YOU BELONG IN COMMUNITY

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 2: 36-48 NIV 36 

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save ourselves from this corrupt generation.”  41  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  43  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:36 NIV

36 “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Acts 2:36 ESV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NLT

17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

ACTS 2:42 NIV

42  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  43  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44  All the believers were together and had everything in common.

I. THE SOURCE OF OUR HOPE IS THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

19  Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,  20  for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Acts 2:37

“They were cut to the heart…”

II. YOU BELONG THROUGH REPENTANCE AND PROMISE

Acts 2:38

“Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:39

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.”

1 John 4:15 NIV

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Psalm 145:13 NIV

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

III. YOU BELONG TO A DEVOTED COMMUNITY

Acts 2:42

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Hebrews 10:22-25 ESV

22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Proverbs 27:17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

ACTS 2:44-47

All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

John 13:35

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of

it.”

Romans 12:4-5 New Life Version  

Our bodies are made up of many parts. None of these parts have the same use.  5  There are many people who belong to Christ. And yet, we are one body which is Christ’s. We are all different, but we depend on each other.