Walking with God over the Summer...and beyond

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Let’s list the elements in this passage that you see that are keys to healthy Christian living.

1.     A commitment to the Scriptures.  (vs. 42)

a.     What does it look like for you to be committed (devoted) to God’s Word? 

b.     What are some benefits of being devoted to the Scriptures?

c.     Psalm 1 – meditating on God’s Word day and night

d.     Hebrews 4:12-13

2.     Fellowship.  Being connected to other believers.  (vs. 42)

a.     Where do you find Christian fellowship?

b.     For those of you that tend to seek quality teaching and church experience online, that’s awesome.  But what’s the value of being in the physical presence with other believers?

c.     What does it really even mean to be in fellowship with one another?

3.     Enjoying time over meals together.  (vs. 42,45) 

a.     Why is mealtime so important? 

b.     Why did Jesus do so much ministry over meals?

c.     Great article here:  https://voice.dts.edu/article/a-place-at-the-table-jones-barry/

4.     Prayer.  Bringing everything before God.  Praying alone and with one another.  (vs. 42)

a.     What is your personal prayer life like?  In what ways can it improve?

b.     What is the value in praying together?  (see:  James 5:13-16)

5.     Serving others.  (vs. 45)

a.     Why is it important for us to look out for one another?

b.     What does it show the world when we care for each other like this?

c.     What avenues do you have this summer to serve?

6.     There was a commitment to fellow believers, but there was also an outward focus.  (vs. 47 – “enjoying the favor of all the people; God adding to their number)

a.     How did each of you come to know Jesus?  Did any of you come to know Him on your own, simply by reading your Bible?

b.     Why is it the sign of healthy Christianity for us to move towards those who don’t know Christ?  (think of the Dead Sea)

c.     Who do you know back home (or wherever you’re going to be) that you can share Christ with this summer?

Of course, these principles all apply not just for summer break, but for the rest of your life.  Wherever you go, seek to apply all six of these things:  a commitment to Scripture, solid Christian fellowship, enjoying Christian company over meals, a healthy prayer life, a place to serve, and making opportunities to impact others for Christ. 

Holy Week Devotional - Sunday

Matthew 28:1-10 – “1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.””

The resurrection of Jesus is, as Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15, the fulcrum of history.  Our faith stands or falls on whether this event happened or not.  In 1 Cor 15:17, Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”  If the resurrection did not happen, we are living a lie and it is futile and we are to be pitied.  If the resurrection DID happen, we are living the glorious, life-changing truth that impacts eternity.

There is no in-between.

Some scholars like to think that the resurrection happened in a symbolic sense, but not in a real, physical sense.  But the early Christians banked everything on the resurrection being real.  The Church would never have gotten started if not for the resurrection.  We have abundant historical evidence that the early Christians believed that Jesus really rose from the dead.  It is foundational to our faith.

But one of the most interesting aspects of the resurrection is found in this account in Matthew 28.  Notice who found the empty tomb.  Mary and Mary Magdalene.  Women.  That may seem unimportant to us today, but in that culture, that was quite noteworthy. 

You see, women had no standing in that culture.  They had no power, and their word wasn’t even good in a court of law.  If the first Christians were making up the story of the resurrection, the last thing they would have done is had women play such an integral part of the story.  They’d simply have left that out.  But they didn’t leave it out, because that’s exactly what happened, and they were committed to telling the true story. 

The resurrection really happened.  Jesus really rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.  Because of that, we too can have victory over sin and death. 

Our faith is grounded in historical reality, not wishful thinking.  That’s always good to come back to when you experience doubts.  Jesus really died on the cross and He really rose from the dead.  His tomb really is empty.  Christianity is TRUE.

When you think about Easter, yes, you think about the resurrection.  But do you think about the importance of the resurrection?  Do you think about the implications?  Do you think about how history and all of eternity changed because of what happened on Easter? 

Today, take some time to thank God for the resurrection.  Thank Him for new life.  Thank Him that it’s not a fairy tale, but a true story of the Son of God giving His life for us and rising again in victory on your behalf.  Think about someone in your life who needs to hear this amazing true story.  And then go share it with them.