Devoted to Fellowship:

Q: What does it mean that the early church was devoted to fellowship with one another and to breaking bread together? Why is this important for our Lifegroups and how do I help my group live this out?

As a Lifegroup leader, the type of authentic Christian community described in the book of Acts is an incredibly important value to our Lifegroups. This guide equips you to lead both yourselves and others in this value!

What is Devotion to Fellowship and to Breaking Bread?

Acts 2.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...

Devotion to fellowship and breaking bread together marked the life of disciples gathered around Jesus in the Gospels and in the early church of the New Testament. They spent time together. They gave to each other to meet needs. They were consistent in each other's lives. They ate together in each other's homes and shared life together with joy and sincerity of heart. 

It’s our desire to build Lifegroups marked by this value as well. When we talk about this value, we are speaking to cultivating loving, authentic, joyful intentional Christ-centered communities in Lifegroup.

Why This Value Matters: 

In Christ, God has adopted us into His family. And the New Testament is filled with commands of how this new spiritual family is to relate to one another. 

We are to love one another (John 13:34, 35), honor one another (Romans 12:10), greet one another (Romans 16:16), welcome one another (Romans 15:7), show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9), have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16), forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32), bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2, 3), bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), comfort one another (2 Corinthians 13:11a), care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25), encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25), build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), do good to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15), submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21), speak truth to one another (Ephesians 4:25) and many more.

Lifegroups that are devoted to fellowship and that break bread together live out this vision and help people experience church as a spiritual family.

How Do I Help My Group Live This Value Out?

Here are seven ways to build a community devoted to fellowship and breaking bread together:

1. Lead by example: The way you and your leadership team love people and build community will set the tone for your Lifegroup. Jesus is our model for being devoted to fellowship and breaking bread. As leaders we want to follow His example in our own lives and in leading our Lifegroups

Here are a few ways He lived this value out: 

  • Jesus loved His disciples: John 13:34-35: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

  • Jesus was friends with His disciples: John 15:15: I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends.

  • Jesus served His disciples: John 13.13-15 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

  • Jesus ate with His disciples: Luke 24:30 - "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them."

  • Jesus took time to know His disciples deeply: John 1:42 - Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You are Simon... You will be called Cephas"

  • Jesus encouraged His disciples:  Matthew 16:17 - "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood"

  • Jesus wept with His disciples: John 11:35-36: Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  

As leaders, our goal is to follow Jesus and to love others as He has loved us. As we do this we partner with the Lord in cultivating a community marked by this kind of love.

2. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give your group an overflowing love for one another: Follow Paul’s lead and make this a regular topic of prayer: 1 Thessalonians 3.12-13 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

3. Cast Vision For This Type of Community: If people have grown up in worldly environments they will not be familiar with this type of Christ-centered community. If they have grown up in church and are familiar with Sunday School classes or Bible study classes, they may not realize the vision for community that we seeking to build in Lifegroup. Don’t assume, but be intentional to cast vision for the type of community you are seeking to build. 

4. Build discipleship groups within your Lifegroup. Discipleship groups create space for people to be able to share their life stories, their victories and struggles, to pray for one another and encourage one another. 

5. Eat Together: Few things build bonds like sharing meals together. Celebrate birthdays, graduations, new jobs, new babies etc. In addition to regular meals, take communion together. 

6. Serve one another: Look for ways to serve one another in the group. Help each other move. Put together meal trains when someone has a baby. Give financially to one another as there are needs. 

7. Be Consistent: Relationships change lives, but grow slowly over time. The word devotion in our passage means to be steadfast and persistent. Be consistent and watch the Lord work. 

Next Steps:

What is the Holy Spirit highlighting as you and your group's next step in growing in this value?