Devoted: Acts 2:41-47

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.—Acts 2:41–47 (NASB95)

In today’s lesson, Pastor Rick Wilcox challenged us to consider a fuller, more complete definition of “fellowship.” We hunger for it because we were created for it, but society has become increasingly void of meaningful relationships. As your group unpacks today’s lesson, imagine ways the group can grow as a Small Group – in both membership and intimacy of friendship. Challenge yourselves: If the early church added 3,000 souls so quickly, could any of their Small Groups have been closed to new members? How did they enlarge their hearts toward God and other people?

Icebreaker – Tell the group about the best friend you ever had. What was it about your friendship that made it so rare and unique?

The Greek word κοινωνία (koinonia) is introduced here for its single occurrence in Acts and is found 19 times in the New Testament. It is derived from koinos, the Greek word for “common.” Unsurprisingly, this word is also the foundation of the Latin word communis, from which we get both “community” and “communication.”

1. Almost all of the 8 billion people in the world are connected by technology. What’s the difference between connectivity and community?
3. God exists in community (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.) As people made in His image, we were designed for fellowship with Him and each other. If that’s our design, why are people so lonely?
4. Read Matthew 22:37-40. How does this passage, described as the Royal Law, change our understanding of fellowship?
5. 8. When Jesus said, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets,” what did that say about our salvation? What did it say about our sanctification – our life as a Christ follower?
6. Have you ever tried to force someone to be your friend or force someone to love you? What was that like?
7. True fellowship cannot be seized or captured from someone else. It can only be extended in love and received. This is the way God loves us and the way He commands us to love others.
8. Read 1 John 4:19-21. Do we love God so we can love other people, or do we love others so we can love God?
9. Read Galatians 6:2. What must we do to obey the law of Christ – the Royal Law?
10. A powerful way for us to understand what it means to “bear one another’s burdens” is to examine the “one another” verses in the Bible. Look up each of these and mark them in your Bible. Assign the verse to different members to look up and read to everyone.

Scripture commands us to...

• be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10),
• honor one another (Romans 12:10),
• live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8),
• accept one another (Romans 15:7),
• serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13),
• be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32),
• admonish one another (Colossians 3:16),
• encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13),
• spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24),
• offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), and
• love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11–12).