The Model We Have For Church From Acts

Acts chapter 2, verses 42 through verse 47. Starting

Acts 2:42

in verse 42. They were continually devoting themselves

to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone

kept feeling a sense of awe. And many wonders

and signs were taking place through the apostles,

and all those who had believed were together

and had all things in common. And they began

selling their property and possessions and were

sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

Day by day, continuing with one mind in the temple

and breaking bread from house to house, they

were taking their meals together with gladness

and sincerity of heart, praising God and having

favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding

to their number day by day those who were being

saved. Let's pray. Father, I come before you.

Lord, I ask and I pray that you would bless this

time where your word is taught, where we devote

ourselves to the hearing of your word. Lord,

I ask and I pray today that our hearts would

be responsive to the message of your word, your

truth. Father, I ask and I pray that you would

move us in our hearts and our minds. to act certain

ways that are God -glorifying, to behave in certain

ways that bring honor and glory to You individually

and as a church, as a whole, Father. Lord, I

ask and I pray that You would bless this body,

that You would bless those gathered together

here today. Put Your hand upon their lives. Grow

them. and piety and devotion in their faith.

Strengthen them if they are struggling and have

difficulties, which I'm sure many do as I do.

Help us, Father. Fill us with your Spirit. Open

our eyes. In Jesus' name, amen. You may be seated.

So as we come to this text in Acts 2, verse 42,

Acts 2:42

we really... We can't forget what took place

prior to Acts 2 .42. Leading up to this point

is very important. It's very, very important

for our understanding of verse 42. In verse 42,

we have a beautiful picture of what a New Testament,

New Covenant church looks like. We have a beautiful

picture painted of what the bride of Jesus Christ

ought to look like. What must characterize it?

Some foundational aspects or characteristics

or distinctives which the church must have that

form a foundation that it goes forward with.

So we see that here in Acts chapter 2. It's interesting.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

If we look at the formation of this church in

Acts chapter 2, we saw last week that they were

Acts 2 · chapter mention

added to the church. And this church, which God

is forming in Acts chapter 2, this church is

Acts 2 · chapter mention

the church that started it all. This is where

church history finds its starting point. This

is the first foundational model church which

every other genuine and true church has come

from. So today we are here, we are an ancestor

of this church which we are studying in the book

of Acts. So this is the first church that started

it all. This is the church, this church in Acts

Acts 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2, this is a church that God would use

through the apostles. and His disciples to turn

the world upside down. We see that throughout

the rest of the book of Acts. The Lord uses this

church, the formation of these people, He uses

it to do wonders in the world, not just in the

book of Acts, but throughout church history.

This is what the Reformation came back to with

regards to the church. The Roman Catholic Church

encrusted the gospel with all these different

things, and the Reformation said, get rid of

the crustiness. Get rid of the outside stuff.

Give us the pure, true church of Jesus Christ.

And they brought it back to New Testament church.

They brought it back to what we see here in this

text. So today we find these characteristics,

these marks, these distinctives, these different

aspects or traits of the New Testament church.

So today as we go through this text, I'm going

to approach it in three ways. First, I'm going

to look at the purity of the early church. Then

we'll look at the devotion of the early church.

And then we will see the activities of the early

church. And that's how we'll proceed. So starting

out first, we'll look at the purity of this church

that we're studying in the book of Acts. So if

we think back, where did this church find its

source? How did it come into being? How did the

formation begin? Well, it started, they heard

the gospel preached. Paul, I mean Peter, proclaimed

the gospel powerfully. And then what took place?

They were pierced. In their hearts, they were

convicted deep down within them. And they were

converted. They expressed faith and repentance.

Then we saw that they cried out and they said,

Brothers, what must we do? And Peter said, Repent.

And then he said, Be baptized. Then we see the

reception of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God

indwells them and fills them and empowers them

and strengthens them. And finally, we see that

they are added to the church. They are brought

into the fold of God's people. So this church

is compiled. It's made up of. Its substance is

converted, born again, baptized believers. And

that's it. That's what forms this church. That's

what forms... This church, which we're studying

in the book of Acts, converted people. Born again

individuals. We see people who are Christians.

What did we study last week? What does it mean

to be a Christian? And so Christians are what

make up. Christians are the church. And so we

see that in this text. There is a purity in the

early church because there was only... Christians

in it. We see that the new converts, those that

came to Christ, they were brought into this church,

into something. And then they formed it by being

a part of it. And so there's a purity in the

early church. Now why do I say purity? Well,

because it's important that we think about in

regards to a church, in regards to what a church

is, what it means for a church to be a church.

