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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

Read: Acts 2:46-47
Listen: Acts 2

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Christians practice spiritual disciplines in concert with the Holy Spirit to train ourselves to be godly and mold us into Jesus’s character. This month’s spiritual discipline is COMMUNITY. Community is the intentional connection among God’s people to grow together in faith and spiritual practices. Throughout Scripture, we see God speak and work through individuals AND groups of his people.

When God brings the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, he calls a people to himself, not a group of individuals. Through this community, God desires to show the world what he is like. His design for how they interact with each other, care for outsiders, study God’s Word, pray and live out their relationship with him invites the world to know him too. Later, Jesus calls a group of people (disciples) to himself. Through this group, the good news of Jesus spreads across the world. As people put their faith in Jesus, they gather in communities known as churches. The early church models to the world what difference he makes in their lives by how they live and serve together. God designs the body of Christ to depend on each other, as each one uses the gifts God gives to help and support the whole (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Community matters for God’s people today too. Our intentional connection to other believers helps us grow and become more like Christ. Our faith deepens and we model the difference Jesus makes in our lives when we practice spiritual disciplines in community—such as Bible reading, prayer, worship and confession. Jesus urges his followers to gather and seek his will together, promising to be present with them. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). We are not meant to live our faith alone.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Ask God how you can grow in community with intentional connections with other believers this fall. One way to grow in community is to (re)commit to participating in a small group. New groups will be launching this month. We have groups for couples, singles, women, men and young adults. Find a group for you at adabible.org/joinagroup.

2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

September is COMMUNITY. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.