Group: Adult

Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” With the attitude that God can make good come out of every circumstance, life becomes a tremendous adventure, and we will live in awe of God’s power and might.

As the book of Acts describes, the early church was a vibrant and dynamic community. Fresh from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they were experiencing something truly unprecedented. Acts 2:43 captures the atmosphere of this time: “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”

Awe is a powerful emotion. It’s more than just being impressed; it’s a profound sense of wonder and reverence, a feeling of being in the presence of something far greater than ourselves. The believers in the early church weren’t just amazed by the miracles; they were experiencing the tangible power of God at work among them. The signs and wonders were irrefutable proof of the resurrected Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

This awe had a transformative effect. It didn’t just inspire them; it united them, creating a deep sense of unity and shared purpose. When we are filled with awe at God’s power, our focus shifts from ourselves to Him. Our own worries and insecurities shrink in comparison to His majesty. We become more receptive to His leading and more compassionate toward one another.

God is still at work in our lives, in our churches, and in our world. We can cultivate a sense of awe by intentionally looking for His hand in our daily lives. We can marvel at the beauty of creation, a gentle whisper of His power. We can be astonished by an answered prayer, a clear sign of His care. A word of wisdom or a flash of insight that we never saw before can humble us.

As we go about our week, let’s ask God to open our eyes to His presence. May we not just observe Him, but be filled with a profound sense of awe and wonder. For in that awe, we find not only a deeper connection to Him, but a greater unity with each other, all for His glory.

Pastor Jose delivered an incredibly challenging message this past Sunday. As Jesus often said, “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.”

In this simple verse, Acts 2:42 gives us a window into the heart of the early church. They were not a people given to fleeting fancies or casual commitments. No, their faith was marked by a deep, unwavering devotion. The word “devoted” here implies a persistent and earnest attendance to something. It’s the picture of believers who refuse to be pulled away from their chosen course. The first followers of Jesus weren’t half-hearted; they were all in. Their faith wasn’t a hobby but the essence of their lives.

The devotion of the early church was expressed in four distinct ways, each a vital pillar supporting their new life in Christ. First, they were devoted to the apostles’ teaching. They recognized that their faith had a foundation in divine truth, a truth delivered by those who had walked with Jesus Himself. They didn’t invent their own theology; they sat under the authority of God’s Word as revealed through Jesus and the apostles. This is a powerful reminder that our faith must be rooted in Scripture, not personal opinions or popular trends.

Second, they were devoted to fellowship. This wasn’t just friendly chat or social gatherings. It was a genuine, shared life in Christ. They lived, shared, and suffered together. Their bond was forged in the common blood of Christ. This fellowship was a tangible demonstration of their new identity as Christ’s body on earth. It was a place of mutual support, encouragement, and accountability.

Third, they were devoted to the breaking of bread. This speaks to their shared meals and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. It was a physical and spiritual act of communion. The shared meals were a picture of their shared life, and the Lord’s Supper was a sacred reminder of the sacrifice that made their fellowship possible. It was a constant return to the cross, the wellspring of their salvation.

Finally, they were devoted to the prayers. This wasn’t a casual “add-on” to their spiritual life; it was a core discipline. They understood their utter dependence on God. They came together in corporate prayer, lifting their voices as one body. This constant communication with their heavenly Father fueled their faith and empowered their witness.

Acts 2:42 is not merely a historical record but a timeless pattern for the church today. It’s a challenging call to re-evaluate our own devotion. Are we as devoted to the truth of God’s Word as the early church was? Do we see fellowship as a necessity, not just a social option? Is our faith centered on the cross, and does consistent, dependent prayer mark our lives? May we, like those first believers, be found steadfastly devoted to the things that truly matter, building our lives and churches on these foundational truths.

I love how our church provides a variety of ways in which you can serve! You could do coffee, greet, usher, help with kids, or several other things. I also love how, over the past few years, so many have stepped up to volunteer. The church is not only a wonderful place for us to come and receive, but it’s also a place where we can use our gifts and talents to serve Jesus. I Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” This passage goes on to say that each of our unique gifts and talents make up the body of Christ and everyone’s role is valuable. But it doesn’t stop there. In Matthew 9:37 Jesus says, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” The harvest isn’t neatly tucked away inside the walls of the church. Instead it’s in our community, our apartment complexes, on our college campus, on the golf course, and on our sports fields. If our work is only within the church, we miss the heart of God completely. God not only wants us serving at our church but also working the harvest field. The hard truth is, if we stop sending workers out into the harvest, the church will dwindle, and we won’t have a church to invite them to. Lord, we want to walk in your perfect will. Help us to find a place to serve at our church. Also, show us ways we can serve and show the love of Christ to those in our community that don’t know you and who haven’t found a church home yet. Give us boldness. Help guide and direct us. In Jesus name, amen.

We are blessed to be in a church that values small groups. We used to call them Cell Groups, then Heart Groups, and now we call them Community Groups. Even though the name has evolved over time, the concept was founded in today’s passage. Community Groups are the heart of our church. It’s where you can find community, grow closer to Jesus, and invite not-yet believers.

