The Vine: Oct. 14, 2024

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just 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. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

— Acts 2:42-47

The book of Acts is an intentional follow up to Luke’s gospel. It is the history of the early Church, and in the first chapter we read about Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. Before he ascended, Jesus said to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus made it clear that the offer of God’s grace, forgiveness, and salvation was for all of humanity.

The promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the followers of Jesus (about one hundred twenty persons) were gathered in a room upstairs. The Holy Spirit came upon them in a powerful way and as a result three thousand new people were added to the Church. Talk about an adjustment – going from one hundred twenty people to three thousand in a day! The amazing thing about this new Church was the diversity of the people – a wide variety of ethnicities were represented.

So, what would this newly formed, diverse church community do on a day-by-day basis? Jesus had given them the mission to go and make disciples, but he did not give them detailed instructions on what to do as a church community on a day-by-day basis. The Church would have to fill in the blanks to accomplish the mission together. What would they do?

Acts 2:42-47 gives us a good answer to that question. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread in homes, praising God in the temple, and praying together. A strong sense of community was vitally important to the early Church, which makes perfect sense because community means relationships, and we were all created to be in relationship with God and one another. We need each other to be all that God intended us to be. Their consistent actions shaped their newfound identity in Christ.

In our text for today, several characteristics emerge as to the identity of this new community: joy, generosity, consideration of those in need, unity, praise of God, etc. In other words, it was a group of people who attracted others through consistency in authentic community and love for one another.

Following up on the day-by-day theme, in verse 47 we read: “And day-by-day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” That is good for all of us to remember. Our role is to reflect God’s love and grace daily, and God will handle the rest, including transforming lives day-by-day. Ultimately, it is God who saves and adds to the community. Just as God worked in the lives of the members of the early Church, God continues to work through people like you and me – day-by-day.

PRAYER

“Loving God, help us to remember that we cannot live all our days in one single day. A life of discipleship is lived day-by-day, and each day is another opportunity to be faithful to your call in our lives. We are thankful for this day that you have given us to love you and others. Help us to be the Church you want us to be as we continue to be instruments of your grace. Amen.”

Questions for Reflection:

How can the practices of the church described in Acts 2 be applied in our church?
What are you doing day-by-day regarding your spiritual development?
What are the benefits and challenges to living in community, especially regarding sharing resources with others?
Prayer was a major piece of the early Church. What role does prayer play in your day-to-day practices? What difference has it made in your life?
The early Church shared their possessions and were known for being grateful and generous. How does generosity affect both the giver and receiver?

Printer Version