Acts 5:42 (NIV)
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from
house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that
Jesus is the Messiah.
In the early church, the Apostles devoted themselves to
prayer, teaching, fellowship, and the “breaking of bread.” The results of their
lives together celebrating the Kingdom of God turned the world upside down.
Their lives were radically devoted to Jesus and to each
other, and the church grew rapidly. Miraculous signs and wonders were
commonplace, and most importantly, The Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved. (Acts 2:42) If we are willing to experience our faith together,
modeling the early church and proclaiming the Kingdom, I am convinced we will
see the radical power of God at work and people giving their lives to Christ in
ways we have not seen before. The key elements that were catalysts for growth
were: devotion to the teachings of Christ, fellowship, sharing bread, and
prayer.
This describes groups of people who were willing to “do life
together.”
They were a community that shared the gospel, had meals
together, and were dedicated to prayer. Christian community is essential to the
development and nurturing of our faith. We need the body of Christ to help us
grow through studying the Word, prayer, and fellowship. Are you a part of a
body of believers that offers you this kind of community? Attending church is
essential to our spiritual growth, but the real work is done in community and
fellowship within a small group of devoted followers of Jesus Christ where you
have accountability in the working out of your faith.
Thought for today:
Like the Sesame Street song goes “ Who are the people in your neighborhood?”
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