In today’s passage, Luke describes what a healthy group looks like…

He begins by saying they had everything in common.
-Meaning they loved Jesus and there was a sense of family togetherness. What yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.

They were selfless.
-They sold their belongings and shared their earnings in order to make sure everyone in their group had what they needed.

They met together in the temple courts.
-Meaning, they went to church together.

They met in homes and ate together with joyful and thankful hearts.
-They shared meals. They delighted in each other, shared stories, and celebrated with each other.

They praised God together and enjoyed the favor of all the people.
-They talked about Jesus and God gave them favor.

The end of verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Wow! They loved Jesus together, made him the center of their lives, and God gave them favor. Lord, we ask for this type of health and favor in our groups. Use our groups as a vessel for others to come and know you. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to live this out. In Jesus name, amen.

If Jesus is at the center of my life, am I seeing the results of what these verses are saying? Do I notice God’s presence before me? The security that comes from being beside Him? Gladness radiating from deep within me?

If not, maybe our hearts need that reminder today. How encouraging that this way of living is possible for us all through faith in God. Beyond our present circumstances, limitations, and doubts, we can continue to set the Lord before us. We can keep walking, we can keep rejoicing, we can have ultimate security in Him.

Thank You, God, for Your Word that serves to remind us of truth. Help us set You before us today. Settle the things in our hearts that feel shaken. Our hearts are glad for Your presence! Teach us to rejoice in You.

This moment at Pentecost actually reverses an earlier moment in Scripture at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. In the Tower of Babel, when humanity is united in language and effort for their own glory, God confuses and disperses them. When people are united for God’s glory at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit uses their differences to unify and strengthen their faith and the church’s mission.

Isn’t it amazing that God takes what we want for our own glory and instead makes it for His? He takes what seems like would divide and hurt the mission, and makes it come together for His Kingdom purposes. In both our best and worst efforts, He lets us be part of His plans that are being unveiled to the world.

It’s a great mystery of God’s plan to involve us at all and then let us have a role to play in each other’s lives as He speaks through each of us. When we show up with our own agenda and expectations and aim to get the glory for ourselves, we miss out on the richness God has for life in community. When we get into community seeking to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and what He wants us to both hear and speak, we can be receptive and amazed by what God is doing in our midst. There’s no greater unity we can experience than seeking God’s glory in all that we do together.

In 2008, I was attending yet another retreat at a church that had become my refuge as a teenager. I don’t remember much about the place we stayed, the friends I went with, or what we did throughout the weekend. However, I still remember the theme, teaching, main worship song, and t-shirt design. I remember those things not because of how great (or now out-of-date) the design was, but because God used the theme powerfully to intersect my life exactly where I was and as I was.

That weekend, God spoke to the deepest parts of me, revealing how much I needed Him to “consume me from the inside out.” There in the middle of a packed retreat, standing within a crowd of my peers, God saw me. God picked me out and allowed me to encounter His love and gracious willingness to renew me and re-purpose my life. Right then, I told God that I didn’t understand everything about becoming a Christian or if I’d even want to continue to follow Him later in life, but that I wanted (needed) my life to be consumed. I needed a new way to live and prayed that God would receive me as I surrendered to Him.

For a long time, I didn’t tell a soul about that encounter — I don’t think I knew how. But from that moment on, God showed me how real and how present He was, and how He wanted to show me the path of life, even if my external circumstances didn’t change in the meantime.

Life has obviously not been simple or easy since then, but I’m so grateful that God has continued to steer me down the path of life and infused me with His joy and provision along the way. As I remember that encounter with God, I’m filled with awe and gratitude for how He works even when we are the least deserving. I also wonder how else He wants to encounter each of us as we pause and wait for Him to show us His ways. Show us, Lord, we are listening.

When I make selfish choices, it doesn’t take long before I realize something is wrong. I lose my conscious awareness of the Lord’s presence and begin to feel secluded from Him. I was not created to be isolated. When my ego overpowers my thoughts and distracts me from the fellowship I delight in with Him, my disregard of abiding in His presence results in my loss of peace and joy.

I confess that I am absolutely dependent on Him for everything. The air I breathe, the space I occupy and the time I have on this plane of existence is because of His grace.

No project I am doing, no goal I am pursuing or event I am planning is of any worth unless He is initiating it.

I pray that the Lord will help me to continually maintain an attitude of complete surrender to Him and His purpose for my life.

I need the Lord’s help in everything I do if I am going to be the witness He wants me to be. One of the ways He is guiding me to abide in His presence when I am with people is to be silent and simply be a good listener and observe what is happening around me.

In the past, my ego has always wanted to say something it thought was important so I concentrated on what I wanted to comment on and neglected to hear and understand what was being said by others. Now He is teaching me to be still and watch what is going on. If I am asked about something, then I am aware of the situation and many times He gives me words with which I can respond that I wasn’t even thinking about saying. In doing so I am able to have intimate fellowship with Him while I am also enjoying the fellowship of others.

I pray that He will progressively help me to be a better listener so that I can be more and more sensitive to His guidance as I fellowship with my friends.