“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship…”
Acts 2:42a
Dear Family of St John’s
We started our Acts teaching series this past Sunday followed on Wednesday morning and evening with a course by John Birch called “Becoming Church”, which we will be doing for the next 4 weeks. You are most welcome to join us as we navigate this journey by learning and growing together.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to 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 favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
This is the key verse that the study will be framed around.
The book of Acts is an exciting and dynamic account of the early Church and its growth. In Acts 2:42, we read about the early Church’s dedication to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship. This verse provides valuable insight into the importance of these practices in the life of the Church and how they can shape and influence our own Christian walk today.
The apostles’ teaching was central to the early Church’s growth and development. It was through the apostles’ teachings that the early Christians learned about Jesus Christ, His message, and His teachings. The apostles were eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and their teachings provided a firm foundation for the early Church’s faith. Through their teaching, the early Christians learned about the nature of God, the role of Jesus Christ as Saviour, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The early Christians were not content with merely learning about Jesus; they were committed to living out His teachings in their daily lives. This commitment to the apostles’ teachings was evident in the way they lived and interacted with one another. They were dedicated to living out their faith in practical ways that reflected their understanding of Jesus’ teachings. This dedication to living out their faith inspired others to follow their example, and the Church continued to grow and thrive.
In addition to their commitment to the apostles’ teaching, the early Christians also devoted themselves to fellowship. Fellowship refers to the practice of gathering together as a community of believers to share in a common purpose. For the early Christians, this meant gathering together for worship, prayer, and mutual encouragement. They recognized that they needed one another’s support to grow and thrive in their faith.
Fellowship was not just a matter of convenience; it was a matter of necessity. The early Christians recognized that they were part of a larger community of believers, and they understood the importance of supporting one another in their faith. Through their fellowship, they were able to share their struggles and triumphs, offer support and encouragement, and build deep and meaningful relationships with one another.
Let us be reminded of the importance of both the apostles’ teaching and fellowship in our own Christian walk. As their teachings provide a firm foundation for our faith and fellowshipping together provides the support and encouragement we need to grow and thrive.
Together, these practices help us to become the kind of people God wants us to be and to live out our faith in practical and meaningful ways.
As we seek to grow and mature in our faith, let us be dedicated to learning and living out the teachings of Jesus Christ, and let us also be committed to supporting and encouraging one another through fellowship. By doing so, we can continue to build strong and vibrant Christian communities that reflect the love and grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Please contact the office if you would like to join either the morning group at 10:45 or the evening group at 18:00. Looking forward to seeing you there as we learn and grow together.
Much love
Michelle