Be The Church
Acts 2:42-47
In Acts Chapter 2
First – Luke described what happened (verses 1-13 the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the church)
Then – he explained what happened (verses 14-44 Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon)
Then – we see the effects of what happened (verse 42-47)
Today, we’re going to see a summary of what the New Testament church “really looked like” that was birthed on the Day of Pentecost. I emphasize really look like because the western culture has changed so much the “look” of the Church that Jesus started through the Holy Spirit. We see how the Church was birthed, and we must ask ourselves, “Is that how the Church should look today?”
Today’s true evidence (if you look at Chapter 2 in total) of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Church is the supernatural koinonia that we’re about to see. There’s no way that where it says that “tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit,” even if people build a case for it, it’s not clear in scripture that is the way. The church living in supernatural koinonia is the absolute proof of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
KOINONIA means “to share in common – to have a bond of oneness – to commune together”
It’s about sharing “life in common.” It’s about being bound together with God (vertically)
And it’s about us being bound together with one another (horizontally)
And this supernatural koinonia (when we experience it) is the most incredible, miraculous testimony there is to the lost and dying world around us.
From 120 praying in the Upper Room
To the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
To supernaturally speaking in other languages
To the huge crowd gathering for Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon
To the MIKVAH’s (Jewish ritual baths) of Jerusalem being clogged with New Believers all waiting to be baptized – 3,000 of them
The Holy Spirit had drawn them and saved them, and now he would lay the foundation for them to BE the Spirit-filled, New Testament Church.
THIS is what it looks like to BE the Church.
Acts 2:42–47 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
What an incredible picture of being the Church
This is what Jesus Christ made his Church to BE
This is what a Spirit-filled church looks like!!
This is what it looks like when we are being the Church!
Here are the ten character traits I see in these verses, and all ten of these character traits have to do with or come from KOINONIA (vertical or horizontal)
Devotion to God’s Word
Fellowship (koinonia)
Sharing Life in Common (meals)
Communion & Prayer
Awe of God
Giving (koina = to share in common)
Gathering Together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Favor with the people
The Lord added to their number (natural outcome)
By the power of the Holy Spirit, these are the character traits of being the Church. This is what we are called to BE as the Church.
Acts 2:42 says - All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching . . .
The phrase “devoted themselves” is in the Greek PRESENT tense – which means continually. This means, “if it’s the present – be doing it.” (And it’s always the present.)
they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching
For us, this is the Word of God, and this pillar is first because being continually devoted to God’s Word governs the other characteristic of being the Church. The Word of God leads and guides the fellowship. The Word of God reveals to us what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us personally and in the Body of Christ. So, the Word of God is first in the Church because it sets the direction. They were continually devoted to the Apostle’s Teaching to guide and direct them in how to be the Church – and we do the same things today with God’s Word.
Colossians 3:16 (NLT)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives . . .
The wisdom God gives. Not, “Here’s what I think you should do.” Or “Here’s what I would do.” But instead, “Let’s see what God would do. Let’s check the Word together.” Or “Let’s find someone who can help us check the Word. And then let’s believe the Word because it’s God, and then let’s ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to be transformed by the Word.”
For that to happen, the Word, the message about Christ, and all its richness must dwell in us. It must have permanent residence in us. God’s Word must dwell in us richly in order for it to be our guide in “being the Church.”
Next, Acts 2:42 says, . . . they devoted themselves to . . . fellowship
This kind of “fellowship” did not exist before the Day of Pentecost. This is the Greek word KOINONIA. The word is not even found in the Gospels. THIS is the first occurrence of the word in the New Testament. The word koinonia couldn’t occur before here because it requires the filling of the Holy Spirit for us to experience koinonia with one another. It’s a supernatural oneness. It’s more than unity, it’s sharing life in common, and it’s supernatural, from the Holy Spirit.
Koinonia is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Again, the root idea of the word is “oneness” or “to have in common.” Every time this word in used in the New Testament, it refers to some type of sharing in one another’s lives and caring for one another. It can mean physically (as in giving) and it can mean sharing of lives – being one. This fellowship, this koinonia is a miracle.
