Living in Unity and Devotion: Biblical Reflections on Community and Worship
The passages from Acts, Revelation, Genesis, and Jeremiah highlight the importance of unity, devotion, and community in the context of faith. They emphasize sharing resources, coming together for worship, and being in a close relationship with God. Through these teachings, believers are encouraged to follow God's commandments and live in harmony with one another as a united community dedicated to prayer and fellowship.
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Oneness Acts 2:42-47
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Acts 2:41 43 HCSB
Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Acts 2:44 45 HCSB
Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. Acts 2:46 47 HCSB
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; Revelation 21:3 NRSV
Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26 27 NRSV
My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Ezekiel 37:27 NRSV
But this command I gave them, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you. Jeremiah 7:23 NRSV
Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 HCSB
What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 2 Corinthians 6:15 16 HCSB
Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17 18 HCSB
The heart of God is that we be one with him, with ourselves, with each other in the world.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 1 Corinthians 13:7 8 HCSB
What facilitates oneness better than that which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things?
The Story of the Bible is about The King, His Kingdom and the redemption of humankind (Eikons) back into the image and oneness of God.
Question: What are you able to bear when you are one with God? One with brothers and sisters in Christ? One with family and friends?
Are you and I plugged into being one with God? With ourselves? With each other? Are we loving well?
Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4 5 HCSB
This is the most important, Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these. Mark 12:29 31 HCSB
Real community will not exist without aligning our priorities with Christ s love the Father - His work, word, and will.
I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34 35 HCSB
They shared, sold, and had everything in common in order to be one .
The church is to share, sell, and have everything in common in order to be one .
Are we Jesus friend? Does He consider us His friend? Do we want to be Jesus friend?
Only when we are aligned with Jesus interests, His work, word, and will, does Jesus call us friend.
The Three Bs of Love are to believe, belong, and bless.
The loving oneness of God finds earthly expression in the loving oneness of Adam and Eve. When Eikons are at one with God, self, others, and the world, the glory of the One God illuminates all life. -Scot McKnight, The Blue Parakeet, pg.77
