Gathering to Grow in Christ 在基督里相聚成长

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Dexu Xia

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Sep 1, 2026, 1:57:19 PMSep 1

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[The believers] devoted themselves to  the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,  to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Today's Scripture Acts 2:1-6, 36-39

Today's Insights The Feasts of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22), known as the day of Pentecost in the New Testament (Acts 2:1), is one of the seven feasts or festivals God commanded His people to commemorate (see Leviticus 23). The Feast of Weeks, a spring harvest festival, is also one of the three major feasts where the worshipers were required to come to the temple in Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices (Deuteronomy 16:1-16). In the New Testament, the day of Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after Passover, the day Jesus died (John 18:28). It’s remembered as the birthday of the church, the day God gave the Holy Spirit to indwell believers in Christ and bonded His children into His family (Romans 8:15-16). Imitating the practices of the early church today, God’s people continue to grow as a community, fellowship together, joyfully worship Him, earnestly study the Bible, lovingly care for one another, and boldly proclaim Jesus as Savior to the unbelieving world (Acts 2:42-48).

Today's Devotion In Monterey Bay, California, a boat captain saw fifteen Pacific white-sided dolphins join a super pod of more than two thousand dolphins. Various types and ages of dolphins gather in pods to fend off predators, feed, and socialize. Still, the size and diversity of this super pod was a rare sight to behold.

The Bible records a rare gathering of diverse people that’s foundational in our faith history. As the disciples celebrated Pentecost in Jerusalem, “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). They were “filled with the Holy Spirit,” who enabled them to speak in different languages (v. 4). People God created “from every nation under heaven” had also gathered for Pentecost (v. 5). When they investigated the loud noise, each person “heard their own language being spoken” by the disciples (v. 6). Then Peter proclaimed Jesus as “both Lord and Messiah” (v. 36). About three thousand believed and were baptized (v. 41). As God’s people lived in community like never before, He “added to their number daily those who were being saved” (v. 47).

By the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s people around the world still gather to grow in community and proclaim Jesus as Lord. Through us, He will continue expanding His kingdom.

Reflect & Pray How are you gathering to grow with God’s diverse people? How has He used people who are different from you to grow your faith and His church? Dear God, please grow Your church as I gather to grow with others. By Xochitl Dixon

[信徒们]都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接，擘饼，祈祷。（使徒行传 2:42）

今日经文：使徒行传 2:1-6, 36-39

今日洞见：七七节（利未记 23:15-22）就是新约中的五旬节（使徒行传 2:1），是神吩咐祂的子民要守的七个节期之一（参利未记 23章）。七七节是一个春季的收获节，也是敬拜者必须前往耶路撒冷圣殿献祭的三大节期之一（申命记 16:1-16）。在新约时代，五旬节是在逾越节（即耶稣受死的日子）之后五十天庆祝的（约翰福音 18:28）。这一天被视为教会的诞辰，是神赐下圣灵内住在基督信徒心中，并将祂的儿女联结成为一家人的日子（罗马书 8:15-16）。如今，上帝的子民效法早期教会的榜样，作为一个群体不断成长：彼此团契、欢喜敬拜神、勤勉研读圣经、彼此关怀，并向未信的世界勇敢宣告耶稣是救主（使徒行传 2:42-48）。

今日灵修：在加利福尼亚州的蒙特雷湾，一位船长目睹了十五只太平洋斑纹海豚加入了一个由两千多只海豚组成的“超级海豚群”。不同种类和年龄的海豚常聚集成群，以便抵御捕食者、觅食和进行社交活动。然而，像这样规模宏大且种类多样的超级海豚群，实属罕见。

圣经记载了一次不同背景的人群聚集的盛况，这对我们的信仰历史至关重要。当门徒们在耶路撒冷庆祝五旬节时，“忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子”（使徒行传 2:2）。他们“被圣灵充满”，圣灵使他们能说出各种不同的语言（4节）。神所造的“天下各国”的人也聚集在五旬节（5节）。当他们循声而来时，每个人都“听见门徒说自己的乡谈”（6节）。随后，彼得宣告耶稣“既是主，又是基督”（36节）。约有三千人信主并受了洗（41节）。当神的子民过着前所未有的群体生活时，神“将得救的人天天加给他们”（47节）。借着圣灵的大能，世界各地的神子民至今仍聚集在一起，在群体中共同成长，并宣告耶稣为主。祂将借着我们继续扩展祂的国度。

反思与祷告：你是如何与上帝来自各民各族的子民聚集并共同成长的？祂曾如何使用那些与你背景不同的人来坚固你的信心并建造祂的教会？亲爱的神，当我与众人聚集并共同成长时，求祢使祢的教会不断增长。