#4 Unbroken Fellowship
The disciples weren’t lone rangers. They didn’t try to change the world by themselves. As a matter of fact they knew that the only way the world could be won to Jesus was if everyone who claimed the Name was on board. So they spent countless hours in prayer, fellowship, worship, teaching, eating, and hanging out with other believers. Their goal? To see them transformed into the image of Jesus and, therefore, transformed into a missionary force (just like Jesus!)
The purpose of fellowship is not coffee and doughnuts, not warm fuzzies…the purpose of fellowship is alignment of a group of people around the person of Christ and mobilization toward a global mission. Think of it like a football game. You huddle (AKA “fellowship”) so that you can go out right after and execute a play (AKA “evangelism”) and those who trust Christ you bring back to the huddle.
Too often today in too many churches and youth groups we huddle to huddle. But we never execute the play. We stay locked in a huddle while the Enemy of our souls executes his plays with precision and power.
What’s the solution? See the huddle for what it is, an absolutely crucial element for your team to win the game of evangelism in your community, on your campus or in your workplace.
#5 Unthinkable Sacrifice
Okay, here is where feeding the poor and helping the helpless really kicked into overdrive in the book of Acts. Jews from all over the ancient world had gathered to celebrate Pentecost and thousands of them found a whole different reason to celebrate: they became believers in Jesus! The problem was that many had only planned a few days away from their homes for this annual Jewish celebration. As days passed there were many of these believing Jews who began to run out of cash and food. They had planned for a short getaway and it had turned into an extended vacation. They could have gone back home but a revival was bursting forth and they would rather go without food than check out before the party was over.
Here are Luke’s words describing the early believers’ solution in Acts 2, “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everytihng in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together….”
What’s the point? We are to sacrifice for each other. As believers in Jesus we need to do what it takes to help our fellow brothers and sisters in need. Right now as I type these words there are believers across the planet who are going without. We need to sacrifice our own money and possessions so that we can help those in need “especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
Why? So that the revival can keep going. So that they can keep spreading the good news of Jesus! So that the cause of Christ can keep advancing!
