GaryCombs.org

A Shared Focus

September 15, 2024 | Acts 2:42-47 | prayer, small groups

When you visit another country or even another part of our country, you’ll notice several unique features to their community, to their culture. What they believe, whether they are relational, friendly or not, what kind of food they eat and of course what language or dialect they speak. A shared language is one of the key marks of any community.

The same was true of the first century church. They had their own way of greeting one another. They had a shared language–– it was the language of prayer. It was a shared focus, one that focused on spending time together talking to God in prayer.

We can experience this authentic community when we pursue the four devotions of the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Today, we’re going to focus on the 4th devotion, “A Shared Focus.”

A Shared Faith

August 25, 2024 | Acts 2:42-47 | small groups

While communities based around politics, sports, BBQ and regional accents may help us find people to associate with as friends, they fall far short of the real community that God has in mind for us. How do we move from these “pseudo-communities” to real community?

In the book of Acts, Luke described the “true community” of the first century church. He noted that they were marked by four “devotions.” These devotions were: a shared faith, a shared family, a shared food, and a shared focus.
We can experience this authentic community when we pursue these four devotions. In this first message in the series, we’re going to focus on the first devotion, “A Shared Faith.”

4 Devotions of Life Changing Small Groups

June 29, 2023 | Bible study, discipleship, fellowship, prayer, small groups

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42 ESV). We’re not a church with small groups. We’re a church of small groups. Our church started in my living room with seven people. So, we’ve considered small groups to be one of the keys to fulfilling our

Be Connected

September 25, 2022 | Acts 2:42-47 | small groups

God wants you in His family photo, taped to His fridge, hanging over His mantle, tucked away in His wallet. God wants you to be connected to His family! But our sin has separated us from Him and causes us to isolate ourselves from Him and from one another.

God doesn’t want us to be alone. We were made to love God and one another. We were made to be connected to God and His family! In the book of Acts, Luke recorded how the first century church was devoted to being connected as God’s family. We can be devoted to being connected as God’s family.

Mealtime is better together!

August 5, 2021 | family, family meals, fellowship, meals, small groups, together

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:30 (ESV). “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” –

4 Devotions of Life Changing Small Groups

August 24, 2018 | Bible study, community, community groups, fellowship, small groups

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42 ESV). We’re not a church with small groups. We’re a church of small groups. Our church started in my living room with seven people. So, we’ve considered small groups to be one of the keys to fulfilling our

The 4 Commitments of Life Changing Small Groups

August 25, 2016 | church growth, community groups, faith, fellowship, Gary Combs, koinonia, small groups

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42 ESV). We’re not a church with small groups. We’re a church of small groups. Our church started in my living room with seven people. So, we’ve considered small groups to be one of the keys to fulfilling our