Contagious Christianity: Living a Devoted and Powerful Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Devotion to Jesus and His Church

The early church was marked by a deep, personal devotion to Jesus and to one another. This devotion was not something imposed from the outside, but a conscious decision each believer made to attach themselves to Christ and to His people. Just as sports fans are inseparable from their teams, the first Christians were inseparable from Jesus and His mission. Their commitment was visible in their daily lives, shaping their priorities, relationships, and actions. When you choose to devote yourself to Jesus and His house, you draw strength, purpose, and fruitfulness from Him, becoming part of something greater than yourself. [07:55]

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
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 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.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally devote yourself to Jesus and His church this week, making it a non-negotiable part of your daily life?

Day 2: Remaining Attached to Christ Bears Fruit

Jesus teaches that remaining connected to Him is the only way to live a fruitful and effective life. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine, we cannot flourish spiritually unless we are continually abiding in Christ. This attachment is not passive; it is an active, ongoing choice to stay close to Jesus, to let His words shape our hearts, and to draw life from Him. When you remain in Him, you will see the evidence of His life—love, joy, peace, and impact—flowing through you. [12:41]

John 15:4-8 (ESV)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Reflection: What daily habit can you start or strengthen to help you remain closely connected to Jesus throughout your week?

Day 3: Expecting Signs and Wonders as Contagious Christians

Contagious Christianity is marked by an expectation that God will move in powerful, supernatural ways. The early church saw signs and wonders because they believed that the same power that raised Christ from the dead was at work in them. As believers, we are called to expect God to do the extraordinary in and through us—not just in church services, but in our everyday lives. When you step out in faith, believing that God can break through in a moment, you become a carrier of hope and possibility to those around you. [14:01]

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to raise your expectations for God to move in a supernatural way, and how can you step out in faith this week?

Day 4: Using the Gifts of the Spirit for the Common Good

God has given every believer spiritual gifts, not just for personal benefit, but for the building up of the whole church and the blessing of the world. These gifts—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation—are distributed by the Holy Spirit and are meant to be used in everyday life. You have access to these gifts, and God invites you to step out, encourage others, pray for the sick, and speak words of life wherever you go. The church becomes truly contagious when every member activates the gifts God has given them. [22:01]

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Reflection: Which spiritual gift do you sense God prompting you to use more boldly, and how can you take a step to activate it for someone’s good this week?

Day 5: Spreading the Atmosphere of the Kingdom Wherever You Go

Every person carries and spreads an atmosphere—an environment, a culture, a way of speaking and thinking—wherever they go. As followers of Jesus, we are called to spread the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God: love, faith, hope, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether at home, work, school, or in the community, what you carry is contagious. The question is, would you want others to catch what you are spreading? Choose today to be intentional about carrying the presence and character of Christ into every environment you enter. [02:39]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: Think of one place you will go today—how can you intentionally bring the atmosphere of God’s Kingdom into that environment through your words, actions, or attitude?

Sermon Summary

Change is all around us—sometimes in the weather, sometimes in our homes, and always in the environments we inhabit. Just as germs and illness can spread from person to person, so too does the atmosphere, culture, and spirit we carry. Each of us is constantly spreading something, whether we realize it or not. The real question is: would we want others to catch what we carry? Is the environment of our lives worth sharing?

Looking at the early church in Acts, we see a community that was truly contagious—not with sickness, but with faith, hope, and the life of Jesus. Their devotion was not something imposed on them; it was a personal decision. They attached themselves to Jesus and to His house, making their relationship with Him and their commitment to His people non-negotiable. This kind of devotion is not passive; it’s a daily, intentional choice to remain connected to the source of life. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine, we cannot bear spiritual fruit unless we remain in Christ.

This attachment to Jesus leads to a life marked by signs and wonders. The early believers expected God to move in powerful, supernatural ways. They understood that every spiritual blessing was already theirs in Christ. This wasn’t just a Sunday experience; it was a daily reality. The gifts of the Spirit—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation—were not reserved for a select few, but distributed throughout the whole church. Each believer was called to step out in faith, to activate what God had given them, and to be a vessel for God’s power in everyday life.

