SERIES: Topical MESSAGE: Living Life Together SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 18:1;Acts 2:41-47

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1 SERIES: Topical MESSAGE: Living Life Together SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 18:1;Acts 2:41-47 MESSAGE SUMMARY The word fellowship is one of the most overused and undervalued words in the church. More than a social activity, fellowship should be a spiritual activity in which we all take part. As we draw some principles from Scripture and learn from the example of the early church, we see that being in community is essential for spiritual health. STUDY GUIDE Gilligan's Island was a television sitcom about seven people who were stranded on an uncharted island for three-plus years. The church is similar to Gilligan's Island: all of us are on the same boat and island, from various backgrounds, learning to live life together, and waiting for rescue in our case, for the Lord to come. This is why fellowship is so essential. The Bible mentions the Greek word for fellowship and community, koinónia, nineteen times. However, fellowship is not just hanging out in Jesus' name it is so much more, and to illustrate this, Pastor Skip gave us a principle from Genesis 2, a proverb from Proverbs 18, and a people to consider from Acts 2. First is a basic principle from Genesis 2:18, where for the first time in Scripture, God said something was not good: man's aloneness. Consider that in all the perfection of Adam's world before the fall, God said it was not good that he should be alone. This is because we are more than just physical beings; we are also spiritual, and that means we need to interact with other people. In fact, it's how God made us to function best. Unless we have other people around us, we will not grow emotionally or spiritually as much as we need to. "Community is the divine norm," Pastor Skip said. Read Romans 12:4-13. What did Paul say about community? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Both personality types need fellowship; why is this? How can you bring who you are to a small group? Secondly, we have a proverb from Proverbs 18 that speaks about isolation (see vv. 1-2) and integration (see v. 24). There are events in life that tend to drive us toward isolation: past hurts, rejection, health issues, hurtful relationships, etc. But in these cases, isolation is not the answer integration is, because we need fellowship. However, fellowship involves letting down our guard and being vulnerable. In Luke 4, Jesus announced that He came to the poor, brokenhearted, captives, blind, and oppressed and that's all of us in one way or another. So, fellowship can be messy as we interact with the people Jesus came to set free and heal. Why is isolation considered seeking your own desires and railing against all wise judgment (see Proverbs 18:1)? What are the challenges of living life together? What are the advantages? Lastly, let's look at Acts 2:41-47 and consider the people within the church. We learn from Acts that the early church of 120 people exploded to 3,120 after a single altar call. These believers were Page 1

2 predominantly young in their faith, yet they lived life together. They understood that fellowship is not just a social gathering, but primarily a spiritual gathering it's being social about spiritual things. Notice that the fellowship included all believers (see v. 44). The Bible teaches that to fail to participate in local church life is to disobey direct commands of Scripture. Living out our relationship with Christ with other people is the only way to provoke one another to "love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). Notice also that through fellowship, the needs of all those believers were met. This provision was voluntary, not compulsory. As John Stott said, "Christian fellowship is Christian caring, and Christian caring is Christian sharing." Their fellowship had a two-fold structure: they met "in the temple" and "from house to house" (v. 46). They had their formal church service in the courts of the temple, and intimate fellowship from house to house. It was in homes where these believers worked out the principles that they learned in the temple. Homes are better than restaurants and cafes, because that is where families gather; this is Bible study in the context of community. Consider that the church in Jerusalem grew to 20,000 to 25,000 people, so breaking it into home gatherings was essential to ensure fellowship, much like Calvary. The size of the gathering doesn't matter; the Jerusalem church proved that intimate fellowship is attainable in a church of any size. Everyone in the early church experienced fellowship because they were devoted to it. What does devoted mean? How can God provide for us through fellowship? Consider why geese fly in a V formation: 1) it adds 71 percent greater distance to their journey than if they flew alone; 2) the geese from the back honk to encourage the leaders up front to keep the time and speed; and 3) if one falls out of formation because of injury or illness, two other geese follow it to be with it. Like geese, do you need an uplifting experience? Do you want to go further? What steps can you take to connect with people you can live life with? Adapted from Pastor Skip s teaching The BIG Idea God made us to live in community, so take the opportunity to connect in small groups with brothers and sisters from your large group. DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. We in the church are all in the same boat, on the same island, and called to live life together, all while waiting for the Lord to come and rescue us B. Though it's messy and difficult to deal with human beings, we're part of the best outfit in the world C. Greek word koinónia 1. Means fellowship 2. Appears nineteen times in the New Testament 3. Other words that we get from it include communion, community, participation, contribution D. There is no word more overused and undervalued than fellowship 1. We think we can sanctify any activity as long as we add fellowship to it 2. To fellowship has come to mean to hang out together in Jesus' name II. The Basic Principle A. Genesis 2:18-20 Page 2

