Acts: Gospel Mission Then and NowSample

This is a beautiful picture of genuine Biblical community. These verses describe what the local church looked like when it started, and it’s what it should look like now. (I encourage you to write the name of your church here in the margin of your Bible!)

As you read this passage, before allowing yourself to say, “My church doesn’t look like that,” examine yourself first. Does your life look like this? Deep community starts small and grows from there. If it doesn’t currently exist in your church, let it begin with you.

This passage shares the believers were devoted to four things:

1) the apostles’ teaching

2) to the fellowship

3) to the breaking of bread

4) to prayer

Devotion implies they were all in, not half-committed. We can’t expect the rich community described here if we only have a half-hearted commitment.

Being devoted to the apostles’ teaching reminded them of what brought them together: the gospel. The gospel saves you once, but it’s also what sustains you as a believer, so we must stay devoted to the teaching of the gospel.

But just as it would be strange to have a church that didn’t ever teach the gospel, it should be just as strange to go into a building once a week to listen to teaching but not know the people worshiping with you. Don’t just attend church and check the box. Invest in relationships there. Have meals together. Pray together. Community matters!

As you do life with others, expect effort to be required. “Having all things in common” (vs. 43) didn’t mean they all agreed on everything. But because they kept the gospel and their beliefs at the center of their gatherings, they could stay unified because the gospel was ultimate, and everything else could be secondary. Whenever believers lose their unity, something has become more important than Jesus. Stay unified around what matters most, and don’t divide with fellow believers over lesser things.

Also, note that gospel community occurs here in two places: in the temple and in homes. Both are mentioned not because both are options– but because opening and gathering in both locations are necessary. People tend to gravitate to extremes on this, either only having gospel community inside the church building or believing the only gospel community they need can happen inside their home. Pursue gospel community in both places: inside the church and inside homes.

Two more things to note from this passage:

1. Thriving gospel community will be marked by joy, generosity, worship, and salvations. Aim for these marks; aiming for anything else will be a distraction.
2. God gives growth and changes hearts. He saves. He will add to your numbers, so you do not have to strategize for growth. Cultivate the activity laid out in these verses, and trust God to do His job. He is mighty to save!

Let’s go all in, Church.

God, I want to go all in. Forgive me for any areas I haven’t fully surrendered to You. Help me live devoted both to You and to Your people. Take me out of my comfort zone. Help me love others as You do. Amen.