Devoted to the Fellowship

Why the Local Church Matters More Than Ever

We’re a little over a week into the New Year. How are those New Year’s resolutions going? Some are sticking. Some are already sore—physically and otherwise. This time of year has a way of reminding us that good intentions need structure, commitment, and support.

That’s why we’re walking through the Four Priorities of the Early Church from Acts 2:42. Last week, we looked at how the early church devoted themselves to the Apostles’ Teaching. This week, we turn our attention to the next priority: the fellowship.

Church Doesn’t Just Happen

After the Holy Spirit fell and Peter preached the gospel, 3,000 people were saved and baptized in one day. Those 3,000 people became the church. And Luke tells us what marked them immediately:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship…” (Acts 2:42)

That word fellowship comes from the Greek koinonia. It means community, partnership, association, joint participation. The early church didn’t just attend something. They devoted themselves to one another.

Church doesn’t just happen. Fellowship doesn’t maintain itself. If we coast when it comes to the church, the church suffers. And so do we.

The local church is a fellowship with a mission. But that mission only moves forward when the fellowship is strong. We have an enemy who would love for Christians to “go it alone,” drift from the church, and weaken the witness of the gospel. That’s why Scripture calls us to something better.

Main Idea

Devote yourself to a fellowship of believers. Prioritize a high level of involvement in the local church.

Yes, prioritize your personal relationship with Jesus. Yes, prioritize your family. But right alongside those priorities, devote yourself to the local church—a body of believers who will encourage your faith and help disciple your family.

So what does that look like practically? Here are four commitments we can make to devote ourselves to the fellowship.

1. Believe the Primary and Secondary Doctrines the Church Believes

The early church was a fellowship of believers. They believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their unity flowed from shared belief.

Scripture speaks of one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. That unity isn’t based on preference or personality—it’s based on truth.

Primary doctrines include the gospel, the Trinity, and the authority of Scripture. These are essential. Secondary doctrines are important as well. They distinguish churches and denominations while still holding to the same gospel. These include beliefs about baptism, the Lord’s Supper, church governance, and spiritual gifts.

If you want clarity on what we believe at Hillcrest, our beliefs are clearly stated on our website through the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Shared belief cultivates healthy fellowship.

2. Belong to the Church by Becoming a Member of the Church

Hillcrest is a welcoming church. Anyone can belong here in the sense of being welcomed, loved, and invited in. But biblically, belief comes before belonging in the fullest sense.

Church membership matters because it clarifies who is part of the church. The New Testament assumes it. Even on the day of Pentecost, someone counted the baptized believers. Why? Because they were the church.

Membership is not about status. It’s about responsibility, accountability, and care. The local church functions like an embassy for the Kingdom of God. As members, we have help, obligations, and a shared witness in a world that is not our home.

3. Be a Vital Part of the Church by Giving and Serving

The early church showed their devotion to the fellowship by caring for one another.

“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:45)

People mattered more than possessions. Giving and serving weren’t occasional—they were normal.

When you give and serve, you are being a vital part of the church. From worship and teaching to hospitality, maintenance, music, prayer, and care for the homebound—every role matters. Seen or unseen, every act of service strengthens the fellowship.

We don’t just serve the church. We serve as the church.

4. Benefit from the Church When You’re the One in Need

The early church trusted the fellowship to care for them as any had need.

This is where many Christians struggle. When we’re hurting, our instinct is to retreat. Scripture calls us to lean in.

The New Testament is filled with the “one anothers”—love one another, bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another, pray for one another. These are commands and benefits delivered to the church.

When you are in need, that is not the time to disappear. It’s the time to let the church be the church.

The Gospel Moves In and Through the Church

The gospel never stops at salvation. It moves in the church as we live it out together. Then it moves through the church as we carry it into the world.

That’s how the early church grew. They knew what they believed. They knew they belonged. They gave and served. And they leaned on one another in times of need.

That’s what happens when you devote yourself to a fellowship of believers. The gospel moves—in your life, in your family, in the church, and through the church.

Let that encourage you as you devote yourself to this fellowship.