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Three Wise Guys Lesson
2: Alan McCormick, Jeff Shelton & Paul Swaim November 21, 2010 |
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"Experiencing
Community"
by Alan McCormick, Jeff Shelton & Paul Swaim
Dalton Gardens Church of Christ
November 21, 2010
*Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was
filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They
sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved.
See if you can find the principles taught in this passage that lead us to genuine community. Look at the things that deal with the heart more than the actions. How would those heart characteristics cause us to live in community with each other? Do you feel fulfilled in the community of believers here?
*Philippians 2
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if
any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your
relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself
nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above
every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What are some things you could do to treat other people as more important than you? Who are some of the people that you would like to honor in that way? What are some practical ways that you could humble yourself in order to help people see Jesus more clearly?
*Write a prayer asking God to help you understand the concept of community in scripture. Ask Him to show you how you can play a more vital role in the body life of our church here at Dalton Gardens.