Matthew 22:37-40 says "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
This verse boils down to "Love God" and "Love People". I believe we are to "Love Life" while we are doing these two important commandments. Now anyone that goes to the same church I do, Journey Life Church, knows these three things are our core principles.
How do we do that? How do we love God, people and do so together?
The early Church faced the same question.
Acts 2:42-47 says "And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
There are only four basic things they devoted themselves to teaching (Bible study), fellowship (small groups), breaking bread (communion), and prayer. Everything else flowed from these.
By being devoted to these four simple practices, the early Church grew strong in Godly character, and the ministry bore fruit. If we expect the same kind of fruit then we must be devoted to practicing these same disciplines.
If we are truly practicing the disciplines then we are teaching both by example and by instruction. Those who come to Christ through us will learn to practice the same disciplines and the legacy continues.
Time is precious. We must be about the essentials and we must stay focused.
Keep it Biblical. Keep it simple. Keep it genuine.
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