Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Devotion
Luke describes what the early church looked like as it lived out its mission for Jesus. We see that the early believers were not left to drift apart but were kept together and shaped into a unit of fellowship and faith. These early believers were carefully instructed in the doctrines of Christ; they maintained ongoing relationships with each other; they shared common meals together; they were committed to personal and corporate prayer times. They learned early on the necessity of calling out to God and asking Him to empower them as they lived out the mission of the Great Commission. This early spiritual family was marked by sharing and generosity. Every day they met together in the temple courts and in their homes. As they lived out their faith in Jesus, God added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Questions to Ponder
Are you experiencing the closeness and unity of a spiritual family described in the above text? If not, what would God have you do in order to experience this kind of fellowship? If you are experiencing this kind of close-knit fellowship, who might you invite into your spiritual family?
Prayer
- Thank the Lord for our church family, Oak Pointe Church.
- Thank Him for all the different bible studies and groups of all ages that meet to grow in knowing Jesus and making Him known. Thank Him that even with COVID-19, people can still meet in groups virtually or over the phone.
- Pray for others who are not connected or who are disconnected right now because of COVID-19.
- If you yourself are disconnected, ask the LORD to empower you to reach out to one of the Community Pastors through the Oak Pointe website.
God, thank You for my Oak Pointe Church family. Thank You that You have created us to be in relationship with You, as well as others. Thank You that Oak Pointe has remained a church family that is rooted and grounded in Your Word and reflects Your open, receptive, generous, welcoming heart, when we are together in the building and when we are in our homes. Thank You for our leaders who desire us to all be in fellowship with You but also each other. Thank You for their burden to have every person in community, as well as feeding and caring for the flock. Father, continue to protect, watch over and empower Your church. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I ask, amen.