Acts 2:42-47: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  And day by day, attending temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  

We hope you have enjoyed the deep dive into Acts 2:42-47 over the last weeks.  “The Lord added to their number…”  The natural outcome of the people of God engaging in the right activities.  It was a communal effort to produce growth, and we see the foundation of their behavior not in clever strategies or motivation that the world was against them.  But in the profound belief that they possessed something that was very special.  Something that held them together, through, what I might argue, was a tumultuous time.  

It is no different today.  What we can possess is what they did possess.  A profound life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ, that altered the course of their personal histories.  You cannot ignore the joy that they shared, the delight that they possessed, that made them think of themselves as a unit and not as individuals.  

We are at our best, when we follow this well-worn pathway that the earliest disciples of Jesus Christ embraced.  It’s all here:  study, prayer, fellowship, awe, sharing, giving, generosity, gratitude, community, worship, service, unity, lifting the name of Jesus, enhancing the reputation of God.  They enhanced the reputation of Jesus.  Their behavior was above reproach.  Their speech was centered on the business of God.  Their minds fixed, set, resolved, Jesus and the kingdom was everything.  When we are at our best, when we are engaged in study, prayer, fellowship, awe, sharing, giving, generosity, gratitude, community, worship, service, unity, lifting the name of Jesus, enhancing the reputation of God.  We get to enhance the reputation of Jesus.  Our behavior can be above reproach.  Our speech (spoken word, written word, insta-word) can be centered on the business of God.  When our minds are fixed, set, resolved, Jesus and the kingdom is everything.

Enjoy your thanksgiving feast.  This Sunday we will again gather, 9 and 10:30.  Invite a friend, invite a co-worker or the parents of your child’s friend.  Or invite a neighbor, invite someone!

We need help in our Meals Ministry.  If you’d be interested in helping send an email or indicate your interest on the back of the connect card.

Peace to you,

John