Acts 2.42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2.42 Koinonia Life together

Individual focus 21 st century UK  Individual careers  Mobility in jobs  Learning one by one  Each child valuable  Faith is individual Together New Testament  Group identity  Loyalty to group  Family faith central  Look after family first  Faith is a group activity

 Acts 4.24: voices raised together cts 13.2: worshipping and fasting together cts 16.13: the prayer-place  Matthew 6.9 “Our Father….”

 Personal prayer for each other when appropriate  Being answerable to each other in Life Groups  Building mutual support in prayer meetings

 They broke bread in their homes (v.46)  They broke bread whenever they ate (Acts 20.7; 27.35)  Sharing a meal was a sacred bond (John 13.18)  Their meals were ‘love feasts’ (Jude v12)

 Jesus was present at every meal  Together - the Lord’s meal at the Lord’s table  A meal together focused them on Jesus, as he said (Luke 22.19)

20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

Together with Jesus at a meal Personal devotion in a service

 It focuses us on Jesus t expresses our life as Christ’s body t is a sign of our new allegiance

 It proclaims Jesus is alive  It is a feast of liberation  It is a declaration of revolution.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

From Acts 2.42 to today ? Not hidden away in meetings and rituals Being real in 21 st century context Building togetherness here, today.