As Coggin Church seeks to help individuals navigate life’s difficult questions through the truth of God’s Word and within a supportive community, this passage serves as a model for what true Christian fellowship should look like. This is particularly important as we continue to emphasize the value of community in the Christian walk, especially given the rise in individuals choosing not to attend church and disconnecting from the community altogether.
The early church’s response to the gospel’s transformative power wasn’t simply to live in isolation or focus solely on personal growth; instead, they were devoted to the Word of God and one another. As believers were saved and baptized on Pentecost, they didn’t retreat to solitary learning. Instead, they gathered continuously, marked by a deep devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. This devotion to God’s Word and community is not a new concept; it has been woven throughout the fabric of the Christian faith since its inception.
1. A Supportive Community is Devoted to God’s Word (v. 42)
The importance of a supportive community is evident throughout the early church’s actions. They committed to God’s truth by devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching. While they didn’t yet have the full New Testament, they eagerly absorbed the teachings based on the Old Testament, now illuminated by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Their hunger for God’s Word was unrelenting. This commitment to God’s Word wasn’t just an individual pursuit but a communal one, demonstrating that God’s Word is best understood and applied in a supportive community.
This devotion also extended beyond formal teaching. Clearly, the early church didn’t see gathering together as optional but as essential. Acts 2:42-47 highlights the believers’ commitment to each other—”together,” they prayed, broke bread, and met in their homes. Their gatherings were characterized by generosity, with individuals selling possessions to care for one another’s needs. The early church’s example shows that a supportive community is more than a place of teaching; it is a family that shares life, resources, and worship.
For the modern church, the early church’s example provides a powerful call to be devoted to God’s Word and one another. A supportive community, as demonstrated in Acts 2, prioritizes gathering, whether for worship or fellowship in smaller groups. At Coggin Church, the opportunity for community extends far beyond Sunday morning services. It includes participation in smaller groups, Sunday School classes, Core Classes, D-Groups, and various ministry opportunities.
2. A Supportive Community is Devoted to Gathering Together (v. 42, 46, & 47)
The early church wasn’t just devoted to God’s Word and committed to gathering together. This isn’t limited to the formal worship service on Sunday morning but extends to the everyday life of the believers. Acts 2:46 shows that they were in the temple daily and gathering “house to house” for fellowship. They shared meals, prayed, and were united in heart and purpose. Their gatherings weren’t isolated events; they were a lifestyle, a constant rhythm of life as the body of Christ.
Gathering together in the community is critical for fostering authentic fellowship and deepening our relationships. As believers, we are not meant to live out our faith alone. Hebrews 10:24-25 calls us to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” and to “not forsake our own assembling together.” In these smaller settings—whether through Sunday School, small groups, or D-Groups—we experience the kind of fellowship that deepens relationships and holds us accountable in our walk with God.
In the New Testament sense, fellowship is not merely socializing or enjoying each other’s company; it’s about participation and sharing. The Greek word koinonia refers to a partnership in the gospel, a commitment to serve one another. This kind of fellowship requires us to give of ourselves, open up to one another, and walk through the joys and struggles of life together.
3. A Supportive Community is Devoted to Generosity and Serving Others (v. 44-45)
Finally, a supportive community is devoted to generosity and serving others. Acts 2:44-45 gives us a powerful image of the early church’s radical generosity. The believers sold their possessions to meet each other’s needs. This wasn’t a program or a command—it was a natural outpouring of hearts transformed by the gospel. The generosity in the early church was fueled by love and a desire to serve one another. It wasn’t about obligation but about seeing the needs of others and responding with grace.
This generosity wasn’t just financial; it was about serving others in any way possible. From providing meals to helping each other move to offering prayer and encouragement, the early church demonstrated the selfless love that should mark every Christian community.
The same principle applies to us today. Generosity and service flow out of a heart that understands and appreciates the grace of God. At Coggin Church, we serve one another and our community through various ministries, from food pantries to mission trips to helping each other in everyday ways. True generosity and service are not about obligation but the joyful response to God’s grace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a supportive community is committed to God’s Word, gathering together, and serving others with generosity. These principles are not just historical practices but timeless truths that the church is called to embody today. As we look to the early church as our model, let us be reminded of the power of community. We are not called to walk this journey alone but to be part of a family that is rooted in the truth of God’s Word, united in fellowship, and marked by selfless generosity and service.
At Coggin Church, we aim to reflect these principles in everything we do. As we continue to grow, may we, like the early church, be a supportive community that is devoted to God’s Word, dedicated to gathering together, and devoted to generosity and serving others for the glory of God and the good of His people.
