Summary: We tend to think that we can get all that we need out of life as an individual. But God does something special in our lives when we gather together with others around God’s Word and share life together. God helps us to grow.
Big Idea: We exercise the new heart God has given us through devoting ourselves to biblical teachings, sharing life with other believers, eating together and prayer.
Ice-breaker question: Describe what happens at your favourite holiday meals with family and/or friends. Why are those events so special?
Read: Acts 2:42-47
Observation (What does the passage say?)
- What are the four things that the believers devoted themselves to?
- What did they do with their possessions?
- Where and how often did they meet?
- What did they do in their houses?
Interpretation (What does the passage mean?)
5. What does being devoted to the apostles’ teaching look like?
6. The word “fellowship” here means to share in something that is held in common. In this case, it refers to sharing in life together as followers of Jesus. What are some things that followers of Jesus have when they share life together that they do not have on their own?
7. What makes eating together with someone else a special thing?
- Describe how praying with someone else is different from praying by yourself.
Application (What does the passage mean to me personally?)
Sharing life together with other people gathered around God’s Word, food and prayer does not earn or enhance our salvation. Through faith in Jesus, our salvation is already complete. Sharing life with other believers is part of how we live out our new life in Jesus.
Living in Christian community and having spiritual friendships looks different for different people depending on their circumstances and their personality. For example, introverts find being in groups of people to be very draining, but they tend to do well at maintaining one-on-one friendships over a long period of time. On the other hand, extroverts are energized by being in a group, but because they process by talking, people who need a listening ear might not get from them the support they need.
9. Taking into account your circumstances and your personality, how are you doing at living in community and/or maintaining spiritual friendships?
- What are some intentional things that you can do to foster a shared life with other believers?
This Bible Study focuses on the same passage as the sermon on Feb 18/18 from Walnut Grove Lutheran Church, Langley BC.
Farewell to Shadowlands 