Let Us Pray > Acts 2:42d

2:42a And they devoted themselves… A reminder that for each of the four elements in this verse, Luke is describing what the early church intentionally pursued together as God’s people.

2:42d …to the prayers. God’s people gave themselves to prayer as a priority. Not just when it was convenient or could be worked in to other ministries, but as its own important practice. Theirs was a church driven by calling on the Lord for direction rather than by trusting in their own strategies, personalities, or emotions to determine what they should do.

The Point: When we pray together, we call on God to do in and through us what only he can do. Prayer is an act of trust, an expression of faith: we rely on the Lord for guidance and direction, and we believe that his ways are infinitely better than what we would come up with ourselves.

Prayer: Father, would you stoke up in us a desire to pray? To make us see all too clearly our own limits so that we would have to (and get to!) joyfully trust you as the Lord who has no limits. Teach us to lean not on our own understanding, but to seek you and trust you in all things, from salvation to the return of our King.

Application: How will you prioritize praying together here at First E-Free? What will you say “no” to in order to free up time to regularly call on the Lord in faith?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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2:42a And they devoted themselves… Remember where this verse started: these are the practices of Christians in the first church. This is how they did life together and followed Jesus side-by-side.

2:42c …to the breaking of bread. The breaking of bread describes both the regular meals of these early Christians (eating together, sharing life together) and also the Lord’s Supper, which would have been remembered as part of those meals (see 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:17-34). The goal was that even in their eating, these first Christians wanted to follow Christ together and prize the gospel in their lives.

The Point: When we prioritize sharing meals together, we emphasize and remember Christ’s transformative work in our lives. This is then displayed in our care and hospitality for each other and in how we remember Christ’s own care for us as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Prayer: Lord, we lived hurried lives where it is hard to give attention to one another much less gather together! Yet, your ways are best. Work in us to prioritize sharing meals together as a way of focusing our fellowship and our joy on what Christ has done for us. Sharpen us and build us up as we learn to example Christ’s grace to one another.

Application: How will you make sharing meals with others at FEFC a priority? How will you be intentional about fellowship and the gospel during those times?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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Why One-another? > Acts 2:42b

2:42b What is meant by “fellowship”? Pictured here is the community life of the early church – a life where Christians gathered together because they had Christ in common with one another.

2:42b Why does fellowship matter? This gathering together is important because it testified to the God these early Christians believed in, it gave them a training ground and place of encouragement for following Jesus, and it provided them with a foretaste of their own union with Christ.

2:42b How do we grow in fellowship? We grow together when we spend time with one another, intentionally seeking to worship together and to serve as Christ has first served us. Our fellowship is to be intentional about loving one another.

The Point: Fellowship isn’t just an optional “add on” in the Christian life; instead, it’s essential to faithfully following after our Savior! This is how we grow in Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what an amazing blessing that you call us to, that we would have fellowship with our King for eternity. As we await that day, give us hearts that desire good for one another, to encourage each other, so that – together – we would grow in and faithfully follow after Jesus Christ.

Application: How will you look to encourage somebody else in our congregation this week? How will you make fellowship a priority for yourself and with your calendar?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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Why the Bible? > Acts 2:42a

2:42a They devoted themselves… A snapshot of Christian living from the early church: those who trust Christ devote themselves (give their attention to, prioritize) to four practices as a congregation. They respond to God by dedicating themselves to his pattern of faith and life.

2:42a …to God’s teaching. The first priority of Christ’s church is that it is focused upon, formed by, and gives its attention to God’s word. The apostles taught the good news of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The church must believe, respond to, live by, and tell of this message to others.

The Point: God’s people are formed by God’s word. We dedicate ourselves to learning and living in response to what God has said and done through our Savior.

Prayer: Lord, it is so easy to listen to everyone else before we listen to you. Give us a hunger for your truth. Form us into a congregation who wants to hear from you through your word, so that we would faithfully trust The Word, Jesus Christ. Enable us to treasure our Savior by hearing all that you have said and done and will accomplish, and then give us the opportunity to live out and to share what you have said.

Application: What are you devoting yourself to? Christians devote themselves to what God has said matters most. How will you devote yourself to respond to the teaching of God’s word? How will you uphold God’s word in our congregation?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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Suffering with Jesus > Mark 8:22-9:1

8:22-26 Seeing but not seeing. Just as the blind man sees only partially at first, but later fully, so will the disciples begin to see more clearly who Jesus the Messiah is and what that means for him and for them.

