Make Room for Community
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
A pastor friend was talking with his congregation about what a modern-day miracle would be. They were asking what would capture the attention of those around them. The answer they shared with him surprised me. They said it would be time, time for each other. Jesus was the busiest man on earth and had the greatest mission on earth to bridge the gap of sin between man and God, but have you ever noticed that He made margin for people? He was constantly interrupted by people around Him.
Did you ever think Jesus didn’t need disciples to complete His mission? One could argue that His disciples often missed the point and slowed Him down. So why bring them along? Part of this is because God cares about community. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit live in perfect community. When God created man, He saw that man was alone, which wasn’t good, so He made a helper and partner. Jesus was modeling how vital community is for us.
In Acts 2:42, the church is formed. Notice the word fellowship in verse 42. There’s perhaps no more overused and underappreciated word than fellowship. The word for fellowship is the Greek word koine. It appears 20 times as a noun in that form—it’s translated as common, sharing, contribution, partnership. Some people think of fellowship in social terms. Some think it’s about having a coffee or an occasional get-together. Some think it’s a friendliness and niceness. It has a social component to it, but it’s spiritual. It’s a deep unity, a oneness where Jesus is at the center. Read what Martin Lloyd Jones says:
The moment someone becomes a Christian, he becomes new, regenerated. God in us expresses itself in new ways. When a man becomes a Christian the association with other Christians is the chief association with their life! The man who doesn’t have this desire is not a Christian.
Once you become a Christian, your whole outlook changes. We realize we’re journeymen. That this life is passing, and this thing I’m giving myself to today will be gone tomorrow, and then I’ll be gone! You no longer belong to the darkness, but to the light, and if you have the light in you, then you want to meet with those who have light. This is the kind of community God is calling us to treasure!
Application: Your friends create your future.
Prayer: Ask God to strengthen your commitment to meet with those who are a part of the body of Christ. If you don’t have a strong community of believers, ask God to give you one. If you do, pray that He will take your group deeper.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?