The Church: A Community for Spirit-Filled Living

Acts 2:37-48

#They were committed to community. Koinonia: Communion, participation, willing contribution, Koinos=Common

#Community begins with a vulnerability and a desire to learn.

#They continued in prayer. Prayer develops boldness.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.Acts 4:31

Prayer fosters unity.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.Acts 4:32

Prayer strengthens our faith.

#They continued in selfless love.

They sacrificed personally.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.2 Corinthians 8:1-5

They sacrificed financially.

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.Romans 15:26

They pursued unity.

The continued to honor Jesus together.

In Baptism

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Romans 6:3-4

In the Lord’s Supper

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.1 Corinthians 10:16-17

They continued in hospitality.

xenophilia: to make a stranger a brother.

Sharing a meal together has always been a means of connecting and bonding.

And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him. And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.Genesis 24:32-33

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.Matthew 9:10-12

Hospitality allows me to share my life with another person.

Community is a heart-level commitment that produces an outward expression of selflessness.