Some of our church members might have seen or heard about the trees in the Red Wood National and State Park in California, USA. They are huge, and one of the tallest trees in the park. Some trees have big tunnels, through which two cars are able to pass. Twenty adults could surround a tree with hand-in-hands. After many scholars had researched how those trees could have survived for so long a time, they discovered that the roots of the group of trees were connected and were dependent on each other. This could be the reason that they have survived in spite of heavy winds and wildfires. In addition, the researchers also found that the trees, which were not connected with the group, died. This unity among the trees could be applied to our church. To survive in this world, our church members must unite in Christ.
Today I am going to talk to you about “the importance of unity and fellowship.” I believe the topic is very significant to our church. Many of our church members are from different backgrounds and cultures. However we have something in common. We are all one in Christ. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. As believers of Christ, we are to unite with each other in Christ.
In many ways, we can learn much from the early believers of Christ. In the book of Acts 2:42, “they(the believers) devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” When believers of God met, first word come teaching. This word is didachē (διδαχῇ) in Greek. Didache means more than just teaching. It also means to act with this knowledge to serve God and his people. Second, they worked in fellowship. This word is koinonia (κοινωνίᾳ) in Greek and originally means sharing with others. The early believers were instructed to share their personal things, their belongings with others. Also, they were taught to share their beliefs, their spiritual gifts, with others by teaching, preaching, healing, serving, worshipping and so on. God’s Koinonia (fellowship) also includes the acts of bible study, prayer, and sharing meals together. Meals are physical food and sharing the word of God and in fellowship is our spiritual food.
The early believers of Christ spent much time teaching, praying, and eating together. They experienced and shared with each other how God had intervened in their journey. Acts 2:43 says, “everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Here we need to understand what wonders and miracles are. In those days, it was believed that only God could do miracles such as healings, raising the dead, calming down the wave, etc. However, this verse also refers to the actions of saving souls. In verse 47, we will come to understand the miracle of saving souls.
The believers of Christ experienced God’s miracle when they are saved by God. This is called grace, because it is given freely by God. This is the greatest miracle. Because of this, Christians 2000 years later continue to live and work for God thanks to God’s love and grace. Now, we will read, verse 44-45, “all the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” After the early Christians experienced God’s love and grace, many of them shared their possessions and goods with those who were in need. This was done voluntarily, not through force.
We have seen how the early believers entered God’s kingdom in fellowship and how they also worshipped him. Verse 46-47 says, “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.” The early believers met and worshipped God on a regular basis. They gathered in fellowship and never neglected worshipping God in the temples. Without the support of the Christians at the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul would not have succeeded in preaching the gospel in many countries. By uniting with other believers of God, he was able to accomplish the ministry of God. Even Paul could not do it alone.
Our final verse shows us how the early believers lived and worked for God. Let us read verse 47, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The early believers continued to meet together through bible studies, prayers, doing fellowship. Then God blessed them. And he sent more people to his church. The church grew. Many people came to God and accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook
In many ways, we can learn much from the early believers of Christ. In the book of Acts 2:42, “they(the believers) devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” When believers of God met, first word come teaching. This word is didachē (διδαχῇ) in Greek. Didache means more than just teaching. It also means to act with this knowledge to serve God and his people. Second, they worked in fellowship. This word is koinonia (κοινωνίᾳ) in Greek and originally means sharing with others. The early believers were instructed to share their personal things, their belongings with others. Also, they were taught to share their beliefs, their spiritual gifts, with others by teaching, preaching, healing, serving, worshipping and so on. God’s Koinonia (fellowship) also includes the acts of bible study, prayer, and sharing meals together. Meals are physical food and sharing the word of God and in fellowship is our spiritual food.
The early believers of Christ spent much time teaching, praying, and eating together. They experienced and shared with each other how God had intervened in their journey. Acts 2:43 says, “everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Here we need to understand what wonders and miracles are. In those days, it was believed that only God could do miracles such as healings, raising the dead, calming down the wave, etc. However, this verse also refers to the actions of saving souls. In verse 47, we will come to understand the miracle of saving souls.
The believers of Christ experienced God’s miracle when they are saved by God. This is called grace, because it is given freely by God. This is the greatest miracle. Because of this, Christians 2000 years later continue to live and work for God thanks to God’s love and grace. Now, we will read, verse 44-45, “all the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” After the early Christians experienced God’s love and grace, many of them shared their possessions and goods with those who were in need. This was done voluntarily, not through force.
We have seen how the early believers entered God’s kingdom in fellowship and how they also worshipped him. Verse 46-47 says, “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.” The early believers met and worshipped God on a regular basis. They gathered in fellowship and never neglected worshipping God in the temples. Without the support of the Christians at the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul would not have succeeded in preaching the gospel in many countries. By uniting with other believers of God, he was able to accomplish the ministry of God. Even Paul could not do it alone.
Our final verse shows us how the early believers lived and worked for God. Let us read verse 47, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The early believers continued to meet together through bible studies, prayers, doing fellowship. Then God blessed them. And he sent more people to his church. The church grew. Many people came to God and accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook