Celebrating the Faithfulness of God and His People
Acts 2:40-47
Growing Together in Knowledge (vv. 40-42)
- They received the Good News of Christ for salvation.
- The received the doctrines of Christ for sanctification.
Growing Together in Love (vv. 43-45)
- They shared the power of God.
- They shared the provision of God.
Growing Together in Obedience (vv. 46-47)
- Consistent in their upreach.
- Joyful in their inreach.
- Effective in outreach.
More to Consider
Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.
J.I. Packer, Knowing God
I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious. To stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coattail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and to give oneself again to God, what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth. I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him. Mayhap, in mercy, He shall give me a host of children that I may lead through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose fingers' ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, smell His garments, and smile into my Lover's eyes, ah, then, not stars, nor children, shall matter--only Himself.”
Jim Elliot, The Journals of Jim Elliot
It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our success; He wants us. He doesn't demand our achievements. He demands our obedience.
Charles W. Colson, Loving God
Christian community is like the Christian's sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification. What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God. Just as the Christian should not be constantly feeling his spiritual pulse, so, too, the Christian community has not been given to us by God for us to be constantly taking its temperature. The more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us, the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grow from day to day as God pleases.
―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community