From September 13, 2026 Worship Service.

 

REFLECT

“The sad irony of our day is we can be deeply committed to being a Christian but not be deeply formed by Christ.”
— Rich Villodas, X Post, April 25, 2023

“This was not just a religious revival or a spiritual experience. This was the beginning of a new society, a new way of being human.”
— N. T. Wright, Acts for Everyone

“The church is a community of people who live by a different story, a kingdom story, and that story is told not just in words, but in how we live together.”
— Howard Snyder, The Community of the King

ENGAGE

• When you hear the word “pathway,” what comes to mind spiritually right now? Trailhead? Middle of the road? Lost? Tired? Excited? How might a clear(er) pathway help you or our church?
• Imagine a world without any church. If you lived in such a world, and then suddenly found yourself swept up in this pattern of Behold, Beloved, Belong, Be Sent, to Become like Jesus, what would be your reaction?
• What practices or postures help you behold God’s presence like the early church? How have you seen God’s glory transform you personally?
• As you consider the radical generosity and joy of the early believers (vv. 44–46), what does it reveal about their understanding of themselves as God’s beloved? How does knowing you are a child of God change how you live?
• What does it mean to belong and “have all things in common” in today’s context (v. 44)? How can you cultivate deeper relationships where you truly know and support others?
• Acts 2:47 says the Lord added to their number daily. What do you think made their community so compelling to outsiders? In what ways can you be sent beyond our gatherings to embody Christ’s love in the world?
• If you were to take one intentional step in your discipleship journey today, what would it be?

PRAY

God, just as the early church was filled with awe at your wonders, I pause to behold your majesty, holiness, and beautiful grace. I quiet my heart, recognizing that you are the center of all things.

Remind me in this quiet space that I am your beloved child. Before I do anything for you, I rest in the deep, unchanging love you have for me. Let the certainty of being loved by you be the foundation of my faith and the fuel for my devotion.

Lord, you did not design me to walk alone. Like the believers in Acts, knit me in true community with others. Help me to devote myself to fellowship, break bread, and truly belong to others. May my relationships be spaces of authentic safety, radical generosity, and shared lives.

Do not let my comfort keep me stationary. Send me out into my neighborhood, workplace, and world just as you sent the early disciples. Empower me to share what I have, to speak your truth boldly, and to carry your light into dark places. Use my life to draw others to you, adding to your family daily.

Ultimately, Lord, my deepest desire is to become like Jesus. Through the teaching of your word, prayer, and the sharpening of community, transform my character. Make me look, love, and live more like Christ every single day, in whose name I pray.

Amen.