A church is a church because it's made up of

Christians. So when we talk about that, I mean

this, that unregenerate, unbelieving, unconverted

people do not compile. the church of Jesus Christ.

Last week we saw that it means to be a Christian

you have to have the Spirit of God. Unconverted

people, unregenerate people do not have the Spirit

of God. The church is the dwelling place of God's

people. So this church that we see in the book

of Acts, it was pure. It was purer than any church

in existence today, I believe. It was pure because

it was made up and compiled. of born -again,

converted, regenerate, Spirit -filled, believing

Christians. The they in Acts chapter 42 is speaking

of those who were Christians in verses 36 through

verse 41. So this was not a church that was full

of nominal, unbelieving, unregenerate, superficial,

religious people. This was not this church. This

church that we are looking at, that we are studying,

it is made up of people who have been given a

new heart, who have experienced God's grace and

God's mercy, and God has done a supernatural

work, a supernatural act in their life. That's

what the church is not. A church full of nominal,

superficial, religious people, but it is a church,

it is a group of people made up of people who

have experienced God's grace in their life supernaturally.

That's why this church was a strong church. In

Acts chapter 2, that's why this church was a

Acts 2 · chapter mention

vital and a healthy and a strong and a vibrant

church. Because it was pure and it was made up

of people filled with the Spirit of God who were

being sanctified and being conformed to the likeness

and the image of Christ Jesus. All of them, every

single last one of them had experienced God's

grace. Every single one of them knew and had

tasted the mercy of God. Every single one of

them had had their sins forgiven. Every single

one of them, Jesus died and atoned for their

life. to cover their sins. Every single one of

them, Jesus rose on their behalf. Every person

in this church was covered in the blood of Christ.

There was not one single person that was outside

of Christ in Adam that was not covered by the

blood of Christ that was a part of this church.

So there was a purity. This is why it's so important

to understand conversion with regards to church

membership, with regards to the makeup of the

local church. That it is converted individuals

that make it up and that become church members.

We must understand that. Every single member.

was covered in the blood of Christ. Every single

member was being sanctified and grown in grace

and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now,

this pure church was also a church which was

a devoted church. It was devoted. It was all

in. They were characterized and they were defined

by devotion, by persistence. By continually giving

themselves over to certain things, certain activities.

And the more I've thought about this, this is

what the church today needs. The church needs

devotion, commitment. Now why do I say that?

Because we live in a non -committal world and

culture. a world and a whole generation of folks

who don't know anything about dedication or commitment.

We need a devoted church. So what does it mean

to be devoted? To be devoted is used, this word

is used in several different ways in the New

Testament. It means to stick by someone, to be

close at hand. or to attach oneself to something.

So basically, if you attach yourself to somebody,

it means they can't shake you. They can't get

rid of you. You are sticking close no matter

what, regardless of what comes, regardless of

what happens, regardless of what takes place,

regardless of what you face, regardless of what

you encounter, you are staying by that individual.

To be a good husband and a good wife, you are

devoted to your husband or you are devoted to

your wife. You're committed to them regardless

of what takes place in this life. You've made

a covenant commitment before God that you will

be devoted to them regardless. You attach yourself

to that individual. You stick by their side in

good and bad and tough and difficult times. But

also to be devoted, it means to be steadfastly

attentive unto something. To give yourself to

something over and over and over. It also means

to persist in something or to busy oneself with

something constantly. So to engage in an activity

over and over and over repeatedly and to keep

doing it and to keep coming back to it, that's

what devotion means. So it is very important

that the Lord's church understands that it must

be a church which is devoted. It's all in. You

give yourself to... The church. You put both

feet in. You're devoted. It should define you.

You know, I had a conversation with a co -worker

several years ago and it stuck in my mind. And

she said that she worked with like career counselors

and stuff like that. And she said that career

counselors tell people you shouldn't stay in

a job. for more than three years now. Because

if you stay in a job for more than three years

in our current world and our current culture,

it's showing future employers that you don't

have the ability to progress or to grow or to

enlarge your capacity or your oversight or your

responsibility or your abilities in that job

or position. That's the kind of culture, that's

the kind of world that we live in. That is transient.

