Radical Devotion: Unselfish Love in Community

Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the profound call to be unselfish with our church community, drawing inspiration from the early Christian church as depicted in Acts 2. The early Christians were known for their radical devotion to one another, sharing their resources, and living in a way that was countercultural. This devotion was not just about attending services or participating in church activities; it was about a deep commitment to the teachings of Jesus and to each other. They were a learning community, devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This devotion was characterized by a willingness to give up personal desires for the sake of others, reflecting the sacrificial love of Jesus.

The early church's impact was profound because they lived out their faith in tangible ways. They were known for their love, inclusivity, and generosity, which drew people from all walks of life. This is a call for us to examine our own lives and ask whether we are truly devoted to the things that matter to God. Are we willing to set aside our comforts and preferences to serve others and advance the kingdom of God? This kind of devotion requires a shift in mindset from "mine" to "God's," recognizing that everything we have is a gift from Him to be used for His purposes.

We also discussed the importance of being a learning community, where God's Word is central. This means being committed to studying the Bible, not just for personal growth, but to be equipped to serve others. It's about being ready to share God's truth with those who need encouragement and guidance. Additionally, we emphasized the need for authentic community, where relationships are nurtured, and people are welcomed into our lives. This requires intentionality and a willingness to open our homes and hearts to others.

Finally, we touched on the importance of prayer as a foundational practice for the church. Prayer is where we align our hearts with God's will and invite His power into our lives and ministries. It's a reminder that without God's anointing, our efforts are in vain. As we look to the future, let's commit to being a church that is unselfishly devoted to God's Word, to each other, and to the mission He has given us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Devotion to Community: The early church was marked by a radical devotion to one another, sharing resources and living counterculturally. This devotion is a call for us to prioritize community and sacrificial love, reflecting the heart of Jesus in our interactions and commitments. [09:32]

2. Learning Community: Being devoted to the apostles' teaching means prioritizing God's Word in our lives. This involves not only personal study but also being equipped to share God's truth with others, fostering a community where learning and growth are central. [16:51]

3. Authentic Relationships: Building authentic community requires intentionality and openness. It's about creating spaces where people feel welcomed and valued, recognizing that true fellowship goes beyond weekly gatherings to daily interactions and shared lives. [24:16]

4. Generosity and Sharing: The early Christians viewed their possessions as God's property, ready to share with those in need. This mindset challenges us to see our resources as tools for God's kingdom, fostering a spirit of generosity and selflessness. [27:19]

5. Power of Prayer: Prayer is essential for aligning our hearts with God's will and inviting His power into our lives. Regular, intentional prayer is crucial for the church's mission, reminding us that without God's anointing, our efforts are in vain. [35:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to Unselfishness
- [04:30] - Historical Context of Early Church
- [07:45] - Devotion in Acts 2
- [10:15] - Learning Community
- [13:00] - Authentic Community
- [15:45] - Generosity and Sharing
- [18:30] - Importance of Prayer
- [21:00] - Modern Application
- [23:45] - Challenges and Opportunities
- [26:30] - Vision for the Future
- [29:15] - Call to Action
- [32:00] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 2:42-47

---

Observation Questions:

1. What were the four main activities the early Christians devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42?
2. How did the early church demonstrate their devotion to one another in Acts 2:44-45?
3. What was the result of the early church's devotion and communal living as described in Acts 2:47?
4. In the sermon, what examples were given of how the early Christians' devotion was countercultural? [09:32]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the devotion of the early church to the apostles' teaching reflect their priorities and values? [16:51]
2. What might be the significance of the early church's practice of breaking bread together in the context of their community life?
3. How does the sermon suggest that the early church's inclusivity and generosity impacted their community and growth? [09:32]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that prayer was foundational to the early church's mission and growth? [35:17]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current level of devotion to your church community. What steps can you take to deepen your commitment to the teachings of Jesus and to others in your church? [09:32]
2. The early church was known for their generosity and sharing of resources. How can you adopt a mindset that views your possessions as tools for God's kingdom? What specific action can you take this week to share with someone in need? [27:19]
3. Consider the importance of being part of a learning community. How can you prioritize studying God's Word in your daily life, and how can you encourage others to do the same? [16:51]
4. Authentic relationships require intentionality and openness. What practical steps can you take to create spaces where people feel welcomed and valued in your life? [24:16]
5. Prayer is essential for aligning our hearts with God's will. How can you incorporate regular, intentional prayer into your routine to support your church's mission and your personal spiritual growth? [35:17]
6. The sermon challenges us to shift our mindset from "mine" to "God's." What is one area of your life where you struggle with this mindset, and how can you work on changing it?
7. How can you be more intentional about opening your home and heart to others, fostering an authentic community as described in the sermon? [24:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Devotion to Community
In the early Christian church, believers were known for their radical devotion to one another, living in a way that was countercultural. This devotion was not merely about attending services but involved a deep commitment to the teachings of Jesus and to each other. They shared their resources and lived sacrificially, reflecting the love of Christ. This kind of community challenges us to prioritize relationships and sacrificial love, putting the needs of others before our own. Are we willing to set aside our comforts and preferences to serve others and advance the kingdom of God? [09:32]

