AUGUST 17, 2025 | STEVE PIXLER
Today, we are continuing our series, THE TABLE: THE ACTS 2:42 EXPERIENCE.
This series has two objectives:
To do worship like the early church did worship. This is why our liturgy today will be arranged around the four parts of Acts 2:42: the teaching, the fellowship, the communion and the prayers.
To do house-to-house gatherings—which we call “GROUPS” these days—like the early church did. Here’s the BIG IDEA: The kingdom of God cannot fully come in the world until it takes root in our households as the “HOME BASE” for our “assigned area of influence,” our METRON. (2 Corinthians 10) Household-worship is “the ministry of the saints.”
GROUPS: Groups start September 19, and we will host both Friday and Sunday Groups. Groups will be built around Acts 2:42 as well. Groups will be super simple. We will gather around the table for an informal meal, and during the meal, we will discuss Scripture, share words of encouragement, receive communion and wrap up with prayer. The goal is to recapture and reactivate the house-to-house grace that empowered the early church. Go to MYFREEDOMLIFE.COM/GROUPS to sign up.
Let’s go back to 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.
As we saw last week, the worship of the early church was arranged around these four things. As we did last week—and you can review last week’s message and get the notes at myfreedomlife.com/watch—we will focus today on “THE FELLOWSHIP,” since it is the component of Acts 2:42 worship that is the least familiar to modern Christians.
THE FELLOWSHIP in this verse is THE KOINONIA. 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. It was used to describe business contracts, marriage and household, political and civic life, and religious or cultic usage. Koinonia was also used by ancient guilds to describe the care that members showed to each other.
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.
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 brought bread and wine and Abram presented 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 through spiritual gifts.
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:
PREACHERS/TEACHERS
WIDOWS/ORPHANS
POOR/NEEDY
Here are a few passages that show how early Christians gave:
1. GIVING TO PREACHERS/TEACHERS
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.
Mark 10:28–31 (ESV): 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME (AGE), houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
1 Corinthians 9:3–14 (ESV): 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1 Timothy 5:17–18 (ESV): 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
2 Timothy 2:1–7 (ESV): 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2. GIVING TO WIDOWS/ORPHANS
James 1:27 (ESV): 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Acts 6:1–4 (ESV): 1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
1 Timothy 5:3–8 (ESV): 3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
3. GIVING TO THE POOR/NEEDY
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.”
Galatians 2:9–10 (ESV): 9 And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship (koinonia) to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
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!
Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share (koinonia); for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
So, to summarize, we practice koinonia when we celebrate COMMUNION together; when we edify one another through SPIRITUAL GIFTS; and when we GIVE to support our pastors, destitute widows and the poor. As the early church did, we bring our gifts as worship to God and lay them “at the feet of the apostles” (Acts 4:35) so that it may be distributed by those appointed by the apostles. (Acts 6)
As we noted last week, the early church didn’t give to “THINGS”—they gave to PEOPLE. Though it is necessary in our day to pay for spaces where we worship (and, no doubt, the early church rented public spaces at times), which means that our giving at Freedom Life also must pay for facilities, yet the primary purpose of giving in the kingdom of God is to bless PEOPLE, not THINGS!
It is a core value at Freedom Life Church that we honor—and double honor!—those who “labor in the preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). We shall be GENEROUS to those who lead us. This is a powerful spiritual principle that unlocks the spirit of generosity in this house.
CONCLUSION
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.