COMMUNITY THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH—THE ESSENCE OF FELLOWSHIP
ADAM ROBINSON
INTRO HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The purpose of this 48-week journal is to help you learn the story of the New Testament church. Although the events surrounding the formation of the church happened nearly 2,000 years ago, they’re still relevant today, and you can apply biblical truths to your life as a twentyfirst–century Christian. Through this journal you’ll learn about being a member of your church, as well as a member of the global Church that’s made up of all the Christians in the world. This journal includes a few sections to help you as you learn. Here’s how to use them: Introductions: These are short sections that introduce each week of devotionals. Read the Introduction section to get a picture of what the week’s devotions will center on. Daily Devotions: Now we’re getting to the good stuff. This journal is designed to walk you through five days of devotions each week. And each devotion contains a Scripture passage and a paragraph of text. Always start by reading the Scripture passage in your Bible, and then read the text. Look for ways that the text unlocks some truths of Scripture you may not have noticed before. Daily Questions: After each devotional paragraph, you’ll find questions designed to get you thinking. When you read these questions, take a moment to really consider what they’re asking. Listen to the Holy Spirit as he teaches you through Scripture. Then record your thoughts in the Journal Space. Journal Spaces: You’ll notice this book is different from many books you’ve read before because it’s designed to be filled with 7
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your thoughts. Use the space provided to record your reactions to each devotional passage. Or use it to write a prayer request or praise to God. Use it any way you please. It’s your journal. There are no rules, just guidelines. The important thing is to listen to God and open your heart in response to his leading. If you take the time to read the devotionals prayerfully and with the anticipation that God will reveal new things to you, then you’ll be amazed at what will flow through your pen or pencil and onto the pages.
NOW WHAT? It was a pretty amazing time to be a disciple. Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead. And in the beginning of Acts, we find Jesus and the disciples hanging out together. He’d already told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, but this confused the disciples. So, logically, they asked Jesus about it. Jesus calmly explained to them that it wasn’t their place to know his plan; they’d know when it happened. And no sooner had the words left his mouth when, all of a sudden—he was gone. Ascended. Whisked away in the clouds. Wow—imagine that! After three years of healings, preaching, and traveling, Jesus had been murdered, had risen from the grave, and had ascended into heaven. Then there they were—11 guys standing on a hillside, staring into the sky with one question in their minds… Now what? This is how the Book of Acts begins. More importantly, this is how the Church began. And by Church (capital C), I mean all the believers in Jesus Christ around the world. The same local church that you’re now a part of in a sense originated 2,000 years ago by those 11 guys. When
INTRO
Jesus ascended back into heaven, it wasn’t the end of the story. It was a whole new beginning. These guys thought they’d seen it all. But in God’s eyes, they’d barely begun. Maybe that’s your story, too. Maybe you believe you’ve seen it all. You’re saved. You believe in God; you believe in his Son, Jesus; and you go to church like you’re supposed to. But what do you do now? What comes after being saved? How are you supposed to grow in your faith? That’s where the Church comes in. God isn’t interested only in making sure you’re saved. That’s the beginning, but there’s much more in store for you. God has a plan for your life, but it’s not for you only—it’s for all of us. You may not know it, but when you became a son or daughter of God, you didn’t get adopted by the heavenly Father only. You were also adopted by a whole family of brothers and sisters. That family is the Church. We’re going to look at one of the most important aspects of our spiritual lives. In fact, it’s so important that your spiritual walk will never really work without it. What is it? Community. I know it sounds kind of dry. But once you get a taste of it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Community isn’t just going to church or wearing a Christian T-shirt or showing up for church events. It’s much, much more. Imagine the relationship you have with your best friends. You talk, you hang out, you like them. If they were in trouble, then you’d help them out—no questions asked. If you were in trouble, then you know they’d be there in a minute. And you probably tell them more about yourself than you tell other people. Why? Because you’re connected in a way you can’t really put into words. It’s different from your relationships with everyone else.
