Introduction
Video Ill.: Community — Church Fuel
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2, NIV1984)
The unity that was present in the early church puts our world today to shame.
Political Opponents Finish Debate by Making Music Together
Source: Steve Hartman, “Political rivals stun voters with unexpected duet” CBS News: The Uplift (10-19-18)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lucy-rogers-vermont-political-rivals-stun-voters-with-unexpected-duet-zac-mayo/
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2018/december/political-opponents-finish-debate-by-making-music-together.html
Copied from Preaching Today
At the end of their debate in 2018, two candidates for a Vermont state House seat asked the moderator for a few extra minutes—not to make last-second appeals for votes, but rather to make a little music. Lucy Rogers, the Democrat, grabbed her cello, while Zac Mayo, the Republican, picked up his guitar. They started performing "Society" by Eddie Vedder, much to the surprise of everyone in attendance. "It strikes a chord," Mayo told CBS News. "To say to the world that this is a better way."
Rogers and Mayo agreed early on while campaigning in Lamoille (La - m - oil) County that they were going to be civil and treat each other with respect throughout the race. When Rogers asked Mayo if he wanted to play a song with her, he thought it was a fantastic idea—as did the voters who attended the debate.
What an amazing display of unity.
When people from different worlds find common ground and agree, unity abounds.
Unity abounded in the early church.
It was that unity that gave the early church strength.
The early church was devoted to each other. They were devoted together. They enjoyed fellowship together.
This morning, we are continuing our study Devoted Together, where we are discovering why church is more than a building—it's a family, a support system, and a vital part of our spiritual journey.
We began by seeing how corporate worship prepares us to live lives of daily worship. Worship has an impact not only on us, but on those around us when we gather together to worship together.
Then, we saw the importance of gathering together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and the witness that we share when we partake each Sunday. We are proclaiming a message of hope and love when we come together to remember Jesus’ death in our place.
Next, we found that we find encouragement when we gather together. We all have a need for encouragement.
Today, the early church’s devotion to fellowship brought them together. They were a true community together. Fellowship was a vital part of that thriving Christian community.
And it is a vital part of the church today.
**I. For the early church, fellowship was a way of life.**
In Acts 2:44 and 45, we read:
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 2, NIV1984)
**Main Point:** Fellowship is about sharing life together, not just meeting together occasionally.
One of the things that really stands out is that in the early church, in this early time, did everything together.
They met together. They worshipped together. They studied Scripture together. They shared everything together, from possessions they acquired to meals they prepared, and everything in between.
The early church was more than just something they did on Sundays. It was community. It was everything to them.
They looked out for each other.
I think today we have lost that sense of community. We go so many different directions, we live so far apart, we’re always going and going and going, and we never have that sense of being together. We have all of these advances in our time that have made it easier for us to be together yet we’re really further apart than we have ever been.
Maybe we should be more like the Amish community. In our world today, the Amish are probably the closest living example of the way the early church lived.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster_Amish_affiliation
Several years ago, Amanda and I took a vacation, traveling to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the home to the largest settlement of Old Order Amish. The settlement was founded in 1760 near Churchtown, and is the oldest Amish settlement that is still in existence.
It was amazing to see the communities there in Lancaster County. The homes, the farms, everything there was so clean, well kept, and simply beautiful.
### **Illustration: The Example of the Amish Community**
In Lancaster, like most Amish communities, the concept of doing everything together is a living reality. When a family in the community needs a barn, the entire community comes together to build it. It's called a "barn raising," and it's not just about constructing a building; it's about the whole community working, eating, and fellowshipping together.
Everyone has a role—men, women, and even children contribute according to their abilities. They don't hire outside help or depend on government assistance; they depend on each other. The work is hard, but the shared labor strengthens their bonds, and by the end of the day, the community has not only built a barn but also reinforced their commitment to one another.
This kind of togetherness mirrors the early church's lifestyle, where believers were devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. They didn’t just meet on Sundays and then go their separate ways. They lived out their faith in close-knit community, supporting and caring for one another daily.
What if we lived that way today? What if fellowship was truly a way of life, instead of just something that we did occasionally?
I think it would make a difference in our lives. I think it would strengthen our church community. I think it would encourage us to stand together for what is right, and speak more loudly for the gospel.
I think we would make such an impact on our community, here on the mountain, that people would begin to notice. We would be a shining light of the gospel to our part of the world.
**II. This morning, there are different expressions of fellowship.**
In other words, there are different ways to fellowship together.
Paul wrote in Romans 12:
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12, NIV1984)
**Main Point:** From scripture, we can see that fellowship can take many forms—hospitality, prayer, mutual support, and shared meals.
Let’s look at these briefly this morning.
**Sub-point 1:** We fellowship together when we pray together.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:
20 For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18, NIV1984)
There is power when we gather together to pray. When we pray together to God as a group, we multiple the power in those prayers.
That’s why we send out prayer requests — so that we can get as many people as we can praying for the same thing as we can.
And God notices.
And prayers are answered.
That very thing happened in a cool story in Acts 12.
King Herod had had Peter arrested and put in prison, intending to bring him out for public trial after Passover. The church was deeply concerned and gathered to pray earnestly for Peter.
Well, that night, an angel appears to Peter in prison. He told Peter to get up, and Peter’s shackles and chains fell off. The angel then lead Peter past all of the guards, out of the prison and down one block. It took a minute, but Peter realized what had happened.
Starting in verse 12, we read:
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized || Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it, and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!”
15 "You're out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel.”
|| 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they open the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he || left for another place. (Acts 12, NIV1984)
As a direct result of their collective prayers, an angel of the Lord miraculously freed Peter from prison. When Peter realized what had happened, he went to the house where many were gathered, still praying for his release. Their prayers were answered in a remarkable way. It was the power of united prayer.
**Sub-point 2:** Fellowship brings Encouragement and Accountability.
The Hebrew writer wrote:
24 …[L]et us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10, NIV1984)
Fellowship plays a very important role in encouraging one another and helping each other stay accountable in faith. Unless we are actively involved in each other’s lives, we do not know what struggles we each face, what challenges we each experience, what speed bumps cause us to stumble.
We must stay devoted to remaining connected through fellowship, because the times are not going to get any easier as we get closer and closer to our Lord’s return.
**Sub-point 3:** Another great aspect of fellowship is Shared Meals.
In Acts 2, we read:
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…. (Acts 2, NIV1984)
There’s something special that happens when we get together and enjoy a meal together. We laugh. We share. We relax. We find pleasure in the company of family, friends, and neighbors. Some of the best memories we have are times we have gathered for picnics, fellowship meals, or even goodies after a church service.
When I was preaching at the church in Hillsville, I along with the other ministers in the community, started a weekly mission called “The Open Table”. The idea was to provide a hot meal for senior citizens in the community. We always met at the same church so that the location was always known. Each church would chip in and help cook food on a rotation basis. We also had a distribution list where we would take food out to home bound seniors.
So many of the folks that came were thrilled to be sitting down together with other people and enjoying a meal together.
It was the interactions with each other to which many of the regular attenders looked forward. Why? Because many lived alone and rarely had visitors. It was a time to fellowship. It was a time to be encouraged. It was a time of sharing.
It was a meal that made a difference in the lives of those who came to eat each week. It built a sense of community among those who came for food. Lives were touched.
Meals are a powerful way to foster community, but they are just one of many ways to fellowship.
**III. So, what is the Impact of True Fellowship?**
In Acts 2:47, we read:
47 [They were] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2, NIV1984)
**Main Point:** True fellowship attracts others to Christ and fosters a growing, healthy church.
People noticed that there was something different going on. And it was a good different. They wanted to be a part of that different. Luke said that the church was growing daily — that lives were being changed daily — that there were people being saved daily.
What an amazing testimony that the early church had.
The unity, the devotion to togetherness, the fellowship that they enjoyed with each other drew others into the community of faith.
Is our testimony that strong today?
Can people see the difference in our lives so much so that they want that change in their lives? Do they see the joy? Do they see our faith in action? Do they feel the love we have in our hearts from God?
Are we intentionally reaching out to bring others into the fellowship of the saints?
