Creating a Holy Spirit Filled Community
Acts 2:42 offers a profound glimpse into the life of the early church, capturing the essence of their community and practices. This verse states:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Each element highlights a vital aspect of their faith journey. From the teachings of the apostles to the sacred act of breaking bread, these practices formed a foundation for spiritual growth and unity, creating a supernatural community empowered by the Holy Spirit. In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of each component, revealing how they fostered a vibrant, transformative community centered on Christ that continues to inspire believers today.
As I have mentioned, this verse beautifully encapsulates the practices of the early church following its establishment. Each component, including the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers, carries deep spiritual significance for the people.
The Apostles' Doctrine refers to the teachings that were foundational for the believers. The doctrine was a guide to help the Apostles guide their faith and their conduct.
Fellowship emphasizes the importance of community among believers. It was about sharing life, and faith, and supporting unity for growth in Christ.
The phrase Breaking of Bread: or ‘the breaking of the bread’ is significant in that the definite article "the" indicates that this is not just any bread but a specific, significant bread. This phrase refers to the Lord's Supper, a sacred practice instituted by Jesus during the Last Supper. Beyond physical sustenance, breaking bread symbolizes spiritual nourishment through the teachings of the apostles and the fellowship of believers. It’s about feeding the spirit as well as the body.
It was the early Christians commitment to Prayer that is seen as their reliance on God and desire for spiritual growth.
Today we can embrace these same elements in our own lives, the doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. It is a model for how we, as Christians can live our lives and draw closer to God. We should allow the beauty of these age-old practices to inspire us and continue to seek and live out our faith in community. Mealtimes are one of those times we can invite people to break bread with us, it can be a time to share our faith, a time for building each other up and a time for strengthening our faith. Sharing a meal promotes a sense of belonging. The act of breaking bread signifies being part of a covenant community. Just as bread is shared among the members, so too is the life and mission of the church shared among its members.
The mission? To love others as Jesus loves us and to go make disciples.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of the early church in Acts 2:42. We ask for Your guidance as we strive to be steadfast in our faith, devoted to Your teachings, and committed to fellowship with one another. Help us to break bread together, share in the love of Christ, and lift our voices in prayer, seeking Your presence in our lives.
May our community reflect the unity and love found in Your Word. Fill us with Your Spirit as we grow together, encouraging one another in our walks of faith.
In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray.
Amen.