Summerfest - 5 Day Reading PlanSample

DAY 3 - THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
by Christian Anstey (Young Adults Pastor - Macquarie Location)

Community is a God idea. The word community itself can even be broken apart into 2 words common-unity. Often when we read this passage in Acts 2 we can take it out of context and make church communities sound idealistic rather than practical. When we read in Acts 2:44, is that the believer had everything in ‘common’ we could almost replace the word with ‘unity’. 

Within the Modern Context, I have seen the church operate like the one we read about in Acts. I’ve witnessed the Church operate in a manner that is generous to the point of people selling an investment home to bless others, breaking bread or pizza in homes, praising God — even in their lounge rooms watching church online!

The big picture message here in this Scripture is that people, especially God’s people, are designed to be in community and can achieve more together within the confines of a Godly community.

Let’s take a look at the fruit or blessings unfolding in the Scripture we’re studying today:

1. The believers were unified

2. They were generous and the needy were taken care of

3. They ate together (food is always a win)

4. They had glad and sincere hearts

5. They enjoyed the favour of the people

6. God added to their number DAILY

Now for a moment consider the list above and how an individual may go about achieving such fruit in their life all by their lonesome, isolated and without community. It may indeed be possible after a very long time and much hard work, but I think it is safe to say that the means to achieve such fruit in one’s life is MUCH easier in a community of unified people.

In an age where the individualism is becoming more important than anything else, unity ironically has a greater ability to bring more blessing to an individual. It’s a win for you personallyAND the people around you.

As believers in Christ and students of Scripture, let’s continue to make community a focus and do what we can to bring unity among Gods people and dare to believe that we can make a difference in peoples lives.

Questions:

1. How has community blessed you in your walk with Jesus? (Consider the list we read today in this devotional)

2. What have you been able to achieve in community, that as an individual wouldn’t have been possible?

3. What is one way you can create community leading into Summerfest?

Prayer:

God thank you for your Church, the community of believers I call home. Please help me to find ways to bring more unity to people in our world which at times can be so divided. We are better together, and I am believing for even more people to find you Jesus as their Lord and saviour and to call your Church home. In your mighty name we pray Jesus, Amen.