Youth Group Devotionals

In Acts 4 we get another glimpse into what life was like in the early church. The passage paints a powerful picture of how the early church was united in their faith and cared for one another so that everyone's needs would be met.Because they loved one another, they shared what God had given them so that no one in the church would go without. The passage says there were "no needy persons among them" because people who had extra were willing to help those who didn't. Some believers even sold land or houses and gave the money to the apostles so it could be distributed to anyone who had a need.One example is Barnabas. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. He wasn't trying to get attention for himself, he simply wanted to help his church family.The early church understood something important: following Jesus isn't just about believing the right things; it's also about loving people in practical ways. They saw the needs around them and responded with generosity. Their unity, love, and willingness to sacrifice for one another showed the world what it looks like when Jesus truly changes people's hearts.I hope this passage challenges you to see if you are paying attention to the needs of people around you. Are you willing to use the time, money, talents, and resources that God has given you to help others? The early church reminds us that God's people are called to be a family that cares for one another and makes sure no one has to walk through life alone.

During Jesus' ministry on earth, he sent the disciples out in pairs and gave them the power to teach, heal the sick, and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13). In the first part of Acts 3 we see that the Jesus is continuing to work through His followers by the power of the Holy Spirit. This healing of the lame man demonstrates that the apostles were still acting with Jesus' authority and power, not their own. Just as Jesus used miracles to establish the authority of His teaching, the apostles are able to do the same to demonstrate their authority to speak about Jesus.One note, this healing is very similar to Jesus' healing of the lame man by the pool (John 5:5-15) but in this case the man had been unable to walk since birth.

In Acts 2:42–47 we see the start of the Church that you and I are a part of today. These new believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, prayer, and gathering together in fellowship. Notice that their faith was not something they lived out alone, it was something they shared as a community with the other believers.One note, big 'C' church refers to all believers past and present throughout the world.One of the things that stands out to me about the early Church was how self-sacrificial the people were. They cared deeply for one another and were willing to give up their own possessions to help meet each other's needs. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 describes the Church as a body with it's many parts, the parts are ourselves and the gifts God has given us. When we share those gifts together the Church functions as one body. We see that play out in this passage. Each believer brought their different gifts, abilities, and resources, to be used by the group. Instead of focusing on themselves, they looked for ways to serve and support the people around them.Next, the believers regularly spent time together, shared meals, worshiped God, and genuinely enjoyed being with one another. Their lives were marked by joy, generosity, and gratitude for what God was doing.Lastly, in verse 47, we see that their love extended beyond the Church itself. "Having favor with all the people", meaning they treated others well and earned the respect of those around them, even people who were not believers. Their faith was visible in the way they lived, and as a result, God continued to add more people to the Church every day.All of these things are what we should mimic as members of the Church today.

After Peter's sermon, many in the crowd were convicted by what they heard. They realized that Jesus truly was the Messiah and understood the seriousness of rejecting Him. Because of this, they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do?”Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He continued warning and encouraging the people, calling them to turn to God instead of following the sinful culture around them.Peter's sermon and the crowds response is laying the groundwork for what we will read about tomorrow, the start of the church.

On the Day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit comes and the crowd is confused, Peter stands and gives a sermon boldly declaring that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for. Peter explains that this is the fulfillment of prophecy from Joel. He points to Jesus’ miracles, death, and especially His resurrection as proof that He is the Christ.Peter uses Psalms written by David to show that the Messiah would rise from the dead and reign at God’s right hand. He argues that David wasn’t talking about himself because David died and stayed in the grave, but states that He and the others around him are witnesses that Jesus rose again. He concludes with the convicting statement that "God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).