41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The Church
"Inconceivable!" exclaimed Vizzini. "You keep using that word,” replied Inigo Montoya, "I do not think it means what you think it means." If you are not familiar, this exchange is from the 1987 romantic comedy, The Princess Bride, and yet Inigo's reply is often applicable when people use the word “church" today. Ecclesia, the New Testament word we translate as "church," is not well understood among Christians and certainly not in our culture at large. As such, how we think about “church” often falls short of our calling. Inherent to becoming a Christian is participating in the life of the church, but what is it and why does it exist? Although many have their opinions, biblically speaking, you are not fully following Jesus if you are not actively participating in the life of his church, and yet for many of us, that thought is inconceivable!