The more we’re addicted to the things of this world, meaning the cell phone (for instance), the more of a miracle koinonia is – that we actually share life with another human.
Lloyd Olgilvie Next to the transformation of persons, the second greatest miracle is oneness with others who have been transformed.
Next to the miracle of salvation, the second greatest miracle we see in the Church is true oneness among those who have been saved. And honestly, I think it is easier to get someone saved than it is to get Christians to live in oneness (koinonia) and (for sure) both take the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.
So, the New Testament Church is devoted to God’s Word as their guide and sharing life in common (Koinonia).
Next, Acts 2:42 says - . . . they devoted themselves . . . to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
I really appreciate the NLT’s translation here because the scholars debate in the essentially literal translations what this means. Is it just communion, is it just meals? Or is it both? Historically, there was the agape feast that was held regularly in the homes of Believers. And the agape feast began (1 Corinthians 11 really lays this out) with just eating together, just sharing food together.
And I’ve told you this a hundred times: when you’re in the Middle East, when you share food with somebody from the Middle East, you are connected. They see that as a permanent connection. And so, now you’re friends because you’ve shared a meal together. So here in this text it is both. And that’s why scholars debate about which one it is, because it’s both.
The Apostle’s teaching was their guide
Koinonia was their lifestyle
Worshiping and praying together was their activity
And praying is the same deal. When you sit down and pray together, there’s a connection that occurs (especially if you’re honest and transparent in your prayers, and you’re really praying for stuff you really need), and it’s so vital that we’re praying with one another and for one another.
And remember, it is present tense, meaning They were continually devoting themselves to these things
And guys, we (as the Church) are called to worship together in koinonia (oneness) always remembering the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the New Covenant in his blood that we have received. The Lord’s Supper (communion) creates koinonia because it constantly reminds us that we are equally saved by God’s grace.
Sharing life in meals
Worshiping together in the Lord’s Supper
Praying with and for one another
THIS creates the oneness of koinonia
And what does being devoted to God’s Word – the oneness of koinonia – worshiping together – all lead to?
Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
The word awe means “profound reverence”
The effect of all God was doing in the new Church was to bring upon every person a sense of awe. And us truly being in awe together of WHO God IS, is a huge part of our true koinonia. The less we look at each other and the more we look together in AWE at the wonder of God, the more we find ourselves in the oneness of koinonia. So, let’s be “in awe” of God together instead of being “at odds” with one another.
Nest comes two more verses on koinonia (sharing together).
Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
Here the emphasis of koinonia is on giving to one another. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 8, Paul describes the koinonia of the Macedonia Churches (Philippi and Thessalonica). The Macedonia churches had been going through a “great trial of affliction.”
But here’s what it says.
2 Corinthians 8:4 (NLT)
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing (koinonia) in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
The word sharing is koinonia. The new churches begged again and again for the privilege of being one with (koinonia) the believers in Jerusalem by giving to them. This is a classic picture of koinonia as we share in meeting the needs of one another.
Here is the big point of true koinonia.
Koinonia always costs us something
True fellowship comes from us giving to one another
The Western Church has taught us to receive. We receive visually, and audibly, we receive donuts, we receive encouragement, we receive things. In contrast, koinonia always costs something. You always have to give something to share life with someone.
Giving of ourselves and giving of our material blessings
If we are not becoming part of one another’s lives, then we cannot say that we are having true koinonia.
Lastly, on this critical need for koinonia, we need to know that true koinonia is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Our first koinonia is vertical. In our koinonia with God, our sharing life in common with God leads to horizontal koinonia.
Paul closes 2 Corinthians 13, verse 14 with this.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Our koinonia (fellowship) with one another comes from our koinonia (fellowship) with the Holy Spirit. To have koinonia with one another horizontally, we must have koinonia with God vertically. We’ve got to be one with the Lord. We’ve got to share life in common. Galatians 2:20 Paul says it’s not my life that I live anymore. It’s the life of Christ in me. That’s koinonia. When we take communion, it’s a representation of taking in the life of Christ, of becoming one with Christ.
