Acts 2:42- 47

I write this not as one pointing fingers but as one that wants whoever is reading this to take a step back and examine what is going on around them.

In acts 2:42-47, people respond to Peter's charge in response to the question "Brothers, what shall we do?" (v37)

v42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer.
These believers were devoted to
1) The apostles' teaching (remember the apostles' were charged by Jesus to go and make disciples. These teachings ultimately stem from Christ)
2) Fellowship
3) Communion and prayer

v44 - 47 - "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he 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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

You read this passage and one thing in particular sticks out: Unity in the body of Christ. In this passage, there are no accounts of gossiping, slander, factions, or self interest. This picture of the early church is something that all churches should strive for. Notice that this church wasn't a building but a body of believers. People came freely to worship and fellowship. People came with their needs and the people of the church provided for them out of love (v45). This group of people honored the Lord through their actions and were clearly blessed by the presence of the Lord. In the end (v47), their numbers grew. Now, numbers are no indication of how healthy a church is but this much I will say. A healthy church will grow in numbers. It will attract people in the community.

As you look at your respective fellowships, do your fellowships reflect this? Are they places where people can come freely to worship and fellowship with other believers? Are they places in which the body is unified in the Lord's name? Are they places full of the love and grace that our Christ showed us? Do you see or witness other people caring for not only the spiritual needs but the physical needs of their brothers and sisters? Just something to think about.