Acts 2:42
"On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow " (Part II)
Gospelcom Bible Gateway

INTRODUCTION:

A. Today we are going to consider fellowship in the early church

B. This first church was a learning church. They devoted to themselves the the apostles doctrine and they were also a loving church.

C. Do you believe that the church helps people find meaning in life? If you don't have you been applying yourself to the apostles doctrine?

D. Fellowship balances out the church. Why is this so? What happens if you emphasize doctrine over fellowship or fellowship over doctrine?

I. What Does Fellowship Mean?

A. Hanging out with Jesus? Coffee and donuts?

B. Koinonea - Fellowship, communion, distribution, partnership

C. People being together therefore we need each other

D. What is the goal of fellowship - One another verses (over 60 in NT)

1. Romans

a. Romans 12:9

b. Romans 12:16

c. Romans 13:8

d. Romans 14:19

e. Romans 15:5

f. Romans 15:7

g. Romans 15:14 - What does admonish mean?

h. Romans 16:16 - What does "holy kiss" mean?

2. Ephesians

a. Ephesians4:1

b. Ephesians 4:25

c. Ephesians 4:32

d. Ephesians 5:19

e. Ephesians 5:21

E. How many church do you know that do all of the above?

F. What will happen to a church that does all of this?

II. Why is it Important?

A. What is happening in Jerusalem at this time?

B. What do others say is happening?

C. As the door of relationship with the world is closing the door of fellowship with God begins to open (Acts 4-Acts 8)

D. What can we learn from this lesson?

E. How is technology impacting fellowship in the church?

F. A Christian out of fellowship is like a left hand bereft of the right hand

G. Proverbs 18:1

H. Donald Joy - Whose Holding Your Trampoline?

1. In a healthily life 12 people will be holding the trampoline and will know everyone

2. In a psychotic life 10-12 people will be holding the sides and know only three quarters of the people

3. In a neurotic 4-5 people will be holding the sides and will be isolated and neurotic

4 A healthy life will have 12 people composed of close family, relatives, friends from throughout your life who are presently active, and associates.

5. How many are around your trampoline?

III. How was it done? Two fold structure

A. Formal Structure - In the temple

B. Informal Structure - In the homes

C. Background -

1. Three feasts that all Jews celebrated

2. Allowed strangers into the house

3. This door was closing for believers in the temple and led to the development into the homes.

D. Two Facts to Remember

1. Church was very large (3000 in one day were added). With in first several months 20,000 people. The first large mega church

2. Everyone in that fellowship had intimate koinonea

3. Howard Schneider -The Problem with Wineskins

IV. When Does it Occur?

A. Daily

B. Ephesians 2:19

C. Hebrews 10:24-25

APPLICATION:

1. How is your walk? Are you devoted to the apostles doctrine and to fellowship?

2. Find someone you do not know and reach out to them in fellowship

3. Become integrated instead of isolated?

4. Get involved in a ministry based on your spiritual gift and fellowship with one another in ministry

MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:

ACTS 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.