On Sunday, something really incredible happened. Our church chose to step out on faith and live in the pattern of light.
If you are the discussion leader, have everyone open to this page on their mobile device. Take turns reading the questions, verses, and make sure everyone has a chance to contribute.
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What does it mean to be “devoted” to something?
What kinds of things are we devoted to?
Do those things match up with what the early believers were devoted to? (see Acts 2:42, below.)
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
What was the result of this devotion?
Acts 2:43-45
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.
This is an amazing passage… It shows people living in radical faith, doesn’t it? This is supernatural. Signs, wonders, people caring for each other, providing for all needs. Why aren’t we seeing this today?
On Sunday, many of us chose to get involved with a life group. But quite a few chose not to. When I asked some of them why they “opted out,” their response was that they were just really busy during the week. School sports, work, and other things completely dominate their schedule.
It sounds like the question we should be asking isn’t, “are we devoted?” The question should be, “what are we devoted to?” Is it possible that we are gambling our children’s spiritual growth on the chance that they will go on to have a football career, or at least that they are better served by playing soccer than by being active in the body of Christ? What are we really modeling for our children?
So, here is the “Pattern of light” that the believers engaged in:
Acts 2:46-47
And day by day, attending the 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.
Clearly, they valued corporate worship (attending the temple together) and they valued community (breaking bread in their homes.) This is the pattern of spiritual growth, and of being the light.
A friend of mine says this:
“You can’t grow spiritually without connecting relationally.”
What do you think of that quote? How accurate is that?
How do you define spiritual growth? Is it by what you learn by reading and by listening, or is it more of an active learning, stepping out in faith and living in such a way as to stretch you and change you? (see Acts 2:43-45, above)
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
How can we better become the LIGHT to each other and to the world that God desires that we become?