May 18, 2020

The Gospel Furthered Through Community

Acts 2:14–47

Marc Flores
Monday's Devo

May 18, 2020

Monday's Devo

May 18, 2020

Central Truth

Living life in authentic Christian community is one of the most effective ways we can draw nonbelievers to Christ.

Key Verse | Acts 2:46-47

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 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 2:14–47

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 1 2:15 That is, 9 a.m. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17  ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18  even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19  And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20  the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, 2 2:23 Greek this one delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26  therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
28  You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35      until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe 3 2:43 Or fear 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.

Footnotes

[1] 2:15 That is, 9 a.m.
[2] 2:23 Greek this one
[3] 2:43 Or fear

Dive Deeper | Acts 2:14–47

Acts 2 was one of the first passages I studied when I became a Christ-follower. Growing up, I would have told you I was a Christian. But my actions did not say, "Marc follows Jesus." After putting my faith in Christ, I wondered: how was my life going to be different?

I imagine there must have been a similar question running through the minds of the 3,000 people who believed after Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). "How would life as a genuine follower of Jesus look different than life just following rules to please God?"

Similar to how Acts 2 described our Christian brothers and sisters, I also found myself consistently spending time around other believers who encouraged me in my relationship with Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25). This community showed me how Christians should display their faith to the rest of the world. I wanted to do things to show I followed Jesus; not because I needed to move the needle on a "holiness" gauge, but because I truly desired more of Him. 

I noticed that non-Christians didn't necessarily agree with what we believed, but no one could argue with the love we had for God and each other. And slowly but surely, I saw more and more people wanting the joy and peace we had.

The early church was not perfect, and neither are we. But the first believers lived life authentically, and people couldn't help but want that kind of life, too (Acts 13:48). I first desired to know God because I saw His love on display by His people. Do you want to see God save more and more people? Let's strive to look more like the Acts 2 church daily!

Discussion Questions

1. In what ways does your biblical community look like the Acts 2 church?

2. Do you have room to improve? If so, how? 

3. What does it mean to have favor with all the people (Acts 2:47)?