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Now imagine having that kind of relationship with 10 people. With 50. With 500. Of course you couldn’t spend as much time with each person, but imagine knowing that all of those people would be there for you in a heartbeat. Imagine loving that many people and being willing to help them no matter what. Imagine not having to wear a mask in front of all those people because they all love you just the way you are. And every single one of them serves God and helps you to do the same. Now you’re starting to see it: The kingdom of God. God’s community. The New Testament church was just like that. What began as a disjointed, ragtag group of unschooled men became the foundation for a force of change that would eventually touch all parts of the globe. The New Testament church is your spiritual heritage. And although the events surrounding its formation took place almost 2,000 years ago, we can still learn so much today. It’s an incredible story! We’re going to examine how to build real community. We’ll walk through the Book of Acts and see how it all began. We’ll learn how to create that same kind of community right where we are. It’s a huge task, but it’s one that will shape everything about you and me and all of us—together. So you may be asking yourself, Now what? Well, turn the page and find out…
WEEK 1
GOD’S ARMY: WHAT IS THE CHURCH? MEMORY VERSE “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)
INTRODUCTION It started quietly enough. Off in a corner, Jesus asked a simple question of his trusted friends. Peter answered for all of them: We believe you’re the Son of the living God. They had little understanding of the meaning of that one simple statement. That confession was the foundation of a world-shattering new reality: God was present among them and was creating something that would change the world for all time. That reality is the Church of Jesus Christ. Today you and I are the latest in an unbroken line of believers that started way back then. And what started on that day wasn’t a movement, a cult, or a philosophy. Instead, God decided to build a family—a living, breathing family of millions—all linked through God’s Holy Spirit. If you’re a Christian, then it’s your family. God sent Jesus to be the head of a new nation of people, a nation without physical borders, racial divisions, or social barriers. Welcome to the citizenship of the Spirit. Today all believers across the world form the Church, and small parts of that larger body meet together as local churches just like yours. This week we’ll try to answer the question, “What is the Church?” and find out how we fit in. We’ll discover that God has plans not just for you, but for all of us—together.
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DAILY DEVOTIONS Day 1 Matthew 16:13-20
In Jesus’ day, everyone was confused about who he was, and no one fully grasped his mission as the Messiah. Living on this side of history, we’re better able to understand his mission; we know the end of the story. But lots of people are still confused about Jesus today. Some believe he’s just a teacher, others believe he’s one of many pathways to heaven, and still others believe he’s a lunatic. And then some people don’t believe he existed at all. Before we can be a part of the Church, we have to answer this question for ourselves: Do I really believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he can save me from my sins? The only way into the Church is to confess Jesus as Lord. Have you done that? If no one you knew believed in Jesus, would you? Why? If everyone you knew decided that Jesus wasn’t really the Son of God, would you? Why?
WEEK 1
Day 2 Mark 10:17-31
This is one of those classic moments in Scripture—the moment in which someone decides to leave everything and follow Christ. But put yourself in Peter’s shoes. He’d already said yes and left his home and his job. He was able to do what the rich young ruler wasn’t. Jesus told Peter he’d receive a hundredfold of what he’d left behind “in this present age.” So how does that work? Peter wasn’t the father of hundreds by the time he died. Jesus was trying to help us understand that when you join him, you join his family. Through Christ we become connected to all other believers. So instead of being out on your own, all of us in the Church support and love one another. You already have lots of fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters just because you’re part of your church. Welcome to the family! Have you made the kind of choice that Peter did? How are you building relationships with the people in your church?
Day 3 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Colossians 1:18
Being a part of a family means different things as you grow up. At first you just have the family’s name; but as you grow, you take on more responsibilities. However, you never lose the name. In these passages
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Paul told us a lot about who we are as a Church. First, in Colossians 1:18 he let us know who’s the boss: Jesus is the Head of the Church. Not a pastor or a group of men—only Jesus himself. Yet in the 1 Corinthians passage, Paul reveals that inside of that Church every one of us has a role to play, just like every part of your body has a specific function. So while Jesus functions as the authority of the Church, as well as the glue that holds it all together, you also have a unique role to fill that no one else can. Without you, the Church won’t work the way Jesus wants it to. And that makes you indispensable. How can you honor Jesus today as the Head of his Church? Do you know what your role in the Church is? Ask Christ to show you.
Day 4
1 Peter 2:9-10
Do you know your heritage? Perhaps there are Native Americans in your lineage—or you may have Scottish blood. Knowing you’re part of a larger family gives you a sense of place in the history of the world, letting you know you’re not just the new kid on the block. You may not know your human heritage, but you can know your spiritual heritage. Peter, a Jew, reminded all the believers in his church—regardless of their race—that because they belonged to Christ, they were a part of God’s people and members of God’s kingdom. This is your spiritual heritage. Being a Christian isn’t just about knowing Jesus. It’s about being a part of what God is doing in all of us all over the world. How does it feel to know you’re a part of a larger spiritual kingdom?
WEEK 1
How should this knowledge change the way you live as a believer?
Day 5
Ephesians 5:25-32
You’re probably not married, but follow me on this one. Paul is trying to show us what being the Church is like, and he uses marriage as the example. Jesus is the groom and the Church is the bride. Notice that you alone aren’t the bride, but all Christians together. God is preparing all of us that we might be God’s spotless bride. Reread the passage and look at how Jesus cares for his Church. God cares tremendously about the health of your church. Your church may be experiencing some problems, but God is in the process of making all of us pure, holy, and unified. How is Jesus doing this in the life of your church? How should we as the Church respond to Christ as the groom? If this is how God cares for his Church, then how should we treat the other members of our local church?
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