Life Together: God’s Grace in Christian Community

This week's texts from Scripture are:

• Acts 2:42-47

• 1 Thes 2:8

Sermon Outline:  

The story of Acts and the early church
– After Pentecost, thousands believed and were baptized.
– Acts 2:42–47 shows the marks of a Spirit-filled community.

1. The one big idea: community matters
   – The early church’s life was lived together, not in isolation.
   – Bonhoeffer: hearing Christ through the voice of a brother.

2. Life Groups as modern community
   – Different names across churches, but all aim to share life and faith.
   – Sunday worship is joyful, but smaller groups provide deeper encouragement, accountability, and care.

3. The tension of community
   – No perfect groups exist—real growth happens between the ideal and the messy reality.
   – Discipleship takes place in that “in-between.”

4. Invitation and applications
   – Stay committed, even when community is hard.
   – Step into or help lead Life Groups at Good Shepherd.
   – Don’t walk the Christian life alone—find people who point you back to Jesus.Application Questions for Personal and Life Group Use... 

Comprehension Questions

1. What events in Acts 2 lead up to the description of the early church’s community life?

2. According to Acts 2:42–47, what specific practices did the early believers devote themselves to?

3. How does Bonhoeffer describe the gift of living in Christian community?

4. What distinction did the sermon make between “lecture” and “laboratory” in our discipleship?

5. What warning did the sermon give about expecting “perfect” communities?

Application Questions

Personal Reflection & Growth
6. Where do you currently experience authentic Christian community in your life?
7. Who in your life encourages your faith, cheers you on, or challenges you to follow Jesus more faithfully?
8. Where are you tempted to hide rather than be known in community?
9. How have past experiences in life groups (positive or negative) shaped the way you think about Christian fellowship today?
10. In what ways has God used others to point you back to Jesus in hard seasons?

Living It Out Together
11. How could you devote yourself more intentionally to practices like prayer, fellowship, and Scripture alongside others?
12. What might it look like for you to embrace the “messiness” of community rather than avoid it?
13. How could your Life Group (or another smaller gathering) become more of a place where both the gospel and your life are shared?
14. Where might God be calling you to step up—either to join a Life Group, host one, or help facilitate one?
15. What practical step will you take this month to deepen your engagement in Christian community?

Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email David Libbon at (David@GoodShepherdAnglican.org)