Acts 4:32-33 (ESV): "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to this week to offer support or encouragement, reflecting the sacrificial love of Jesus?

Day 2: Prioritizing God's Word
The early church was a learning community, devoted to the apostles' teaching. This meant prioritizing God's Word in their lives, not just for personal growth but to be equipped to serve others. Being devoted to God's Word involves studying the Bible and being ready to share its truths with those who need encouragement and guidance. This commitment to learning and growth is central to fostering a community that reflects God's heart. [16:51]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for studying God's Word into your daily routine this week, and who can you share these insights with?

Day 3: Building Authentic Relationships
Authentic community requires intentionality and openness. It's about creating spaces where people feel welcomed and valued, recognizing that true fellowship goes beyond weekly gatherings to daily interactions and shared lives. This kind of community is marked by genuine relationships where people are invited into each other's lives, fostering a sense of belonging and support. [24:16]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to deepen a relationship within your church community?

Day 4: Embracing Generosity and Sharing
The early Christians viewed their possessions as God's property, ready to share with those in need. This mindset challenges us to see our resources as tools for God's kingdom, fostering a spirit of generosity and selflessness. By embracing this perspective, we can impact the lives of others and reflect the heart of God in our communities. [27:19]

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Reflection: Identify one resource or possession you can share with someone in need this week. How can this act of generosity reflect God's love?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of Prayer
Prayer is essential for aligning our hearts with God's will and inviting His power into our lives. Regular, intentional prayer is crucial for the church's mission, reminding us that without God's anointing, our efforts are in vain. Through prayer, we seek God's guidance and strength, recognizing our dependence on Him for all things. [35:17]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Set aside a specific time each day this week to pray for your church community and its mission. How can you invite others to join you in this prayer effort?

Quotes

i'm going to talk today i hope it's all right with you about being unselfish with your church unselfish with your church and if you're watching online and you go to a different church i just want to encourage you you'll hear maybe some unique things that are specific to fierce here but whatever church you're part of you get to be unselfish with that church god is calling every one of us to be unselfish with our church lucian of samosata wrote this he was a satirist in about 161 a .d he wrote speaking of christians and speaking of the christian church the poor wretches have convinced themselves first and foremost that they're going to be immortal and live for all time in consequence of which they despise death and willingly surrender themselves to it moreover their first lawgiver persuaded them that they're all brothers of one another after they've transgressed once and for all by denying the greek gods and by the law of the greek gods they've been able to be unselfish with their church and worshiping that crucified sophist himself and living according to his laws therefore they despise all things indiscriminately and consider them common property this is someone trying to ridicule christians but really he's he's really just to us that sounds like bragging like yeah they were doing awesome i'm so glad that they were doing that for the first three centuries guys the church of jesus christ was taking over the world nobody had ever seen anything like it and it's not that nobody had any aspect of the church of jesus christ that was taking over the world it was the city of offal but no one was quite like that okay so christians they were devoted to the christian church we're going to study that word today they were devoted to one another in love they were devoted to one another's mind and will and emotions they were devoted to giving their stuff to one another they were devoted to the spiritual health and growth of everyone around them they devoted their time they devoted their money they devoted their hearts to one another in love believing because their savior had devoted under death. [00:00:00] (116 seconds)

