More of the Story: Community

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ~ Acts 2:27-42

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. ~ Coretta Scott King

Right before this passage, Peter gives a long sermon on that Pentecost day about what was going down with the Holy Spirit. He quoted scripture, he told of the greatness of the Messiah. He was quite impressive!
And with that sermon, the crowds are convicted. What should they do?
And Peter finishes off with the passion of a televangelist!
"Repent! Be baptized! Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!"
It's enough to put the fear of God in you.
And it is impressive - especially considering where Peter came from and how unsure of himself he had been.
And three thousand were added to their number!
I can honestly say my preaching has never done that!
But after all the drama and passion and conviction, the passage ends much more quietly.
After all of this, what did the new followers of Christ do?
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship; to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And that was what made them a community.
Not anything showy. 
But simply be being together. Listening together. Eating together. Praying together.
That's it.
And out of that, a compassionate, loving community was born.
We still have the chance - and the right! - to have that kind of community.
To be together. To listen together. To eat together. To pray together.
To love together.

Prayer: Lord set me about listening, loving, eating, praying and being in a compassionate community! Amen








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