The contagious church is not built on spectators, but on participants—people who devote themselves, expect God to move, and use the gifts He has given. When we live this way, the atmosphere of the kingdom of God spreads wherever we go. Our faith becomes viral, not because of programs or events, but because the life of Jesus is being multiplied through us. May we be a people who carry something worth catching, who are so attached to Jesus that His life overflows from us into our homes, workplaces, and communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Devotion is a personal, daily decision True devotion cannot be outsourced or delegated. Each of us must choose to attach ourselves to Jesus and His house, making our relationship with Him a non-negotiable priority. This daily decision shapes the fruitfulness of our lives and determines what we carry into every environment. [06:44]
2. Expect God to move in the ordinary The early church lived with an expectation that God would do the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. Signs and wonders were not reserved for special occasions, but were a daily reality. When we remember that every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ, we begin to look for God’s hand in every situation, believing for supernatural breakthroughs. [14:01]
3. Spiritual gifts are for everyone, everywhere The gifts of the Spirit are not limited to church leaders or Sunday services. Every believer is given gifts to be used for the common good, both inside and outside the church. Stepping out in faith to use these gifts requires courage, but it is through our obedience that God’s power is made visible in the world. [21:08]
4. The atmosphere you carry is contagious We are always spreading something—our words, attitudes, and actions create an environment that others experience. The question is whether what we carry is worth catching. When we are filled with the Spirit and devoted to Jesus, the culture of the kingdom becomes contagious through us, transforming the spaces we enter. [02:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - Change and Spreading in Everyday Life
[02:05] - What Are You Spreading?
[02:39] - Contagious Christianity in Acts
[03:25] - Devotion of the Early Church
[04:05] - God Adding to Their Number Daily
[05:08] - Unity Among Local Churches
[05:48] - Carrying the Kingdom Atmosphere
[06:19] - The Power of Self-Devotion
[07:27] - Attachment to Jesus and His House
[10:52] - Remaining in the Vine
[12:41] - The Fruit of Attachment
[13:25] - Signs and Wonders: Expecting the Outrageous
[14:47] - Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ
[18:24] - The Gifts of the Spirit
[21:08] - Activating Spiritual Gifts in Daily Life
[22:34] - Using What God Has Given
[23:54] - Prayer for the Spirit’s Fresh Filling

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) — > 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 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.

John 15:4-8 (ESV) — > Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV) — > Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Observation Questions

According to Acts 2:42-47, what were some of the specific things the early church devoted themselves to?
In John 15:4-8, what does Jesus say is necessary for a branch (or a believer) to bear fruit?
What are some of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and who are they given to?
The sermon mentioned that the early church “devoted themselves” rather than relying on someone else to do it for them. What does this phrase mean in the context of Acts 2? [06:44]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the early church’s devotion was described as a personal decision rather than something imposed on them? How might this have affected their community life? [06:44]
Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” What does this reveal about the source of spiritual fruit and effectiveness in a believer’s life? [12:06]
The sermon says that the gifts of the Spirit are for everyone, not just church leaders. Why is it important for every believer to recognize and use their spiritual gifts? [21:08]
The atmosphere we carry is described as “contagious.” What are some ways our words, attitudes, and actions can influence the environments we enter? [02:05]

Application Questions

The sermon asked, “Would you want others to catch what you carry?” Take a moment to reflect: What kind of atmosphere or spirit do you think you bring into your home, workplace, or friendships? Is there anything you’d like to change? [02:05]
The early church made their relationship with Jesus and His house a non-negotiable priority. What is one practical way you could make your devotion to Jesus more visible in your daily routine this week? [07:27]
Jesus says we must “remain in the vine” to bear fruit. Are there any distractions or habits in your life that make it hard to stay connected to Jesus? What’s one step you could take to address this? [12:06]
The sermon encouraged us to expect God to move in the ordinary, not just on Sundays. Can you share a time when you saw God work in an unexpected or everyday situation? How can you look for God’s hand in your week ahead? [14:01]
Spiritual gifts are for everyone, everywhere. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? If not, what’s one thing you could do to discover or develop them? If you do, how could you use them outside of Sunday services? [21:08]
The early church was marked by generosity and meeting needs. Is there a need in your community or church that you feel prompted to help meet? What’s a first step you could take? [04:05]
The sermon said, “Our faith becomes viral, not because of programs or events, but because the life of Jesus is being multiplied through us.” What’s one relationship or environment where you want to intentionally spread the life of Jesus this month? [05:48]

