Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Life among the Believers

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 

New converts often show great zeal and commitment to their faith and practice and this certainly seems to have been the case in the Early Church. The three thousand newly baptized members of the Christian community “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”. Each one of those four elements were important and are still key to our life of discipleship today.

The idea of holding all things in common is only really practiced now in monastic communities. However, our Methodistct Connection works on a similar principle of sharing. Our resources (which include people, property and finances) are not all controlled by the local church, and certainly not by any single individual!

The Greek word koinonia,  has much deeper and richer associations. Koinonia is connected to the word koinonos, which means companion or partner. This is the word used to describe the relationship that James and John had with Simon Peter as fishermen (Luke 5:10). Koinonia is a close-knit community of people with deep bonds. It can also be translated as ‘communion’ – a word that we now primarily associate in church with the sharing of bread and wine. The celebration of Holy Communion is (or should be!)  an experience of koinonia – an intimate sharing and participation that binds us both to one another and to Christ.

The twelve disciples knew what koinonia felt like because they had lived it day by day with Jesus. This passage affirms that the Early Church was able to know and experience koinonia with several thousand people as well as with a dozen. The implication is that this was possible because they met in small house groups (“they broke bread at home” – verse 46). That practice of meeting as a small class as well as in a larger worship setting was also one of the strengths of the early Methodist movement.  

Blessings as we all strive to maintain koinonia during this COVID-19 crisis.  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen!

 To Ponder:

• When have you experienced koinonia?
• What words best describe or translate koinonia for you?