The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-31
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Christian Worship and Fellow.
ship. Col. 3:l2-l7, Acts 2:4S.A7
Heb. 1o:23.25
BY Ralph Rogers
The lesson today from Acts
gives US q picture of what the
early Christian church did, how
they worshiped, what they demand
ed of their membership and the
sffect it had on outsiders. THE
Lord added to them day by day."
Paul in his letters to the Colos-
slams and to the Hebrews outlined
most clearly what Christian
should do. It. is a most difficult
directive to those churches, but
withal effective. Physical all
ments often need strong medicines
to battle disease and frequently an
operation is necessary. To enjoy
strong spiritual health no better
prescription can be found than that
given by Paul. Christian worship
and fellowship is the key to spirit
ual health and life.
Regular Fellowship
The effective Christian not the
one who goes to church on Easter
and Christmas. To benefit from
anything one must give it constant
thought. There are members of
social and fraternal organizations
who. attend occasionally. If the
organization had to depend on such
members it would last only a
short time. How long would the
church Of Jesus Christ last, how
effective would it be, f all men,
bers worshipped or enjoyed
Christian fellowship only occasion
ally. The churches in Key West
would be closed within a year.
More than that the early church
es did not only meet regularly
in the temple for public worship,
but day by day, in the homes, on
the streets, they were praising God
and so they found favor with all
people. People in that day could
tell Christian and admired them
for their faith. Requirements for
Christian witnessing have not
changed and people know today as
they did then, those who practice
their faith. They not only see them
in church regularly and faithfully,
but in their public life they seem
to radiate spiritual halo by their
very words and deeds.
That spiritual atmosphere is not
by mere chance. It comes from
the regular fellowship, worshipping
together, exchanging ideas and
seeking information as to how they
might better their lives. This in.
cluded the breaking of bread to-
gether which somehow seems to
draw men closer together. A cup of
coffee at mid-morning or in the
middle of the afternoon draw out
OF each one that which is in the
heart. Those meetings are seldom
spent in discussing the goodness of
God, the sacrifice of Jesus, or the
condition of the church. The early
Christians met in fellowship to dis
cuSs personal spiritual problems,
to receive information and to pray.
Such devotion and close fellowship
naturally impressed the outsider.
The man who marries "the most
beautiful girl in the world" and
tells her that he loves her, must
show that continual affection. If
he stays out every night with the
boys, fails to repeat those words
of !endearment, fails to practice a
comradeship with his mate, mari.
age soon disintegrates and goes on
the rocks. So with out real and re.
gular fellowship with God whom
we claim to love, that love wanes
and dies and becomes the dead car
cass of church member, lifless.
ineffective, really destructive and
damaging to the faith we profess.
Simple But Difficult Rules
Apparently the Colossian church
must have been like some modern
churches. They were failing to
practice the devotional require
ments Of the early church. They
were no doubt talking shop over
their coffee and discussing the
latest gossip in the community
everything but how they might
improve themselves spiritually.
Paul learned of this and found it
necessary to write out a set of