You do this and then you move on to this. That's

really not worth the effort. That's really not

worth the pain and the heartache. We'll just

forget that or we'll just forget that person

and we'll move on to something that's easier.

It's kind of like greener grass syndrome. There's

always something better. It's not characterized

and defined by devotion. Dedication and commitment

both feed in. I'm all in 100 % there. This is

the great need of our world today and this is

the great need of the church today. Devotion.

But we must ask the question, does it matter

what we're devoted to? Does it matter what we're

committed to? Does it matter what we're dedicated

to? I spoke with two Mormons yesterday, and they

told me, you know, you're not really wrong. We're

not really wrong. You're not right. We're not

wrong. We just have differences. We just have

differences. Kind of like it's all going to work

out in the end. No, it matters. What we give

ourselves to. It matters what we are devoted

to in this life. It matters what we believe in.

It matters what we give our time and our money

and our energy to. It matters what we commit

our heart and our lives and our bodies and our

souls to in this life. It matters. And so what

should the church be committed to? What should

the church be devoted to? We're told that the

early church, they continually devoted themselves.

They continually and persistently kept giving

themselves. But what was it that they were giving

themselves to? It matters greatly what we devote

ourselves to, what we individually devote ourselves

to, and it matters what we corporately as a body

give ourselves to. It matters a great deal. You

know, I know a lot of churches that are really,

really devoted. I know a lot of evangelical communities

that are really, really devoted. I know a lot

of churches in the world today, they are really

committed, they are really devoted to transforming

the culture, to impacting the world in which

we live. to making a difference in somebody's

life right here, right now, regardless of whether

it's with the gospel or not. They're devoted,

they're committed, they're dedicated to it. I

know a lot of churches that are devoted to reaching

the world around them at any cost, regardless

of what they have to do, regardless of what they

have to give up. regardless of what they have

to sacrifice, regardless of what they have to

become, but they are devoted and they are committed

to reaching the world around them. I know a lot

of churches that are devoted to bringing in non

-believers, people who do not know Christ. They're

devoted to making them comfortable. and feel

good and directing their energy and their efforts

to those individuals. They are devoted to that.

They have a vision. They have a mission. They

have core values that work towards that, and

everything they do is on track for that purpose

and for that plan. They're devoted. I know a

lot of churches. They are devoted to their church

growth. They are devoted to meeting certain numbers

at a certain time, and they are all in. They're

committed to it. They're going to do whatever

it takes to get to that point. I know a lot of

churches that are committed to their buildings

and their facilities, to their wealth and growth.

I know a lot of churches, and this is one that

is very popular today. I know a lot of churches

that are very, very devoted to their programs.

to their programs and to making a good impact

with their programs on the community. I know

a lot of churches that are very, very devoted,

but what does the Bible tell us we need to be

committed to, that we as a church need to give

ourselves to? What does the book of Acts tell

us we need to devote ourselves over and over

and over and continually? What does it teach

us that we ought to give ourselves to with every

fiber of our being individually and as a body

corporately? It's very, very clear. It tells

us exactly what we are to give ourselves to.

Verse 42, they were continually devoting themselves

to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship.

and to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

What did the early church, this pure, strong,

healthy, vibrant church, give itself to over

and over and over? The teachings of the apostles,

doctrine, instruction. They gave themselves to

fellowship, the breaking of bread, another type

of fellowship, and to prayer. Praise the Lord.

He has not made it overcomplicated for us. It's

fairly simple. It's uncomplicated and straightforward.

What is a church supposed to devote themselves?

What are they to put their energy and their time

and their money and their efforts towards primarily?

What's the focus of the church of Jesus Christ

supposed to be? It's supposed to be on what Jesus

Christ has told us. on who we're supposed to

be, the apostles' teachings, on fellowshipping

with the church, the body of Christ, on celebrating

what he's done in the midst of us, on praying

and seeking his help and seeking his guidance

and seeking his strength in our lives. This is

exactly what they were doing in the book of Acts.

God is forming a foundation for his church to

move forward in this world. Remember, this church,

this body, which grew by 3 ,000 overnight, 3

,000 people were added to the church. That would

definitely throw in some issues to logistics.

