- “What does it look like to live in biblical community together? Acts 2 gives us a wonderful picture of a family of believers experiencing life together. Verse 42 speaks about their devotion to teaching, fellowship, shared meals and prayer. This group learned about God, laughed together about shared joy, and prayed together for God’s favor. The picture is one of a vital interactive relationship. This is not a once-a-week drudgery, but a way of life that includes others. Church was not an afterthought, it was the norm. Am I involved in a community of believers? Is it abnormal for me to gather with others or is it weird for me not to see them? Am I devoted to learning, fellowship and prayer?
- “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.” – Romans 12:10
- Acts 2:46 tells us the believers met together every day. This may seem extreme to us, but the truth is that you cannot build relationships without time and repetition.
Engaging in frequent relationship-building activities builds a foundation of love and
support. It also allows us to get past initial impressions and grow deeper in our
understanding of each other. Once-a-month contact is not a realistic means of building deep relationships. This kind of commitment does require sacrifice. We must choose to prioritize relationships over other time commitments. Do I regularly commit time to my community of believers outside Sunday morning? Are there external time commitments that I should remove in order to more fully develop relationships in my biblical community?- “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.” – Colossians 4:5
- God blessed this church, and we see the results in Acts 2:47. The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. One of the hallmarks of a healthy community is growth. The world is desperate for genuine connection. People are isolated and lonely. As we practice genuine community, we create a space for others to be welcomed into the family of God. We must remember to remain open and practice hospitality to newcomers, welcoming growth. We should also seek those who are “lone wolves,” and invite them in. We should long to see new believers stepping in to community for love and support. Do I desire my community to grow or am I happy with the status quo? Am I actively looking for others outside community and inviting them in? Do I pray for God to move and save others?
- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
For further study:
Read Acts 2:42-47. What does the church in Acts look like in today’s culture? How does it compare to modern church practices?
Prayer focus for the week:
Pray that God would work in the hearts of the people of Clermont, Groveland and Minneola. Pray for many to come to Christ this week.