IBS Acts 2:44-45 (4-2-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Acts 2:44-45 (4-2-14)

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

These believers were together, had all things in common, and shared everything. They gave to anyone who had need. This was not “taking from the rich and giving to the poor”, this was everyone selling everything and dispersing it among themselves. There wasn’t anyone taking advantage of anyone else - they were all equal and everyone profited. 

If the essentials of the Christian faith are agreed upon (Jesus being fully Man and fully God, dying on the Cross, rising from the dead 3 days later, salvation being repentance and putting faith in Christ, etc.), and if you’re able to agree to disagree about nonessential things - then there should be a togetherness that happens. We should love one another as Christ loves the church and give to anyone who is lacking the necessities. 

In the book we read (Calvary Road), there was a chapter devoted to the relationship between fellow believers. What I got out if it was that if a believer does not have fellowship with other believers, he is cutting himself off from having a deeper relationship with God. You’ll only get to a certain level of intimacy with our Father if you aren’t partaking in the community of His other children.

Philippians 2:1 says that we are to have fellowship in the Spirit. 3:10 says that we have fellowship in Christ’s sufferings. 1 John 1:6-7 says that we are liars if we walk in darkness yet say we have fellowship with Christ, and that we can have fellowship with one another because Jesus’ blood cleanses our sin. All this to say that we are all the body of Christ because we’ve been cleansed by Christ’s blood and been filled with the Spirit, so we need to have fellowship and walk in the light together.

How am I striving to maintain fellowship with my brothers and sisters? Am I making an effort to build relationships with others? I am going to continue to pray with people on the spot when they ask for prayer or when I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to pray with them. I made a list the first week we got here of the people living here/involved in ministry here, and wanted to pray for them often. I’ve slacked off in that, so I want to pray for all the people on that list every day.