A living fellowship – a community of God’s people

The Bible talks about the church, the new team that we have joined, as a great secret which people in earlier times did not know. The Norwegian poet, Ronald Fangen, has said that God’s church is the greatest wonder of the world. This chapter will help you to find out about this great secret, this wonder that is called the Church.

We shall find out what it means to join a new team - Jesus’ team! What sort of fellowship does God want? What sort of church is Jesus building? What does it mean that you are now a living stone in a living building? What is a biblical church really like? What is the covenant community of God like?

When Jesus taught his disciples about who he was and what he had come to do, he asked them what they thought. Peter enthusiastically states his belief that Jesus is the Messiah/Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus praises Peter for this confession and says that it has been revealed to Peter by God. Upon this revelation of who Jesus is, he says he will build his church:

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt. 16.18)

What sort of church is Jesus building?

Ecclesia is the Greek word which is usually translated ‘church’ in our Bibles. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament which was in use in Jesus’ time, ecclesia was a translation of the Hebrew qahal which was used in the following ways:

A gathering of all able-bodied men for war (Gen. 49.6; 2 Sam. 20.14)

A gathering of people who entered into covenant together – covenant community (Deut.9.10; 10.4)

The people whom Yahweh, the Lord, has called together, those who are bound to his law and, through obedience, have a part in his covenant; they are the Lord’s church, the Lord’s people.

In Greece ecclesia was used in connection with calling the army together or summoning a town gathering of all those with the rights of citizenship. Those who then came constituted a town council and had authority to appoint military commanders, declare war, sign agreements, etc.

It is interesting to notice the linguistic background for ecclesia, the word Jesus used about the Church he would build. It is clear from what Jesus says about the Church that we must understand it within this frame of reference. The Church Jesus is building has power and authority. It represents the Kingdom of God and will be a powerful factor in changing this world. Jesus’ ecclesia is people he has called together to hear his word and do his will in the power which he supplies. The Church is God’s mighty instrument to bring in his kingdom.

Koinonia - fellowship - is another Greek word that is used about the church. It is one of the most beautiful words in the New Testament. It describes a close relationship between people who are faithful partners. It means to bind together, to have something in common, to give oneself to another, to be together, to have fellowship and to communicate - understand and be understood. The word stood for a fellowship where people are committed to one another in love, where they are partners and share their lives. They have values and experiences in common; they have a common life and a common goal and vision.

To the early Christian church the homes of the believers were the central place of fellowship and worship. The believers lived out their practical church-life as a corporate life of fellowship from house to house. They were regularly coming together in big gatherings. However, church-life was not connected to sacred buildings but to the community and fellowship they shared in their homes. Therefore the Bible in many places speaks about the church in your house (Rom.16:5; 1.Kor.16:19; Kol.4:15; Philemon 2). At the moment there is a great movement of the Spirit all over the world bringing Christians to discover the importance of the house-church concept of the New Testament. In fact, it is like a new reformation taking place in Christianity today. More and more believers are learning to appreciate the small cell-groups as the building blocs of the church. If you are part of a cell-group I am certain that you enjoy the warm fellowship, care, love, encouragement, and exhortation you are sharing with your fellow members of the group. Fellowship and community are key words to understand what the church really is. With no genuine fellowship or practical covenant community, - there is no church!

Against this background and with our starting point in the teaching of Jesus we will continue to look at the Church which Jesus is building.

Exercise:

To whom has the Lord joined you in the covenant community you are a part of?

What does the church in the home or the cell-group mean to you?

How often do you fellowship with the members in your group?

Continue to memorise Bible verses. Add this verse to your list:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)