SERIES: A Church For the City
TEXT: Acts 2:40-47
MESSAGE: “Devoted Disciples in an Age of Distraction”
“The church is a new community of new creations in Christ, who live on mission as citizens of his kingdom.” — Tony Merida
TEXT: Acts 2:40-47
QUESTION: What fosters devoted disciples of Jesus? They are marked by three traits. They are…(1. Devoted to God’s Word, 2. Committed to One Another, 3. Shaped by Praising God)
1. Devoted to God’s Word (v. 40-42)
“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. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”
“…Peter’s concise reply concerning how to respond to the gospel: repent and show this response by participating in a rite that symbolizes forgiveness and cleansing into life through Jesus Christ.” — Darrell Bock
“The expression ‘devoting themselves’ has the idea of persistence or persevering in something. The…construction speaks of an ongoing devotion that they have.” — Darrell Bock
“There’s been a major conclusion for me over the last 3 or 4 years. The church needs to be a learning community under the authority of Scripture. To be on mission with Jesus. And a learning community is different than just a preaching community…Congregations are an essential part of being a learning community. But podcasts are important. Books are important. Lived experiences…how to live our faith out in politics? How do we live our faith out as moms, dads, or singles? How do we live our faith out in our work?” — David Kinnaman (Barna Group)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8
2. Committed to One Another (v.42b-44)
“…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.”
3. Shaped by Praising God (v. 45-47)
“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.”
“Innumerable times, a whole Christian community has broken down because it had sprung from a wish dream. The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
TAKEAWAYS: Our hope moving forward…
- Discipleship is intentional
“Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book” — John Bunyan
- Discipleship is alignment
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” — Acts 2:47