We have been taking a close look at Acts 2:42, sometimes called a snapshot of the early church.

    And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

In previous posts we looked at what it means to be devoted and what made up the apostles’ teaching  and what the writer meant by the fellowship.  Last week we looked at the first component of the fellowship, the breaking of bread.  Today we turn our attention to other activity that defined the fellowship: the prayers.

Like “the fellowship” and “the breaking of bread”, the word “prayers” has the definite article we see in the ESV rendering in the original Greek.  So it was not “prayer” they devoted themselves to, but instead “the prayers.”  What was the content of these prayers?  The text is silent on this point.  But we know from Acts 2:46 that they were meeting both in the temple courts and from house to house, so these prayers that defined their fellowship were not private devotions.  These were public prayers, or prayer meetings.

There is a saying popularized by the Chinese house-church movement, “Little prayer, little power.”  The early church was characterized by prayer.  The word “pray” or “prayer” appears 31 times in the 28 chapters of Acts.  Seeking the Lord in prayer was a defining characteristic of the fellowship of these first-century believers.

In our discipleship we need to teach our man or woman to pray.  We need to pray with them as well as for them.  We need to gather like minded people with no other purpose than to be before the Lord in prayer.  As you consider Acts 2:42, ask yourself where you can increase the quantity and quality of prayer, not just in your life, but in the life of the people God has given you to disciple.

by Michael Smith

Community Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas

follow him on twitter @mismith330

            Last time we focused on the “Word” spoke which deals with God speaking to us.  Continuing with the idea that the vertical component deals with our relationship with Christ, we will look at the spoke that represents “prayer,” which is our speaking with God

            Prayer should be the natural overflow of meaningful time in the Scriptures. The act of prayer rounds out the fellowship and companionship element in your relationship with Him. Respond back to God in prayer after He speaks to you through His Word. In this manner, you share your heart with the One who longs for your companionship.  Prayer is how the power of God is unleashed.   Personal battles for yourself and for others are won in prayer and the cause of Christ is thus furthered.

            Take some time and read these two verses together.  Discuss what can be learned about both prayer and God’s nature itself:

-        “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

-        “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 4:6–7, ESV)

To help your time together, here are some questions to assist your discussion time.

1.      Do you have a regular time of prayer now?  If so, what does it look like?

2.      How does regular Bible reading and prayer time correlate with each other?

3.      What does it look like to “abide”?

For more great resources on prayer you might check out any of the following links:

Prayer Hand from the Navigators is a great way to remember some basics about prayer.  A great article that goes along with it is entitled “How to Pray When You’re Not a Prayer Warrior.”

Another great resource is this guide from Student Mobilization that you can work through with your man or woman you are meeting with.

by John Marquette

Community Pastor::Fellowship Bible Church Of Northwest Arkansas

email him at jomarquette@fellowshipnwa.org