Lesson 5: Fellowship 63
Christ-followers were devoted to: 1) the apostles’ teaching, 2) the
fellowship, 3) the breaking of bread, and 4) prayer.) Each of these
activities will be discussed in the following steps.- Ask, Why would these new believers devote themselves to “the apos-
tle’s teaching?” Explain that the only source of information about
Jesus for these new believers was the teaching of the apostles, since
the Gospels had not yet been written. Learning about Jesus and his
new way of life required face-to-face interaction. - Skip the discussion of “fellowship” until Step 7.
- If possible, display a small communion cup and a piece of bread.
Ask, What do these items remind you of? (The observance of Lord’s
Supper.) Explain that “the breaking of bread” may suggest that
these new believers celebrated the Lord’s Supper together regularly.
Ask, What else may Luke have meant by “the breaking of bread?”
Discuss the role that enjoying meals together has in building rela-
tionships between friends. - Point out that prayer was a vital element of the new believers’ lives.
Ask a class member to read aloud Luke 19:45–46. Explain that Jesus
considered the temple to be a place where people should come to
pray. Note that these early Jewish Christ-followers would have likely
continued to gather at the temple for prayer, in addition to praying
in home gatherings and privately. - Ask, Which item from the list of activities in Acts 2:42 has not yet
been discussed? Comment that “fellowship” described the quality of
relationship the believers shared because of their common commit-
ment to Jesus (and to the apostles’ teaching, the breaking of bread,
and prayer.) This connection among the first believers was made
even stronger because of the experiences they shared. - Ask members to read Acts 2:43–47 silently, looking for ways that
“fellowship” was exhibited in the lives of these new believers. Call
on class members to share one of the illustrations of fellowship that
is described in these verses and list these on a marker board. Allow
time for discussion. - Direct members to turn to Romans 12:3 in their Bibles. Divide
the class into two groups. Ask one group to read Romans 12:3–8.