Fellowship in the early church

At the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, the number of the disciples including women was about one hundred and twenty (120) .After Peter’s speech on the day of Pentecost about three thousand souls were baptized and added to the Church. Also after the prayer of Peter and John for the crippled man at the beautiful gate who got healed during the hour of prayer, about five thousand men were converted and added to the church.

The converts all stayed in Jerusalem with the disciples. They formed the early Church. There was a sense of togetherness and belonging among members of the early Church. They were of one heart and one mind, they did everything in common.

The Characteristics of the early Church can be summarized as follows:

1. They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship.
2. They lived communal life; they had everything common.
3. They broke Bread together. This means they took Holy Communion together.
4. The rich and others sold their properties and possessions and brought all the money to the apostles’ feet.
5. They worshipped in the temple daily.
6. They distributed food and clothing to all the members, as any had need.
7. They prayed Together.
8. They were always praising God.
9. They ate food with glad and generous hearts.
10. Everybody worked for the good of others in order to build a strong Church .

EVALUATION:

1. The early church practiced ——– type of living.
2. Mention four forms of togetherness seen in the life of members of the early church.

 FRAUD IN THE CHURCH

Fraud is a form of cheating or stealing that results from dishonesty. It is a way of denying others their share from the Church, State or Nation through deceit and corruption. In our present day, people in churches and society engage in widespread fraud to enrich themselves. Some people who collect tithes for the Church or taxes for the Nation, keep part of the money collected for their personal use. Such acts are fraudulent. Just as fraud (corruption) is today, so it was in the early Church.

Some members of the early Church were not honest.  Ananias and Sapphira .The two agreed to sell their property and bring the money to a common fund but after they had sold the property, they surrendered part of the money and kept back the rest for their own use. The husband came first and lied to Peter that he had brought the entire money. Peter made it known to him that he had told a lie not to him but to the Holy Spirit. Immediately Ananias fell down and died. Some people came in, carried him away and buried him.

After a while his wife Sapphira came in and also lied that she and her husband had brought the entire amount. Immediately, she also fell down and died and was buried beside her husband. A great fear came upon all the members of the early Church.

EVALUATION:

1. What is Fraud?
2. Who were caught in the act of cheating and lying in the early church?
3. List five examples of fraud seen in our society.

Objective question

1. The sin that killed Ananias and Sapphira, was—— (a) adultery (b) disobedience (c) late coming (d) lying.
2. At the ascension of Jesus Christ the number of the Church was about (a)12 (b)3000 (c)120 (d)5000 (e)70
3. After the healing of the crippled man at the beautiful gate by Peter John the number of the church was increased by (a)3000 (b)120 (c)5000 (d)70 (e)12
4. The early church is known for (a) envy(b)pride (c)wickedness (d)unity (e)malpractice
5. One incident that brought about positive change in the early church was the (a)death of Ananias and Sapphira (b)the death of Jesus (c)the building of the first church (d)the promotion of peter (e)the voice from heaven
6. The early Christian community concerned itself with the following EXCEPT (a)dancing and eating (b)praying (c)preaching (d)sharing (e)singing

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Read the next topic in your text book and give a brief account of what led to murmuring in the early church.