AUGUST 10, 2025 | STEVE PIXLER
We are focused on two things today:
TODAY’S LITURGY: Today is an EXPERIMENT with an EXPERIENCE: We are doing church today like the early church did so we can recapture the experience they shared in the first century. (The secret sauce of the early church was THE TABLE.)
GROUPS: We are also opening signups for Groups today, and THE TABLE liturgy that we are sharing reflects the simple liturgy we will use in Freedom Life Groups.
Let’s read our text for today:
Acts 2:41–47 (ESV): 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
42 And they DEVOTED themselves to the apostles’ TEACHING and the FELLOWSHIP (KOINONIA), to the BREAKING OF BREAD (COMMUNION) and the PRAYERS.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Let’s look closely at ACTS 2:42:
Acts 2:42 (ESV): And they DEVOTED themselves to the apostles’ TEACHING and the FELLOWSHIP (KOINONIA), to the BREAKING OF BREAD (COMMUNION) and the PRAYERS.
The worship of the early church was arranged around these four things. Indeed, the liturgy of many “high church” congregations is still arranged around these four things, reflecting the priestly ministry of the temple.
The Teaching: The brazen laver
The Fellowship: The golden candlestick
The Breaking of Bread: The table of presence-bread
The Prayers: The golden altar of incense
THE FELLOWSHIP in this verse is THE KOINONIA. The teaching, communion and prayers are fairly well understood, but we need to think through what koinonia is all about. As we shall see, koinonia lies at the heart of Christian teaching and practice (orthodoxy and orthopraxy).
ETYMOLOGY: The word “koinonia” comes from the Greek adjective “koinos,” which means “common, shared, belonging to all, or public.” From this, the noun “koinonia” is formed, meaning “fellowship, partnership, sharing, participation, or communion.”
Related words are “koinonos” (a partner, sharer, or participant); “koinoneo" (the verb: “to share in,” “to have in common,” or “to participate”); “sunkoinonos” (a joint-partner or co-sharer). So, koinonia essentially carries the sense of “having something in common,” particularly in relationship, possession, or action.
→ In non-Christian and secular Koine Greek, the word koinonia had a broad social and civic meaning, used in:
Business & Contracts — Referring to partnerships or joint ownership, such as in a trade agreement or business venture.
Marriage & Household — Koinonia could describe the intimate relationship between spouses, a shared life.
Political & Civic life — Used by Plato and Aristotle to describe civic community or commonwealth (sharing laws, goals, or goods).
Religious/Cultic usage — Participating in sacrificial meals or religious rituals with others was called koinonia. This meaning directly parallels Paul’s use in 1 Corinthians 10:16–21, where Christians participate (koinonia) in the body and blood of Christ, as pagans shared in idol feasts.
→ The New Testament adopts koinonia to describe:
Fellowship with God and Christ (e.g., 1 John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 1:9)
Fellowship with believers (Acts 2:42)
Sharing resources (Romans 15:26; Galatians 6:6)
Participation in sufferings (Philippians 3:10)
Communion with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Koinonia was radically redefined by the early Christians. Kingdom koinonia goes beyond legal, political, or social partnership. It implies spiritual union, self-giving, and mutual participation in divine life and the church community. In the NT and early Christianity, koinonia became a foundational word for Christian identity: life together in Christ, sharing everything—faith, suffering, resources, and mission.
→ Here are a few of the passages in the New Testament where koinonia is used:
Acts 2:42 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Acts 2:44 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common (koina—variant of koinonia, “things in common”).”
Romans 15:26 – “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution (koinonia) for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship (koinonia) of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 10:16 – “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation (koinonia) in the body of Christ?”
1 Corinthians 10:17 – (parallel, Greek koinonoumen, “we participate”)
2 Corinthians 6:14 – “For what partnership (koinonia) has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 8:4 – “Urgently pleading with us for the privilege (koinonia) of sharing in this service to the saints.”
2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission … and by the fellowship (koinonia) of sharing in the responsibilities of the saints…”
2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Galatians 2:9 – “…James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (koinonia).”
Galatians 6:6 – “Let the one who is taught the word share (koinoneito) all good things with the one who teaches.” (This is the verbal form koinoneo, meaning “let him share/participate”.)
Philippians 1:5 – “…because of your partnership (koinonia, “sharing”) in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Philippians 2:1–2 – “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any fellowship (koinonia) with the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…”
Philippians 3:10 – “…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship (koinonia) of his sufferings…”
Philippians 4:14–15 – “Yet it was kind of you to share (synkoinoneo) my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership (ekoinonesan) with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
1 John 1:3 – “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship (koinonia) with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
1 John 1:6 – “If we say we have fellowship (koinonia) with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Hebrews 10:33 – “Sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners (koinonia) with those so treated.”
Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share (koinonia); for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Simply put, Christian koinonia means that you have joined a community, a “society” of sorts, where you are committed to the care and well-being of fellow Christians. In a practical sense, koinonia was done in three ways among Christians:
COMMUNION: 1 Corinthians 10:16 – “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation (koinonia) in the body of Christ?” (As we shall see in a future message, the first instance of koinonia and communion being linked together symbiotically is in Genesis 14 where Melchizedek brings bread and wine and Abram presents the tithe. This was continued in the temple. More on that later.)
EDIFICATION: Philippians 2:1–4 (ESV): “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation (koinonia) in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Also, though Paul does not use the word “koinonia,” 1 Corinthians 12-14 show how we build each other up.
GIVING: Giving is the primary expression of koinonia in the New Testament. The early church gave to people, not programs or buildings, as we so often do these days. The early church gave regularly to three groups of people: (1) preachers/teachers; (2) widows/orphans; and (3) the POOR/NEEDY. Here are a few passages that show how they gave:
Acts 2:44 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common (koina—variant of koinonia, “things in common”).”
Acts 4:32–35 – “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common (koina). 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Romans 15:26 – “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution (koinonia) for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.”
2 Corinthians 8:4 – “Urgently pleading with us for the privilege of sharing (koinonia) in this service to the saints.”
2 Corinthians 9:10–15 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving (eucharistian) to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings (eucharistion) to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution (koinonias) for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Galatians 6:6-10 – “Let the one who is taught the word share (koinoneito) all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Philippians 4:14–20 – “Yet it was kind of you to share (synkoinoneo) my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into PARTNERSHIP (ekoinonesan) with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share (koinonia); for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
That’s koinonia. And it is the heart and soul of the Christian faith and practice. It is what made the early church so effective.
As we wrap up the message today, I will first of all invite new believers to join our koinonia community. Then, we will put koinonia into practice by GIVING. Finally, we will wrap up this Lord’s Day Service with COMMUNION and PRAYER. When we are done today, we will have enacted—as well as we can in a large group gathering like this—the ACTS 2:42 EXPERIENCE. Not only have we worshiped the Lord as he has instructed, but we have also given a foretaste of what GROUPS will be like for 8 weeks in September and October as we simply gather around the table and do life together. We will, as the early church did, worship God “publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).
Who is ready?
→ Invitation
At the close of the message today, I want to ask who in the room would like to put your faith in Christ and join his faith community. Who would like to share in the koinonia of Christ and his church? (Prayer)
Declaration of salvation
To everyone who has put your faith in Christ today, your sins are forgiven. Welcome to the family! Your next step is to be baptized into the body of Christ and authorized as a Christian with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Please scan the CONNECT QR CODE on the WELCOME CARD in the back of the seat, and we will send you details regarding NEW BELIEVERS CLASS and BAPTISM.