GOD’S BEST FOR MY LIFE
Life Application Bible Study
1 - “Connecting with the family of God”
Acts 2: 41 – 47
“Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them
behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and
care for them—all those you have given me—so that
they will be united just as we are.” (John 17:11, NLT)
Real connection happens on 3 levels:
The level of SHARED GOALS
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42, NIV)
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off
restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.”
(Proverbs 29:18, NIV)
What takes us to this level of connection? A
VISION OF WHAT GOD CAN ACHIEVE
AMONG US
“Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell
will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18, NLT)
The level of SHARED SACRIFICE
“All the believers were together and had everything in
common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave
to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2: 44, NIV)
 God’s best for my life… that can mean so many
different things to different people. But he fact is,
God’s best and our best don’t always coincide.
Take this first aspect – that God’s best for your
life involves making sure that you connect with
the family of God. For many people, this is
something they would either prefer to avoid, or
would see as nice enough but not essential. Why
do you think it is that connecting with the family
of God is so essential, and leads to me
discovering God’s best for my life?
 It’s all very well when God’s family is all on the
same page… when they all want the same things
and are motivated in the same way. Acts 2:42
paints a rosy picture of this… who would not
mind being a part of this kind of community? But
all-too-often, God’s people just aren’t on the
same page. They have differing goals, they hurt
one another, and so on. What would you say is
the starting point for creating true community
when this is the case? What light does Proverbs
29:18 opposite, shed on this?
 What do you think motivated the believers to
such sacrificial levels of community as described
in Acts 2:44? Why is that motivation so often
missing in today’s church?
“In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each
other in being helpful and kind to each other and in
doing good.” (Hebrews 10:24, The Living Bible)
What takes us to this level of connection? A
REVELATION OF WHAT GOD HAS
SACRIFICED FOR US
“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been
forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a
person who is forgiven little shows only little love."
(Luke 7:47, NLT)
The level of SHARED VULNERABILITY
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the
favour of all the people” (Acts 2:46 – 47, NIV)
“Some friendships do not last, but some friends are
more loyal than brothers.” (Proverbs 18:24, Good News
Bible)
“After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan
became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as
himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1, NIV)
What takes us to this level of connection? A
DEEPENING LEVEL OF TRUST IN GOD AND A
COMMITMENT TO TRUST EACH OTHER.
“Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment. A second
is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.'” (Matthew 22: 37 – 39, NLT)
 Hebrews 10:24 talks of our response to how
much the Lord has done for us being to serve
each other generously. But why? Surely the logic
of the argument should be that, as the Lord has
been so generous to us, we should generously
serve Him back… not each other? (Note: it is
this line of reasoning that leads Jehovah
Witnesses to not give each other presents at
Christmas).
 What would stop someone from being vulnerable
with other people in the church? How can the
church tackle this reticence to being vulnerable?
Is vulnerability a good thing, or should we just
be concentrating with getting on with serving the
Lord in our everyday lives?
 Proverbs 18:24 highlights two different sorts of
friendships… broadly speaking, those that don’t
last and those that do. What would you say are
the main distinctives between the two? What
ingredients does a friendship that lasts need to
have? How many of your friendships can you
honestly say have those ingredients?
 One positive way of building a caring
community is to commit yourself to praying for
it. So, what would you like to pray for, for your
community (small group, cluster, church) today?