We experience the vertical koinonia by crucifying our self-focus and allowing the Holy Spirit to make us one IN Christ.
We’ve been taught that God’s the giver and we are the receiver. And so, it’s even been pushed and created really big churches where we can demand that God give so that we can receive. But koinonia costs. It cost the Lord everything to be able to have koinonia with us. And it costs us something to have koinonia with him. It costs us the sacrifice of praise.
Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
Day by day the people of the church gathered together. They worshiped at the Temple (meaning in the Temple Courts). We get this wrong idea of the Temple being like church. It’s the Synagogue that is more like church. Nobody goes in a Temple. Only the Priests, only Levitical Priests, go actually in the Temple. But the Temple courts are massive – thirty-seven acres on the Temple Mount. And in the first century, Solomon’s Colonnade was there, and some bad stuff like the marketplace of Annis where they’re ripping people off.
They worshiped there, probably on the Southern Steps, because that was the meeting place, and that’s where teachers taught. In the colonnade, on the Temple Mount, on the platform. They worshiped there together each day, they met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and the sharing of meals. This is probably a reference to the love feasts, the agape feast, which was fellowship and eat first, and then have communion to end the meal. And then “broke bread” in their homes together both in eating meals and the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
So, the church is
Living according to God’s Word
Sharing in each other’s lives
Worshiping together, including the Lord’s Supper
Sharing meal together with great joy and generosity.
And that was the greatest witness they could be to the people around them. That’s what caused the church to grow from 3,000 to 5,000 almost overnight because people saw this miraculous sharing of life, this miraculous oneness and they were drawn to it.
Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Look carefully, this verse comes last in all that God was doing in the birth of the Church.
The last two things were:
1). They enjoyed the goodwill of all the people
2). The Lord added to their number day by day
These last two things that happened were a natural outcome of everything else, and those around us are still moved by this same thing today.
The enemy works hard to keep the Church from being what we were created to BE. Let’s not make it quite so easy for the enemy. Get the series “The Bait of Satan” online at Wordbymail.com, our Bible teaching ministry. It explains that what Satan wants is to divide the Church, to keep it weak. So, a divided church is always weak. It can become counterproductive to the Kingdom of God. Satan is always looking for someone to get his little claw into to stir up a problem in the Church so that the world doesn’t see this supernatural oneness in the Church. Let’s not play into his hand so easily.
Let’s crucify our flesh and surrender our “self” wills
Let’s commit to living in koinonia (oneness) with each other
Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to make us into the Church we were meant to be
Finally, all of the character traits of the New Testament Church flow out of “The Greatest Commandment.”
Matthew 22:37–40 (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
This Greatest Commandment boils down to two koinonia relationships
1). A koinonia relationship of LOVE with God
2). A koinonia relationship of LOVE with one another
Let’s look again at the ten character traits of the New Testament Church we see here.
Devotion to God’s Word
Fellowship (koinonia)
Sharing Life in Common (meals)
Communion & Prayer
Awe of God
Giving (koina = to share in common)
Gathering Together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Favor with the people
The Lord added to their number (natural outcome)
Do you see it? . . . Does it make sense?
What do you need to do to live more in koinonia with God?
This is vertical koinonia it is oneness – sharing life in common with God
Just from our verses today – this is
Devotion to God’s Word
Communing with God - & Prayer
Being in AWE of God
Giving
Worshipping & Praising God
These are the things that create vertical koinonia with God.
What do you need to do to live more in koinonia with one another?
Just from our verses today – this is
Fellowship with one another
Sharing Life in Common
Communion & Prayer
Being in AWE of God – together
Giving
Gathering together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Guys, hear me please, this is NOT just a “to-do” list. All of these things come from a desire to live in true koinonia with God and with one another.
We’ve already done a number of these things here together today (Praise the Lord)! Let’s finish by taking communion together.