A historian, now writing in about 1953, but a very famous Christian historian, writes this about Christianity, trying to explain all this. He says, Christianity gloried in its appeal to the Jew and Gentile, Greek and barbarian. The Greek and Roman philosophies never really won the allegiance of the masses. They appealed primarily to the educated, the morally and socially cultured. Christianity drew the lowly and unlettered, yet also developed a philosophy which commanded the respect of many of the educated. Christianity, too, was for both sexes, whereas two of its main rivals were primarily for men, and the church welcomed both rich and poor. No other religion took in so many groups and strata of society. See, it was Christianity that showed up on the scene and said, yeah, you don't need to just occasionally be nice to your enemies or treat the prisoners okay. You actually need to love them. You love your enemies indefinitely. You don't get to stop. [00:02:05] (55 seconds)

let's read it together and they were continually devoting themselves there's that word devoting they were devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship and to the breaking of bread and to the prayers and fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles and all those who believed were together that they had all things in common and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all as anyone might have need and daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart praising god and having favor with all the people and the lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved they said um i see them and they could use that i have that so because i have it now they have it because i see that they need it and i'm wondering i'm asking the question why do we even have so much why did god give me so much if not to give away to others when we devote something what does that mean that means we set it aside for someone else or something else right so if you're if you're saving for something you might set aside some money to get that thing that's that's uniquely uh categoried money that it's going to only go to this my wife has devoted a section of our backyard to chickens and baby i just got to tell you there's no going back okay like that plot of land i fear is ruined forever okay by these chickens god bless them but because they they had some land that was devoted to them it's not really that land they were devoting themselves to not mine it's their land it's devoted but that's what happens when we devote something and this is what jesus did uh in his high priestly prayer in john chapter 17 he prays this talking about himself he says and so for their sake talking to his heavenly father and on their behalf i sanctify or dedicate or consecrate that can also be translated devote myself that they also may be sanctified and dedicated and consecrated and made holy [00:03:56] (115 seconds)

in the truth see jesus says i'm going to devote myself and all my stuff and all my goodness and all my riches i'm just going to give it away i'm just going to be crucified i'm going to let it all go so they can have it i'm going to devote myself to that cause so heavenly father they can be devoted to you comic book movies are not always great illustrations but occasionally they work so here we go superman and superman 2 devoted his powers he set them aside he set them away so that he got rid of them so that he could have a normal life with lois lane he took all that was cool and powerful about him he says i tell you what i'm just going to set this aside i'm going to devote it away so that i can be with lois lane and have a normal life captain america took the most you know the most memorable item about him his shield and he gives it away to sam so that sam could be the next captain he just gives it away he says i'm not going to use this anymore i had all the glory i'm giving you the glory you go ahead and take it he set it aside he set it apart he devoted it over to sam and that's what god is asking us to do whatever we're doing for the next 15 years he's saying i want to ask you you god people i don't want to like just like give you an exciting adventure i don't want to give you just like a cool map i want to ask you to devote yourselves to the things i've commanded you to do to the examples that i've commanded you to do to the examples that i've commanded you to do to the examples that i've I've left for you. If you'll do that, whatever else you do, you'll be doing the right thing. [00:07:17] (86 seconds)

That's why we'll never be a golf church because there's no golfing in the Bible, dude. You can golf, but the church isn't going to be a golf church. The church is going to be a Jesus church that does the things that Jesus said based upon God's word. How about that? And so the first one that he gives us is teaching. They were continually continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching. I love that one of the very first things that Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is describing about the New Testament believers is they were a learning community. This was different, man. Everybody could learn. Didn't matter who you were. Didn't matter what sex you were. You could come and you could learn, learn the ways of God, learn specifically the ways of Jesus as he imparted them to the apostles. And we're to be a learning community. And whatever else we pitch to the world is to be learning about Jesus. [00:09:20] (47 seconds)

I don't just mean I'm going to be devoted to it. I mean, we're going to ask the Spirit of God to do a work among our church where we're devoted to God's Word. What that means, my friends, is see, when you're devoted, you'll give up what you want in order to set aside something for God or for the people or for both. That means if I'm devoted, I'm going to be aware my flesh doesn't really feel like busting out God's Word. I don't really feel like seeking God. I don't really feel like doing this. You know, that's all right from time to time. You know, you're tired. You take a nap or whatever you got to do, but if that's consistently all it ever amounts to, well, guys, that's not devotion to God's Word. [00:10:00] (37 seconds)

