Acts 2:42-47 - Devoted to God and One Another

Rev. James Pavlic / General Adult

Kingdom Living: Community / Devotion / Acts 2:42–47

Because of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and giving of the Spirit, we are empowered to live lives of devotion both to God and one another as God's covenant community.

Have you ever met a “Christian ninja”? They slip into the sanctuary during the first song, avoid eye contact, and vanish before the final “amen.” They may even read their Bible and pray, but always alone. They believe in Jesus but live as if the Christian life is a solo and stealth mission. If we’re honest, some of us do the same, even when we know better.

Now picture the opposite: not a lone warrior, but a visible family, believers walking together in joyful unity. Meals shared, prayers lifted, burdens carried, needs met, and praise filling both church and homes. That’s what we see in today’s passage, not because they were unusually committed or naturally extroverted, but because the Spirit of Christ changed them from the inside out. They were a Spirit-formed people, visibly devoted to God and one another.

So who are we both individually and as a church? Are we more like the Christian ninja, or the visible family?

Today we’ll be in Acts 2:42–47. For context: Jesus had died, been buried, rose again, and breathed the Spirit on His apostles. After His ascension, ten days later, the other disciples also received the Holy Spirit, resulting in them speaking in known languages, causing amazement and confusion, some even thought they were drunk (Acts 2:13). In response, Peter preached to a massive crowd, and God transformed 3,000 hearts through his sermon (vv. 14–41), forming a new community devoted to God and one another.

In this passage, we will see the Spirit produce deep devotion to God through worship (vv. 42, 46), and to one another through fellowship and tangible care (vv. 44–46), producing awe and wonder (v. 43) and witness which God used to bring salvation to the lost (v. 47).

But this kind of devotion didn’t last forever. We see its erosion in 1 Corinthians, the epistles, and the letters to the churches in Revelation. Today, churches like ours struggle with the same problem, a lack of devotion, and the fruit of it: a lack of God’s saving work among us.

But what if we lived like that Spirit-formed family again? What if our devotion to God and each other was so visible that the people of Nashua took notice? What if we saw God saving the lost among us? This isn’t a pipe dream…it’s the power of the Spirit. So let’s listen to Acts 2:42–47 and ask the Spirit to do it again among us.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What do we see in this passage? Not Christian ninjas, but instead…

God’s covenant family lives a shared life of devotion to Him and one another

In Acts 2:42–47, the fledgling, Spirit-formed church displayed a shared devotion to God in worship and to one another in daily life. This devotion shaped their temple worship and their homes. But what does “devoted” mean? The Greek word for devotion (προσκαρτεροῦντες) implies single-minded perseverance, a continual clinging.

We see this devotion to God in verses 42–43, 46a, and 47a. These Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.

What was the “apostle’s teaching?” Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 tells us. It was all about Jesus’ person and work…his death, resurrection, exaltation, and lordship. They weren’t just hungry for some sort of teaching…they were hungry for Christ. They fed on the Bread of Life because in Him is life (Luke 24:27).

The “breaking of bread” in verse 42 most likely refers to the Lord’s Supper. The early church worshiped together and concluded with a love feast which concluded with the Lord’s Supper. They didn’t just eat with one another, they fed on Christ spiritually. They saw the Lord’s Supper as a means of grace, where Jesus was made spiritually present by the Spirit to them. This wasn’t simply a ritual to them, it was life. By Acts 20:7, it had become a weekly part of worship.

“The prayers” were the church storming the gates of heaven together, what one early church father called the “violence” God delights in. As a vulnerable, new community, a family of dependent children, they knew they couldn’t survive without Christ’s help. So they prayed with deep thanksgiving and shared requests.

Verse 46 tells us how they worshipped daily, both at the temple and in their homes. Their worship wasn’t compartmentalized. It filled all of their lives. Verse 47 shows that all of this flowed into communal praise.

We also see devotion to one another in verses 44–45 and 46b. They shared life daily, opening their homes, praying together, and breaking bread with joy. Their devotion didn’t just result in worship and fellowship, but led to sacrificial care for one another. They sold their possessions to meet needs of those who lacked. This wasn’t coerced socialism, it was gospel-shaped generosity, flowing from their union with Christ. They were true family, not just biologically, but spiritually united by the blood of Jesus.

Why such radical devotion? Two reasons: First, they knew they had been adopted into God’s covenant family. They shared one Father, one Savior, one Spirit. If they were united to Christ, they were united to one another. Second, they longed for more of Christ. If the Spirit was building them together into the dwelling place of God (Eph. 2:11–22), then being together means we get more of Jesus. Who wouldn’t want that?

The bottom line? They weren’t Christian Ninjas, hiding Christ under sleek, spiritual cloaks. They were a visible covenant family, devoted to God and one another because they were feeding on Christ and wanted more of Him. Not hidden. Not detached. But joyful, present, and together.

