THE INTENSELY DEVOTED CHURCH

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer”  – Acts 2:42.

What makes a healthy, vibrant, God-blessed church? What is needed to produce the church community we find in Acts 2?

The Acts 2:42 church didn’t just happen. The early followers of Jesus devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teachings. They devoted themselves to hearing from God through the scriptures, speaking with God in prayer, and belonging to the church.

To understand the Acts 2:42 church, we have to go back to Acts 2:1-4, where the risen Lord Jesus fulfilled ancient promises by pouring out the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. And then we have to go to verses 14 and following where Peter stood up and proclaimed this Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of Israel’s story, and the fulfiller of all of God’s promises. Peter summed up his sermon with these words: “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah”  (Acts 2:36). And so, verse 37, “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

In Verse 41 we read: “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41). You cannot have a devoted church without the gospel. You cannot create a vibrant community without preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is crucified and risen. You can’t get an Acts 2 church without the gospel.

The first characteristic is devotion to the apostle’s teaching. That’s right there in verse 42. “And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching. They were sharing life with each other, literally, as verse 45 unpacks: They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need” (Acts 2:45).

They were committed. We need to remember that being a Christian was quite a cost in those days. Following Jesus was dangerous, and you didn’t do it casually. When you crossed the line of saying, “I’m in, I’m a part of this family,” you were in. You were committed. And, of course, this commitment shows up simply in the word “devoted” (Luke 2:42). This word speaks of consistancy and perseverance. These people were committed to being the church together.

How can we be this kind of community today? How can our church be marked by the characteristics that marked the early church? Being committed to the church is more than a gold star for attendance; it is a commitment to the work of our Lord. It requires submission to His authority and active participation to be used and offered with the full abilities of our gifts and talents. It means being devoted.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to you to be devoted to God? To the church?