warm-up

What is one food you can eat every day and not get tired of?

Are you more likely to have a large group of friends or a small one?

Do you enjoy alone time? How do you regularly spend free time?

word

42And 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. . . 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42,43,47

(Read also Hebrews 10:22–25.)

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples had gathered together after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. There, they were all filled for the first time by the Holy Spirit that Jesus had told them He would send, and began to speak in other tongues. The Spirit also gave Peter supernatural boldness to explain to the crowds what was happening to them and who Jesus was, and thousands believed. In Acts 2, we see how the early church was marked by the devotion of the believers. What are we devoted to as a church?

1
Word

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching . . . Acts 2:42

The early church modeled that, as a church, we must be devoted to the Word of God—the apostles’ teaching, which was from the wisdom given them by the Holy Spirit. How are you devoted to the Scriptures? How do you search the Word of God?

2
Community

And they devoted themselves to . . . the fellowship, to the breaking of bread . . . Acts 2:42

The early disciples were also devoted to the fellowship and the breaking of bread. They put importance on the community of believers, the body of Christ. How hard do you fight for community? What happens without careful cultivation of our church relationships?

3
Prayer

And they devoted themselves to . . . the prayers. Acts 2:42

Another thing that the church was devoted to was the prayers. The prayers meant constant communication with God, both individually and with each other. When we are devoted to prayer, we set aside time to communicate with God, speaking to Him and casting our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We trust in His power to respond to our prayers according to His purpose. How often do you pray? How does prayer refresh and uplift you?

application

Have you already devoted your life to God? Would you like to make that decision today?

Among devotion to the Word, community, and prayer, which are you having the hardest time with? What are two things you can do to change that this week?

Is there something you are devoted to that you know is not right? Bring this to the Lord in prayer. Come up with one practical way to get into the habit of devotion to the right things.

prayer

Ask God for the grace to be devoted to what pleases Him. Pray for His power and strength as you devote yourself to reading His Word, developing relationships with the church community, and praying regularly to Him alone and with others.

Thank God for the church community around you. Ask Him to reveal to you one person that needs encouragement today.

Pray for your family and friends who do not yet know God. Trust that God will meet them individually and reveal Himself to them.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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