Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 12
Sunday


A NEIGHBOR
ON THE FENCE

READ:
Acts 2:41-47
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All who believed were
together. __Acts 2:44
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The fence around the side yard of our home was showing some wear and tear, and my husband, Carl, and I decided we needed to take it down before it fell down. It was pretty easy to disassemble, so we removed it quickly one afternoon. A few weeks later when carl was raking the yard, a woman who was walking her dog stopped to give her opinion: "Your yard looks so much better without the fence. Besides, I don't believe in fences." She explained that she liked "community" and no barriers between people.

While there are some good reasons to have physical fences, isolating us from our neighbors is not one of them. So I understood our neighbor's desire for the feeling of community. The church I attend has community groups that meet once a week to build relationships and to encourage one another in our journey with God. The early church gathered together daily in the temple (Acts 2:44,46). They became one in purpose and heart as they fellowshiped and prayed. If they struggled, they would have companions to lift them up (see Ecel. 4:10).

Connection to a community of believers is vital in our Christian walk. One way that God chooses to show His love to us is through relationships. __Anne Cetas

````````````````````````Blest be the tie that binds`````````````````````
```````````````````````Our hearts in Christian love!````````````````````
`````````````````````The fellowship of kindred minds```````````````````
`````````````````````Is like to that above. __fawcett```````````````````
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We all need christian fellowship
to build us up and hold us up.

***************************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 2:41-47***************************

41 Then those who gladly
received his word were
baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were
added to them. 42 And they
continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers.

43 Then fear came upon
every soul, and many
wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.

44 Now all who believed
were together, and had all
things in common, 45 and
sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them
among all, as anyone had
need.

46 So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from
house to house, they ate
their food with gladness
and simplicity of heart,

47 praising God and having
favor with all people.
And the Lord added to the
church daily those who
were being saved.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In today's reading, we see a preview of many of the functions of the
local church. The early pattern of acceptance into church fellowship
included believing the gospel, personal conversion, and baptism
(v.41). Central to the spiritual nurture of these new believers was
teaching in the Word of God. The regular observance of communion
by partaking of the bread and the cup reminded them of Christ's
sacrifice (v.42). Then through the fellowship of believers, the gospel
was shared as a way of life (v.46).