WORD: OC's 60-Day New Testament PlanSample

How to Live in Real Community The beginnings of Acts are beautiful chapters filled with truths about what following Christ and clinging to community should truly look like. You see, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. With this, the only thing that they could do was proclaim the name of Jesus. They were compelled. The apostles continued to be fervent, and their intentional words given by God led countless others to believe as well. Miracles were performed, bread was broken, community was had, Jesus was proclaimed, and persecution occurred. This is how Christians lived day by day and how we as a church should strive to be. What really gets to me is the idea of fellowship that the author so deliberately focuses on. In our culture, I believe that we are entirely too independent. Independent from Christ. Independent from each other. I never seem to find myself completely relying on the Word. Reliance is a continual action of giving up control, continual humility for God’s sake. According to Acts, followers of Jesus (those who repented and accepted the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice saved them) were completely active in adhering to Jesus’ commands in the Great Commission (Mathew 28:18-20). These people, growing in number by the thousands, were pursuing the kingdom of heaven with everything they had. This is how community should be today. As Christians, we should be transparent with our community, sharing in our triumphs and our struggles, sacrificing even our livelihood for each other’s well being. Acts 5 reminds me that trials are so relevant; but no matter, we must persist on. The kingdom of heaven is near so we must cling to what we are called to be and called to do. Let us become radical servants that mimic the openness, humbleness, the intentional hearts, and the acceptance of persecution that the early church sets as an example. Written By Kristin Bural Student, Oklahoma Christian University