God’s Care Plan

We live in a world full of needs. Physical needs. Emotional needs. Spiritual needs. And if we’re honest, none of us can make it through life alone. That’s why God, in His wisdom, created us to care for each other.

• We need parents to care for us.

• We need counselors to guide us.

• We need pastors to motivate us.

• We need spouses to love us.

• We need friends to encourage us.

• We need doctors to heal us.

• We need teachers to inspire us.

• And ultimately—we need Jesus for all of us.

God never intended for us to live in isolation. From the very beginning, His design has been for His people to thrive in community.

God’s Care Plan in the Early Church

Acts 2:42–47 (NLT) gives us a glimpse into the very first church:

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer… They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need… And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

Notice how God’s care plan was built into their daily rhythms:

• They learned together.

• They prayed together.

• They ate together.

• They worshiped together.

• They gave generously to one another.

Here’s what’s wild: there were no government agencies or nonprofits to support them. Their survival depended on one thing—caring for each other.

And it worked. Their community was so attractive, so genuine, and so contagious that it exploded in growth:

• From 120 in the upper room…

• To 3,000 in Acts 2…

• To 8,000+ in Acts 5…

Why? Because they were living the way God always intended—through His care plan.

God’s Care Model

Here’s the truth: relational fulfillment doesn’t come from what we get—it comes from what we give. That’s why Jesus said in Acts 20:35 (ESV):

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The early church didn’t just gather—they lived on mission. They understood the power of life beyond themselves.

But let’s be honest, in our world today, we’ve drifted toward a hierarchical care model. We think: The government will take care of it. Someone else will handle it. That’s not my responsibility.

Sadly, that mindset even seeps into the church. Too often, people expect the pastor, staff, or leaders to carry the weight of everyone’s needs. That’s not only unhealthy—it’s unbiblical. It burns out leaders and robs the church of maturity.

God’s design was never hierarchical care—it was mutual care.

Acts 4:32 (MSG) says:

“The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, ‘That’s mine; you can’t have it.’ They shared everything.”

They shared their time.
They shared their talents.
They shared their treasures.
They shared their spiritual gifts.
They shared their encouragement.
They shared their lives.

And that mutual care model built one of the strongest, most talked-about communities in history. In fact, we’re still talking about it today.

God’s Care Charge

So what does that look like for us at Impact?

Paul gives us some clear instructions:

• Be committed to each other. (Philippians 2:1–2) Commitment is the soil where care grows.

• Love each other. (Romans 12:9–13) Love isn’t a feeling; it’s an action. It looks like honoring, serving, and practicing hospitality.

• Encourage each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Words have power. Speak life into someone today.

• Help each other. (2 Corinthians 8:2–4) See a need, meet a need. Generosity is our privilege.

• Serve each other. (Matthew 20:26–28) Jesus redefined greatness—true leaders are servants. Serving is our honor.

This is how we live out our mutual care model at Impact:

• Give someone a ride to church.

• Drop off a meal to a family in need.

• Use your time, talent, and treasure to serve on a team.

• Live like Jesus. Love like Jesus.

Why It Matters

The world is hungry for authentic community. People aren’t looking for programs—they’re looking for family. And when we live out God’s care plan, we become the kind of church that makes the world lean in and say, “I want to be a part of that.”

That’s the kind of church we’re building here at Impact.
That’s the kind of community God still desires today.

So here’s the challenge: don’t just attend community—be community.

Because God’s care plan isn’t complete until every one of us is living it out.