The Way In: Rediscovering Acts 2 Community Life

``I wonder if you've ever felt like you're better off doing your faith journey on your own without anyone else. No one to tell you what to do, how to live, how to act. If we've come into an understanding of God's love, that means we've got the father. We've got a relationship with him. We've met Jesus. We know how awesome his power is, and we've got the holy spirit with us as well. He goes with us everywhere. So why do we need everybody else? Is that all we need to know? Have we if we've got God, is that all we need, or is there more? Do we even need anyone else? Maybe you're tempted to go solo. [00:34:26] (46 seconds)  #FaithIsNotSolo

The way of the disciples of Jesus back then was to constantly submit themselves to one another, eating together, studying God's word, praying together. They would even consider together how to bless others by giving what they when they could see that there was a specific need. [00:37:40] (20 seconds)  #ActsCommunity

Well, it must be because there's still no substitute for face to face. We can't read people on a screen like we can when we're in the room. And now because of the power of the Internet and social media, I can even see what my friends are up to on the other side of the world. But, you know, I still don't really know what they're up to, and I don't really feel close to them. It's it's not the whole story, is it, social media? It's cool. I'm not saying it's bad. It's just no substitute, is it, for being face to face with others. [00:38:50] (41 seconds)  #MoreThanScreens

And so to me, it seems possible that the way of meeting together as the disciples were doing in Acts chapter two, meeting in the temple together and meeting in people's homes is still the way after so many hundreds of years to get that up close intimacy that we all seem to need and to crave. Do you agree? [00:39:39] (27 seconds)  #GatherForIntimacy

And going to the temple together, learning together, this is still one of our favorite times as a church, isn't it? Meeting in the big gathering like this, and this is our equivalent modern day equivalent of the temple, isn't it, in getting together. And then breaking bread together in homes, in our context, would be just going around to each other's house for a meal and catching up. We know how many good conversations happen over a meal, don't we? It's great. Even praying together, asking God for good things, and thanking him together. [00:40:06] (39 seconds)  #BreakBreadTogether

You know, over the last thirty years or so of my life and my journey of following Jesus and being involved here at church or churches in other places, sadly, I've seen many people break away or even fall away. They decide they don't need to gather with the group anymore for whatever reason, maybe just to take a break or do something different for a while. And this is where the enemy can do his work, to pick us off, to break us away from the gathering. [00:41:23] (35 seconds)  #StayInTheGathering

He might sow seeds of doubt when we're in that vulnerable place of stepping back from the group. You might relate to some of these things, some of these whispers that you might hear. And they're usually whispers. They're subtle. Things like, you don't you don't need them, or they don't like you, or you don't fit in here, or you don't understand, or they don't understand, or maybe they're not having as much fun here as the group of people over there, or they can't possibly relate to what you're feeling. Does that sound familiar to anyone? Is it am I the only one who's heard those whispers? [00:41:58] (47 seconds)  #TruthCrushesDoubt

Sometimes when we're vulnerable, we might be tempted to believe these lies. But, ultimately, there's nothing for us to be afraid of because we know that the name of Jesus is truth, and he is all powerful. And in connecting with Jesus and with accessing his holy spirit and listening to what he says and reading the scriptures and and hearing the truth, that's enough to crush the power of these lives of the enemy. I'm telling you this not so that you'll be afraid or scared, but so that you'll be reminded if you realize that it's happening. Just something to be aware of. [00:42:52] (41 seconds)  #SmallGroupsSupport