Or do we keep our faith, our beliefs, our hope to ourselves?
I pray that today we will commit to being champions for Jesus — ambassadors of fellowship — sharing God’s love with all whom we come in contact.
**IV. Finally, we must make sure to Overcome Barriers to Fellowship.**
In Galatians 6, Paul writes:
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6, NIV1984)
**Main Point:** Fellowship requires effort, vulnerability, and commitment.
### **Illustration: Overcoming Barriers to Fellowship**
Imagine a church where everyone arrives on Sunday, smiles, exchanges pleasantries, and then goes their separate ways, barely interacting with each other during the week. Everyone is busy with their own lives, dealing with personal struggles, work stress, and family responsibilities. Some people want to connect more deeply but feel too isolated or fear being misunderstood.
Take the story of Susan, a woman who attended church regularly but felt alone in the crowd. She had recently gone through a difficult divorce and was struggling to raise her two children on her own. Susan longed for support and friendship, but she was hesitant to reach out, fearing that others wouldn’t understand her situation or would judge her for it.
One day, a small group leader at the church noticed Susan sitting alone after the service. Instead of just greeting her and moving on, he sat down and asked how she was really doing. Initially, Susan was guarded, but as the leader shared some of his own struggles, Susan began to open up. She realized that she wasn’t the only one facing challenges, and that others in the church had gone through similar experiences.
The small group leader invited Susan to join a women’s Bible study group that met midweek. Even though Susan was reluctant at first, she decided to give it a try. Over time, as she attended the group and shared her story, Susan found a safe space where she could be herself. The women in the group didn’t judge her; instead, they offered encouragement, practical help, and prayer. Slowly, Susan began to feel like she was part of a community that genuinely cared for her. The barriers of isolation and fear started to crumble as she experienced true fellowship.
Through this group, Susan learned that fellowship isn’t just about attending church—it’s about being vulnerable, building trust, and allowing others to walk alongside you in your journey. As she overcame her initial hesitations, Susan found that the relationships she built within the church helped her heal and grow in her faith.
So how can we overcome barriers and foster fellowship within our church? Let me share a few ideas this morning:
1. **Prioritize Relationships:**
- **Application:** Make time in your schedule for fellowship, whether through small groups, church events, or one-on-one meetings. Prioritize building relationships over just attending services.
2. **Be Vulnerable:**
- **Application:** Share your struggles and joys with others. Open up about your life in small groups or with trusted friends. Vulnerability fosters deeper connections.
3. **Reach Out to Others:**
- **Application:** Don’t wait for others to come to you. Take the initiative to reach out to someone new at church or invite someone over for coffee or a meal.
4. **Offer Practical Support:**
- **Application:** Look for ways to help others in tangible ways—whether it's providing meals during a tough time, offering a ride, or simply checking in with a phone call or text.
5. **Pray for One Another:**
- **Application:** Commit to praying for the people in our church community. Share prayer requests and follow up on them, demonstrating that you care about their well-being.
6. **Create a Welcoming Environment:**
- **Application:** Ensure that our small groups or church events are welcoming and inclusive. Be intentional about inviting new people and making them feel like they belong.
7. **Stay Committed:**
- **Application:** Fellowship requires ongoing effort. Stay committed to our church community, even when it’s challenging, knowing that deep, meaningful relationships take time to build.
By taking these practical steps, being devoted together to fellowship, we can break down the barriers that often prevent genuine fellowship, creating a church environment where people feel loved, supported, and connected.
**Conclusion: Committed to Fellowship**
Folks, this morning, the early church was devoted to fellowship.
As we read in the beginning, Acts 2:42 reads:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2, NIV1984)
This morning, I pray that we will be devoted to fellowship, just as the early church was.
I pray that we will commit to spending time together, not just here within these four walls for worship, but in other times throughout the week, encouraging each other, lifting each other up, helping each other, and sharing each other’s burdens and cares.
I pray that we never get too busy, too distracted, too involved in the things of the world, that we neglect fellowship.
May we always seek ways to strengthen our bonds through diverse and meaningful fellowship.
May we always be devoted together.
