Devoted to the Fellowship
Acts 2:41-47 (ESV):
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe[a]came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their pos sessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received
their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Main Points
1. The uniqueness of Christian fellowship
2. The challenges of devotion to Christian fellowship
3. The benefits (and some practicals) of devotion to the fellowship
Some relevant Scriptures (all Scripture references are in ESV)
1. The Uniqueness of Christian fellowship.
• Romans 12:4-5: For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• 1 Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-19: From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
2. The challenges of devotion to Christian fellowship.
• Proverbs 18:1: Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
• 1 John 1:5-7: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
• James 5:13-16: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of
faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has com mitted sins, he will be forgiven.Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
3. The benefits (and some practicals) of devotion to the fellowship. • John 17:20-23: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
• Ephesians 1:16-20: I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wis dom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlight
ened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the rich es of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places”
• 1 Timothy 3:14-15: I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
• Phil 2:2: Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind.
• 1 Peter 4:7-11: The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self
controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all,
keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
• Psalm 133: 1-3:
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.