#1) COMMUNITY OF DEVOTION (v.42)

Acts 2:42-47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

• Devotion is a habit of the heart. It is something that happens when we decide to invest the energy of our souls into the life of another person.

Four Stages of Devotion

1) Emotional

2) Companionship

3) Serving

4) Solidarity

• A community of devotion is a church that is completely devoted to Jesus.
  • Devoted to the studying of the Word of God (a healthy doctrine)
  • Devoted to the fellowship of God
  • Devoted to the fellowship of others through authentic relationships
  • Devoted to prayer

Acts 6:4 (ESV)

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

Romans 12:12 (ESV)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

• We must prioritize biblical teaching and authentic relationships. This combination can ignite a Christ-centered ripple effect in our own lives and communities.

#2) COMMUNITY OF AWARENESS (v. 43)

Acts 2:43 ESV

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

• We must be a church aware of God’s presence… a church that fears Him.

The Fear of Lord is to tremble at His Presence & to tremble at His Word.

Psalm 89:7 NKJV

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

People don’t first stop loving the Lord, they first stop fearing the Lord.

Hebrews 12:28 NKJV

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

• The fear of the Lord is to love what God loves and hate what God hates.

Isaiah 11:2-3 NKJV

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

Psalm 19:9a NKJV

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

Isaiah 66:1-2 ESV

Thus says the LORD:

“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

TREMBLE AT HIS WORD MEANS TO OBEY HIM…

A) IMMEDIATELY

B) EVEN IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

C) EVEN IF IT HURTS

D) EVEN IF WE DON’T SEE A BENEFIT

E) ALL THE WAY TO COMPLETION

• Remain open to the movement of the Spirit in our lives. Recognize that God can use our community to perform His works both within and beyond our community.

#3) COMMUNITY OF COMPASSION (v. 44-45)

Acts 2:44-45 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

• A community of compassion is a community in which helps meet the needs of those around them especially their neighbor.

Acts 4:32 (ESV)

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:34-35 (ESV)

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

• This level of compassion can only be a radical and profound expression of Christ’s love and selflessness.

Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

• “harassed and helpless” = torn and thrown down.
• Compassion = splagchnizomai = to have the bowels yearn; sympathy; to be moved with compassion; great affection.
• Let’s be a community that is moved by Christ’s love & selflessness, His profound compassion for others.

#4) COMMUNITY OF TOGETHERNESS (v. 46)

Acts 2:46 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

• In the early church, the regular gatherings for communal meals and the breaking of bread were a big deal. They symbolized unity and the shared presence of Christ among them.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

• I encourage you to value fellowship and create spaces for genuine relationships in your lives.

#5) COMMUNITY OF PRAISE (v. 47)

Acts 2:47 ESV

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.

• The early church’s authentic community and mutual praise created an attractive witness to the wider world, leading to growth in numbers. Their vibrant faith and love for one another acted as a powerful testimony of God’s character.

Worship is love expressed.

• Worship must be a lifestyle (=a particular way of living)

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Does your way of living glorify God?

• A lifestyle of worship is living your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.

“If you will not worship God seven days a week, you will not worship Him on one day a week” — A.W. Tozer

Psalm 149:1-6 (ESV)

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,

• Sinai, I encourage you to actively engage in your community, letting your lives reflect praise to God, thereby drawing others to experience His transformative love and grace.

A lifestyle of worship encourages us into an action to…

A) LOVE

Luke 10:27 (ESV)

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

B) SERVE

Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

 C) FORGIVE

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

D) SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1 (NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

CONCLUSION 

Luke 14:16-24 (ESV)

16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

• Here’s our heart for Sinai…
  • A spiritually vibrant community, rooted in Christ’s teachings and prayer, is essential for authentic faith and outreach. It invites others to experience God’s love through genuine relationships.
•   I encourage you to to actively participate in church life, enriching both their spiritual journey and that of others.