But let’s be honest, this doesn’t come naturally for us. Though God commands devotion to Himself and to one another, something in us resists this shared life…

Instead of being devoted to God and one another, we are devoted to ourselves

Scripture calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s God’s standard. We don’t naturally live this way. Something in us pulls back from joyful worship and mutual care.

And so, we often treat the Christian life like a stealth mission, slipping in and out of worship like “Christian ninjas”? Why do we avoid deep fellowship, treat worship as optional, and stay emotionally and relationally detached from God’s family?

Compared to the Spirit-filled devotion of the early church, today’s church often feels lukewarm and fragmented. Worship is an event, not a life. Fellowship becomes surface-level friendliness. Communion is reduced to a brief ritual. Community? Optional.

When we read Acts 2:42–47, the contrast is deafening, so we begin to make excuses: “That was a different time… a unique moment… they didn’t have families like ours… we’re not socialists, my possessions are my own… life is too busy.” We justify our distance with busy routines and personal rights.

But underneath, we’re trading devotion for attendance. One or two hours on a Sunday feels sufficient. Fellowship becomes a hallway chat. Communion is rushed, not relational. And instead of witnessing gospel growth, we settle for maintaining the status quo. Why would God entrust new children to a church that doesn’t act like a family?

This has an emotional impact. Awe fades into apathy. Praise becomes anxiety. Joy and generosity are replaced by stinginess and numbness. We withhold our burdens and resist receiving help. We gravitate toward the familiar and comfortable, not toward the whole church body. We crave ease, autonomy, and control.

At the core, we don’t live like adopted sons and daughters of God’s covenant family. We act like kings of our own kingdoms. The sin beneath the sin is self-worship, wanting life on our terms: relationships on demand, worship when it’s convenient, and generosity only when it doesn’t cost us much.

What is the result of all of this in what once were thriving churches?

• Trinitarian Worship weakens when we neglect God’s Word, prayer, and sacraments.
• Kingdom Discipleship suffers when we stop pursuing the Word and prayer together.
• Adoption into God’s Covenant Family is ignored when we resist sharing life and needs.
• Life Together fades when we treat the church like a product instead of a people.

This self-centered life leaves us dry and damages the church. It fractures what Christ died to form: a visible, Spirit-formed family where God is tangibly present. Left in our sin, we remain cut off…anxious, isolated, and far from the joy of gospel life.

But here’s the good news: what we failed to do, Jesus did perfectly, both for us and in us.

Jesus fully devoted Himself to God even to death on the cross so that we could share in the life of God

Because we fail to love God and others with this kind of devotion, breaking God’s law, Jesus had to die. He tore down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14), removing every barrier between God and sinners, and between sinners themselves. After performing wonders and signs (Acts 2:22), He offered up His life on the cross, rose again, and sent the Spirit (Acts 2:33), not so we could live in isolation, but as a new covenant family, empowered for shared life.

Jesus gave up everything for us. He left the glories of heaven (Phil. 2:6–7), willingly became poor (2 Cor. 8:9) and had nowhere to lay His head (Matt. 8:20). He did this because we, in our selfishness, give up nothing. We need both His righteousness and atonement. Jesus, the true temple (John 2:21), became the final sacrifice (Heb. 9:24–28) to pay for our sins.

Now let’s consider how each part of what the early church was doing in Acts 2:42–47 points to Jesus’ own life.

First, Jesus was devoted to worship, showing Himself to be the ultimate worshipper as seen by God’s people in Acts 2:42-43, 46a, and 47a. Where the early Christians devoted themselves to teaching, prayer, and worship, Jesus perfectly lived it out. His food was to do the Father’s will (John 4:34). He resisted temptation, choosing the Word of God over bread (Matt. 4:4). He rose early to pray even after exhausting Himself with ministry (Mark 1:35).

Second, Jesus shared His life through sacrifice, becoming the true Bread we now share (Acts 2:44–46b). While the church enjoyed fellowship, Jesus gave up His life in isolation to make us family. He united us by giving up His body and shedding His blood (Luke 22:19–20; Eph. 2:13–16).

Third, Jesus was generous through His poverty, showing how he didn’t just give resources, but Himself as His people were doing in Acts 2:44-45. As believers shared possessions, Jesus, though rich, became poor. He left His throne, lived homeless (2 Cor. 8:9; Matt. 8:20), and made us heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17).

Fourth, Jesus brought us into God’s favor through His rejection, as seen in Acts 2:47 as the early church found favor with people. He was despised (Isa. 53:3), crucified outside the camp (Heb. 13:12–13), and rose to bring us into joyful communion (John 14:2–3). This is the gospel behind Acts 2:47, where the Lord added daily to their number.

Why does this matter? Because Jesus was the true worshiper who gave Himself so we could become worshipers (John 4:23–24). He removed hostility so we could live in unity (Eph. 2:16). His obedience empowers ours (Matt. 22:37–40). His cross and Spirit make our shared devotion possible.

