< Back

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Read: Acts 2:42
Listen: Acts 2

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The early church is devoted to the apostles’ teaching. They listen intently and study the written Word. This teaching grounds the early church in what to think and how to live. Such teaching likely includes three primary components: what Jesus taught (like the Sermon on the Mount), the Gospel (the good news of what Jesus has accomplished for us), and the message of Jesus in the Old Testament. This core content of the apostles’ teaching shapes the early church and its commitments as a community.

In the same way, our lives should be grounded in the apostles’ teaching. The apostles aren’t living among us today, but their teachings are preserved in the Scriptures. The Bible has been handed down to us as the Word of God spoken through the apostles (and prophets). As the early church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching, we should be as well—by reading, listening to, studying, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word. Bible intake may look different for each of us, but such a commitment should play a central role in every believer’s life. The Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and profitable for all life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Many Christians have a plan for Bible engagement each year. The New Year is quickly approaching! Consider a Bible reading plan for the year ahead. A great place to find reading plans is in the YouVersion Bible app. You can even invite friends to join you to read and discuss. Find a Bible-engagement plan appropriate for you and your season to help you more fully mine the riches of God’s Word.

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.

December is CELEBRATION. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.