Devotion: Building Relationships in the Early Church

From the very beginning, God designed us for relationship—not only with Him, but with one another. In the garden, God declared it was not good for Adam to be alone, and throughout Scripture, we see that God Himself is relational: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine blueprint is reflected in the birth of the New Testament church, where believers were called to share Christ and share life together. After the day of Pentecost, the early church was marked by a deep devotion—not a casual commitment, but a steadfast, unshakable clinging to God and to each other.

This devotion was expressed in four key ways: commitment to the apostles’ teaching (the Word of God), fellowship with one another, the breaking of bread (both communion and shared meals), and prayer. The Word of God was central, shaping their understanding of truth and correcting their lives. Fellowship was not limited to Sunday gatherings; it was a daily sharing of life, joys, and burdens. Breaking bread together reminded them of Christ’s sacrifice and built strong bonds within the community. Prayer was their declaration of dependence on God’s presence and power.

The early church was also a powerful church, witnessing miracles and wonders—not by their own strength, but by God’s hand. Yet, the greatest miracle was always the transformation of a life through salvation. They were a caring church, sacrificially meeting each other’s needs, embodying the love of Christ in practical ways. Worship was both public and private, a daily lifestyle rather than a weekly event. As a result, God added to their number daily; the church grew not by human effort alone, but by the Lord’s work through a devoted, unified people.

This same blueprint is for us today. We are called to be devoted, to prioritize God and His people above the distractions and busyness of life. Our gatherings—both in the church and in homes—are opportunities to grow, serve, and truly know one another. As we launch new home fellowships, the goal is to deepen community, share Christ, and share life, just as the early church did. Let us examine what we are truly devoted to, and let our lives reflect the pattern God has given for His church.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Devotion Is the Foundation of Spiritual Community True devotion is not casual or convenient; it is steadfast and unshakable, prioritizing God and His people above all else. The early believers clung tightly to the Word, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. Our checkbooks and calendars reveal what we are truly devoted to—let us intentionally make space for God and His purposes in our daily lives. [50:13]
• 2. The Word of God Shapes and Anchors Us in Truth Being devoted to the apostles’ teaching means centering our lives on Scripture, not on opinions or traditions. God’s Word exposes deception, corrects our mistakes, and trains us for the good works He has prepared. Only by immersing ourselves in the truth can we resist the lies of the world and be shaped for God’s purposes. [54:34]
• 3. Fellowship and Shared Life Are Essential, Not Optional God never intended for us to walk alone. The early church shared life daily, not just on Sundays, building deep relationships through meals, communion, and mutual support. True fellowship means knowing and being known, carrying each other’s burdens, and celebrating together—this is where spiritual growth and healing flourish. [55:57]
• 4. Prayer Is Our Declaration of Dependence on God Prayer is not a ritual but a vital expression of our need for God’s presence and power. It acknowledges that we cannot fix everything ourselves and invites God to move in our lives and in our community. Through prayer, we align our hearts with God’s will and experience His miraculous work among us. [58:34]
• 5. The Church Grows When We Live Out God’s Blueprint Together Growth is not just about numbers, but about lives transformed by the gospel and genuine community. As we devote ourselves to God and one another, care for each other’s needs, and worship together, God Himself adds to our number. The blueprint of the early church is not just history—it is our calling today to be a devoted, powerful, caring, worshiping, and growing community. [66:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:37] - Water Baptism Announcement
• [29:16] - Dismissing Kids to Classes
• [30:32] - Introduction: Sharing Christ and Sharing Life
• [31:10] - God’s Design for Relationship
• [33:03] - The Blueprint: After Pentecost
• [34:14] - The Gift of the Holy Spirit Explained
• [36:12] - Fruit vs. Gifts of the Spirit
• [38:02] - The Lordship of Christ and Our Response
• [40:02] - Repentance, Baptism, and Salvation
• [43:07] - The Meaning of Water Baptism
• [47:34] - The Fellowship of Believers
• [50:13] - Devotion: The Foundation of the Church
• [53:19] - Four Pillars: Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking Bread, Prayer
• [55:57] - Fellowship and Shared Life
• [58:34] - The Power and Necessity of Prayer
• [61:06] - The Church as a Powerful, Caring, Worshiping Community
• [66:58] - Growth: God Adds to the Church
• [67:38] - Launching Home Fellowships
• [70:48] - Closing Prayer and Baptism Instructions
• [73:27] - Baptism Begins

Bible Reading

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) — 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) — 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 John 3:16-17 (ESV) — 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 2:42, what four things did the early believers devote themselves to?
2. In the sermon, what does the word “devoted” mean in the context of the early church? ([50:13])
3. What practical ways did the early church show care for one another, as described in Acts 2:44-45 and 1 John 3:16-17?
4. How did the early church balance meeting together in the temple and in homes? ([48:15])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think devotion—not just casual commitment—was so important for the early church’s growth and unity? ([50:13])
2. The sermon says our checkbooks and calendars reveal what we’re truly devoted to. What does this suggest about the connection between our priorities and our spiritual health? ([50:52])
3. The early church was described as both powerful (seeing miracles) and caring (meeting needs). How are these two qualities connected in a healthy church? ([01:01:06] and [01:04:20])
4. The sermon mentions that worship was both public and private—a daily lifestyle, not just a weekly event. What might this look like in our lives today? ([01:05:38])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to examine what we are truly devoted to. If someone looked at your calendar and spending, what would they say you are most devoted to? Is there anything you want to change? ([50:52])
2. The early church made the Word of God central in their lives. What is one specific way you can make Scripture a bigger part of your daily routine this week? ([53:53])
3. Fellowship in the early church was more than just Sunday mornings—it was sharing life, joys, and burdens. Is there someone in our group or church you could reach out to this week to encourage or support? ([55:57])
4. The breaking of bread included both communion and shared meals. When was the last time you invited someone from church into your home or shared a meal with them? What’s one step you can take to build deeper relationships? ([56:37])
5. Prayer was a declaration of dependence on God. Is there an area of your life where you need to rely more on God’s presence and power? How can the group pray for you in this? ([58:34])
6. The early church cared for each other’s needs in practical ways. Is there a need in our group or community that you are aware of? How could you help meet that need this week? ([01:04:20])
7. As our church launches new home fellowships, what is one hope or goal you have for being part of a smaller community? How can you contribute to making it a place where Christ is shared and life is shared? ([01:07:38])