8:27-30 Seeing Christ. Jesus challenges the disciples to decide for themselves who he is. Peter, speaking for the group, answers correctly: Jesus is the Christ.

8:31-33 Seeing but not seeing (again). Yet, even though Peter’s answer is right, his understanding of what that means is wrong – completely opposite of what Christ means, in fact!

8:34-9:1 Following Christ. Rather than dreams of power and wealth, Jesus teaches that just as the Messiah must suffer, so too will those who follow him. Yet the cost will be more than worth it: what is gained in following Christ is more than this world could ever offer.

The Point: Disciples are those who trust Jesus and show that trust through following him by faith – committing to him even though it is costly in terms of this life.

Prayer: Lord, make us as those who both see Jesus clearly and respond to him faithfully. Teach us to value what you say is most valuable: not this life, but the gospel; not gain in the here and now, but gain in Jesus for our eternal soul.

Application: Trust Jesus as he is, not as you want him to be. Count following him as worth your all.

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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8:11-13 Refusing to see. The religious officials are the focus of the first picture in this passage: they refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. They refuse to see what he has done. They have already determined to reject him.

8:14-16 Don’t see. The disciples are not opposed to Jesus, but they are in the same danger of unbelief as the religious officials. The disciples have witnessed many miracles, yet they don’t clearly see and understand who Christ is.

8:17-21 Will you see? The challenge from Jesus is to see him. Not just his signs or miracles, but to understand that the one who does such wonderous works is none other than God himself.

The Point: Too often, we are tempted to see only the miracles, or to look at Jesus through the lens of what he can do for us in the here and now, when we should be seeing the one who has the power to work such miracles. We must focus on our King, not just on his power.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus. Let us want him for who he is, not just for what he can do. Let us worship him, not his power or his miracles. Teach us to treasure Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do.

Application: In what ways does your faith need correction or recalibration? Are you tempted to follow Jesus for his miracles? Or do you follow him because he is the promised King, the Messiah, God with us?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________ __________________________________________________

Our Provider > Mark 8:1-10

8:1-3 Christ’s heart; the people’s need. Consistently, Jesus is far more gracious and compassionate than we might assume. Here, we read of his care for the crowd who had been learning from him across three days in the wilderness.

8:4 The challenge. But how would Christ’s compassion turn into concrete care? The disciples themselves saw no earthly solution.

8:5-7 Christ provides. Just as with the feeding of the 5,000, so here Jesus provides for the people. Though a smaller crowd overall, these Gentiles were no less cared for than the Jewish crowd of Mark 6.

8:8-10 Satisfied in Christ. What Jesus gives is more than enough – he is not stingy with his people. Instead, in Jesus, all that is necessary for faithfulness is provided for his people.

The Point: All of Christ’s people – Jew and Gentile – benefit from his compassion and provision. He does not call them to a place where they will lack what is truly needed.

Prayer: Lord, help us to believe what you have said. Too often, we think we are the exceptions. Too often, we struggle to trust your love and care for us. Help our unbelief! Help us to share about your goodness with others.

Application: Rejoice that you serve a kind and compassionate king! How will the words you speak and the actions you take this week reflect Jesus’ compassion?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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For All People > Mark 7:24-37

7:24-30 Far away. Jesus leaves the Jewish area where he has been debating with the Pharisees and heads north into a Gentile and pagan land. There, he meets a woman with a daughter desperately in need of healing. As they speak, this Gentile woman reveals that she trusts Jesus and understands (even agrees with!) his mission which prioritizes Israel. Nevertheless, she believes in Jesus so much that she thinks even the “leftovers” of his work are enough for her! Jesus commends her and heals her daughter.

7:31-37 Jesus continues his “Gentile mission trip” in a region closer to Jewish lands where he heals a man who suffers from deafness and a speech impediment. In the process, Jesus fulfills prophecy and shows that he has the power of God because he is God.

The Point: Christ is the hope of all people. He fulfills God’s promises, first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. His blessing is enough for every person!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your marvelous plan to save people from every tribe and language and people and nation! We praise you for bringing blessing to Jew and Gentile alike; indeed, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

Application: Christ’s work is for you, and your family, and your neighbors, and for people all across the world. His grace is more than enough – and that’s a message we need to believe and one that we need to share. How will you do so?

Here is how I will apply these truths: ___________________

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