RUSH (10/8/17)GG Sermon

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-

Numbers 18:6–7 ESV

6 And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

Context behind tonight’s passages.

IN NUMBERS

PREVIOUSLY WITH MOSES & ISRAELITES WITH GOD BEFORE A MOUNTAIN

Numbers 18:6-7

BACK INTO THE EXODUS

GOD BUILDING A PLACE FOR WORSHIP

IN ACTS...

HOLY SPIRIT FALLS AFTER JESUS’ ASCENSION

PETER PREACHES; PEOPLE ARE CONVICTED

GOD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAY BY DAY

Numbers 18:6–7 ESV

6 And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

We should be thankful for our leaders and understand them as gifts.

TELL THEM YOU APPRECIATE THEM

PRAY FOR THEM

What’s common about the passage?

devoted themselves to apostles teaching/fellowship/breaking of bread/prayers vs. 42

What’s a GROW Group like?

What were the apostles teaching?

had all things in common vs. 44

Fellowship - koinonia -

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46–47 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:

DEVOTION TO TEACHING OF CHRIST

COMMONALITY AMONGST EACH OTHER

MEETING NEEDS

PRESENT, NOT ABSENT WITH FELLOWSHIP/WORSHIP

THANKFUL/GRATEFUL/PRAISING GOD

CONCLUSION

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community