A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin. Some of the devotion comes from the LSB footnotes (pp1836).
Acts 2:42-47 (English Standard Version)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Luke turns from specific, historical scenes to writing in general terms about the early church in this passage. He is saying that the early Christians lived only for the Lord and for the other members of His body, the Church. Their love of Jesus and one another was so great that verse 45 says they sold everything and gave to those in need. The Lord lives and moves among us just as He did in the lives of the Christians of 2000 years ago. Can you respond to our Lord’s presence in your life and demonstrate Christian love this week? Pray that you will recognize a situation that will provide you an opportunity.
Pray: Lord, help me recognize my opportunities to serve you. Amen
Blessings,
Joe
1. Knowing yourself: How can you be more aware of situations that God is providing you to demonstrate Christian love? Prayer would be a good start!
2. Scripture: There are seven descriptions in Acts of the growth of the early church (2:46-47; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31). Can you discuss the similarities and differences? Would you consider these descriptions as major advances in the church’s global mission?
3. Application: These early Christians met in one another’s homes or perhaps the Jewish temple. The construction of dedicated Christian churches began sometime in the third century. Yet the Christian movement grew and grew in the first and second century. Discuss the benefits of small group congregational meetings in this context? What are the benefits in today’s society of a dedicated church/ministry facility?