We Are Devoted
If you're visiting with us today, welcome—we're glad you're here. We've been in a series called This Is Us where we're asking: Who are we as the Choctaw Church of Christ? What are we really all about?
A couple of weeks ago we began by stepping back to remember why there even is an "us." We saw in Acts 2 that we are a diverse group of people, brought together because we've learned a life-changing truth: our sin put Jesus on the cross, He rose from the dead, and we responded to His call by giving our lives to Him. That makes us more than just a Sunday gathering—we are a kingdom, a movement, a body, and a family.
Now, in this series, we're looking at three or four big-picture ideas that define who we are as a church. Today's focus is this: we are all in on the apostles' teaching.
A Lesson from "All In" Commitment
I grew up near the University of Oklahoma and have always been a huge fan. Their current football coach, Brent Venables, does something unique when recruiting young players. He gives each recruit a poker chip with the words I'm All In engraved on it. He tells them not to commit until they're truly ready—when they do, they're making an all-in decision.
That's a great picture of our Christian life. When we were immersed into Christ, we weren't halfway in—we went all in. We staked everything on Jesus. And because of that, as a church we should also be "all in" on a few specific areas. The very first thing Acts 2:42 mentions about the early church is this: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching."
They were fully committed. They were all in.
What Is the Apostles' Teaching?
At first, the apostles' teaching was literally their spoken words. The new Christians in Jerusalem didn't yet have the New Testament. They depended on the apostles—who, through the Holy Spirit, were recalling and proclaiming the words of Jesus.
But those teachings weren't just the apostles' opinions. Jesus Himself said the Spirit would remind them of everything He had taught (John 14:25-26). That means the apostles' teaching is the teaching of Jesus.
Paul describes it as sound doctrine (I Timothy 1:8-11). The word "sound" means "healthy." Apostolic teaching is healthy, life-giving teaching. By contrast, there is unhealthy teaching—false doctrine—that leads people away from truth. The New Testament warns us again and again about false teaching and false teachers.
So, the apostles' teaching is:
- The words of Jesus
- Sound, healthy doctrine
- God's standard for His people
What This Means for Us
If we say we are devoted to the apostles' teaching, what does that mean for us today? Three things:
1. We Must Emphasize God's Word
Reading, studying, teaching, and preaching Scripture must remain at the heart of who we are. Without God's Word, we don't know His will for our lives or the church. Just like the early Christians were eager to hear teaching, we should value time in Scripture together.
2. We Must Ask Questions
Acts 17 commends the Bereans for searching the Scriptures daily to see if Paul's message was true. We too should ask questions, dig deeply, and test everything by the Word of God. The Bible is perfect—even if our understanding isn't. That's why humility and curiosity are essential.
3. We Must Be Willing to Change
Devotion to Scripture isn't just about how much time we spend reading it—it's about whether we're willing to let it shape and change us. If we discover that our lives or our church don't line up with God's Word, devotion means being willing to repent and realign ourselves with Him.
All In Together
The early church "devoted themselves" to the apostles' teaching, and that devotion set the foundation for everything else they became. The same is true for us. If we're not committed to God's Word, we can't become the church He intends us to be.
So let's be all in:
- All in on Jesus.
- All in on His Word.
- All in on being changed by Him.
If you haven't yet committed your life to Jesus, the invitation is open to go all in—to place everything in His hands and follow Him. And if you need prayers, encouragement, or a reminder of your commitment, we are here as your church family.