Better Together – Part 1: We Grow Together
Acts 2:42-47
Series Memory Verse: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (p.895)
- Real Growth Happens Together, But Only When We’re Better Together.
Why we keep others at arm’s length:
- The pull of staying guarded.
- The risk of real community.
- The shift from consumer to contributor.
| What We Celebrate | The Reality Behind the Picture |
|---|---|
| Devoted to the apostles’ teaching. | They mostly kept it in-house. |
| Committed to fellowship. | The circle had a fence |
| Breaking bread together. | The guest list stayed familiar. |
| Constant prayer. | Praying in place. |
| Radical generosity. | Partly a countdown. |
| Glad and sincere hearts. | Comfortable joy. |
| Daily growth. | Growth by gathering, not going. |
“…You will be my witnesses…in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…A great wave of persecution began…and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Acts 1:8,8:1 (p.830,836)
What Shaped the New Testament Writing:
- Sexual sin: (1 Corinthians 5:1)
- Division and cliques: (1 Corinthians 1:10)
- Believers suing believers: (1 Corinthians 6:7)
- Selfishness at communion: (1 Corinthians 11:20)
- Confused theology: (1 Corinthians 15)
- Cheapened grace: (Galatians 1:6–7)
- Racism and exclusion: (Galatians 2:14)
- Laziness and gossip: (2 Thessalonians 3:10–11)
- Prideful leaders: (1 Timothy 6:4–10)
To grow and be better together:
- Devote yourself to your church family.
“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 (p.832)
- Carry the mission past the parking lot.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (p.830)
- Choose to Go Before You’re Sent.
“A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1 (p.836)
“Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions.” Deuteronomy 32:11 (p.164)
My Next Step This Week: I am stepping in toward the Alive Church family by joining a small group.