Fellowship In The Early Church Leaders

FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

FELLOWSHIP IN

THE

YOUNG ADULT CELLS AUGUST 2005 WEEK 4

EARLY CHURCH

Leader’s Notes Learning Outcomes: Understand, Attitude

FOCUS: (10 mins) Agree/Not Agree Activity: Print out page 3 of the Leader’s notes and ask if they think that Acts 2:44, 45 was some kind of Christian communism? Have those who agree to stand/gather on one side and those who disagree to stand on the other side. Ask them to make a case for their standpoint.

Objective: At the end of this lesson, you will be able to: • Learn 2 ways in which the early church fellowshipped. • Compare fellowship in our context to those in the early church. • Share something personal about yourself to your group.

Invite them for a debate. (Try to excite them into the topic) Definition: Communism – a theory or system of social organization in which all property is vested in the community and each person contributes and receives to their ability and needs. Answer to the question: Yes and No. (But mainly NO) Yes – because they were living in community whereby there were sharing of resources. Yes – because they were redistribution of wealth. No – because they still have rights to their own property and possessions. No – because “everything in common” in verse 44 could not mean that they have equal amount of possessions or wealth. Rather, it may mean they have a common understanding/vision and unity in what the Lord is doing amongst them. (My interpretation) No – because not everyone sell their goods and possessions. In any case, the text didn’t say those who did, sold “ALL” of their possessions.

NOTE TO LEADERS: Please note that the cell meeting should officially end in about 1½ hour. Suggested format: Ice-breaker – 5 mins (Welcome) Worship – 20 mins (Worship) Lesson – 35 mins (Word) Sharing – 15 mins (Warmth) Prayer – 15 mins (Work) Note that you have the prerogative to interchange the above 5 components around. However, the whole cell meeting should have a smooth flow.

Some Differences between “Christian Communism” and “Secular Communism” (Marxism, Leninism, Maoism etc) Christian Communism Secular Communism 1) Voluntary 1) Forced 2) Under the Rulership of Jesus 2) Under the Rulership of a human dictator 3) Prompted by Love 3) Prompted by “anger” against injustice 4) Guided by the Holy Spirit 4)Enforced by Laws and Secret Police 5) Ability to meet man’s total needs (emotional, 5) Try to meet only man’s subsistence needs social, financial, spiritual). 6) 6)

I am sure there are more differences which you or your group can think of. You can fill them out in the table above. In doing these differences, try not to tell the members the answers, but rather, ask or lead them to the answers. YOU MAY HAND OUT THE MEMBER’S NOTES AT THIS TIME. Invite two or three persons to share on the discussion questions. Tell them in today’s lesson, we will continue with the theme of fellowship. We will look at two passages of Scriptures and see what fellowship is like in the early church.

NOTE: FOR COMPLIANCE!! PLEASE HAVE THE ICE-BREAKER UNLESS YOUR GROUP HAS LESS THAN 5 PEOPLE. I HAVE ATTENDED AND TAUGHT SOME GROUPS AND FOUND THAT HAVING THE ICEBREAKER BREAKS DOWN THE FAÇADE OF THE PEOPLE. IT CREATES A MORE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN AND BE MORE OPEN. YOU CAN HAVE ICE-BREAKER AFTER THE WORSHIP IF YOU WANT.

LEARNING ACTIVITY (15 mins) PART II, and III.

Divide the cell into 2 groups and assign each group to take a section of the member’s notes. That is, group 1  A Church that Shares; Group 2  A Church that Sacrifices. IF your cell group is large, you can divide them into 4 groups. Each group should not have more than 5 people to ensure participation from everyone. Leader’s Notes page 1 of 4

FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

YOUNG ADULT CELLS AUGUST 2005 WEEK 4

Give them 5 minutes to discuss the questions on their section and write down their answers. Remember to keep time. However, tell them NOT to do the discussion question under each section. It is meant to be discussed as a WHOLE cell group. Give them 1 minute to round up and let each group present their answers. Suggested Answers:

a. What does it mean to be “devoted” to something? (v42)

-

to give your time and effort to something. to set apart for a specific purpose or use.

b. How does fellowship relate to the other three activities: “apostles’ teaching”, “breaking of bread”, and “prayer”? (v42) - their purposes in coming together. They have a these goals in mind when meeting together. - they did not meet just to socialize or “makan” with one another.

c. If we take verse 44 literally, what are some of the implications?

- everybody will have the same wife, same IPOD, same shirts etc. This is impossible. So, “common” does not extend to all of their possessions.

d. Isn’t the practice of verse 45 too fanatical today? Why or why not? - Not really. I know of people who downgrade their house, sell their car to give to missions or to support someone for a Christian cause. Note the verse didn’t say they sell ALL of their possessions.

e. Why do you think the early Christians meet so frequently? Where do they meet? (v46) - because they enjoy meeting together. They have common vision and goal. They meet in church (temple courts) and in cell groups (homes). Emphasize why cell group is important: it connects every believers together.

a. What was the effect of trials and difficult times on these early Christians capacity for sharing? - helps them to grow and share together. God can use difficult times to refine us and the church.

b. How can someone give beyond his or her ability? (v2) - by sacrificing, cutting down on his own personal expenses, doing with less, sacrificing some luxuries and even necessities.

c. Why does money have to do with fellowship? (v3) - money is something that is close to everyone’s heart. It represents our security in life. If we can give away our money, it means it we are able to give a part of our life away to others.

d. Have you ever seen this kind of sharing? Explain. (v4) - Yes, in China. In fact, in many parts of the world where Christians are persecuted, believers only have each other. They genuinely love each other dearly. Should we pray for persecution to come? Hee. 

e. How do believers give “themselves” to each other? (v5) - they gave themselves to the Lord first.

Discussion (5 mins) Go through the two discussion questions with the whole cell group. Invite different ones to share their thoughts on the questions.

Leader’s Notes page 2 of 4

FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

IV.

Conclusion

YOUNG ADULT CELLS AUGUST 2005 WEEK 4

(15 mins)

(Incorp orating Members Sharing Time and Prayer) Do the action time. (Sharing) Try to get the members to open up. Usually, it may be difficult for the people to share openly in a big group. If your cell is very large, you may consider dividing them up for closer sharing. But the purpose is for members to get to know one another better. Their sharing can be related to their family or a part of their personal life. Try not to let them share generalities. As cell leader, you may have to start first by sharing something personal about yourself. Try also to get those who are more “talkative” to start first. This will help the mood of subsequent sharing.

Eg. They can share about their family situations. About experiences in their childhood that shapes them. About struggles they go thru as a young adult. About life and their outlook. About their fears and apprehension. About their dreams and desires etc.

Leader’s Notes page 3 of 4

FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

YOUNG ADULT CELLS AUGUST 2005 WEEK 4

A Church That Shares “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” - Acts 2:44, 45 Do you think this “Christian communism”?

was

Leader’s Notes page 4 of 4