Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching

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Devoted to the Apostles Teaching

Acts 2:42

Introduction: In the last number of weeks I have taken our lessons from Ephesians 4:1-16 and answering the question of, “Where Are We Going?” In other words, what should be the vision and direction we are to take as a local church to fulfill God’s purpose for us. Paul’s emphasis has been on what the body collectively is to accomplish, with every part doing its share. Paul specifically spoke of the need for unity and maturity. My plan is to do some lessons on the marks of maturity, but before we do I want to follow up our study with a look at Luke’s description of how early disciples functioned together in the early church.

Thus, our text for the next few weeks is Acts 2:42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” 

  1. Devoted
    1. Before all else, notice that 2:42-47 has a strong emphasis on unity, or togetherness. Look at the words that used:
      1. “And they devoted themselves”
      2. “Awe came upon every soul”
      3. “All who believed were together”
      4. “They were selling their possessions…distributing their proceeds to all…”
      5. “Day by day attending the temple together…”
      6. “Breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
      7. “Praising God and having favor with all the people.”
      8. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? These are marks of a group of true disciples. These are marks of people who have been deeply affected and thankful for their own forgiveness. And with good reason. They have been forgiven for the murder of the Son of God. Indeed, forgiveness is always the strongest motivating factor.
    2. Therefore, it is their devotion to God and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus that creates such unity. Unity cannot simply be commanded; it is the outcome of a singular passion. It is evidenced by a football team winning the Super Bowl or a baseball team the World Series. They won because they were devoted to it.
    3. To be devoted to something indicates that it holds the primary purpose of my life. Have you noticed that it is fairly impossible to be devoted to more than one thing at a time? Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and pleasure.” When we are devoted to something it means we are passionate about it.
  2. Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching
    1. First, please consider that Luke’s statement of these Christians being devoted to the apostles’ teaching is not written as a commandment. It is what they did. They were devoted, not because it was commanded, but because it was an outcome of what God had done for them. The apostles’ teaching is the conduit by which they grew to know Jesus, draw close to Jesus, and please Jesus.
    2. Jesus is their Savior and Bridegroom. Again, we have spent far too much time preaching and commanding Christians to study their Bibles. This should be a natural outcome of loving God for what God has done and what God has planned. Put another way, if we have to talk a married couple into spending more time together to grow their relationship, their is a deeper problem than just spending time together! 
    3. Next, to say they were devoted to the Apostles’ teaching indicates that they understood the authority and inspiration of the apostles. Paul said the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
    4. Further, they were not devoting themselves to anything else. Please consider Ecclesiastes 12:11-12. Anything more than the words given by the one Shepherd is something to beware of. In other words, sometimes we spend more time with and are more enamored with what someone writes about the Bible, than the Bible itself.
    5. To further explain and understand, the scriptures speak of the scriptures as something for which Christians hunger. The text in 1 Peter 2:2 is familiar to most Christians: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow…” However, as usual, we can miss the strong emphasis without the context. Let’s highlight the text beginning in 1:3.
      1. (3) Notice in the text that Peter first emphasizes what God has done for us, which is to create in us the motivation to pursue God. Thus, “Blessed be God” because he is the cause of us being born again to a living hope.
      2. (4) Through Jesus’ resurrection we have an inheritance, undefiled and unfading, and reserved in heaven for you.
      3. (5) Therefore we are being guarded for this salvation that will be revealed in the last time.
      4. (6-9) Because of this, we can rejoice in this in spite of trials that test the genuineness of our faith, because it will result in praise and glory and honor, and the salvation of our souls. 
      5. (10-12) Further, this salvation is so amazing that prophets and even angels were diligently and longing to understand and see. 
      6. (13) “Therefore” – Because of what God has done, we can now “gird up the loins of our mind” for action. And we can actively serve God because we can “set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought at he revelation of Jesus.”
    6. Do you see how Peter is setting up our desire for the “pure spiritual milk of the word?” He is stressing how we need to understand the wonder and greatness of what God has done. This is foundational. If we are going to be what God desires of us as a people who are devoted to the word of God, it will begin with a deep recognition of how sinful we are and what God has done to free us from that bondage. (Consider Peter in Luke 5: “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” That was Peter’s true conversion!)
    7. Let’s continue in 1 Peter 1:22-25. We have been purified by “obedience to the truth” and have been “born again by an “imperishable seed,” which is the key to us “living and abiding forever.” As Hebrews 4:12 states, this word is “living and active.” Peter says, “living and abiding.” In other words, it does not just produce our initial rebirth, but continues to change us into the image of Christ.
      1. Often, when we see the word of God written in simple print, we do not appreciate its power in the same way would if we heard God actually speak it from heaven. Consider what God said through Moses concerning their response when they heard God’s words from heaven (Deut. 5:23-29).
      2. Remember, this is the same God who spoke and the universe came into existence. That being so, when he speaks and his word sinks into our hearts, consider the positive, life-altering change that will be made.
    8. Now we can read 2:2-3 with more meaning.
      1. The NLT translates, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” 
      2. Note the intensity of the craving – as newborn babies.  Nothing is more important. Nothing else will satisfy. Nothing else will bring health and growth.
    9. Then verses 4-5: we have come to Christ as a “living stone” and have now been turned into “living stones.” How? Because we are continuing to grow by the “living and abiding word of God” – the “imperishable seed.”
    10. The end result of verse 9, everything God desired from his chosen people: a holy nation and a kingly priesthood that would proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 
  3. A Practical Look at Devotion to the Word
    1. First, change the way you read. Read to be amazed at God. When I first started really studying for myself, I began with Matthew. It immediately made me amazed at Jesus. Your amazement will create a deep desire for him. Keep reading that way so that you are “tasting the goodness of God.” This will endear him to you and cause you to think like David: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you O God.” 
    2. Second, avoid thinking in terms of topics when you read. Never read a Bible verse or immediately compare other similar texts. Each book of the Bible is complete in itself for the message that is intended by the author. Read it as a letter written directly for you.
    3. Read for yourself apart from any study done for a Bible class. While your study for a class is important in order to share you discoveries with others, your own personal study in which you connect your heart to God and God’s heart to you, is the most important kind of study.
    4. Stop reading so fast. The tendency of most Christians is to just “get a reading done.” Let’s say you have 30 minutes to study. Instead of reading two or three chapters, take just one chapter, or even a half a chapter and go over the text numerous times using colored pencils to mark and writing observations. Think about questions you have about the text and write those down. And consider how you would answer these questions in sharing the word with others.
    5. Jot down ways you need to apply the text to yourself. This application may refer to ways you can improve your character to look more like Jesus. Application doesn’t have to be “do something,” but stimulating you to express to God how much your love for him has grown from what you learned.
    6. Buy a new Bible, especially a translation you have not used before. This will stimulate your excitement to discover. And, a different translation can give you insights you have never noticed in the Bible you have read for years.

Conclusion: When Luke wrote Theophilus, the first thing he wanted him to know that Christians did, was to be devoted to the word of God. We must never forget that example.

View more studies in Acts.
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