Here we have yet another description of the early church fellowship (koinonia), and yet again Luke stresses the fact that their fellowship was created through a commitment to each other and the common cause of Christ which was expressed through sharing. As a result of their sharing, it says: “There were no needy persons among them.” This fellowship is an expression of what is possible when people are united together in God’s family. There is so much need in our world and yet abundant resources. What is the problem? People are fragmented. The goal of God’s great plan of restoration is the creation of a united human family fulfilling their God-given role in the world. The goal of our personal restoration is that we would live in relationship with others in a diverse and mutually committed community that is united under Christ. That is what ‘church’ is meant to be. Jesus intended the church to be the present manifestation of what God ultimately wants in the world. This means that the local church is not just an optional support for the personal faith of disconnected individuals. The local church, all over the world, is the main thing that Jesus is doing; he is gathering and building his family. Human fellowship in Christ is the answer to all our problems. To follow Christ is to be a part of his family. If a person is not in fellowship with Christ’s ‘body’ they are out of fellowship with Christ. Don’t ever give up on the church, as dysfunctional as it sometimes is, because it is central to God’s purpose.
Pray for the unity and prosperity of your church.
Read Acts 4:32-36
