This document discusses the key elements that defined the early Christian community in Acts 2:42-47. It highlights five aspects they devoted themselves to: 1) fellowship with one another, breaking bread together with glad and sincere hearts; 2) the apostles' teaching, loving to be discipled; 3) worshipping God together through prayer and praise; 4) ministering to serve the needs of others by selling possessions; and 5) witnessing to unbelievers so that the Lord added to their number daily. The overall message encourages building a community that lives out God's purposes by focusing on these same elements.

1. “Life is what
happens when
you’re busy making
other plans”
John Lennon

2. But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for
nothing and to no purpose
Isaiah 49:4 NLT

3. Human life is a struggle, isn’t it? It’s a life
sentence to hard labour … with nothing to
hope for but payday, I’m given a life that
meanders and goes nowhere — months of
aimlessness, nights of misery!
Job 7:1-3 Mess

4. The Lord has made everything for
His own purposes
Proverbs 16:4

5. Today
‘Purpose in community’
Acts 2:42-47
‘New beginnings for the people of God’

6. ‘Building a community of people
who live out God’s purposes
(in the community in which we live)
GFEC Mission Statement

7. Key word ‘Devoted’ = ‘proskartereo’
to give constant attention to
to be steadfastly attentive to
to give unremitting care to …

8. They devoted themselves to … the fellowship
Acts 2:42
They broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere hearts
Acts 2:46b
Fellowshipping together – Love for each other

9. We are many parts of
one body, and we all
belong to each other
Rom12:5b
Fellowshipping together – Love for each other

10. What we have is one body with many parts,
each its proper size and in its proper place.
No part is important on its own. Can you
imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t
need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re
fired; your job has been phased out”?
1 Cor 12:20-21 – The Message
Fellowshipping together – Love for each other

11. Just as a nursing mother cares for her
children, so we cared for you.
Because we loved you so much, we were
delighted to share with you not only the
gospel of God but our lives as well
1 Thess 2:7b-8
Fellowshipping together – Love for each other

12. “Why am I afraid to tell you
who I am? I am afraid to tell
you who I am, because, if I tell
you who I am, you may not
like who I am, and it's all that
I have...”
John Powell
Fellowshipping together – Love for each other

13. They devoted
themselves to the
apostles' teaching
Acts 2:42a
Discipled together – love for being taught

14. “The meeting place is
the learning place for
the market place”
John Wimber
Discipled together – love for being taught

15. Let the message about Christ,
in all its richness, fill your lives.
Teach and counsel each other with
all the wisdom He gives
Col 3:16a NLT
Discipled together – love for being taught

16. They devoted themselves to … the breaking of
bread and to prayer
Acts 2:42
Every day they continued to meet together
in the temple courts ... praising God
Acts 2:46, 47
Worshipping together – love for God

17. Who may stand in his Holy place?
Only those whose hands and
hearts are pure, who do not
worship idols
Ps 24:3b-4
Worshipping together – love for God

18. Focus on God
Worshipping together – love for God
Primarily to give
Contribute not to criticise

19. All the believers were together and had
everything in common
Acts 2:44
Selling their possessions and
goods, they gave to anyone as he had
need
Ministering together – love to serve others

20. ‘Ministry is using whatever God has given
me to serve Him and the needs of others’
Ministering together – love to serve others

21. the Lord added to their
number daily those who
were being saved
Acts 2:47b
Witnessing – love for unbelievers

22. “You cannot fulfil God's
purposes for your life
while focusing on your
own plans”
Rick Warren

23. Give ourselves in Ministry
Reach out to others in Evangelism
Value one another in Fellowship
Express our love to God in Worship
Obey God’s Word in Discipleship