Unity: Spiritual Growth
Koinoina is the Greek word that means communion by intimate participation; the trust of one another, sharing of material goods, and harmony rather than hostility. The word is used frequently in the New Testament of the Bible to describe the relationship within the early Christian Church as well as the act of breaking bread in the manner which Christ prescribed during the Passover meal. As a result the word is used within the Christian Church to participate, as Paul says, in the Communion of - in this manner it identifies the idealised state of fellowship and community that should exist - Communion. We need to experience Koinoina love with God, with each other, and in the church. The foundation for a Koinoina church is found in Ephesians 3:14-19:
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
We should pray this for our church family. Only when we love each other will God be able to work in our church. But first and foremost we must love God with a Koinoina love. Our union with Christ is the basis for unity with one another. Union with Christ results in Spiritual Growth, this is how we become one in the Lord, resulting in oneness with our brothers and sisters. In Acts 2:41-42 we find four essential ingredients of Christian growth.
"So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
Baptism. "Those who accepted his message were baptized." In one day, in the city of Jerusalem, 3,000 new believers were baptized into the Christian faith. Moreso, this was just 50 days after the execution of Jesus! That was courageous.
Listening and learning. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching." The apostles taught these 3,000 new believers the biblical truths about life. We can never understand ourselves, the world, or God's purposes in history apart from the Word of God.
Fellowship. "They devoted themselves to the fellowship..." (Koinoina) These 3,000 new Christians began to love one another and share with one another. Strangers became brothers. A crowd of 3,000 from all walks and cultures of life became one in Christ. They shared problems and needs, they prayed together.
Worship. "They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread and to prayer." They did communion, remembering what Christ had done for them.
Now go be a verb....
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