First – Luke described what happened (verses 1-13 the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the church)
Then – he explained what happened (verses 14-44 Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon)
Then – we see the effects of what happened (verse 42-47)
Today, we’re going to see a summary of what the New Testament church “really looked like” that was birthed on the Day of Pentecost. I emphasize really look like because the western culture has changed so much the “look” of the Church that Jesus started through the Holy Spirit. We see how the Church was birthed, and we must ask ourselves, “Is that how the Church should look today?”
Today’s true evidence (if you look at Chapter 2 in total) of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Church is the supernatural koinonia that we’re about to see. There’s no way that where it says that “tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit,” even if people build a case for it, it’s not clear in scripture that is the way. The church living in supernatural koinonia is the absolute proof of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
KOINONIA means “to share in common – to have a bond of oneness – to commune together”
It’s about sharing “life in common.” It’s about being bound together with God (vertically)
And it’s about us being bound together with one another (horizontally)
And this supernatural koinonia (when we experience it) is the most incredible, miraculous testimony there is to the lost and dying world around us.
From 120 praying in the Upper Room
To the pouring out of the Holy Spirit
To supernaturally speaking in other languages
To the huge crowd gathering for Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon
To the MIKVAH’s (Jewish ritual baths) of Jerusalem being clogged with New Believers all waiting to be baptized – 3,000 of them
The Holy Spirit had drawn them and saved them, and now he would lay the foundation for them to BE the Spirit-filled, New Testament Church.
THIS is what it looks like to BE the Church.
Acts 2:42–47 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
What an incredible picture of being the Church
This is what Jesus Christ made his Church to BE
This is what a Spirit-filled church looks like!!
This is what it looks like when we are being the Church!
Here are the ten character traits I see in these verses, and all ten of these character traits have to do with or come from KOINONIA (vertical or horizontal)
Devotion to God’s Word
Fellowship (koinonia)
Sharing Life in Common (meals)
Communion & Prayer
Awe of God
Giving (koina = to share in common)
Gathering Together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Favor with the people
The Lord added to their number (natural outcome)
By the power of the Holy Spirit, these are the character traits of being the Church. This is what we are called to BE as the Church.
Acts 2:42 says - All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching . . .
The phrase “devoted themselves” is in the Greek PRESENT tense – which means continually. This means, “if it’s the present – be doing it.” (And it’s always the present.)
they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching
For us, this is the Word of God, and this pillar is first because being continually devoted to God’s Word governs the other characteristic of being the Church. The Word of God leads and guides the fellowship. The Word of God reveals to us what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us personally and in the Body of Christ. So, the Word of God is first in the Church because it sets the direction. They were continually devoted to the Apostle’s Teaching to guide and direct them in how to be the Church – and we do the same things today with God’s Word.
Colossians 3:16 (NLT)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives . . .
The wisdom God gives. Not, “Here’s what I think you should do.” Or “Here’s what I would do.” But instead, “Let’s see what God would do. Let’s check the Word together.” Or “Let’s find someone who can help us check the Word. And then let’s believe the Word because it’s God, and then let’s ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to be transformed by the Word.”
For that to happen, the Word, the message about Christ, and all its richness must dwell in us. It must have permanent residence in us. God’s Word must dwell in us richly in order for it to be our guide in “being the Church.”
Next, Acts 2:42 says, . . . they devoted themselves to . . . fellowship
This kind of “fellowship” did not exist before the Day of Pentecost. This is the Greek word KOINONIA. The word is not even found in the Gospels. THIS is the first occurrence of the word in the New Testament. The word koinonia couldn’t occur before here because it requires the filling of the Holy Spirit for us to experience koinonia with one another. It’s a supernatural oneness. It’s more than unity, it’s sharing life in common, and it’s supernatural, from the Holy Spirit.
Koinonia is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Again, the root idea of the word is “oneness” or “to have in common.” Every time this word in used in the New Testament, it refers to some type of sharing in one another’s lives and caring for one another. It can mean physically (as in giving) and it can mean sharing of lives – being one. This fellowship, this koinonia is a miracle.