And they didn't have cell phones. They couldn't

shoot out group texts. So, I mean, there were

some issues they had to work through and they

had to deal with. But you think with 3 ,000 people,

you pool 3 ,000 people's resources, you pool

all their energy and all their efforts. Think

about the massive impact they could have made

on Jerusalem in that time. Think about the massive

things they could do in their culture, in their

world. They could have done anything they wanted

with a movement of 3 ,000 people. What did they

do? What did these 3 ,000 people do? What did

the early church do? They gave themselves over

to the teachings of the apostles. They went all

in on understanding the truth of God's word.

So the first thing that we as a church must absolutely,

with conviction in which it has, and continually

and continually devote ourselves to, the apostles'

teaching. The teaching of the apostles. Now what

was the teaching of the apostles? The teaching

of the apostles is that which Jesus gave to the

apostles. Well, we know that Jesus taught the

apostles for three years. He instructed them.

They knew the Old Testament very, very well.

And now this group of 3 ,000 Jews, they were

learning how Jesus now fulfilled all these different

things in the Old Testament. They were explicitly

learning how Christ was now applied not just

to a single prophecy, but how Christ related

to them in all of life, in all of practice. Remember,

these are the ones that rejected Jesus and had

Him killed. So they were now learning how Jesus

relates to them, not only as the Messiah, but

as their King, as their Lord, as their Master,

as their Savior. So the apostles' teaching really

contains two things. It involves instruction

and learning about the content of that instruction.

The New Testament is full of this idea of the

whole counsel of God with regards to the faith

which was once for all handed down. Acts chapter

Acts 20 · chapter mention

20, we see it explicit in several other places.

The whole counsel of God. That means that we

learn what God has revealed about Himself and

about redemption from eternity past to eternity

future as much as we can. That means that we

instruct not just the easy... Nice, fun little

pieces of Scripture. But that means that the

apostles' teaching contains all the difficult,

all the hard, all the controversial parts of

Scripture as well. The whole counsel of God in

His Word. So the apostles' teaching, it's instruction,

and it's the content of that instruction. So

you've already had a few explanations today as

to why we've been trying out Sunday school and

we're going to try out an evening service. Well,

it's because we understand as a church that we

must do our very best to make sure that there

is every opportunity for instruction and for

the teaching of God's Word. Because that is what,

as a church and as individual Christians, we

are to be devoted to. So that's one of the reasons

we're doing, we tried Sunday school this morning

to give the opportunity for instruction, to give

another chance for individuals to learn about

the Word of God and what He has said and how

we are to live in light of that. That means facilitating

other opportunities like that. And we'll see

that a little bit more. I think one of the best

ways, one of the things I love so much about

GFC, It is catechism. Guys, catechism is such

a blessing to our children. It's such a blessing

to adults to learn systematically what Christ

has taught and what the scriptures teach us.

To absorb that into our lives. So what is a church

supposed to be about? Christians supposed to

be about? What are they supposed to devote themselves

and give themselves to? The apostles' teaching

or doctrine. Doctrine, theology, instruction.

Now, it's not accidental that the teaching of

the apostles is the very first thing which Luke

includes in this list. The very first thing is

taking priority and is what fellowship and prayer

flow out of. The apostles' teaching determines

and dictates the word of God. The whole counsel

of God in his word is what determines biblical

fellowship. It's the basis for locking arms with

your Christian brothers and sisters. It's what

forms your discussions. It's what forms your

thoughts and your talks. It's what forms relationships.

It's what informs us on what relationships to

have and what relationships not to have. It's

what informs us on boundaries in relationships.

It's what informs us on how we ought to live

in those relationships. So, the apostles' teaching

is first, and takes priority, takes priority,

and determines and dictates fellowship and prayer.

So second, we see that we are to be devoted to

fellowship. Now this text presents two types

of fellowship. In each of these, where it says

the apostles' teaching, and then it says the

fellowship, and then it says the breaking of

bread. And then the last one says the prayers.

There's an article in front of each one. So each

one is distinct and unique from one another.

First, there's the fellowship or common fellowship.

This most likely is talking about doing life

together, living life and doing activities and

seeking out to grow. with one another, locking

arms with one another, loving one another, spending

time with one another. But this can also be a

reference to corporate gathering and fellowship.

