What is Fellowship? Acts 2:37-47 Graham Errington – 26-27 June 2021
Acts 2:37-47 What is Fellowship?
Introduction – Tarzan and Robinson Crusoe
Romans 14:7 – For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
Acts 2:41 – Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1. The Apostolic teaching
In his Pentecost day sermon, Peter said This Jesus whom you ______________________ , God raised up.
The apostles taught the Christians that Jesus of Nazareth was both the _______________ and the __________________ .
The apostles taught that Jesus ____________________ the OT prophecies.
2 Timothy ch 3 vs 16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Therefore, ‘What ____________________ says, God says’
2. ‘The’ Fellowship
The Greek word Koinoniameans to share with someone in something.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship ….. verse 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Acts 4:32 – All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
2 Cor 8:4 – they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints
If people are contributing _______________ , time, and ____________________ , then the fellowship is strong (if based on God’s Word).
Christians share together in Christ and in _________________________ that Christ gives.
3. The Breaking of Bread
They devoted themselves to …. the breaking of bread
The preacher thinks the breaking of breadmeans regular sharing in Christian _______________________ around the meal table.
vs 46-47 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people
Christians are _____________________ heirs of Christ and _______________ members of Christ’s body.
4. ‘The’ Prayers
The prayers means something definite – it’s the set prayers in the _______________________ , at morning and evening sacrifice.
The first ever generation of Christians were devoted to –
the apostolic teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers .