Kingdom Principle: The early church devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching and to fellowship. We desire to be devoted to the same.
Two commitments that defined the early church:
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Devoted to the _____________________ _______________________
Acts 2:42 (ESV) — 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…
Our devotion to the Word and to Each Other should never be something we look at with a sense of dread, but instead should be seen as the outworking of the Holy Spirit within us.
Its basic meaning is “to stay by,” “to persist at,” “to remain with.
Devoted: To give your strength toward a certain endeavor.
Ephesians 2:19–20 (ESV) — 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Acts 20:7-12
2 Timothy 4:1–4 (ESV) — 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus (sounds pretty serious), who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
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Devoted to _____________________________
Acts 2:42 (ESV) — 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The key may be to see the terms “breaking of bread” and “prayer” in apposition to “fellowship.” The meaning would then be that they devoted themselves to a fellowship that was expressed in their mutual meals and in their prayer life together.
The commitment to Fellowship was seen in a deep connection to one another and in a mutual care and concern for each other.
Table fellowship denoted intimacy, and discussions or even lectures at meals were common… early Christian fellowship undoubtedly centered more on intimate worship, sharing and learning the Scriptures than its modern Western counterpart tends to do.
The early church prioritized life together. They did everything together.
Discipleship is each one of us taking responsibility for another’s joy and progress in Christ.
Questions to Consider
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What are the two things that the early church were committed to? In what ways do we show our commitment to the same?
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How are you personally involved in these two commitments? In what ways have you allowed your devotion to these things slip? How might you renew your intentions toward these practices?
