Components of Worship Acts 2:42-47
Acts 2:42 lists 4 components of worship for the 1st church of Jerusalem. This was the initial organization of the church under the Apostles ministry. Church worship evolved over time and other items of worship were added.
Acts 2:42 – Imperfect periphrastic + 9 imperfect tense verbs – committed to daily consistency.
The Apostles Teaching is in the priority position in the sentence meaning it was 1st in importance and priority but not all that is necessary and beneficial for spiritual health. In addition to the teaching of the Apostles, the church fellowshipped together, they celebrated the Eucharist together and prayed together daily. In the following discussion, we will examine the biblical view of Fellowship.
Fellowship
1. Greek etymology and definition: koinonia
An association with close mutual relationships and involvement; to share; to give; common interests & assets.
Bel’s share the mutual assets of union with Christ
Bel’s share mutual assets of the Indwelling of the Spirit
Bel’s share the mutual assets of the word of God.
Fellowship is the mutual sharing and partnership in the spiritual assets found in union with Christ.
Biblical Illustration – Act 2:42-42
Sharing the Apostles teaching, jointly pursuing greater understanding, sharing their means and sharing their social time
2. Fellowship of bel’s is rooted in fellowship with GF and GS.
1Jn 1:3 – fellowship with us – share our relationship with GF & GS.
Share our relationship with God with one another
Relationship with GF/GS motivates us to share with others
1Jn 1:7 – walk in light – fellowship with one another – help one another walk in the light.
3. Fellowship of bel’s is rooted in fellowship with GHS
Rom 15:30; 1Pt 1:22 – GHS à love
1Cor 12:4-11 – spiritual gifts – ministry to one another
Phil 2:1-4 – fellowship with GHS is environment for fellowship/bels
Fellowship of bel’s is intended for mutual spiritual edification
4. Fellowship with one another in the Lord’s Supper – 1Cor 10:16-17
Cup – sharing in the blood of Christ
Bread – sharing in the body of Christ
The many are 1 bread and 1 body – our common participation illustrates the unity of the body of Christ
5. Fellowship of the ministry
2Cor 8:4 – giving to bel’s in need – ministry committed to be aware of and meet the needs of bel’s
Gal 2:9 – fellowship of spiritual leaders – working together in ministry – supporting one another in ministry
Phil 1:5 – sharing in the gospel ministry
6. Bel’s are encouraged to share their means with one another
Rom 15:26 – relief for Jerusalem bel’s
Heb 13:16 – share what you have
Act 2:44-45 – willingness to sell own possessions to meet critical needs of other bel’s
7. Fellowship of bel’s in seeking the truth with one another – real impact of Christian fellowship
Lk 24: 13-31 – spiritual discussion
Vs 14 – talked – homileo – long conversations
Vs 15 – discussing – sunzeteo – to pursue together – mutual seeking of spiritual insight
Bel’s discussing the word with one another in pursuit of truth
Lord came to be with them – the hungry for the truth
Vs 17 – exchange – antiballo – throw back/forth; bounce back/forth
To bounce ideas back and forth in pursuit of the truth
Vs 25-27 –explained – diermeneuo – interpreted
The Lord comes in the midst of bel’s seeking truth with one another through the scriptures
The Lord explains the truth to those who are hungry for it – uses one another to help
The Lord explained how the OT scriptures – how they were about Him – NT explains OT
Fellowship with the Lord and one another is centered in seeking truth through the scriptures
Jn 16:17- 19 – zeteo- pursuing the truth with one another – Lord in the midst of the discussion
8. Fellowship of bel’s praying together – Acts 4:24-31
Context: Ch 3-4 – Peter heals well known lame man – crowd rushes over – Peter’ sermon brought the number of saved men to 5,000 – Peter/John arrested – before the leaders – lame man with them (over 40) – couldn’t deny the miracle – warned/threatened not to preach Jesus – we must obey God rather than men – released them – returned to the church and reported all that had happened.
4:24 – with one accord – homothumadon – unanimous agreement; unanimous consent
4:24 – raised a voice – airo (3pl) + phone (acc sing) – one voice prayed – all hearts spoke with him
4:24-30 – Master – despotes; Creator; nations conspire against you; threaten us; give us boldness to speak to speak your word; heal, miracles, wonders
4:31 – prayed – deo – ask urgently; building was shaken – mini earth quake; continued to speak with boldness
The report of Peter and John of threats to the church caused the church to go to the Lord in prayer.
There hearts were all united in the request – one person led the prayer – singular of voice
Luke reports the content of the prayer in detail – one person praying specifically with all agreeing
Addressed God as Master and saw themselves as His slaves – began with due respect for the Lord
Did not ask for relief from adversity but for courage and boldness to speak in spite of it.
God responded to their unified prayer in a remarkable manner – shook the building – filled with Spirit
God honored their prayer by giving then courage to keep on speaking the word with great boldness.
9. Fellowship of bel’s is the means of helping one another with spiritual problems – Jms 5:14-16
14-15 – sickness as suffering for blessing or as corrective action for a pattern of sin
Summon AMImpv = Elders (pl) of the church (sing) – spiritual leaders available to intercede for others
Pray – AmImpv – ask God to heal the bel – ask believing God will do as we ask
Anoint with oil – apply oil to body – medicinal; ceremonially mark as holy and consecrated
Prayer of faith – heal (sozo – save) the sick; Lord raise (egeiro – resurrect) – Lord’s healing of the sick is a physical symbol of saving the sick soul and resurrecting the dead soul.
If sins committed – sick as corrective discipline – will be forgiven
16 – Confess – homologeo PMImpv – be honest and truthful; acknowledge
16 – to one another – allelos – each other – fellow believers
16 – pray for one another – so you may be healed
Believer under corrective training - seeking the help of spiritual leaders to intercede for them
Commanded and encouraged to be honest about why you are under corrective training
The environment – not announcing your sins before the whole church – private meeting with Elders
Sharing our struggles with trusted fellow bel’s has a therapeutic effect on the soul.
Bearing one another’s burdens – sharing the spiritual struggle of others – hearing their failures Gal 6:1-2
When trusted to hear the sins of others we are required to maintain confidential confidenc
Humility is required to hear the sins of others – remember your own; no shock; no judgment
The church must encourage an environment where the shame of sin is swallowed up by the joy of forgiveness
Honesty about our sinfulness eliminates the façade of pseudo righteousness – mask of having it all together.
The bible encourages openness about sin and failure as part of overcoming it – not pretense or concealment
Privacy – each believer must be free to grow into victory over their sins without being judged by others.
Believers do not have the right to abandon their spiritual life and destroy themselves and others without being confronted by other bel’s who love them – Eph 4:15 – speaking the truth in love.
We are one body and joined in the Lord – we owe one another love that confronts for our benefit.
