Lesson 13 of the Discipleship series examines Acts 2:42-47 and the daily practices of the early church that fueled their growth as disciples of Jesus. Garrett Bookout unpacks what “devotion” really looks like in teaching, fellowship, and breaking of bread—and how we can apply those same habits today.

In Lesson 13 of the Discipleship series, Garrett Bookout continues in Acts chapter 2, focusing on verses 40-47. After 3,000 souls were added to the church on the Day of Pentecost, the new believers didn’t stop growing—they devoted themselves daily to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Garrett walks through what this “day-by-day” devotion looked like in the first-century church: generosity, hospitality, awe at God’s work, worship in the temple and in homes, and the Lord adding to their number daily. He then turns the mirror on us, asking practical questions such as:
• What does real devotion to the apostles’ teaching look like today (humility, memorization, personal and group study, actually living it out)?
• How do we practice devotion to fellowship beyond just showing up on Sunday (involvement in one another’s lives, rejoicing and weeping together, patience, gentleness, and keeping the church on our minds)?
• What does devotion to the breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper) require—making it a purposeful habit and priority rather than a thoughtless routine or optional second service?

Filled with Scripture, personal illustrations, and class discussion, this lesson challenges every believer to move beyond conversion into a daily, devoted walk with Christ and His Church.

1. **Opening Prayer**
- Gratitude for God’s grace, for being together, and for the desire to grow as disciples.

2. **Scripture Reading – Acts 2:40-47**
- Peter’s continued exhortation: “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
- 3,000 baptized and added that day.
- The early church’s daily life described.

3. **Context & Purpose of the Lesson**
- Baptism is the beginning of the Christian life, not the end.
- Question: How did the first Christians draw strength and continue growing as disciples day by day?

4. **What the Early Church Devoted Themselves To**
- Apostles’ teaching
- Fellowship
- Breaking of bread
- Prayers
- Additional practices: awe/wonder, generosity, self-sacrifice, daily temple attendance, hospitality, glad and generous hearts, praise, favor with all people, daily growth.

5. **Deep Dive: The Meaning of “Devoted” (proskartereo)**
- Definition: to persist in, attend to constantly, be steadfast.
- Same Greek word translated “attending” (v. 46) and “continue steadfastly” (Colossians 4:2; Romans 12:12).
- Emphasis on day-by-day consistency, not one-time effort.

6. **Devotion to the Apostles’ Teaching**
- Humility (submitting our own ideas and traditions to Scripture).
- Memorization and internalizing the Word so it travels with us.
- Personal study + group study.
- Listening to others (we all bring “baggage” and blind spots).
- Actually living out what we learn.

7. **Devotion to the Fellowship**
- Regular assembly (Hebrews 10:25 – to stir one another to love and good works).
- Being involved in each other’s lives (rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep).
- Close mutual association built on Christ, not hobbies or preferences.
- Practical attitudes: humility, patience, gentleness.
- Keeping the church on our minds throughout the week.
- Praying for every member.
- Willingness to listen generously.

8. **Devotion to the Breaking of Bread**
- Includes both the Lord’s Supper and common meals together.
- Make it a habit—but not a vain or thoughtless repetition.
- Make it a priority, not a box to check.
- Practical challenge: the early church example shows the Lord’s Supper taken once together on Sunday; making it a non-negotiable gathering strengthens its meaning as communion with Christ and one another.

9. **Preview of Next Week**
- Devotion to prayer (to be covered in Lesson 14).

10. **Closing Prayer**
- Commitment to be true disciples who strengthen themselves and one another.