General Superintendent
Max Edwards
September 3, 2024
We’re almost at the end of this series of Tuesday Briefs about the activities and core values of the early church, but we would have certainly missed one important element if we didn’t take time to notice how together they were. These early believers were so deeply connected that harmony and interdependence was an inescapable part of the DNA of the early church.
Take one more slow read through this passage we’ve been examining - - look for the evidence of their fellowship:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47 nkjv)
We see the fingerprints of C ONNECTED C OMMUNITY everywhere in there:
“They continued” …
“Every soul” …
“All who believed were together” …
“In common" …
“Among all, as anyone had need” …
“From house to house” …
“All the people” ….
Operating like lone rangers isn’t anywhere on the radar of the early believers, and it shouldn’t be in our vocabulary at all. If a true believer begins to disconnect from the body, it is almost always a sign of a cooling-off of their faith, or of a broken relationship of some kind.
Unity / Communion / Harmony / Fellowship - These are not options we get to select from if we belong to Christ. Jesus said that all men would know that we are His disciples if we love one another. (John 13:35). And through the parable of the Good Samaritan, the LORD taught us that we are all neighbors, deserving of help, respect, and love … even the folks that are not like us: not our age, not our skin color, not our culture, not our ‘kind’. (Luke 10:29-37)
We should be intentional about maintaining our connections to our Christian sisters and brothers. We truly do need each other, even if we don’t think we do. [Especially if we don’t think we do.]