The Evolution of an Extended Spiritual Family
Prayer Precedes Movements.
Tuesdays are important corporate days of Prayer and Fasting for the Kansas City Underground. On these days, we unite our voices around a central theme. Today, we return to a central theme around our identity as missionaries.
Strategic Focus: Microchurch: Extended Spiritual Families
The Evolution of an Extended Spiritual Family
Read: Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:23-37
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:23-37
Luke illustrates for us what an extended spiritual family should look like.
The Apostles taught them every day.
The new believers learned together.
They ate together.
They prayed together.
They had everything in common.
They sold their possessions gave to the needy.
They shared meals with others gladly and with sincerity.
Pray:
Take a few moments and pray that God would build this tremendous unity in the extended spiritual family’s in the KC Underground.
Pause:
Take three or four minutes to be silent. No music, no phone scrolling, etc. Eliminate what distractions you are able to eliminate. Just be with Jesus. Notice His presence.
Imagine:
Take another few minutes and imagine that you are a part of that early church community.
Walk through a day with these early church members
Put yourself in their midst. Note what you feel, think, see, hear.
What are your observations?
Using the thoughts and impressions from these exercises:
Write down a few key thoughts that stood out to you.
Pray through them one by one.
Take note of one thing that took root in your soul.
Ask God to give you the grace to explore and understand this idea more.
To ponder this week:
Is the type of extended spiritual family we see in the book of Acts is something you desire?
While growing in relationships with extended spiritual family, what are some things that might be difficult to give up?
What might the rewards be for fully embracing the lifestyles of the men and women we read about in the books of Acts?
What is one step you can take to move the friendships you share to more intentional family rhythms.
Pray by name for the people in your microchurch, the people you hope Jesus brings into your extended spiritual family, or the people among whom you believe Jesus has sent you to see a microchurch emerge.