“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." - Acts 2:46-47

In this passage, Luke describes the practices of the ancient church in its very beginnings. The Holy Spirit had just dramatically empowered the church for its mission in the world and in the wake of all of this, the apostle Peter preached a sermon where thousands were converted to the faith. Luke then describes that they regularly attended the temple together. This means that they prioritized worship, teaching and prayer - which is what took place at the temple. Luke says they also broke bread in their homes. This means that they not only prioritized the larger gathering in the temple but the smaller gatherings in more intimate settings like each others' homes. And what was the end result of the church prioritizing these two distinct gatherings? He writes that they grew in favor with all the people and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

So what does all this have to do with you? Well, do you prioritize the worship, teaching and prayer that takes place on Sundays at Encompass? Do you prioritize gathering in one another's homes through Groups here at Encompass? Have you joined a Group yet? I don't know about you but I want to grow in favor with people. I want to see the Lord add to our number day by day those who are being saved. But are we willing to prioritize what the ancient church prioritized? Are we willing to gather the way they gathered - focused on the mission that Jesus Christ has given us? What could happen to Parker and the surrounding areas if we were obedient to pursue and practice what Jesus invites us to? Historians may just write that we turned our community upside down (Acts 17:6).

For Jesus,
Pastor Mark