January 5, 2020
Relationships with Authenticity
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" – Acts 2:42
Commentary
The Navy SEALs are an elite group of special force personnel who are highly trained for challenging missions. They work in small units and develop authentic relationships because their lives and mission depend on it. The Christian life is no different. We need authentic relationships with one other. We need to encourage, love, pray, and serve each other, and we need to hold each other accountable in order to fulfill the mission that God has given us. We see an example of this in the early church. Peter preached at Pentecost, and about 3,000 people repented and were baptized (Acts 2:41). After this, we see what an authentic biblical community looked like. These Christians devoted themselves to several things.
First, God's Word was a priority among them. Second, they were committed to fellowship. True fellowship involves sacrificing. They were serving and taking care of one another. Third, they worshiped together through the breaking of bread and prayers. The breaking of bread refers to the Lord's Supper. There is no better way for Christians to grow personally and corporately than through coming together in community, worshiping and praising God, and focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Doing this develops unity and deep friendships. And, before long, we begin to build relationships with authenticity. So, make it a goal in 2021 to worship each week corporately and participate in a Life Group.
Application
• Our Life Groups are meant to develop relationships with authenticity. If you are not in a Life Group, please visit valleydale.org/nextsteps.
• The church needs you and your spiritual gifts to function the way God intended it. If you have never taken a spiritual gift test, please email Patrick Sawyer at psawyer@valleydale.org.
Prayer
• Pray for a passion and desire to worship God together in community.
• Pray that we would have authentic relationships where we walk alongside one another throughout our sanctification process.
• Pray that we would have a love for one another that shows the world the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.