EmmDev 2023-10-16 [Five Keys to Discipleship] Fellowship: Early Church Style

Fellowship: Early Church Style

We start Week Three of our Month of Mission Devotions and the Third Key of Discipleship is Fellowship. 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts2:42-47)

Acts 2:42 finds itself in the concluding paragraph of a chapter which sees the birth of the early church take place in an awe-inspiring manner. It was the Day of Pentecost, and the disciples, along with others who had become followers of the Way, gathered together in one place. Whilst they were meeting together the Holy Spirit came and rested upon them, inaugurating the new covenant and promised end-time coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter then stood up and addressed the crowd, confirming that this is what the prophet Joel had predicted. Salvation had come through Christ's life, death, resurrection, and glorious exaltation to God's right hand. A message that saw even more added to their number.

By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Peter we see the beginning of the church; a fellowship of unity, power, witness and support. A fellowship that has 3 distinctive characteristics. The early church could be defined be their devotion to:

1. The Apostles teaching
   The early church was devoted to the Apostles teaching. They were dedicated learners, who longed to be fed by the truths which would have included Jesus' own teachings and stories about Him. Truths that had set them free from the bondage of sin, and now saw them united in fellowship.
   
   
2. The breaking of bread
   This would have more than likely been a communal meal followed by the Lord's Supper; an act that would have ensured that their hearts and minds were devoted to Christ. Perhaps this is why, we read in verse 43, that the 'believers were together and had everything in common.' The intimacy of 'breaking bread' together brought about true and lasting fellowship.
   
   
3. Prayer
   Prayer is the lifeblood of the church, and from verse 42 to we can see that prayer was standard practice for the early church; and not just solitary prayer, but praying together was vital. The church listened to and cared for each other, an act demonstrated in the most profound way, they prayed for each other. It was by their uniting in prayer that their fellowship reflected the Lord's goodness and love.

The early church faced much persecution, but one thing they never lacked in was fellowship amongst those whose lives had been transformed by the message of Christ. Their devotion was first and foremost to the Lord, and then to one another. This is the example we need to follow as the church today. As the church we should be defined by our love for the Lord and His Word and then by our love for one another, seen in how we break bread together, ensuring that no one amongst is lacking, and then seen in how we prayer together, with one heart and mind, earnestly seeking to know Christ and make Him known.
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Graham Fryer, husband to Joslyn, and soon to be father. Avid football supporter and gym enthusiast. Serving at St Mark's Presbyterian Church in Moregloed, Pretoria.

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