Vital Churches are a community of believers! 

In other words, they thrive to look like the first community of believers we read about in Acts 2: 42-47, 

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. ESV. 

In this article, I’ll reflect on what being a community of believers means drawing on the above scripture. 

This reflection is, therefore, the first in a series of four looking at how we can make our Churches be a true community wherever we’re established. 

 

 

 

All the people living in an area or a group of people who share common interests. Yourdictionary.com. 

There you go. You would agree with me there are two things that can help us establish a community: 

• • • A belief system.
    • Space (environment). 

Keep in mind that the order is first you should be clear about your belief system. That means space comes second. 

[bctt tweet=”Struggling and declining Churches are the ones that place their focus first on space, building, budget, classrooms, and all the other physical or financial stuff. Thriving Churches, on the other hand, are the ones that start with clarifying their belief system to accomplish their mission.” username=””]

 

 

Here’s how our Christian belief system should look like

 

 

Our Christian belief system is that we have faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. A community of believers means that it has members who have made Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

They believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. He died and rose from the dead the third day. Later, after spending time with the disciples, He ascended into heaven.

Now, He is seated on the right hand of the Father. One day, He will come back to judge the quick and the dead. 

That’s our belief. 

It doesn’t stop there. Our belief system calls us into action. 

First, we respond to our faith in Jesus Christ by repenting from our sin and all our sinful way of life. 

Second, we are baptized through water and the Holy Spirit. Baptism sets us on a journey of holiness (sanctification) and witnessing. 

 

 

Believers Devote Themselves to Christ

 

 

Read Acts 2: 42, 

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

A community of believers has its members who choose to devote to four things: 

• • • The Word. 
    • Community. 
    • Fellowship. This kind of fellowship isn’t limited only to what you have at your Church before or after worship (or any Church activity). 
    • Prayers. 

[bctt tweet=”People want to belong to a community, which helps everyone experience a true and sincere Christian fellowship grounded in prayer and the Word. ” username=””]

 

 

The Power of Being a Community of Believers

 

Read Acts 2: 43-47,

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

There are four things that come out of being a Community of Believers. First, God takes over, and, therefore, performs wonders and signs. 

Jesus, in His own words, promised to the disciples, and us all today: 

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Just as God performed wonders and signs, we should always be looking forward to God’s mighty working in a community of believers. 

You probably wonder why we don’t see signs and wonders among us. Not long ago, during our Men’s Bible study, we had that discussion too. 

I know God has been doing so many things, which, a lot of times, we don’t notice. We shouldn’t always expect spectacular signs and miracles. 

How many times, a car has missed hitting you? Or, what about the fall you had in the past, but did not break anything in you? 

There are several moments, God has done miracles for you. We should all pray and ask God to help us see God and His working in our lives! 

The second thing that comes with a Community of Believers is that there is unity and true Christian fellowship. 

[bctt tweet=”If there is something that will make your Church more appealing to others is how you display true unity and sincere fellowship among you.” username=””]

It’s not how beautiful your building may be. Neither is it the number of people who attend your Church activities. 

Don’t get me wrong here. Even though the above are very essential to the life of our Churches. They will, however, never take the place of the kind of community to which, most people want to belong. 

Third, space for fellowship isn’t limited to the Church (temple) only, but they also meet in their homes. 

Again, a Church building is an important asset to have. But, it does not have to replace the concept that fellowship transcends physical space (or building). 

In other words, it happens wherever our people may be. 

Last, but not least, in a Community of Believers, people grow as individual followers of Jesus Christ as the community also grows in numbers. 

That’s what happened in the first Community of Believers according to Acts 2. And, it can also happen in our Churches today if we choose to be a Community of Believers. 

 

 

Bringing it together

To be a vital Church, we need to become a Community of Believers. In this community, every member is devoted to the word, prayer, fellowship, and community. Members of the community do it in response to their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.