Acts 2:42-47
I’ve really enjoyed reading this week’s devotions and quite frankly, I really needed the reminder of community, connection, and church unity. Did you read Brianna’s devotion yesterday? I did, and I am praying that we as a church would desire to live out the mission of the Gospel in unity. But how do we do that? How can the church be a visible, powerful witness of the Gospel to the world if we are grumbling, complaining, gossiping, or sewing discord? Today we are going to jump out of the book of Romans and into the book of Acts to help understand what life was like for that first community of believers; aka the church.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I love the togetherness of this passage. I’ve known people that have bought into the misconception that their life as a Christian is an individualist thing and that they don’t need the church. Read through the above verses again and you’ll see all sorts of things that the church was doing and practicing together. WE ARE THE CHURCH-the body of Christ until his return. God’s “church” is not a building. The building is a place where we can gather, serve, worship and reach others in community. We cannot be content with just showing up. We should have an unwavering commitment, deep affection, radical devotion, and be set apart. We need to quit just checking a box, quit showing up only when it’s convenient, and quit showing up when it’s only exciting enough. Paul is showing us something beyond “going to a church”, but how we are to “be the church”. There should be such a great love for Christ that people would desire to BE together.
Verse 47 is beautiful. Every day their number grew! God does it!! God’s community has always and is always meant to be a witness that reaches out to others. The body of Christ is to be a witness, a light, a means by which God brings HIS good news to those who are not yet part of his family. This is a reminder for us that we can’t allow our church to be a social club, country club, or a holy huddle. No way! If our growth groups aren’t growing, if the ministries we’re involved in is more of a clique than the hands and feet of Jesus, if our fellowship groups have a proverbial member only vibe, then we are not acting as the church. Let us be a church that’s gathered in the Spirit, reaching and welcoming others into life together in Jesus; devoted to the same Lord Jesus, the same love for God, the same desire to worship the King, the same struggles, the same victories, the same joy! BE THE CHURCH!
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I love the togetherness of this passage. I’ve known people that have bought into the misconception that their life as a Christian is an individualist thing and that they don’t need the church. Read through the above verses again and you’ll see all sorts of things that the church was doing and practicing together. WE ARE THE CHURCH-the body of Christ until his return. God’s “church” is not a building. The building is a place where we can gather, serve, worship and reach others in community. We cannot be content with just showing up. We should have an unwavering commitment, deep affection, radical devotion, and be set apart. We need to quit just checking a box, quit showing up only when it’s convenient, and quit showing up when it’s only exciting enough. Paul is showing us something beyond “going to a church”, but how we are to “be the church”. There should be such a great love for Christ that people would desire to BE together.
Verse 47 is beautiful. Every day their number grew! God does it!! God’s community has always and is always meant to be a witness that reaches out to others. The body of Christ is to be a witness, a light, a means by which God brings HIS good news to those who are not yet part of his family. This is a reminder for us that we can’t allow our church to be a social club, country club, or a holy huddle. No way! If our growth groups aren’t growing, if the ministries we’re involved in is more of a clique than the hands and feet of Jesus, if our fellowship groups have a proverbial member only vibe, then we are not acting as the church. Let us be a church that’s gathered in the Spirit, reaching and welcoming others into life together in Jesus; devoted to the same Lord Jesus, the same love for God, the same desire to worship the King, the same struggles, the same victories, the same joy! BE THE CHURCH!
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