JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
The Believers Form a Community
42All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lords Supper*), and to prayer.
43A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lords Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity*47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
In Acts 2:42–47, we learn how the first believers cared for one another in amazing ways. Let’s look closely at verse 45. It says that many believers sold things they owned and used the money to help people who needed it.
That makes us wonder: Why would they help people—even people they didn’t know?
The Bible tells us in verse 44 that they had “all things in common.” That doesn’t mean they shared the same toys or clothes. It means they shared the same faith in Jesus. They trusted Jesus as their Savior, and because they loved Jesus, they wanted to love others too. Their love for Jesus showed up in how they treated people.
Now let’s read some verses where Jesus teaches about loving and caring for others:
What do these verses teach us about how Jesus wants us to treat people?
Jesus cared about everyone, especially people who had needs. He healed the sick, fed hungry crowds, and spent time with people who were lonely or not well liked. He also taught his followers to care for others the same way.
Today, there are many people around us who need help. Some people don’t have homes. Some families have someone who is sick and could use a meal. Some kids feel lonely and don’t have many friends. Jesus shows us how to care for people like this by the way he lived.
Jesus wants us to be like him—to care for others, to help people who are in need, and to love even the people who are hard to love.
First, pray. Ask God to show you who in your community is in need and you can help.
Second, challenge yourself today by taking the next step to care for that person in your immediate community.
Below are some ways you can reach out and serve people in your broader community the way Jesus did.
After, write down your experience serving those in need. Pray for those people every day next week and ask God to show his love to them.