The Church: A Context for Community

Acts 2:37-49

#They continued in community.

Koinonia: Communion, participation, willing contribution, Koinos=Common

The Greek term koinōnia means “that which is shared in common.”

#This community is not based on geography.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.Acts 8:1

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;Colossians 1:23

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.Matthew 24:14

This community is not based on ethnicity.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.Acts 10:34-35

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.Galatians 3:26-28

This community is multicultural.

God created us unique, not to divide, but to diversify.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.Psalm 139:14-16

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?1 Corinthians 12:18-19

The goal is not uniformity, but conformity to Jesus.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Romans 8:29

This community is not for everyone.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18

This community finds its identity in Jesus.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.Ephesians 2:12-13

This community is defined by ownership.

We belong to God.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We belong to one another.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.Galatians 5:13

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Romans 12:10

A church without community is not a church.

Do I find my identity in Jesus?

Am I living in community with God’s people?

Am I looking for community elsewhere that I should be seeking in the church?

How can I get deeper involved in community?

Who is someone that I can encourage to join our community?