The more we’re addicted to the things of this world, meaning the cell phone (for instance), the more of a miracle koinonia is – that we actually share life with another human.
Lloyd Olgilvie Next to the transformation of persons, the second greatest miracle is oneness with others who have been transformed.
Next to the miracle of salvation, the second greatest miracle we see in the Church is true oneness among those who have been saved. And honestly, I think it is easier to get someone saved than it is to get Christians to live in oneness (koinonia) and (for sure) both take the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.
So, the New Testament Church is devoted to God’s Word as their guide and sharing life in common (Koinonia).
Next, Acts 2:42 says - . . . they devoted themselves . . . to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
I really appreciate the NLT’s translation here because the scholars debate in the essentially literal translations what this means. Is it just communion, is it just meals? Or is it both? Historically, there was the agape feast that was held regularly in the homes of Believers. And the agape feast began (1 Corinthians 11 really lays this out) with just eating together, just sharing food together.
And I’ve told you this a hundred times: when you’re in the Middle East, when you share food with somebody from the Middle East, you are connected. They see that as a permanent connection. And so, now you’re friends because you’ve shared a meal together. So here in this text it is both. And that’s why scholars debate about which one it is, because it’s both.
The Apostle’s teaching was their guide
Koinonia was their lifestyle
Worshiping and praying together was their activity
And praying is the same deal. When you sit down and pray together, there’s a connection that occurs (especially if you’re honest and transparent in your prayers, and you’re really praying for stuff you really need), and it’s so vital that we’re praying with one another and for one another.
And remember, it is present tense, meaning They were continually devoting themselves to these things
And guys, we (as the Church) are called to worship together in koinonia (oneness) always remembering the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the New Covenant in his blood that we have received. The Lord’s Supper (communion) creates koinonia because it constantly reminds us that we are equally saved by God’s grace.
Sharing life in meals
Worshiping together in the Lord’s Supper
Praying with and for one another
THIS creates the oneness of koinonia
And what does being devoted to God’s Word – the oneness of koinonia – worshiping together – all lead to?
Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
The word awe means “profound reverence”
The effect of all God was doing in the new Church was to bring upon every person a sense of awe. And us truly being in awe together of WHO God IS, is a huge part of our true koinonia. The less we look at each other and the more we look together in AWE at the wonder of God, the more we find ourselves in the oneness of koinonia. So, let’s be “in awe” of God together instead of being “at odds” with one another.
Nest comes two more verses on koinonia (sharing together).
Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
Here the emphasis of koinonia is on giving to one another. In 2 Corinthians Chapter 8, Paul describes the koinonia of the Macedonia Churches (Philippi and Thessalonica). The Macedonia churches had been going through a “great trial of affliction.”
But here’s what it says.
2 Corinthians 8:4 (NLT)
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing (koinonia) in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
The word sharing is koinonia. The new churches begged again and again for the privilege of being one with (koinonia) the believers in Jerusalem by giving to them. This is a classic picture of koinonia as we share in meeting the needs of one another.
Here is the big point of true koinonia.
Koinonia always costs us something
True fellowship comes from us giving to one another
The Western Church has taught us to receive. We receive visually, and audibly, we receive donuts, we receive encouragement, we receive things. In contrast, koinonia always costs something. You always have to give something to share life with someone.
Giving of ourselves and giving of our material blessings
If we are not becoming part of one another’s lives, then we cannot say that we are having true koinonia.
Lastly, on this critical need for koinonia, we need to know that true koinonia is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Our first koinonia is vertical. In our koinonia with God, our sharing life in common with God leads to horizontal koinonia.
Paul closes 2 Corinthians 13, verse 14 with this.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT)
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Our koinonia (fellowship) with one another comes from our koinonia (fellowship) with the Holy Spirit. To have koinonia with one another horizontally, we must have koinonia with God vertically. We’ve got to be one with the Lord. We’ve got to share life in common. Galatians 2:20 Paul says it’s not my life that I live anymore. It’s the life of Christ in me. That’s koinonia. When we take communion, it’s a representation of taking in the life of Christ, of becoming one with Christ.
