The Fellowship of Church

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And 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, 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. Acts 2:42-47.

It surprises me somewhat that the Bible conveys such a brief, albeit powerful, statement about how church fellowship should be conducted. Our western mind longs for more details: the how-to and procedure for good church conduct. But it must be that this description contains all the right ingredients for proper worship and functioning of the body of Christ. The contrast of this passage in Acts with modern-day church is enormous.

The preceding verse, Acts 2:41, indicates that 3000 souls were baptized and added in one day. That alone should capture our attention. Join me as we examine this passage and ask the Lord to reveal some precious concepts about church fellowship.

They were continually devoting themselves. Church was not a once a week gathering—they were the church continually. There must have been a deep yearning for the Word of God. They eagerly listened to the teaching provided by the apostles. I can not visualize that they worried about where they met, or the condition of the building. It was just that to be together was enough—it could not get better than to be with fellow believers. I long for that kind of life—the pulls and snares of the world system constantly try to deny such a life style. Yet, it must contain keys to living that the Lord will honor.

The apostles’ teaching. Church was marked by teaching of the Word. I can imagine they were examining the words of Jesus as they recalled His walk with them for three years. What had He said that they had missed? Why had He suffered the experience of the cross? Why was He more than just an earthly king that would conquer the Romans? Most importantly, they would never forget how Jesus had been taken up into the clouds, and how could they explain the wonder of the Holy Spirit that had been given to them? Yes, they were in awe! Oh that we could capture that awe today! We have allowed so many other things to get into our way.

They were in fellowship. We often designate a portion of our church buildings as the Fellowship Hall. Do we really believe that entry into that room automatically fulfills all requirements for fellowship? I hope not. Yes, they ate together, and we can imagine that first “potluck.” But any mature Christian knows that fellowship comes from the heart of the believer—it is a bonding with fellow believers in a manner that always reveals our true heart experience with Jesus. Our love for one another can be revealed in this fellowship in a way that defies worldly analysis. It is centered upon our love for Jesus. It transcends any different views we may have about church “business.” It need not depend upon any committee or policy. It will always bring out the servant role within us, as we seek the best for each person we contact. I desperately need that experience.

Breaking of bread. This undoubtedly included communion, but it is always important that we learn to eat together in loving fellowship. What is it about eating with friends in Jesus that breaks down barriers, causes us to reveal our true selves, and hastens the understanding of how we may properly relate to one another—in Jesus? I think that it is the presence of the Holy Spirit, searching our hearts, and His active revealing of the presence of Christ. For after all, is He not present in our gathering together?

Prayer. The first century church was a praying church. They most certainly did not rely on just a few of their leaders to pray—the whole assembly knew the value of prayer. It was a part of their everyday life—moment by moment. They had seen God first-hand in the presence of Jesus. They were in love with Him, they wanted to be like Him, and they were eager to participate in His mission to reach the world. Prayer was the expression of their love for God, and it involved listening as well so that they could receive His guidance. The Holy Spirit will always direct us to serve others, to share our resources, and it is clear that the first-century church understood this fully.

My friends, I long for the day that we can do all of this in the manner of these first-century Christians. We do not need a bulletin to guide our worship, for that only removes any surprises when it is followed. Instead our church assemble needs to be spontaneous in the Spirit. Can we learn to strip away all the encumbrances that surround our worship service? Can we remember all that Jesus has done for us, and allow Him to create that wonderful awe-inspiring love within us that seeks only to be near to Him? Let us pray that we can truly find a new heart for worship and fellowship in Christ.
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