Dear Friends,

The next two weeks will conclude our talks on change and transition toward Christmas.
December 3rds lesson is on how Gods way of change includes others. The life we live in Christ is a life lived out as a body. We are to live and think as a living functioning part of a community.

This is hard for us modern Americans to think like this. We have all been raised in a culture of individualism.  To think “I don’t need a tool or a truck because my fellow Christian has one that we can share, and he doesn’t need to buy a chainsaw because I have one sounds radical.”  This was how the church thought from the very beginning. This was not imposed by the government or by church leaders it was an attitude brought by the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer  

FELLOWSHIP–. κοινωνία
koinōnia

Thayer Definition:

1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse
1a) the share which one has in anything, participation
1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy
1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)
1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship

Act 2:43-47 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe, and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The way we treat each other is our witness

Joh 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”

To learn to love well we must live and learn together.
For us to change Gods way we must commit together and learn to live in community.
These next two weeks we will explore how to change Gods way we will learn to think and live together
In a way that makes no sense unless God exists.

Blessings,
Joe

• IN HOW WOULD HOLDING ALL THINGS IN COMMON BE DONE OUR LIVES TOGETHER?

Act 2:44-47 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common. and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart. praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

• HOW DID THIS PRACTICE AFFECT THEIR WITNESS?

Joh 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”

• WHAT IS ONE WAY FOR YOU TO CHANGE FROM THINKING ME TO US?
• WHY DO PEOPLE TEND TO TREAT THEIR CHURCH CONNECTION AS MORE OF A PLACE THAN AN INTERDEPENDENT GATHERING OF RELATIVES?
• WHY DO PEOPLE TEND TO TREAT THEIR CHURCH CONNECTION MORE LIKE A RELIGIOUS STORE THAN INTERDEPENDENT GATHERING OF RELATIVES?
• IN WHAT WAY DO WE NEED OTHERS TO HELP US GROW IN CHRIST?

Eph 4:11-13 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

• DESCRIBE HOW SOMEONE HAS HELPED YOU GROW AND ONE WAY YOU CAN HELP OTHERS?

Heb 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

• DESCRIBE HOW WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER THAN ALONE?

1 Pe 4:9-10 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Joh 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.