Main Scripture: Acts 2:41-47
Main Point: Followers of Jesus are devoted to living for Him daily by the Holy Spirit
As followers of Jesus, our life together is to be:
- Devoted to teaching
- Jesus said that the words that He has spoken to us are spirit and life.
- We are called to be devoted to God's Word as if our very lives depended on it.
- We need to be taught God's Word. God's Word is how our mind is renewed. His Word is how we learn to be like Him in our daily lives. His Word is how we learn about the motives and desires of our heart. His Word convicts, encourages and gives life.
- His Word is how we learn to live a life that is pleasing to Him not to earn His favor but because He has given us His favor.
- Our current level of devotion to the teaching of God's Word is often one of the best indicators of the current condition our spiritual health.
- The Bible is the very Word of God – through knowing God in His Word we come to have eternal life
As followers of Jesus, our life together is to be:
- Devoted to Fellowship
- Fellowship is to be part of the normal, daily rhythm of our lives as Christians
- We are meant to share our common experience of the saving power of Jesus Christ and our walk with Him, with each other as a routine part of life
- Like the early Christians we are to be devoted to gathering together with other Christians in our homes, sharing the Holy Spirit and our possessions as well.
- God desires for us to experience Him more closely through having fellowship with other believers
- Our pursuit and practice of fellowship with other Christians is often a reflection of our pursuit and practice of fellowship with God (or the lack thereof).
As followers of Jesus, our life together is to be as:
- Devoted Witnesses
- Their humble devotion to each other in community led to a credible witness with all of the people.
- The way that they lived their lives made a difference not just to each other but in the world around them.
- When people saw how their lives were changed by the Apostles teaching and saw the changes in them in their fellowship – it was compelling and this is what our life is to be as well – a compelling witness to all of those around us.
- The people on the outside saw the unity that they had in the midst of diversity.
- Their love for God and one another was attractive to the lost and dying world around them and our love for God and His people is meant to function in the same way for us.
- The question for us is whether our life is authenticating our profession of the life-giving power of the gospel?
- Can people around us see this kind of beautiful and joy-filled, Christ-centered life?
Potential Application Questions:
- What things in our lives distract us from being devoted to following Jesus daily?
- What does it look like to be devoted to teaching? Are we truly devoted to teaching in our life?
- How would God have us respond to Him and put on the good works of being devoted to teaching?
(What do we need to put off and what do we need to put on to learn & apply what we hear?)
- What does it look like to be devoted to fellowship? Are we truly devoted to fellowship in our life?
- What excuses do we make for not having deep fellowship with other believers in our church? (either excuses that have to do with us – or perhaps blaming others)
- How would God have us respond to Him and put on the good works of being devoted to fellowship? (What do we need to put off and what do we need to put on to pursue fellowship?)
- Are you currently judging others or holding any grudge, bitterness or resentment towards others in regards to fellowship? How would God have you respond?
- How does our life resemble that of the early church in having each other in our homes for meals with glad and generous hearts?
- Do we look for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us in the mundane times of meals and meetings too?
What does it look like for our caregroups to be witnesses to our community around us?
