“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)
Yesterday we saw that our knowledge of God grows through contact with other believers. Today we look at a concrete example of what that can look like.
After the Lord Jesus had returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, His disciples began to tell others about Him. They started in Jerusalem—the city where Jesus had been put to death. Through the work of the Spirit, many people became convinced that Jesus truly is the Son of God. They repented, joyfully accepted the offer of forgiveness, and were baptized. In a short time, a large group of believers was formed. They became a close-knit “fellowship.” They shared their possessions, went to the temple together, prayed together, celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and devoted themselves faithfully to the teaching of the apostles.
Just as there is great diversity among believers, there are also many different forms of faith communities. Yet the core is the same everywhere: whenever possible, Christians practice their faith together with others. Of course, it is also possible to pray and read the Bible individually or within the family, but serving and worshiping God “together with all the saints” is a special blessing.
How do you shape your faith? What place do the church, a small group, or other forms of fellowship with fellow Christians have in your life?