Devotion is, I don't care if I'm tired. I'm going to get up. I don't care. I'm devoted to this. I'm going to make it a priority. I don't particularly want to go to this Bible study. I don't want to go to this Bible study. I don't want to go to this Bible study. I don't because i feel like i already know all the things but which is a ridiculous thing to say anyway but but i'm devoted to those ones younger than me knowing god's word so i'm gonna devote myself to seeing it happen see my friends this devotion thing it totally runs cross -grain to this selfishness of a generation that thinks church is about them it's super not what is it about okay so it's it's not really just about knowing things it's not about getting things like like sometimes we feel like it is it's really about personally knowing jesus christ and then responding in devotion and unselfishness to everybody in his name so they also can know intimacy and communion and joy and love in jesus christ so that's what our that's what we're trying to do that's why when you participate in the bible recap like [00:10:37] (65 seconds)

so many of you have and if you haven't you go to fierce .church bible recap and you can sign up right there to hopefully get you on track to do all the things but you do that you stay in the word because you know when you're in the word regularly here's what happens somebody you've noticed this you've seen this when you're in the word and then somebody comes to you and they're like they're discouraged or they've got a problem or whatever the spirit of god just starts feeding you scripture like for them how many know give me your hand raise if you know that's true yeah that happens he just starts feeding it to you and and when you're not it's like he still loves you but he's like sorry you didn't put nothing in so you're on your own with this one good luck with that advice and i'm sure you know you're smart and it's gonna be good but it's not gonna be the same thing it's not where jesus himself is feeding you this is true and this is true and this is true so if we're devoted to one another that means i've gotta be devoted god's word for you not just for me i've gotta be devoted to god's word for my kids not just for me i've got to be devoted for the new подك to give me his word for the new spot and like yes you're. person that's coming to small group for the very first time tonight i've got to be devoted god's word for them because god cares about moving in their life not just my life here's a kind of a level two way that you can do it and it provides a good little bit of pressure but i find it fun and helpful with a lot of the accountability partners i've had in life and and some other friends and staff members it's this little question where you're with somebody and like i don't know what to talk about how about this what's god showing you in his word lately what's god showing you in his word lately and when you ask that question yeah there's a little bit of pressure like hopefully he's showing him something and hopefully if he if he's not they're like ah not enough i guess i need to get more in god's word i need to be in it more so he is so i can tell you yes god is actively teaching me some things and it doesn't have to be a ton of things and you don't have to feel bad but it's just a loving brotherly sisterly like hey so what's going on with that anyways tell me let's talk let's talk the good things of god we're going up the mountain of the lord together right so let's talk about it what's he showing you [00:13:16] (115 seconds)

And my friends, if that characterized, and it's not pressure, it's not like thumping people with the Bible or who are brand new to the faith or something like that, but it is just a challenge of like, aren't we people of the word, right? That's what we're doing. So how about it? What's going on with God's word together? What do we know about that? [00:13:36] (16 seconds)

Years ago, so when we started the torch side of the family that is fierce, we started a leadership development group called Joshua's Army or JA. And it was intense. Some of you know about that. Raise your hand if you know about JA. It was intense, man. It was every month, we're going to meet for four hours, and we had to read a book the month before, and we're going to go deep. We're talking about God's word. We're talking about growing in skill. And it was a cost. It was a costly thing. It was a devoted thing. You had to devote some time in order to be able to amp up your walk with God. And many of those first folks, you did it for about 10 years, and many of those first folks, they ended up becoming the leaders of that church. Because they were so on the inside track of how God had wanted them to operate because they just invested the time. They set it apart. [00:13:51] (52 seconds)

I think we're going to do a little bit more of that, and we'll talk about that in a second. But as we did the survey, here's the number one identity that all y 'all, the people that took the survey, think is true about Fierce. Everybody thinks Fierce is a church of spiritual formation. [00:14:44] (18 seconds)

What that means is they're saying, I think God made us strong for some reason in this area where we help people get on a track and move forward spiritually. That works in stuff like Connect Class. That works in stuff like The Grove. It works in stuff like just helping people put one foot in front of the other. Don't stay here. Keep taking steps. Keep remaining active. Don't get stagnant. Keep growing toward Christ. All y 'all said that was a strength. It's not that you just said it was a strength. You said it's the most strength. It's the thing that seems to, you look a little swole in that area. You see that Fierce pathway out in the heart of the church. You see that Fierce pathway out in the heart of the church. You see that Fierce pathway. You've seen that image before. [00:14:48] (33 seconds)

Dude, all that is is a formation strategy. That's a formation. It just says, keep doing the next thing. Keep doing the next thing. Just keep doing the next thing, and you'll keep growing closer to Christ rather than just sitting there. So whatever else we do, guys, we're going to keep challenging people, don't just sit there. Don't just sit there. That's not it. That's not what God asked you to do. Do not just sit there. That is not what we read. [00:15:35] (24 seconds)

What we read was dynamic. [00:15:59] (2 seconds)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?