Acts: The Kingdom Advances - Week 5 (2:42-47)
Acts 2:42-47
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Acts 2:42-47
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Acts 2:42-47 〰️ Acts 2:42-47 〰️
This week, we resume our series in the book of Acts. As a reminder, we’re breaking the book of Acts into a few chunks to give us enough time to touch on as much as possible, while also spending time balanced in the Old Testament. So we’re still in volume 1, and pick up in 2:42-47! We actually already went through this passage earlier this year during our ‘Made For More’ series in January, and you can find that discussion guide here. The key focus for us in January was that we are made for community, and the focus remains the same here today. God’s Word contains so many truths and principles that we could spend a year just on one passage and still barely scratch the surface. For our purposes this week, I’ll let you read that guide for the bulk of the heavy lifting, and then give some series-specific thoughts in relation to our exegetical series in Acts.
Acts 2:42-47 essentially gives us a recap of what happened after Peter’s sermon, when three thousand were added to their group of believers. The key takeaway for us is that they didn’t just sit still or tread water in their faith after coming to Christ. They began to move! The pattern we see in these six verses is that they were intricately involved in one another’s lives and in the life of their community as a whole. This community wasn’t a space for casual, fringe involvement, but for whole-life devotion to Christ and His people. We see this word “devoted” pop up twice in this passage, both in v42 and v46. They were a people committed to the teaching of God’s Word and to gathering as a community.
And this is the crux of this passage: that living in true community is described and held in high regard by this passage. Verse 46-47 tells us that “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” So if we deeply desire to see our coworkers, classmates, family members, and neighbors come to know Jesus, we can’t do it alone. Sharing the life of Christ happens through the vessel of community, and this is why we’re gathering here now.
I’ve said it a thousand times because it was true for me at multiple points in my life and is true for all of us today: longevity in following Christ happens in community. My life has been changed multiple times in the context of a community group where we’re committed to living life together, following Jesus, and sharing a meal together!
Discussion Questions
Could someone read Acts 2:42-47 for us?
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What does this passage say the people were devoting themselves to?
What might that look like for us today?
In a community composed of individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, how can we hold “all things in common”? (v44)
In what ways can we devote ourselves to meeting together as we read in v46?
What might happen to our community with relational and spiritual depth like this? (Hint: I think the answer is in v47b)