Day 20 (on Day 21)

Continuing on. While baptism marks an important step (maybe even a starting point) for living in a way that honors Jesus, it's far from the last step. Baptism marks out an invitation for us from the Living God to join a new community that he is establishing to carry out his plans and purposes on earth.

Take a moment to spend some time asking the Living God to continue working out his plan for you and for our community.

Check out Exodus 19:3-6; 1 Peter 2:1-12; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35; Galatians 6:1-2.

1. What kind of terms are used to describe the Living God's people in the Exodus and 1 Peter passages?
2. What is the function of a priest? Are these passages written to every Christian or just "fulltime ministers" (people like me that work for churches)?
3. If it's written for all Christians, how do you think you could be used as a "priest"?
4. What are we chosen to do as "priests" according to 1 Peter 2:10?
5. Rewrite verses 11 and 12 in your own words. Insert your name for "Dear friends."
6. Describe the early Christian gatherings that are recorded in Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. What are things that they did together?
7. Where do you see those things do you see in your Christian gathering times (church, youth group, or campus life)?
8. Which of them are missing?
9. Revisit Galatians 6:1-2. Was everyone in the early church gatherings the same (were they all rich or all poor, Jewish or not, white or otherwise)?
10. How do you see that in your Christian gathering times (church, youth group, or campus life)?
11. What unified the early church to cause such a diverse (lots of differences) group to come together in such a tight knit way that they would care for each other like they did in Acts 2 and Acts 4?
12. What happened to the size of their groups as a result of their life together?(Acts 2:47)

Take time to ask the Living God to teach you more about the kind of community he is inviting you to be a part of. Ask him to show you how you can help form that kind of community in your faith routine. Thank him for those in your life who are working for the same kind of community.

Peace.

Richard