Living Out Biblical Community

One of the most beautiful things about the early church is how they lived in deep, authentic community. In Acts 2:46-47, we read, “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.”

These verses show us something powerful about what God can do when His people are committed to Him and to one another.

A Persistent Devotion
Earlier in the chapter, we see that the early church was steadfastly committed to four key things: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

By the time we get to verses 46 and 47, we see this practically lived out. They were showing up daily for temple prayers, as seen in Acts 3:1, where Peter and John come with others to pray. After gathering at the temple, they would move into one another’s homes. There, they would share meals, deepen relationships, and grow together.

This was not a passive routine. It was a rhythm of persistent, even obstinate, commitment to God and to one another.

Making Room for Someone New
Here’s what makes this even more beautiful: they didn’t just stay focused on their own group. They made room for others.

“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when a church intentionally opens itself to people who haven’t yet joined. This is what separates biblical community from what can easily become a closed-off “holy huddle.” If we’re not making room for someone new, we’re no different from a country club.

This is the heart of why we open new campuses and expand our reach. On January 30, 2005, we opened this campus to make room for you. In January 2021, we launched our Missouri City campus with the same vision. Our community is built on being committed to Jesus, to one another, and to someone we haven’t met yet.

What Happens When We Gather
There’s something sacred that happens when we gather, pray, eat, and live life together. God begins to do something in us that gives us a heart for those beyond us.

As we commit to one another, we begin to carry a burden for people who haven’t yet encountered the gospel of grace. If someone hasn’t yet bowed the knee to Jesus, our community carries a longing for that day to come. We become passionate about reaching them—not out of obligation, but because we’ve seen how God transforms lives, homes, and families.

A Church That Changed the World
This vision isn’t new. In 1727, the Moravian Church experienced something remarkable. United in prayer, fellowship, and the teaching of Scripture, they started a prayer meeting with the same four foundational elements we see in Acts 2.

That prayer meeting didn’t stop. It continued without interruption for 100 years.

During that time, the Moravians launched the first Protestant missionary movement—20 years before William Carey, the man often called the father of modern missions. Their level of commitment was extraordinary: one missionary for every 58 members. The gospel reached Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, Greenland, North and South America, Africa, India, Tibet, Sri Lanka, the Arctic, and beyond.

By the early 1900s, they had sent out more than 3,000 missionaries. Today, they are active in over 30 nations with more than 1.2 million members. That kind of legacy started with simple devotion—gathering together, praying, and making room for others.

The Lift of Community
This kind of biblical community doesn’t just impact the world. It lifts you personally.
●You’ll receive strength and support in hard times

●You’ll experience grace and learn to extend it

●You’ll find a depth and intimacy that is rarely found elsewhere

As you stay committed, your heart begins to reflect God’s heart. You start to say, “Here I am. Send me.” And not just on your own, but as a community. You begin to move together with purpose and impact.

What Should I Do?
That’s a good question.

If you’re already in a community group:
●Don’t just attend. Invest.

●Don’t just listen. Speak up.

●When needs arise, step in.

If you’re not yet in a group, take the step.

Get into a room where you can be known, share meals, pray together, and grow in your walk with Jesus—while making room for someone new.

This is what it means to live out biblical community. Let’s be a people deeply committed to Jesus, to one another, and to the one who hasn’t yet joined us. That’s when the church truly comes alive.





This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson at our CityRise Bellaire campus on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. Check out the full message below!