And when we think of our core values at CPC, we see Christ at the center:

• Trinitarian Worship: Jesus reconciles us to the Father through the Spirit.
• Kingdom Discipleship: Jesus, the true Word, is who we follow and study together.
• Adopted into God’s Covenant Family: Jesus was cast out so we could be brought in.
• Life Together: Jesus shared His life and gives us a home, a table, and a people.

This is why Sunday Worship, the Lord’s Supper, Discipleship Hour, Triads, and Small Groups aren’t just “programs”, they’re gospel-shaped expressions of Christ’s presence with us.

And what is so amazing is that Jesus didn’t just die and rise again to give us duties. He gave us His Spirit who empowers us to live the very life He secured.

By the Spirit’s empowerment, we live a shared life where we are not only devoted to God but one another, resulting in God saving the lost

As we abide in Christ and look to Him by the Spirit, our vision of what the church is and our part in it changes. We see the comfort He gave up, aligning perfectly with the Father’s will, even to the point of death on a cross. So instead of clinging to comfort, we’re drawn into His devotion, longing to live lives of worship and community.

We stop dreading those who challenge us and begin to see them as brothers and sisters for whom Christ died. We desire to be with them in worship, in prayer, and around our tables.

By the Spirit, we see our nuclear families as part of a greater family, the church. We still care for our households, but now we know we belong to something far bigger, God’s covenant family.

And so, the Spirit, as we feed on Christ, will begin to rewire our desires. He helps us see Christ’s faithfulness in suffering and stirs the same devotion in us. Worship stops being a duty; it becomes a joy. We rise early not out of guilt, but because we don’t want to miss a moment in God’s presence. When someone misses Discipleship Hour, we invite, not judge. When a friend is consistently late to church, we offer to meet them early for coffee, not to correct, but to encourage them.

We begin to see Christ in His people. The person across the aisle is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Being with them means being with Christ. And that changes how we view presence, time, and community.

When we see a need, we remember Christ, how He became poor to make us rich. And we give. Not out of pressure, but because Jesus gave up everything for us.

We stop seeing participation as a spiritual résumé. Christ, our Justifier, lives in us and gives us His righteousness. Worship, prayer, and fellowship aren’t boxes to check; they’re the joyful overflow of a grace-filled life.

The Spirit enables this. He gives us a hunger for the apostles’ teaching. He draws us into worship, the Lord’s Supper, and the prayers. He roots us through Discipleship Hour, deepens us through small groups and triads, and makes our life together much more than programs, but a visible communion of love, praise, and mission.

And where does the motivation for all of this come from? Grace.

The Spirit reminds us who we were, and who we are in Christ. He shows us the cross, where Jesus gave up everything, not reluctantly but joyfully. As we look at His broken body, we are moved to give, serve, and share. We realize we can’t be part of Christ’s body and still live divided lives.

Because God has been hilariously generous, giving us breath, daily bread, and ultimately Himself, we become hilariously generous as well. Our time, money, and attention flow freely in the family of God.

And what enables this kind of life? The presence, empowerment, and work of the Spirit. He brings Christ to mind and presses grace into our hearts through the means of grace: the Word, sacraments, prayer, fellowship, and discipline.

So instead of living isolated, self-centered lives, the Spirit helps us see: being together means experiencing more of God, getting more of Jesus! He dwells among His people. We are living stones, built into God’s dwelling (Eph. 2:22). So being with one another is being with Christ.

Once we see this, community becomes like Christmas morning, something we can’t wait for. Fellowship becomes joy, not burden.

Even our calendar shifts. Church isn’t just a set of programs, it’s where God meets us. When life blocks our participation, we talk to our family and accept help. That’s what children of grace do.

Even when we’re in need, the Spirit reminds us: when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So we give and receive, not with pride or shame, but with Gospel-shaped humility.

What does this and will this look like at CPC?

• Depending on God Alone: We depend on the Spirit to enable us to live in devotion to God and one another.
• Trinitarian Worship: The Spirit enables our joy in worship together through Jesus.
• Kingdom Discipleship: The Spirit drives us deeper into the Word, prayer, and growth.
• Adopted into God’s Covenant Family: The Spirit makes us eager to give and receive as one family.
• Redemptive Perspective: We live as redeemed people in joy and hope.

All of this leads us to Life Together as the Spirit reorients us from isolation to communion.

You see, as we move forward with our visions at CPC, Sunday Worship, Discipleship Hour, Small Groups, and Triads aren’t obligations, they’re delights. Through them, we grow in generosity, hospitality, and unity. We help one another and receive help, not in shame, but with joy.

And if you feel outside this family, if you don’t yet know the love of Christ, His forgiveness, or the Spirit who gives this kind of new life, this is your invitation. Come home. Trust in Jesus, who tore down the wall between you and God and between you and others. He died and rose again to give you His Spirit.

Because of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and the gift of His Spirit, we are empowered to live lives of shared devotion to God and one another, all to the praise of the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.