All InSample

“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.” - Acts 2:46 

So, why did they go from house to house? One might argue it’s because they had nowhere else to meet or because the Temple was too crowded and loud. But what if it was for a different reason? Here’s some “spiritual speculation”— what if they met in believers’ houses, moving from house to house, to make it easier to spread the Word? What if they did this because breaking bread, sharing meals at each other’s houses, and enjoying each other’s company is what God designed us for? 

What if learning and sharing the Gospel message was easier when they were in smaller, more intimate settings? What if this made it easier to hold each other accountable and help each other through the difficult times? Guess what? That sounds a lot like a small group! Group life is biblical. After Jesus left the earth, the disciples made disciples, who made more disciples, continuing the mission Jesus commanded. If we keep reading, we see house to house group life after Pentecost. in Acts 5:42.  

“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Even the Apostle Paul got in on the action in Acts 20:20. Meeting house to house with fellow believers is the perfect place for larger communities of believers to form into smaller groups, carry out God’s plan to love and encourage one another and to grow in the discipleship of Christ. People were saved house to house. Spiritual growth happened house to house. God’s love was shown intimately and organically house to house. 

In Acts, Christ-followers got together not because it was forced or required, but because they desired to help, encounter, and grow closer to Him, embrace and love those around them, engage and serve others, and expand and multiply God’s Kingdom. 

Believers can consistently and gently hold one another accountable in their everyday lives and actions. Meeting house to house with gladness and sincerity, breaking bread and glorifying God, multiplies His Kingdom. 

How about you? Are you all in on the Acts 2 model of house-to-house life?