Devoted

Devoted wk 1 Series Focus : Luke's snapshot of the earliest church isn't a nostalgic ideal to admire from a distance - it's a picture of what happens when people who've just received the Spirit actually take seriously what they've been given. This series walks through the passage in its natural order: what they devoted themselves to (v.42), what happened among them as a result (vv.43-45), and what their ordinary daily life together looked like (vv.46-47). Question? How far do you think we have moved from the first church to the modern church of today? The Four Devotions (Acts 2:42) Acts 2:42(ESV) "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Before: Acts 2:37-41 (the immediate context - 3,000 people baptized just before this verse) Big Idea: Before anything else is said about the early church's growth, generosity, or impact, Luke tells us what they gave themselves to. Four specific commitments - not vague spirituality - form the foundation everything else in the passage grows out of 1. "Devoted themselves" - a strong word for ordinary practices - The Greek word (pros kar ter oun tes) implies steadfast, continual commitment, not occasional participation. ○ Acts 1:14 (esv) 'All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. ' - the same word describes the disciples devoting themselves to prayer before Pentecost. ○ Romans 12:12 (esv). 'Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Paul later commands believers to be "constant" in prayer. 2. The apostles' teaching - Doctrine and instruction, not just experience, anchored this new community from day one. ○ 2 Timothy 3:16-17(esv) 'All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.' ○ Acts 17:11 -(esv) 'Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ○ The fellowship (koinonia) - More than friendliness; a shared life and mutual belonging, evidenced of it later in the passage (vv.44-45). ○ Philippians 1:5 - Paul's thankfulness for the Philippians' "partnership in the gospel." ○ 1 John 1:3(esv) - 'that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ' fellowship described as a shared connection both with one another and with God. 3. The breaking of bread - Likely both ordinary shared meals and the Lord's Supper together. ○ Luke 24:30-31 - Jesus made Himself known to the disciples "in the breaking of the bread." 4. The prayers -in the Greek ("the prayers") suggests set times of shared prayer. ○ Acts 3:1 - Peter and John going to the temple "at the hour of prayer." ○ Colossians 4:2 - "Continue steadfastly in prayer." Application Questions ● Of these four - teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer - which is currently the thinnest in your own life, and why? ● These weren't polished, mature Christians - they were brand new believers. What does that suggest about when and how these devotions should start?