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There's an old story about a man who stopped going to church. He said he could follow Jesus just fine on his own. One cold evening, a friend visited, and they sat by the fire without saying much. The friend took the tongs, lifted one glowing coal out of the fire, and set it on the hearth by itself. They watched as it slowly faded and went grey. Then the friend picked it up and put it back in the fire. In a minute it was glowing again. The man said, "I get it. I'll be there on Sunday."
Why does a coal stay hot in the fire but go cold on its own? This term we've been asking "Who am I?" We've heard that God adopts people into his family. Today we find out that families come with brothers and sisters.
What you'll learn
- What the first Christians did together
- How the church then compares with the church today
- Why Christians are told to keep meeting and to spur one another on
The first Christians
After Jesus rose and went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Peter preached about Jesus, and about three thousand people were baptised in one day (Acts 2:41). That's a lot of brand-new Christians. So what did they do next?
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
| They were devoted to… | What it means | Today it might look like… |
|---|---|---|
| The apostles' teaching | Learning about Jesus from those who knew him | Bible talks, Bible reading, youth group studies |
| Fellowship | Sharing life together as God's family | Caring for each other, being friends across ages |
| The breaking of bread | Sharing meals, and remembering Jesus' death together | Communion (the Lord's Supper), eating together |
| Prayer | Praying together | Church prayers, praying with friends |
"Devoted" means they kept at it. Belonging wasn't a one-off event.
Acts 2:43–47 tells us more. The believers shared with anyone in need (not because they were forced, but because they loved each other). They met every day, in the temple courts and in homes, eating together with glad hearts and praising God.
And look at the end of verse 47: the Lord added to their number every day. The church is Jesus' people, gathered by him. He builds it, not us.
Then and now
Churches today look very different from each other: big or small, old stone buildings or school halls, loud bands or quiet hymns, with names like Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Uniting and many more.
Christians differ on some things, but everyone who trusts Jesus belongs to his one family. The New Testament calls it the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Just like a body, every part is different, and every part is needed.
Churches are made of imperfect people, so they can get things wrong, and some people have been hurt by a church. But that doesn't change what God means the church to be: a family where people belong and help each other follow Jesus.
Spur one another on
"And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24–25)
- "Consider" means think carefully and plan. Encouragement doesn't just happen by accident.
- Spur one another on. A spur is the little metal point on a rider's boot that gets a horse moving. Christians help each other keep going in love and doing good.
- Don't give up meeting together. Even in the first century, some people had started drifting away. The writer is saying: don't be the coal on its own.
- The Day approaching is the day Jesus returns. Christians meet and encourage each other because they're heading somewhere together.
Here's the best part. You don't earn your place in God's family by fitting in, being cool or being useful. That's how lots of groups at school work, but it isn't how God's family works. You belong because God adopted you through Jesus. But once you belong, you also get to give: every member of the family is needed.
Who God says I am
- Part of God's family, with brothers and sisters, belonging and needed (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24–25).
Key words
- Church: God's people, gathered by Jesus (not just a building).
- Devoted: committed, keeping at something.
- Fellowship: sharing life together as God's family.
- Breaking of bread: sharing meals, and remembering Jesus' death together (communion).
- Body of Christ: a picture of the church as one body with many different parts.
How this points to Jesus
Jesus promised that he would build his church (Matthew 16:18). The church exists because of him. He gathers people to himself, and in doing that he gathers them to each other. Jesus doesn't leave anyone on their own.
Think about it
Do you think a Christian can follow Jesus without a church? What would they miss out on?Show answer
They might still trust Jesus, but they'd miss out on being taught, encouraged, prayed for and cared for, and on helping others. Like the coal, faith on its own tends to go cold.
Why does it matter that "the Lord" added people to the church?Show answer
It shows the church belongs to Jesus and is built by him. People don't join a club; Jesus gathers them into his family.
How is belonging to God's family different from trying to fit in with a group at school?Show answer
At school you might have to look or act a certain way to fit in. In God's family you belong because God adopted you through Jesus, not because you earned it.
Take it further
Many Christians go to church, youth group or a school Christian group. If you don't, you're very welcome to give one a try and see what it's like. This week, think about how you could help someone else feel like they belong. Write someone a short, specific encouragement, such as "You always include people at lunch". Your worksheet helps you compare the first church with the church today.
If you'd like to, you could pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you that you don't leave anyone on their own. Thank you for your family, the church. Help me to belong, and help me to spur others on to love and good deeds this week. Amen.