Acts 2:44-47 And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising GOD and having favor with all the people. And the LORD added to their number day by day those who were being saved. [Revised Standard translation]
SUMMARY
"Koinonia" is a transliteration of the Greek word "κοινωνία." A transliteration involves the conversion of letters from one writing system to another. For example, a transliteration may involve changing Greek letters into Latin letters or Latin letters into letters in the English alphabet. "Koinonia" means communion, joint participation or a gift jointly contributed. Koinonia expresses the unity and spirit of fellowship that the early church experienced as a body "in CHRIST." As a result of the HOLY SPIRIT, it was as if this group of believers were of "one mind," "one heart" and "one spirit." They were generous (without contention), giving (without envy or division) and joyful (happy to help each other out).
The SPIRIT of Koinonia was infectious. It was as if everyone was "in love" at the same time. As a result of this joyful, giving, worshipping group spirit, the LORD, because HE WAS THE CENTER OF THEIR JOY, added to their number day by day. It was a wonderful time to be a Christian! It did not matter that the church was being persecuted from outside. It did not matter that politically Rome was in charge. Nor did it matter that many considered Christianity a "rogue" religion. The early Christian believers had an "other worldly" joy---a JESUS JOY. They had a JOY for the LORD and each other that overflowed into all of their daily interactions.
THE KOINONIA EXPERIENCE
What is wonderful about the verses of scripture is that they provide helpful information about what the Koinonia experience is as well as what it is not.
WHAT KOINONIA IS NOT:
- IT IS NOT A NUMBER - If someone were to ask: "Exactly how many days did it take to experience "Koinonia?" or "How many people had to be in the group before "Koinonia" occurred?" The best answer would probably be that "Koinonia is not a number." Some of the members of the group, like Peter, were "older" disciples of Christ while others were "brand new." Some members had just joined the group, perhaps only "one day old." Sometimes there was "Koinonia" in small settings, as when they met in small groups in each others' homes for meals and Communion. Sometimes larger groups experienced "Koinonia" when they worshipped together in the temple. So, Koinonia was not about a specific number.
- IT IS NOT A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, OTHER-DESTRUCTIVE OR BLAME-CENTERED PROCESS Peter, a man who we know had many "short-comings," and who denied Christ three times could have easily "exempted himself" from the Koinonia experience if he had focused on what he had done in the past, focused on his past fears or how disappointed he had been with himself. So soon after the crucifixion of CHRIST other believers could have easily chosen to spend their time blaming one another for "what happened," "blaming themselves," or complaining about the organizations and institutions around them. But the Book of Acts describes a community that did not focus on the past. Instead, the Koinonia community was intent on the wellbeing of others and learning more about GOD. They enjoyed one another. They were "glad," "joyful," [Living Bible translation] and "generous at heart."
- IT IS NOT EGOCENTRIC– This was not a "me first" group of believers. They did not put a lock on their hearts, their minds or their resources to keep others out. The Koinonia fellowship of believers joined with other believers. There were teaching sessions. They met together regularly. They shared with each other and were open to other people joining the group. And, GOD "added to their number." No one needed to "do it alone." No one was left out.
WHAT KOINONIA IS:
1. KOINONIA IS GOD-CENTERED
a. There was scripture study.
b. There was Communion.
c. There was worship.
d. There was prayer.
e. There was inclusiveness.
2. KOINONIA IS A LIFESTYLE
a. DAY BY DAY – According to Luke, day by day, the people devoted themselves to a
code of conduct (i.e. the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread -- See
Acts 2:42), which included studying the WORD of GOD, communion with each
other, including other people, praying for one another, loving GOD and loving
others as JESUS had taught and had loved others.
b. Each person worked to make Koinonia a joyful, generous, thankful, growthful and
loving experience for everyone else.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Like Koinonia, achieving physical health is not a number. It is not a specific number on a scale, a suit size, a dress size or the numbers of notches in a belt size. Becoming healthy is not a matter of doing "X" number of push-up, "Y" number of trips around the block or "Z" number of stretches or raw meal preparations. No one can get a "health" certificate from a doctor or a trainer that will declare them "healthy forever." It just doesn't work that way. Like Koinonia, good physical health and good nutrition are a "lifestyle."
The Gym Experience
For example, many people who return to the gym week after week tend to have a "gym experience." They find a class that they decide to attend---week, after week, after week. Or, they work with a trainer week after week after week. Or, they see the same people week after week after week. They become "part of a gym group"---the people who meet on the treadmill at 7:00 AM every morning or the group the meets at the weights on Mondays and Wednesdays at noon. In other words, they make friends and form connections with each other. The connection is not to the machines or the equipment but with "those who are participating in a common experience."
Gym "first timers" often feel self-conscious, looking around with uncertainty about what they are doing. They may initially start off with a gym "exercise card" counting the number of reps until they just start working out with "their group" on a daily basis. Often, "new gym goers" feel more like observers than participants. Over time, that feeling of isolation and awkwardness disappears and they begin to have the "gym experience" and just start to "have fun," meeting new friends who they exercise with daily or a certain number of days during the week. The "gym experience of togetherness," is the same type of experience that people who exercise regularly together experience—(for example, the morning walkers who see each other daily, or the yoga group, the tai chi group, or the group that meets on the basketball court several times a week).
The "gym experience has nothing to do with age or what you look like or what you did not do in the past. The "gym experience" is about having fun maintaining a healthy lifestyle—while you encourage others to do likewise. Those who think of the gym and approach the gym "like a big playground," or a place to make friends, be a friend and "to have fun" usually stick with the gym after the month of January. On the other hand, if you think of the gym as just "a place to work out by yourself," or "a place to achieve a certain weight number" or "as drudgery," you will likely miss "the gym experience" or even quit. See also, "15 Tips to Restart the Exercise Habit (and How to Keep it) by Scott H. Young, www.lifehack.org for additional tips for sticking with an exercise program.
EXPERIENCING KOINONIA TODAY
Like our physical health, our spiritual walk WITH GOD is also not a number. It is not about being in the church for any specific number of hours on Sunday. It is not about the number of Sundays you attend per month or a year. Our spiritual walk with GOD is also not a "solo experience." It is not confined within the walls of a church or synagogue. Our church experience, our community experience, our job experience, our family experience, and even our "gym and exercise experience," are all a part of "our walk with GOD and one another." All of our experiences provide us an opportunity to experience Koinonia---to create healthy physical and spiritual habits, to pray and encourage ourselves and one another and to try to be good stewards over what GOD has given us---our bodies, our spirits, our minds and our resources, in a community with others, in a way that reflects the HIS SPIRIT and HIS LOVE.
If you have not experience Koinonia, first pray about it. Ask GOD and seek direction in finding a Koinonia community (e.g. find a group to join---a choir, a Sunday School class, a Bible study, a mission group, a ministry, etc.). Then seek to make friends, and pray to be a GODLY friend and "have fun." Ask GOD what you can do to help others. Be sure to participate---REALLY PARTICIPATE--- week after week after week after week after week, while you continue to pray and ask GOD's guidance for yourself and the group.
Seek THE JOY and THE SPIRIT of Koinonia day by day, and BE BLESSED!
