Friday: Breaking Bread Together
Read: Acts 2:42-47, Acts 20:7
SOAP: Acts 2:46-47
Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.
Devotion:
In a world with sermons and worship music easily accessible online, many people wonder what the value even is for a brick-and-mortar church. If the point of our meeting is merely to learn more about the Bible, then there is no reason for us to meet in person. Yet this account of the early church reminds us that there is something more significant about meeting together. When we spend time together, eating and drinking, talking and laughing, sharing our stories and building community, we are witnessing to the goodness of the coming kingdom of God. There is nothing that can replace it.
God works through our meetings—He drew people to Himself through these early church meetings and He continues to use the witness of our relationships with one another to draw people to Himself. People can download a sermon podcast or listen to worship music from the comfort of their home, but there is no replacement for flesh and blood community.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the gift of fellowship with believers! Help me cultivate good relationships in my church community that witness to You and draw people closer to knowing You. Amen.