

Sermon Notes
Any Prayer Requests
"Let's Have Church" – ANY PRAYER REQUESTS
Main Text: Acts 2:42-45 (ESV)
Acts 2:42-45 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 2:42b - "...and to fellowship..."
Point 1: Church People Have Fellowship
The Greek word fellowship is "koinonia" it means "in common, sharing".
The Greek New Testament was written in koine Greek. (common language). Our faith is a sharable faith.
- The fellowship of the church denotes intimacy and unique sharing Christians have with God and other Christians.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV) There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
- Because there is one body, one Spirit, One hope, One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all
1 John 1:3 (ESV) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ
- True Fellowship comes from having shared beliefs, common teaching, and similar experiences with each other. – "That we have seen and heard"
- One thing experienced in communion. Communion is how we remember the Lord's death, remember the Lord's body was broken on the cross for you and with the cup remember the blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins to establish the new covenant or contract that we have with him.
- Fellowship extends to our shared relationship with the Father and his Son Jesus "with the Father and with His son"
- Bases of church fellowship is not ethnicity, culture, it is the commonality of our relationship with Jesus
Benefit of fellowship: #1 - Natural Benefit
Feeling of belonging.
- Here You are not weird.
- We are communal beings. God called a people to himself and gave them a place of our own.
Benefit of fellowship: #2 Spiritual Benefit
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Spur one another to love and good works
- Fellowship gets you in your Bible, you hear people quoting scripture or sharing Bible truths and you say for real. Where is that at?
- Encouraging one another all the more as the day of the lord gets closer.
Romans 12:4-8 (ESV) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- In the church and the fellowship you get to utilize your God given gift.
- How many of us struggle with commitment in a relationship. Sometimes it is easier just to run and start over.
Point 2: Fellowship Restores Relationship With Each Other
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 (ESV) Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(Go back to 2 Cor 13:11)
Aim for restoration (repair, perfection)
- Aim to be restored, sometimes we come into the church as broken people, but the church is a place you can be restored.
- Church is a place where my relationship to God is restored. A place I can grow in the things of God and repair the areas of my life I have let the enemy in.
Comfort one another: Encourage one another. Someone may be going through a hard time right now. Funerals, Financial issues, Family issues. Let them know that nothing is to hard for God. Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy is coming.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
- Bless be God who is the father of mercies and comfort
- God comforts us so we can comfort others who are afflicted
- Afflicted: pressure, burdens, trouble
2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (ESV) For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
- "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord Delivers them out of them all." Psalm 34:19 David said
(go back to 2 Cor 13:11)
Agree with one another: Sometimes, you fall out with someone in the community. There is disagreement on an issue, a practice, or a situation.
Phil 4:2-3 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
- Paul was more concerned with maintaining unity in the Church. We don't see that as a sin that he needed to correct in the letter. Paul urged them to find agreement.
- You are serving, your name is the lamb's book of life, you have the Spirit of God in your life, then you should be able to work it out.
- If there needs to be humility (I blew it, Forgive me
- Paul disagreed with Barnabas over John Mark.
Live in peace.
- Don't stir up strife, and divisions.
Point 3: Fellowship Restores relationship with God
Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
- Are some people brothers caught in sin/ transgression
- If you are spiritual, restore him.
- If you are carnal and worldly and barely hanging on you work on yourself, but if you are spiritual. Walk in the truth, patience, love, kindness, gentleness and self control.
- Teach him repentance,
- Teach confession the blood of Jesus is able to cleanse him from sin.
- Keep watch, lest you be tempted
- Bear one another's burdens – We will walk with you through it
- Walk out the Law of Christ. John 13:34 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
1 John 1:6-9 (ESV) If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Walk in the light. The blood of Jesus cleanses us. (Fire and Light)
Church People Pray
Today I had you pray because church people are people who pray.
The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
- Acknowledge who you are talking to, reverence his name
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- Step into your priestly role of intercession for the world
- Pray that God's will, will be done on earth and his influence will reign on earth
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
- Ask for physical needs: food, shelter, I need help, a job, healing, family
12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Ask for spiritual things: Forgiveness, ability to forgive others patience, humility
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil
- Ask for direction and guidance, and deliverance from evil, victory in your life
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- Conclude with praise.
This model of Praise, Intercession, Request
The Impact of a Praying Church
Acts 4:29-31 (ESV) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
James 5:14-16 (ESV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Finally: Church People Are Generous
Acts 2:44-46 (ESV) And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
Galatians 6:10 (ESV) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Proverbs 19:17 (ESV) Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.
Church people use their resources to meet the needs of the Church people.
- Everybody didn't sell everything, it said they eat at peoples houses. But it looks like when someone had a need some would do what they could to help a brother out.
- How many people do you know at the church or do you come in? Sing, shout, and leave. How many people have you helped? Have you shared with anyone? The Church is a community.
There was a song as Long as I got King Jesus I don't need nobody else.
- Adam needed somebody
- Even Jesus made friends.
- They told Jesus that his friend Lazarus is dead.
- Jesus said to his disciples. I call you friends for all that I have heard from my father I told you.
Mark 10:28-30 (ESV) Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
- Jesus replaces any lost natural family with a new Christian family.
Discussion Questions
- The Greek word "koinonia" (fellowship) means "in common, sharing." What do you have in common with other believers that creates true biblical fellowship?
- The message states that the basis of church fellowship is not ethnicity or culture, but our relationship with Jesus. How does this challenge cultural divisions or preferences you might have?
- Hebrews 10:24-25 warns against "neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some." What habits or priorities are keeping you from consistent fellowship with other believers?
- Second Corinthians 13:11 says to "aim for restoration." Are you currently in the church as a broken person seeking restoration, or are you helping restore others?
- The passage emphasizes that God comforts us so we can comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-4). What comfort have you received from God that you could use to help someone else?
- Paul urged Euodia and Syntyche to "agree in the Lord" despite their disagreement. Is there someone in your church community you need to reconcile with or find agreement with?
- Galatians 6:1 instructs those who are "spiritual" to restore someone caught in sin with gentleness. Are you spiritually mature enough to help restore others, or do you need to work on yourself first?
- The Lord's Prayer provides a model: Praise, Intercession, Request. How does your current prayer life compare to this model?
- Acts 2:44-45 describes believers sharing possessions and meeting needs. When was the last time you used your resources to help meet someone's need in the church?
- Mark 10:29-30 promises that Jesus replaces any lost natural family with a new Christian family. Have you experienced this, or are you still treating church like a place you "sing, shout, and leave"?
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Lets Have ChurchSpeaker
Pastor Lee Fuller
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