Being the Apostolic Church Part 2
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Striving to emulate the activities and attributes of the pristine Apostolic church.
Text: Acts 2:41-42
Date: 09/26/2021, the Combined service.
Series: "Your Word is Truth"
Description:
One of the greatest events in the history and development of the church occurred on the day of Pentecost, just 10 days after the Ascension of Christ. On that momentous day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the fledgling church with power and glory and 3,000 souls were saved. The verses that follow in chapters 2-4 of Acts give us one of the few glimpses of the Apostolic church in its pristine state-- before external persecution and internal corruption set in. In our text for this lesson, Dr. Luke describes four attributes of this body of believers, as they set about to worship Christ and advance the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. In this message we will concentrate on the second of these attributes-- "the fellowship". We will look closely at the expansive meaning of the word Luke uses, and then discuss how essential it is for the spiritual health of every Christian. We will find that this foundational concept is particularly needed in times like these, as both individually and corporately we strive to "be the Apostolic church".
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I. Introduction
A. The imagery of the Menorah, Ex. 25:31-32, 36-37; John 1:4-5, 8:12, 6:32-33.
B. The imagery of the Lampstands, John 2:18-22, Rev. 1:12-18.
II. Exposition of the text, Acts 2:41-42.
A. Context
1. Backtracking
2. What we have learned about the Apostolic church.
a. The nature of the germinal church.
b. Their devotion to the Word.
c. The divisiveness of the truth.
B. The Koinonia.
1. A different kind of "fellowship".
a. Defining the word, John 17:21, 13:35.
b. Noticing the article.
c. The nature of the fellowship, Phil 2:1-2.
i. A divinely-established fellowship, Heb. 3:6, 1Cor. 3:9, Eph. 2:19-22.
ii. A fellowship of redeemed sinners, Rom. 12:5, Gal. 3:28.
iii. A fellowship of faith, Heb. 12:2, Eph. 2:10.
iv. A fellowship of thanksgiving, Col. 3:16.
v. A fellowship of love, John 17:26.
vi. A fellowship of mutual care, Acts 4:34.
vii. A fellowship with an identity, John 17:15-17; 1Pet. 2:9-10; Acts 2:43, 4:21; Matt. 5:14.
viii. A fellowship with a mission, Matt. 28:19-20, John 20:21, Acts 1:8.
ix. A fellowship at war, Rev. 12:12-13, 6:2,4,5,8.
2. An essential fellowship.
a. The Koinonia WAS essential.
b. The Koinonia IS essential.
i. In general.
ii. In corporate worship, Heb. 10:24-25.
iii. In our perspective on Missions.
III. Application
A. In-reach: Encouragement for the saints.
1. Extraordinary circumstances make the Koinonia essential.
2. The "Sunday-only fellowship" is not enough.
a. The physical example.
b. The spiritual application.
B. Outreach: A call to Missions.
IV. Conclusion: Achieving Koinonia.