Sermon Clips

The truth is every single one of us, we are, we're spreading something. It may not be illness or sickness that you're spreading today and hopefully you're not. Your neighbor's just hoping in Jesus' name, just hedge your protection right now. But the truth is every one of us spreads something wherever we go. You spread an environment, an atmosphere, a culture, a DNA. You spread a way of speaking, you spread a way of thinking. Wherever you go to any environment, you carry something that others pick up on. [00:01:51] (36 seconds) #SpreadYourVibe

And so the question today is not what you spread, not whether you're spreading something. It's are what you're spreading, would you want others to catch it? Would you want other people to catch what is on your life, what you carry, the culture, the atmosphere of your life, the way you speak, the way you think, the way you operate, the way you work, the way you do relationships? Would you want other people to catch what's on your life? [00:02:27] (34 seconds) #CatchTheCulture

What it's going to take is a church that doesn't just turn up on a Sunday, but we recognize there's something more powerful than that. There's something that God has given to us that's contagious. That wherever we go, we carry the atmosphere, the environment of the kingdom of God wherever we go. That we can cause our faith to be viral in our communities. Because somebody who does life with us catches what we are spreading. [00:05:34] (33 seconds) #FaithGoesViral

And so we have to, every single one of us, make a decision that I'm going to devote myself. Devotion means to attach yourself to a cause. And so really the early church made a decision, they're going to attach themselves to Jesus and to his house. Jesus and them were inseparable. Nothing is going to come between us and our relationship with Jesus. We're going to follow him and follow his ways. And we're going to serve in his house and nothing's going to come between that. We've made our decision. As for me and my life and my household, we will serve the Lord. I'm going to devote myself. [00:07:05] (53 seconds) #InseparableFaith

``If you want to be effective, efficient, powerful in whatever sphere of life you operate in, the way to do it is to be attached to the greatest cause on the face of the planet. That's living for Jesus and building His house. And right here, Jesus is saying time and time again, Attach yourself to me and you will bear fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. [00:11:40] (27 seconds) #ActivateYourGifts

The second thing that we see in the early church is we see in verse 43, signs and wonders. How can we be contagious with our faith? The second thing is signs and wonders. Verse 43, See, contagious Christians expect outrageous events. Contagious Christians, if we are so devoted to God and we expect that same power that rose Christ from the dead is living in me, then wherever we go, we expect incredible things can happen. You can expect in a moment, God can break something open that could only happen in the natural in months or years. And yet in a moment, God supernaturally does something in a second. [00:13:27] (64 seconds)

God has blessed every single one of us in this room. If you call yourself a Christian, you've said yes to Jesus and you've responded by giving Him your heart, your life, being baptized in water. The Bible says you're a member of His global church and as a result, He has given us, His church, every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. [00:15:01] (30 seconds)

When you understand what you have at your disposal, it can genuinely change your life. And the Bible says to us that we have right now every spiritual blessing right now. Can you imagine waking up every day this week and reminding yourself, I may feel like this and yet the truth is today I have every spiritual blessing because I'm in Christ Jesus. [00:17:17] (29 seconds)

And the Bible says to us that we have right now every spiritual blessing right now. Can you imagine waking up every day this week and reminding yourself, I may feel like this and yet the truth is today I have every spiritual blessing because I'm in Christ Jesus. I can believe that God is supernaturally going to do something today. I'm going to be a contagious Christian and so I'm going to see outrageous events today. I'm going to see signs and wonders because I have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. [00:17:23] (45 seconds)

And so in the foyer we should have healing. In the prayer area we should have words of wisdom. At the altar we should have all of this stuff happening because the body comes every Sunday to see all of these gifts in operation through the whole church. You've been given every spiritual blessing. We've got to use what God has given to us. [00:22:15] (26 seconds)

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