The Best Neighborhood Ever – April 27, 2026
Read: Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Acts 2:42-47 (selected verses)
The Best Neighborhood Ever
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have you ever wished you lived in the perfect neighborhood? One where everyone is kind . . . everyone shares . . . and nobody argues? For as long as history has been recorded, people have lived in groups. God made us to be with other people—not all by ourselves! It is nice to have neighbors. When you have neighbors, you have people to talk to, spend time with, and get to know. You have someone to watch out for, and you hope they’ll watch out for you too.
But . . . does that always happen?
Sometimes neighbors don’t like each other. Our sinful nature gets the best of us and instead of being kind and helpful, we can make other people feel left out and disliked. Sometimes people don’t share. Sometimes they argue. Sometimes they say unkind things. As great as a neighborhood sounds, it isn’t always perfect because of the sinful people within.
In our reading for today, we hear about a group of believers who live and work together—and it sounds wonderful! It says they “were together and had everything in common.” That means they shared meals in their home and worshiped together. They enjoyed time together. Wow! Wouldn’t that be a fun group to be a part of? What do they know that we don’t? How did they figure it out?
Turns out, we can have what they had. We have all we need in the words of our Good Shepherd. When we listen to the words of Jesus Christ in God’s Word, we hear his teachings. Our Good Shepherd teaches us how to live in harmony, and he gives us something in common with all believers of all time.
That “something in common” is Jesus! When we live and work and pray with other people who put God first, we can spread his Word to even more people. One day in heaven, we will live in a perfect community—one with no sadness or sin, where we will all glorify God without end. No fighting. No hurt feelings. No sin. Just joy . . . forever. Together!
Prayer:
Oh, Good Shepherd, today we read about believers who were committed to serving you with each other. Help us to serve you and give us a community of believers to support and work with us. We look forward to the day when we will be with all believers in the perfect community of heaven. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Do you know any of your neighbors? Name as many as you can.
- What is one way for you to be a good neighbor?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Can you think of a time when people from your church helped someone? What did they do?
- Do you have any friends or neighbors that also believe in God? Who are they and what do you like doing together?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Even if no one near you goes to your church, how can you still help others for Jesus?
- The believers in this reading probably did not agree on everything. What does it mean that they “were together and had everything in common”? What did they share together? Believe together?
