By Andrew Williams
“Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” – Acts 2:40-42 (NLT)
Good morning fellow disciples.
In this powerful conclusion to Peter’s Pentecost sermon, we see a remarkable transformation in the lives of the early believers. Peter’s passionate plea for repentance and salvation resulted in 3,000 people turning to Jesus and being baptized. But their journey didn’t stop there. These new believers devoted themselves to four essential practices: learning from the apostles’ teaching, sharing fellowship, participating in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and committing to prayer. These practices became the foundation for the early church—a community centered on Christ, growing together in faith, love, and unity. This passage invites us to reflect on the importance of living in devotion to God and to each other as part of the body of Christ.
Peter’s bold proclamation and the response of the early believers demonstrate the transformative power of God at work through His Spirit. Their devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer serves as a model for us today. We are reminded that true discipleship is not a solo journey but one rooted in community. When we redirect our focus from isolation or distractions to intentional devotion to God and His people, we grow stronger in our faith and encourage others to do the same. The same Spirit that empowered the early believers is available to us, enabling us to live lives of purpose, connection, and prayerful dependence on God.
Take a moment to evaluate your level of devotion to the practices of the early church. Are you consistently learning from God’s Word? Are you truly engaged in fellowship with other believers? Are you sharing meals and participating in the Lord’s Supper? And are you committed to prayer, both personally and with others? Redirect your focus to these foundational practices. This week, commit to one specific action: join a Bible study, invite someone to share a meal, or spend intentional time in prayer with a fellow believer. Let your devotion to Christ and His body grow deeper.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of the early church and their devotion to You and to one another. I confess that I sometimes neglect the practices that strengthen my faith and my connection with others in the body of Christ. Today, I redirect my focus to You and commit myself to learning from Your Word, to fellowship, to shared meals, and to prayer. Help me to grow in my devotion and to encourage others to do the same. Use me to build up Your church and to glorify You in all that I do. In Your name, Amen.
