The Crucial Need for Fellowship in a Darkening World

Shared on February 9, 2025

Introduction

If we can’t come together in fellowship today, we’re in big trouble.  God did not create us to take on life without each other!  In our lesson this week, we will look at both the necessity and importance of fellowship.

The Early Church

Our lesson this week records a coming together of believers either on the day of Pentecost or shortly afterward.  Personally, I believe the later part of Acts 2 is a recording of what occurred shortly after the day of Pentecost.

You see, on the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and Peter had preached his first sermon. On that day, we’re told that about 3,000 people, repented were baptized, and added to the way of Christ (Acts 2:40-41).

Now, the early church shared a special kind of love and fellowship which I would love to see present in today’s congregation.  When I was growing up, there was a special kind of love and fellowship in the congregation that was incredibly uplifting.  However, over time, as those who led the church have grown older and are passing away, such love and community is beginning to fade. 

As a pastor of a very small congregation, I often sit and wonder what I can do to help bring back such a fellowship in the church.  After COVID-19, many have grown more comfortable with not attending church service.  There is a notion that one doesn’t have to attend church in person to worship the Lord.  

I feel like those who love to use this notion often misunderstand the purpose of congregating together in faith.  There is a reason why the writer of Hebrews encouraged believers not to forsake assembling together (Heb. 10:25). As I preach about often, there is great strength and power when we stand united together in person than apart. We will see this beauty in the next few verses of our lesson.

Believers Coming Together

In Acts 2:43, we read, “Then fear came upon every soul”.  Let’s not mistake this fear with the fear of being afraid.  The early believers lived in astonishment of the works that the apostles were able to do.  For example, on the day of Pentecost, many foreigners marveled at the apostles speaking in their tongues. Here’s proof that God’s word is for everybody and not just one nation or group of people.

In Acts 2:44-45, the early believers came together, sold their possessions, and shared their profits so that nobody was in need.  So, they were participating in community living – devotion to the needs of each other rather a devotion to oneself.

This kind of living is argued over in politics and has created a lot of division in our land.  Some might liken the early church’s community living to that of socialism.  I don’t think those of the early church concerned themselves with such a poisonous mindset.  The only thing that mattered to them was that of trying to live in obedience to the way of Christ – living in a way of love. 

Let’s notice the beauty of their coming together in faith, love, and fellowship.  Acts 2:46 tells us that they were on one accord, with them sharing amongst each other, and eating together with gladness and simplicity of heart.  Gladness and simplicity of heart speaks to peace of mind – God’s greatest blessings to mankind! The people lived together in need of nothing as they were able to supply each other’s needs.

Difficulty Coming Together  

Coming together in such a manner shouldn’t be difficult, but it has certainly proven difficult today.  We barely live in devotion to our family and friends, nonetheless a stranger. There are people who call themselves Christians today who despise people because they speak a different language, look differently, dress differently, and move differently. Is that right?

There is a grand effort right now as I type this that is moving against awareness and inclusivity. I’ve seen people on social media say that such programs are sinful. When did it become sinful to bring awareness to the plight of others? When did it become sinful to love others no matter their race or creed? Jesus plainly tells us to love all people, included those who are our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48).

Why is it so difficult to come together?

My honest answer to this question points back to something I preached at the beginning of the year – our devotion is in the wrong place.  There was a time when we used to be more devoted to each other; as a people, we looked out for one another and helped each other.  Nowadays, we don’t talk to each other anymore nonetheless look out for or help each other.

Our devotion today is more inward-focused rather than outward.  The selfish mindset is a mindset that will never work when it comes to coming together in fellowship.  Fellowship requires one to be selfless rather than selfish.  We have let the worldly mindset of selfishness hinder us from uniting together in fellowship.

Because we don’t come together, there has been little to no progress throughout the world.  Think about it, how much social progress has truly been made from the days of scripture to this present time?  In my opinion:  not enough.  The same hate that was present before I entered the world is still very much present and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon.

Fellowship Breeds Progress

Acts 4:32-35 almost sounds like a repeat of what was written in Acts 2:43-47.  The one difference I do want to point out about this passage of scripture is that the recording of Acts 4 took place after the early church faced some hindrances.  

For example, in Acts 4:1-4, both Peter and John were arrested while preaching because the Sadducees were disturbed they were preaching Christ.  In Acts 4:5-12, both Peter and John had to stand before the same council that had Jesus crucified.  Rather than putting Peter and John to death, the council commanded them not to teach or preach the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18).

We are often met with hindrances in life, aren’t we?  Yes, some people will try to hinder you from progressing forward in life.  Many will tell you what you can or cannot do.  Sadly, many of us can become discouraged by listening to such negativity.

When Peter and John returned to the church community, they prayed and rejoiced together.  There is truth in the saying that there is power when we come together.  You see, the enemy leads an effort to scatter and divide because it is easier to destroy that which is divided.

I truly do believe we are living in a time where we must unite together in both faith and fellowship.  Faith, love, and fellowship will prosper us rather than see us fall.  In fact, God loves it when we come together in such fellowship.  So, let us come together today and when we come together, we will lift each other up great heights.