In Acts 2, Pentecost has come, the Holy Spirit now dwells within believers, and we get a glimpse of how the early church responded to this divine responsibility and authority. Imagine living in that moment, the generation that witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion, His defeat of death, and His ascension. The energy behind this new community of believers must have been incredible. They were hungry for more of the gospel and more of the truth. The apostles taught, and the believers listened eagerly to what they had been taught by Christ. Scripture uses the word devoted, this wasn’t casual conversation or occasional interest. It was a new way of life they were embracing. We can follow their example by continually learning, teaching, obeying, and living according to Scripture.
Notice, too, that the church described here is not simply a weekly gathering. The church is the community itself. They shared life together. In our age of individualism, it can be easy to miss the significance of this. We are surrounded by my house, my money, my resources, my space. Are we creating space to welcome others in?
The early believers even sold their possessions to meet one another’s needs. While this isn’t necessarily a command for every believer to sell everything they own, it reveals a posture of radical generosity.
God has given each of us resources –
wealth, time, abilities, homes, and opportunities. Do we primarily use them for ourselves, or are we willing to use what God has entrusted to us to serve others? The way we allocate our resources reveals what we value and, ultimately, what we worship.
Beyond sharing resources, they broke bread together. They shared meals, celebrated together, and opened their homes. What a simple and beautiful expression of fellowship. God could have designed nourishment to be purely functional, yet He gave us the gift of taste and the ability to enjoy food together. Sharing what He has provided can itself become an act of gratitude and worship.
And how do we truly develop this posture of worship, surrender, and vulnerability? Ultimately, by recognizing our dependence upon God. Does your prayer life reflect that dependence? Are you praying with your spiritual family and creating space for God to work within those relationships?
I love that Scripture doesn’t describe these people merely as a house-church group or spiritual friends. They were family. For those who have experienced hurt within their biological families, that word can carry a lot of weight. Yet through His grace, God gives us a glimpse of what He intended family to be through the spiritual brothers and sisters He has placed around us. We aren’t like family – we are family. That should change the way we show up, love, serve, forgive, and care for one another. Our fellowship is meant to be tangible. We don’t merely feel compassion; we act on it.
This is where the early church beautifully reflects the three rhythms we emphasize at Mission Community Church: worship, family and mission.
Worship: We were created to exalt our Heavenly Father and bring Him praise. If someone observed your life solely by your actions, what would they say is the central focus of your worship? Is it really God, or is it your phone, your career, your comfort, your entertainment, or something else? Our lives reveal what we worship.
Mission: God has given each of us a purpose in His Kingdom. I believe followers of Jesus are meant to be the hands and feet of our Savior in this fallen world. When outsiders look at your life, do they see someone who is living on mission for Jesus? Do your actions point people toward your Savior?
Acts 2 gives us a beautiful picture of a church that was devoted to truth, committed to family, dependent upon God, generous with what He had given them, joyful in worship, and faithful to His mission. May that be true of us as well.
God, as we move forward, help us learn from the example of the early church. May we exalt and glorify You, never tiring of pressing into Your Word and continually learning Your heart. Teach us to live sacrificially within our spiritual family, to embrace one another, serve one another, and care for one another. And give us clarity and courage in our mission. May we never back away from proclaiming the gospel and making disciples near, far, and to the ends of the earth. Amen.