Acts 2:44-45

The Chapel Fort Wayne

Acts 2:44-45

Generosity & Care

August 22, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Acts 2:44–45

PASSAGE: Acts 2:44-45 - 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.

PAUSE: Hang on a minute... Is this passage telling us we all need to sell everything we have and give it all away?? Does that thought make your stomach turn? The truth is, this passage is not prescribing a mandatory requirement for all believers to follow. But what it is describing is the heart of generosity that we should all have! If you see the needs of others around you and you have the means to help, would you be willing to obey that conviction in your heart? Sacrificial generosity should increasingly characterize every believer as we grow up in our faith and grow together in God’s forever family! Ask God to reveal any areas of your life that you need to grow in generosity and care for those around you.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to see ourselves as good stewards of all You have given us. And help us to actively look for those in need that we can bless with Your abundant provision. Amen

More from ABC’s of Community Devotionals

Acts 2:47

August 23, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Acts 2:47

PASSAGE: Acts 2:47 - ...And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. PAUSE: The actions of the early church were contagious! By living out the Gospel and sharing it with others, people’s eternal destinies were changing. Churches living in beautiful community attract unbelievers to the good news of Jesus Christ because they see God’s love on display! That should be our heart in everything we do—to live a life with others in view. Think about those you are in community with—your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. How can you live out the good news and share that with them? It is a beautiful thing to watch the Lord grow His church as the Gospel is spread! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may the way we live out our faith together draw many others to put their trust in You. Amen.

Acts 2:42

August 21, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Acts 2:42

PASSAGE: Acts 2:42 - And they devoted themselves to…the prayers. PAUSE: Praying together about the real needs of life and the heavy burdens of the heart is a spiritual practice that every single believer should experience on a regular basis! Most Christians confess that they have a great deal of either guilt or dissatisfaction about their life of prayer. Guilt, because they just don’t pray very much, or dissatisfaction. because when they do pray it seems shallow or repetitive. And I’ve noticed that most of the time when Christians gather to pray, the requests are about physical needs and often focus on people we don’t even know that well. It’s almost like we are afraid to share and pray over personal struggles or difficult circumstances or relationships. We really need to push through to a deeper level. And we need to pray for the spiritual way more than the physical! That’s the emphasis I see when I look at the prayers of Jesus and Paul in the New Testament. Prayers for God’s wisdom and strength and courage. Prayers that we continue to be transformed into the image of Christ in all our relationships and responsibilities. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, coming before You in prayer together is one of the great privileges of the Christian life. May we do it more often. Amen.

Acts 2:46

August 20, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Acts 2:46

PASSAGE: Acts 2:46 - And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts… PAUSE: One of the most neglected gifts in the modern church is HOSPITALITY! Gathering together around the table for good food and even better conversation is a prime opportunity for spiritual formation. The “day by day” tells us that this was not a rarity but a regular rhythm of life. This “breaking bread” together took place in someone’s home and it included both a full meal and the taking of communion together. In their unique setting, it also meant that those who were poor would have food to eat. There really is something special, something good and enjoyable, that happens when believers gather around the table. It’s like the walls of distance and formality come down and we can talk about real life. We can celebrate milestones and support thru trials and solve problems and speak life and encouragement into one another, all around a tasty dinner. Do you have a group (think Life Group) that you regularly break bread together with? It is core to our spiritual growth! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You call us to live in fellowship with You and with each other. One day we will join You at the Great Banquet, but today You call us to break bread together! Amen