There’s an intriguing paragraph tucked in at the end of Acts 2. It gives a brief description of the first church in Jerusalem. I wish it were longer, but I suspect God kept it short because he didn’t want everyone to try to make an exact replica out of it. But the principles listed there are important.
It starts with this statement: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
This verb “devoted themselves” carries the literal meaning of “being glued to something.” So the very first thing we are told about the apostolic church is that its members were glued to the teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayer meeting.
This week we returned after a fairly lengthy absence to the church we founded many years ago northwest of Toronto. We were delighted to find the church in great shape in spite of all the physical separation the various lockdowns here have imposed. Part of the reason was the strong sense of fellowship — being glued to one another — built into the church’s DNA.
Over the last year we’ve found that in many cases churches with this kind of DNA have prospered in spite of restrictions. Many have grown even when they couldn’t meet in person.
Jesus said that a house built upon the rock would surely stand. Every so often, we need to inspect our foundations to see whether they have strayed from the principles God laid down.
Our culture is all too often superficial and image-based. I believe that’s a direct reflection of the disintegration of the family unit. The church is or should be the best family on earth. It should be the place where genuine relationships of godliness, integrity and mutual commitment are found. And in a fractured society, that is a very strong drawing card.
Over the last year many of us have been out of fellowship, at least physically, due to circumstances beyond our control. Our coming back together should be a time of great joy. It should also remind us the enemy’s intention is to do everything he can to divide us, and thus destroy us.
None of us is perfect, and hence no church is perfect. If you ever found a perfect church, you’d ruin it the minute you walked in the door. But in a church that is truly glued together, there is grace to walk with one another in our mutual weaknesses in order to find his perfect strength.
I hope you value the spiritual family God has placed you in. The glue of fellowship is the foundational DNA of the local church.
Don’t get unstuck!
CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH DAVID & ELAINE CAMPBELL IN HELPING TO SUSTAIN THEIR ACTIVE MINISTRY.
AWAKENING MINISTRIES // FOUNDATION of FAITH Project
Foundation of Faith Project is strengthening generations in faith and bringing beautiful changes to the communities around them. Through teaching, mentoring and coaching, many are finding out who they are and who they are destined to be. They are bringing more to their world. David Campbell is the key leader in this initiative and you can support him financially directly through Awakening Ministries.
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