TEXT:  Acts 2:42;  Eph. 4:11-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OUR TEXTS STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP AMONG MEMBERS

          OF THE CHURCH.

          1.       One says that fellowship was continued stedfastly in.

          2.       Eph. emphasizes the interaction of the members of the body.

B.      FELLOWSHIP IS NEVER USED IN THE SCRIPTURES OF SOCIAL EVENTS,

          THOUGH IT MAY BE INCLUDED IN OUR USAGE.  WE NEED TO STOP

          FROM TIME TO TIME TO STUDY OUR SCRIPTURAL INTERACTION

          TOGETHER.

I.      STUDY Acts 2:41-47 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE

        RELATION OF SAINTS TO ONE ANOTHER.

A.      THEY WERE TAUGHT BY THE APOSTLES.

          1.       The church built upon apostle's teaching ( Eph. 2:20-22;  1 Cor. 3:10-11 ).

          2.       The apostle's teaching from Jesus( Luke 10:16;  John 8:31-32 ).

          3.       United in those teachings( Eph. 4:5 ).

B.      THEY JOINED WITH THE OTHERS IN WORK( vs. 44 ).

          1.       Notice the emphasis on the word "they"( 5:42;  8:4;  11:19 ).

C.      THEY LEARNED TO PRAY - CONTINUED STEADFASTLY

          ( 1 Thes. 5:17;  Acts 4:23-31; ).

D.      THEY SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER MATERIALLY( Heb. 10:32-36 ).

E.      THEY MET TOGETHER - DAILY - HOUSE AND TEMPLE.

          1.       Heb. 10:25.

          2.       Rom. 12:9-13.

F.      THEY WERE NOT ASHAMED TO PRAISE GOD( 1 Pet. 4:15-16 ).

G.      THEY BORE DAILY FRUIT( vs. 47;  Mat. 9:36-38 ).

H.      THEY HAD A GOOD NAME( vs. 46;  Mat. 5:16;  1 Pet. 2:9-12 ).

II.     THE CHURCH AS A BODY( EPH. 4:11-16 ).

A.      "THROUGH THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH, ACCORDING TO

          THE WORKING IN DUE MEASURE OF EACH SEVERAL PART..."

          ( Rom. 12:3-8 ).

B.      IF EVERY MEMBER DID JUST LIKE ME IN:

          1.       Attendance

          2.       Giving

          3.       Reaching the Lost.

          4.       Attitude.

What kind of congregation would we have?

III.    THE CHURCH AS A FAMILY( 1 Tim. 3:15;  Heb. 3:6;  Eph. 2:19 ). 

        WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF FAMILY

        RELATIONSHIPS?

A.      AUTHORITY - THE FATHER( Heb. 12:9;  Eph. 3:14 ).

B.      LOVE AMONG THE MEMBERS( John 13:34-35 ).  PARENT TO CHILD,

          CHILD TO PARENT, CHILD TO CHILD.

C.      BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES( 1 Pet. 1:3-5;  1 John 3:1-3;  Heb. 2:11-18 ).

IV.   "ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES."

A.      John 13:34-35;  1 John 4:7.  LOVE.

B.      Gal. 6:2.  BEAR BURDENS.

C.      Heb. 3:13;  10:24-25.  EXHORT AND PROVOKE...DAILY.

D.      1 Thes. 5:11.  BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP.

E.      James 5:16.  CONFESS SINS AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.

CONCLUSION: 

OUR FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER IS OUR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE.