[The believers] were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Acts 2:42-43 (NASB)

 

We are called to share a common communal life with one another.

Worship, nurture, fellowship, and outreach are communal experiences in which we encounter God together. Without it, we will be unable to remain healthy and fulfil the mission that God has placed upon us. This is critical because we live in a world that values individualism and self-interest, leading many Christians to have a distorted view of church life.

Some Christians see community as optional.

They believe they can do well without community or relationships. This attitude has stifled their spiritual growth and maturity, causing them to either leave the church or become “drifters” wandering from one church to the next.

According to Hebrews 10:24-25, we are to gather as a people of God to encourage one another to love and do good actions. The word "provoke" means to "rouse, stir up, or excite". This “provoking” occurs in the context of a vibrant communal life rooted and grounded in the gospel. It explains why supernatural encounters were widespread in the early church. The emphasis placed on community life enables these believers to listen, discern, and act collectively on what God has revealed through His Spirit and Scripture.

To put it another way, a common communal life serves as the foundation and framework for a shared supernatural life. Then we learn to trust one another enough to work together to advance God's kingdom without s competition, strife, or rivalry.