We experience the vertical koinonia by crucifying our self-focus and allowing the Holy Spirit to make us one IN Christ.
We’ve been taught that God’s the giver and we are the receiver. And so, it’s even been pushed and created really big churches where we can demand that God give so that we can receive. But koinonia costs. It cost the Lord everything to be able to have koinonia with us. And it costs us something to have koinonia with him. It costs us the sacrifice of praise.
Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—
Day by day the people of the church gathered together. They worshiped at the Temple (meaning in the Temple Courts). We get this wrong idea of the Temple being like church. It’s the Synagogue that is more like church. Nobody goes in a Temple. Only the Priests, only Levitical Priests, go actually in the Temple. But the Temple courts are massive – thirty-seven acres on the Temple Mount. And in the first century, Solomon’s Colonnade was there, and some bad stuff like the marketplace of Annis where they’re ripping people off.
They worshiped there, probably on the Southern Steps, because that was the meeting place, and that’s where teachers taught. In the colonnade, on the Temple Mount, on the platform. They worshiped there together each day, they met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and the sharing of meals. This is probably a reference to the love feasts, the agape feast, which was fellowship and eat first, and then have communion to end the meal. And then “broke bread” in their homes together both in eating meals and the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
So, the church is
Living according to God’s Word
Sharing in each other’s lives
Worshiping together, including the Lord’s Supper
Sharing meal together with great joy and generosity.
And that was the greatest witness they could be to the people around them. That’s what caused the church to grow from 3,000 to 5,000 almost overnight because people saw this miraculous sharing of life, this miraculous oneness and they were drawn to it.
Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Look carefully, this verse comes last in all that God was doing in the birth of the Church.
The last two things were:
1). They enjoyed the goodwill of all the people
2). The Lord added to their number day by day
These last two things that happened were a natural outcome of everything else, and those around us are still moved by this same thing today.
The enemy works hard to keep the Church from being what we were created to BE. Let’s not make it quite so easy for the enemy. Get the series “The Bait of Satan” online at Wordbymail.com, our Bible teaching ministry. It explains that what Satan wants is to divide the Church, to keep it weak. So, a divided church is always weak. It can become counterproductive to the Kingdom of God. Satan is always looking for someone to get his little claw into to stir up a problem in the Church so that the world doesn’t see this supernatural oneness in the Church. Let’s not play into his hand so easily.
Let’s crucify our flesh and surrender our “self” wills
Let’s commit to living in koinonia (oneness) with each other
Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to make us into the Church we were meant to be
Finally, all of the character traits of the New Testament Church flow out of “The Greatest Commandment.”
Matthew 22:37–40 (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
This Greatest Commandment boils down to two koinonia relationships
1). A koinonia relationship of LOVE with God
2). A koinonia relationship of LOVE with one another
Let’s look again at the ten character traits of the New Testament Church we see here.
Devotion to God’s Word
Fellowship (koinonia)
Sharing Life in Common (meals)
Communion & Prayer
Awe of God
Giving (koina = to share in common)
Gathering Together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Favor with the people
The Lord added to their number (natural outcome)
Do you see it? . . . Does it make sense?
What do you need to do to live more in koinonia with God?
This is vertical koinonia it is oneness – sharing life in common with God
Just from our verses today – this is
Devotion to God’s Word
Communing with God - & Prayer
Being in AWE of God
Giving
Worshipping & Praising God
These are the things that create vertical koinonia with God.
What do you need to do to live more in koinonia with one another?
Just from our verses today – this is
Fellowship with one another
Sharing Life in Common
Communion & Prayer
Being in AWE of God – together
Giving
Gathering together
Worshipping & Praising God together
Guys, hear me please, this is NOT just a “to-do” list. All of these things come from a desire to live in true koinonia with God and with one another.
We’ve already done a number of these things here together today (Praise the Lord)! Let’s finish by taking communion together.