FBC Daily Devotions

Last weekend was the Fall Conference – a time of reaching across to those in our Family of God. If you attended, or even if you didn’t attend, what are ways you reached across this week, and how did it go? Did someone reach across to you last week? How did you respond?

When it comes to reaching across, there are certain aspects of the Christian life that are better done together. This week, consider how you might develop a stronger walk by doing life together with others. We will look at four aspects of life together: Prayer, Worship, Learning, and Fellowshipping. All are necessary components of a strong and vibrant walk with Christ. May God give you opportunities this week to walk this life together with others. –Pastor Mike

Small Group Questions
Week of October 13, 2008

Opening: How have you seen God work this week?

1. If you’ve ever prayed with others, you know that prayer is not something people merely do together, it also brings people together. Prayer is the glue that helps hold a group together. How often do you pray with others? How have you seen the “glue” of prayer when you pray with others? If you are married, how often do you pray with your spouse? If you struggle in this area, what are some ways you can improve? What are some factors that make it difficult for you to pray with others? Consider why this may be so.
2. Today, while teaching is not limited to the local church, the importance of gathering for group learning is still important. It ensures that we are not learning things on our own that could lead us astray. Where do you gather with others to learn? Where did you learn what you know today about truth? Are you continuing to learn? Are you learning from those who have an accurate understanding of the Bible? How do you know?
3. In Day 5’s devotional, Mike relates a practice session at the Akamine’s home: “The music may have been why we came, but the fellowship is why we stayed. When I look at the early church, that was one of the reasons the church continued to grow (Acts 2:47).” How important do you feel fellowshipping is to the health of a community of believers? How has it helped you in your own spiritual growth? Do you think you have ample opportunities for fellowship? If not, how can that be improved?

As you go into your prayer time, consider the following questions:

• How have you struggled this week?
• How can the others in the group help you?

Look over your notes from the past week. What one or two things did God impress upon you this week?

Read Acts 2:46; 5:42.

Nothing builds community like spending time together. Whether it be a family vacation or a weekend retreat, time is one of the most important aspects of building a strong community. For the early church, today’s passages say they met daily. For the most part people lived in small villages or towns. Meeting with others was a walk away. It was also cultural. People had time to “hang out”. Not so for many people today. Meeting with others means scheduling far in advance and driving long distances. Add to that the desire to meet with so many different people, we might meet someone this month, someone else the next month or week, and before we know it we are playing “catch up” in so many relationships. Consistent and frequent contact with others is a crucial part of community. Jesus met consistently and frequently with His disciples. The early church met daily in houses and larger group gatherings. The greatest impact on people’s lives occurs in the context of consistent and frequent contact.

Heb. 10:24 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…”

Realistically, we cannot meet daily with the church. But that’s not really the point; it is the principle. The more a group meets together, the stronger the community will be. Consequently, some people experience more community at work or in sports leagues than in the Body of Christ. Of course, it takes more than just meeting together to build a healthy community, as we will see in the coming days. For the Christian community, the centrality of Christ unites us more than any secular, common purpose.

To consider:

Who are you building community with? Who are you meeting with consistently and frequently? Is it enough? How do you know? Are there ways you can stay in community with others?

Consider your schedule for a moment – the things you do in a given week. Many things compete for the time needed to build community – even noble things. We can get so busy doing our individual activities. Are there ways to include others in your activities in order to build community? Rather than competing against community, can your activities be used to improve community?

Note: The church gathers together weekly (Sunday), and this helps address this need for consistent and frequent contact. But as we will see in the coming days, Sunday’s miss certain elements that are needed to build effective community because Sunday worship focuses more on contact with God rather than with one another.

Read Matthew 18:5-6; John 5:1-9

Children. They were the lowest class in Jesus’ day. They had no rights. They were given little attention. They were less than second class citizens. And yet Jesus valued them to the point that He warned people of severe consequences if they were mistreated and misguided.

An invalid for 38 years. Overlooked and overrun day in and day out. A man simply trying to get better. Jesus saw something more in him, and He healed him. Later Jesus would announce that “whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Jesus accepted and valued the lowly ones of this world. And then He called us to follow Him.

That same heart is to be found as we reach across our Family of Faith. The Body of Christ should be a place where all are valued. Are you valued in the Body of Christ? Can you be yourself, warts and all? Can you bring the worst of yourself and not be rejected? Can you admit your failings and struggles and have them met with grace? Are you valued enough to be encouraged to grow?

We are all valuable to God. But perhaps more important than me being valued is me valuing others. God wants us reach across to the lowly ones, the less prominent, the “less presentable” ones (1 Cor. 12:23) and value them as Jesus would. Paul says in 1Cor. 1:27-28 that God chose the foolish and the weak, the lowly and despised things of this world to do His work. Surely, we ought to have that same attitude!

To consider:

Do you feel valued in the Family of Faith? Why or why not? Do you fear people might reject you?

How can you show value to those in our Family of Faith? Is there someone whom God has placed on your heart to show that you value them?