Acts 2:42-47: Small Group Study Guide, Nov 7th 2015
Community – We gather together to worship God and welcome new friends. Acts 2:42-47
Read Acts 2:42-47 together. Assign each participant to read one verse if they feel comfortable doing so. Take a moment to review last weekend’s sermon. Answer the following questions:
- How did God speak to you in the message?
- Was there anything you didn’t understand?
Share a positive time you experienced community (e.g., sports team, family, church, etc.).
- What are some of the upsides of having community?
- What are some of the risks?
- What are you looking forward to in this small group? What are you most nervous about?
In Acts 2, the early church gathers around Peter the Apostle’s teaching. Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14-41 to see what “apostles’ teaching” is like. Notice how he quotes both Joel 2:28-32 and Psalm 16:8-11.
- What did Peter preach?
- How does his message affect your heart?
- How can we form community around Christ?
The Greek word “koinonia” (κοινωνίᾳ) means “The act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group; especially used of marriage and churches.” (logos.com) Luke, the author of Acts, writes in Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NIV)
- How did the early church gather? What was their mindset?
- What did they do when they were together?
- Where did they gather? Why does it matter?
In v. 46, the phrase “day by day” means “a consistent and extended period of time or existence, such as weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime.” (c.f., Matt 26:55, Luke 9:23, Acts 2:47-47, 3:2, 1 Cor 15:31). In v. 42, we see the early believers “devoted” themselves to the church, its teachings, and each other.
How can we be “devoted” “day by day” to God and each other?
Jesus experienced the consequences of a broken relationship with God on the cross. Mark 15:34 says, “And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).” (NIV) Jesus substituted our broken and imperfect relationship with God for his pure and holy friendship with the Father. He experienced broken love with the Father so that you and I no longer need to. Now we can experience God’s love and joy like Jesus had known for all eternity. God gives us this gift of community with God when we put our love and trust in Christ.
How has Jesus made it possible for us to experience “koinonia” community with:
- God?
- Each other?
Close by praying for each other, that you’ll experience true community around Christ in your small group, and that Cornerstone at large will be a community centered on Christ.
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