God is all about relationships. Read Acts 2:24-27. God sent Jesus so that we could be reconciled to God. Jesus' death on the cross was the price of forgiveness. Now we can be fully forgiven of our sins and live in peace with God and one another. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are gifted an eternal relationship with God. Relationship is the reason God created us, loves us, redeems us, and wants to be with us. Authentic community in the early church placed fellowship as a priority. Today’s scripture is often referred to as a summary. But it also gives us great insight into the behavior of the early Christians in the very first “church.” The church was then and is now “a group of people who come together for worship, fellowship, and service." Because Christianity was illegal until after 300 AC, there were no church buildings. Worship services were conducted in homes, caves, and outdoors. These gatherings almost always included a time of fellowship and breaking bread. Worship is our time to come together and focus on our relationship with God. Fellowship is our time to focus on our relationships with one another. We share our lives with one another in a warm and safe environment to form an authentic community. Warmth is produced by our kindness to one another. Joy is produced by sharing laughter. Trust is produced when we are honest. Safety is produced through respecting each other for who we are and working toward reconciliation. The early church modeled itself as an authentic Christian community. This “summary” is a blueprint for how we can still be a church family today.

Holy God, we lift up the church. Help us to form a holy, authentic community in our congregation. Let us love you through worship, love one another in fellowship, and love our community through service. Amen.