3 III. IV. B. The Hebrew construction of verse 18 accentuates the negativity 1. "Not good, not good is man alone" 2. The first time that God said something was not good C. For Adam, certain things were good about his life 1. The simplicity: a direct relationship with God, few rules, a perfect environment 2. His responsibility, his job D. God created us for companionship 1. Spirituality, the social element 2. People require other people 3. "The human being is the only species that can't survive alone. The human being needs another human being" Dr. Leonard Cammer E. Community is the divine norm F. You won't grow emotionally or spiritually unless you have other people A Bolstering Proverb A. Proverbs 18:1-2, 24 B. There are things that happen in our lives that cause us to tend to be isolated 1. Past hurts, being rejected, physical ailment, painful relationships 2. People build walls to protect themselves, but this alienates and isolates them C. Albert Speer, Inside the Third Reich: Hitler did exactly what this proverb warns us of D. There's been a debate about solitary confinement 1. It never improves a person; it always worsens them 2. We need, by design and experience, fellowship and interaction E. Fellowship is messy business F. Luke 4: Poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, oppressed 2. This is a messy bunch, but it's the church of Jesus Christ The People of God Is Born A. Acts 2:41-47 B. There was no church building or properties, no staff but there were people C. The word for church, ekklésia, means a group of people called out of the world D. Fellowship is not primarily a social activity 1. It is primarily a spiritual activity 2. It is getting social over spiritual matters E. The fellowship of the early church 1. It included all believers: verse 44 a. Acts 20:7 b. To fail to participate in a local church goes against a direct command of Scripture and the pattern laid out in the New Testament c. Hebrews 10: All the needs in the congregation were being met: verse 45 a. This pooling of resources was voluntary b. "Christian fellowship is Christian caring, and Christian caring is Christian sharing" John Stott 3. It had a two-fold structure to it: verse 46 a. In the temple i. Solomon's Porch, where any group could gather for instruction and inspiration Page 3

4 ii. The formal meeting place b. From house to house i. The temple says, "The apostle has something to say"; the house to house says, "You have something to say, and we want to hear it" ii. The temple says, "God is most high"; the house to house says, "God is most nigh" iii. Homes are better than cafes, restaurants, etc. I. It's a family setting II. A more intimate, controlled, and safe setting iv. Bible study in the context of community F. The church was getting large 1. Went from 120 to 3,120 people in one day 2. In Acts 12, had upwards of 20,000-25,000 people 3. Yet they all had fellowship and their needs were being met 4. This was only possible with the two-fold structure 5. And they devoted themselves to it: verse 42 G. "The church today is suffering a fellowship crisis... One seldom finds within the institutionalized church today that winsome intimacy among people where masks are dropped, honesty prevails and there is that sense of communication and community beyond the human... 'Our churches are filled with people who outwardly look contented and at peace but inwardly are crying out for someone to listen...just as they are'" Howard Snyder, The Problem of Wineskins H. You can be surrounded by God's people and still be alone V. Closing A. We are going to achieve our goals better with a group than on our own B. Do you want an uplifting experience? You need the large-group and small-group dynamic C. That's spiritual health Figures referenced: Dr. Leonard Cammer, Albert Speer, John Stott, Howard Snyder Greek words: koinónia, ekklésia Cross references: Genesis 2:18-20; Proverbs 18:1-2, 24; Luke 4:17-18; Acts 2:41-47; 12; 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-25 Topic: The Church Keywords: fellowship, community, companionship, spiritual growth, isolation, early church Page 4

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