The following bible study was written for our id Life Groups.
Pastoral Care is a fancy church term that just means looking after one another. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). When we meet in a Life Group, our primary aim is to care for one another: to look out for one another's needs; to offer a helping hand or a listening ear; to share in each other's joys, frustrations and griefs; and to encourage one another in our walk with God.
Read Acts 2:42-47.
- What are some of the needs that that community had? How were they met?
Teaching
We will explore this more thoroughly in the next study, but for now it is important to note that the community of believers in Acts 2 devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching (v.42). The word of God was at the heart of all that they did together.
Fellowship
One of the key differences between a Life Group and a church congregation is intimacy. Whilst the 7pm congregation numbers up to 100 people per week, Life Groups will typically only be about 6 people. This makes it much easier to get to know one another well, to partner with one another and to be aware of each others' needs in a Life Group. So when Acts 2 says they devoted themselves... to the fellowship (v. 42), I believe that this means that they met together in small groups - both in the temple courts and in their homes (v. 46).
The word used here for fellowship literally means 'sharing'. Luke uses it here to talk about sharing in the community of faith, and the sharing of possessions. Paul also uses the same word to talk about the relationship that we as Christians share with Christ (1 Cor 1:9), the fellowship of the Spirit (2 Cor 13:14) and the 'partnership' between Paul and the Philippians in spreading the gospel (Phil 1:5).
- What things do you, as a group, already have in common?
- What things do you choose to have in common? Are you prepared to commit to that choice? e.g. We commit to honestly share when we are struggling with temptation, or We agree that each week we will read the Bible on our own and share something that we have learner. Or perhaps even something as simple as We will make sure that we rock up on time!
The neighbourhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church. It's an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable. It is democratic. You can tell people secrets and they usually don't tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.
With all my heart I believe that Christ wants his church to be unshockable, democratic, permissive - a fellowship where people can come in and say, “I'm sunk!” “I'm beat!” “I've had it!” Alcoholics Anonymous has this quality. Our churches too often miss it.”
- Keith Miller and Bruce Larson, Edge of Adventure
- What are some of the things that can get in the way of fellowship with each other? How are you going to recognise and respond to these things before they happen?
Worship
Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.(Acts 2:46-47). At first seeing the breaking of bread sandwiched (sorry, no pun intended) between meeting in the the temple courts (for formal worship services) and praising God seems a bit strange, until you realise that the breaking of bread was also a means of worship and praising God. Jesus said “For where two or three come together, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:20). Don't underestimate the power of having a meal together in the name of Jesus - he says that when you do he's gonna rock up too! More than that, however, Luke seems to be referring to the celebration of what we today would call communion - breaking bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Jesus, as he commanded (see Matt 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25 and Luke 22:17-20).
- Do you believe worship should be a part of your Life Group? If so, how will you express it? How often?
Prayer
They devoted themselves... to prayer. (Acts 2:42) Prayer is at the heart of all that we do as Christians - it is the key component of all of the things we have talked about so far (teaching, fellowship and worship) as it is what ties us in to God.
Read Acts 12:1-18.
He went to the house of Mary... where many people had gathered and were praying. (v. 12) You can bet your bottom dollar that the people gathered there were praying for Peter. Witness the power of a small group (the 1st Century Life Group!) praying!!
- How important should prayer be in your Life Group? What form should it take? How will you let each other know what to pray for? Will you limit your prayer to times when you are together, or also when you are on your own?
As you can see, Luke describes a community with a common purpose (meeting each others' needs) expressed in four ways (teaching, fellowship, worship and prayer). And the end result of these things? Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:43,47b).
Some prayer suggestions
- Pray that God will show you how to be a group that meets each others' needs.
- Pray for the year ahead.
- Pray for each other.
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