02.09.2025 | CALLED TO COMMUNITY
CALLED TO COMMUNITY
Acts 2:40-41(NKJV): And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:42-43 (NKJV): And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV): Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV): So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
WE ARE MADE FOR COMMUNITY
Acts 2:4 (NKJV): And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:41 (NKJV): Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:42 (NKJV): And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Continued steadfastly – devoted themselves, remained faithful. Persist obstinately in something
Four Areas of Commitment: The Word of God, Community, the Lord’s Supper, Prayer
Community – Koinonia – Fellowship, partnership, communion with the Lord and one another
Koinonia begins with a personal relationship with Jesus:
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV): God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Jesus we are born into the family of God:
Ephesians 2:19 (NLT): So now you Gentiles are no longer stranders and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
Acts 2:44a (NKJV): Now all who believed were together.
1. SAY YES TO THE CALL OF GOD
Acts 2:42 (NKJV): And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.
Acts 2:46 (NKJV): So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV): Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV): As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
2. TRUST IN THE POWER AND GRACE OF GOD
Pastor Lloyd Ogilvie – The church is a miracle. Fellowship is a miracle.
Acts 2:44 is as much a miracle as Acts 2:4.
Pastor Ogilvie – The church is that fellowship of those given by Christ to be to each other what He has been to them.
Romans 5:5 (NKJV): Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
True community is only possible in Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs18:1 (NKJV): A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.
Psalm 68:6 (NLT) – God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
3. STEP INTO THE PURPOSE OF GOD
None of us will ever be able to enter into all that God has for us on our own, by ourselves.
We are designed for community.
Acts 2:41(NLT) – Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day- about 3,000 in all.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NKJV): Now you are the body of Christ and members individually.
Luke 5:4 (NKJV): When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nests for a catch.”
Luke 5:6 (NKJV): And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.