2017-02-04: White Rock Lake

  1. Introduction
    1. Fellowship: A word we throw around too easily.
      1. We call a church a “fellowship”
      2. Sometimes we call a potluck a “fellowship meal”
      3. We may call a handshake “the right hand of fellowship”
    2. What is fellowship, really, and why is it critically important?
    3. We are going to see that fellowship is an essential element of the church, and that God calls us as believers to share in that fellowship.
  2. Setting
    1. Acts 2:41: The beginning of the church
    2. Acts 2:42: Four focuses of the early believers
      1. The apostles’ teaching
      2. The fellowship
      3. The breaking of bread
      4. The prayers
    3. The first and last aren’t dealt with in our passage for today; they’re covered in detail elsewhere.
  3. What is fellowship?
    1. Definition of κοινονία
    2. From a Greek Lexicon; emphasis added
      1. fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse
        1. the share which one has in anything, participation
        2. intercourse, fellowship, intimacy
          1. the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)
        3. a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship
    3. More simply, “Fellowship refers here to close association involving mutual involvement and relationships.” (From NET Bible note on Acts 2:42)
    4. Acts 2:43-47: What the early believers were like
      1. vv. 44, 46: Together
        1. The basic element of fellowship
        2. Hebrews 10:24, 25: Sometimes, we fail to understand the importance of togetherness
          1. We are to encourage each other
          2. The closer we come to the return of Jesus, the more important this is
        3. This is why we have church here instead of on the Internet
      2. v. 44: Had all things in common
        1. “My house is your house”
        2. Not worried about personal gain or loss, but about the wellbeing of the church
      3. v. 45: Met needs
        1. The true welfare system
        2. Sold their possessions to help others: Are we willing to engage in radical generosity?
      4. vv. 46, 47: Ate together with glad and generous hearts
        1. Following God’s principles of fellowship is powerful