Church & StudentsSample

This core text for helping us understand early church culture is a beautiful picture of community, generosity, and formative discipleship.

Verse 45 is pivotal here, revealing the depth of community described in the verses before and after. This community of teaching, fellowship, community, prayer, meals, praise and growth was a community of authentic vulnerability and generosity. The selling of property and possessions reveals this. For this to have happened, the wider community would need to be aware of one another’s needs. By sharing honestly about what they lacked, they were able to serve one another in ways that provided for deep needs. And this openness and vulnerability didn’t lead to insecurity and fragility in the community, but rather to trust and joy as they lived together with ‘glad and sincere hearts’.

Regular, godly community creates the opportunity to be truly seen if we allow ourselves to be. With student communities often being present for shorter seasons of time it can be easy not to invite them into these spaces of vulnerability, openness and trust. Yet learning how to truly belong and be seen is an important part of our formation as disciples of Jesus.

Questions: How might you take the time to look and listen well in community this week?
What opportunities can you take to welcome others into your church community?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that we are truly seen by you. Thank you that you call us to be church in a way that enables one another to be seen, known, loved and blessed.