The second type of fellowship, there's some controversy

and some discussion over what exactly this is

talking about. And it's kind of tricky because

in the early church they had a meal, or a supper

where people fellowshiped and gathered together

as a body corporately, and then afterwards, they

would have the Lord's Supper. So those things

were at times associated with one another. Now,

I don't think specifically that that's what this

text is talking about, because just a few verses

later, the same phrase is used again, and we

read this. day by day continuing with one mind

in the temple and breaking bread from house to

house. So I do not believe this text is teaching

us or telling us that they were having the Lord's

Supper in houses repeatedly. I do think that

in their common fellowship, the fellowship which

is first mentioned, when they gathered together,

They did celebrate the Lord's Supper in those

times. But the second part, the breaking of bread,

the second part of fellowship, it tells us there's

an intimacy about fellowship. The people were

welcoming other people of the church into their

homes, giving hospitality, providing hospitality

for other Christians. I think of Galatians where

Paul says, Do good to all men, especially those

of the household of faith. So this is talking

about intimate, warm, loving, kind, caring, considerate

fellowship, breaking of bread, sharing meals,

sharing food together, having conversations and

discussions in that way, in an intimate way.

Knowing somebody and caring about somebody and

loving somebody to such an extent that you feel

comfortable having them in your home to break

bread with them and share a meal with them. So

fellowship, a basic essential aspect of what

the church is to be about and what the church

is to devote itself to. And then finally, we

see that the church is to be devoted to. The

church is to give itself to prayer. Now this

word is plural, so it actually says the prayers.

And most people believe that it's referencing

corporate prayers and private prayers. At that

time in Judaism, there were produced prayers

that they would recite and they would repeat.

I don't think that's what it's talking about.

But I do think it's talking about them gathering

together in fellowship. Having all things in

common, coming together and worshiping Him and

worshiping Christ and praying as a body. Very

similar to what Josh was saying earlier when

he was talking about the Sunday evening service

that we're going to try. Getting together as

a body and praying in an orderly manner. As a

body, having compassion and feeling sympathy

for one another. Of course, this is all based

on the apostles' teaching, and it's essential

for the church. So it's not a super complicated,

very problematic formula for what the church

is to be, is it? This church gave itself to,

in Acts chapter 2, This church devoted itself,

Acts 2 · chapter mention

this pure, healthy, strong church. What did it

give its heart and its soul to in order to move

forward? It gave its heart and its soul to the

teaching of the apostles, to the word of God.

It gave itself to fellowship. It gave itself

to prayer. Three essential aspects of the Christian

life in general. Three essential aspects that

every single Christian and every single believer

must devote themselves to in order to progress

in sanctification and growing in conformity and

likeness to Christ. So as the individual Christian,

devotes themselves to these things, the body

as a whole is going to be built up as it commits

itself to these things. We must give ourselves

to the teaching of the apostles, to fellowship,

and to prayer. Now, what happened as a result

of their faithfulness to these things? What came

about as a result of them being faithful in these

simple activities and practices? What came about

as a result of them giving themselves to the

apostles' teaching? What happened in the life

of this church as a result of them praying? What

happened in the life of this church as a result

of them fellowshipping based upon the Word of

God. We read in verse 43, Everyone kept feeling

a sense of awe, and many wonders and signs were

taking place through the apostles. God was working

mightily. He was working powerfully and actively

in the life of the church. We see that. And all

those who had believed were together and had

all things in common. And they began selling

their property, and possessions and were sharing

them with all as anyone might have need. So they

were taking care of one another. They were growing

and becoming sacrificial towards one another,

giving of themselves, putting feet to what they

believe and what they profess. Day by day, continuing

with one mind in the temple and breaking bread

from house to house. There was unity and there

was greater depth to their fellowship. We see

in verse 47, praising God and having favor with

all people. So they had joy in their heart and

they had praise upon their lips because they

were faithful in the things which God had given

them and they found favor with all people. Now

what happened finally? What was the last thing

that takes place as a result of them being faithful

to the apostles' teaching and fellowship and

prayer? What was the last thing? We read in verse

47 that they praised God, they had favor with

all people, but then what? The Lord was adding

to their number day by day those who were being

saved. So what does it mean to be a healthy and

a vital and a vibrant church? What does it mean

to be a strong and a growing church of substance?

It means to be faithful in these things. It means

to be faithful and committed to and given to

the apostles' teaching. And we let the Lord grow

His church. It means that the Lord put His hand

of blessing upon this church. Because they were

trusting in his power and his strength and his

might for his glory working in his church. The

Bible is not opposed to church growth. It's just

opposed to false methodologies of church growth.

The Bible wants faithfulness. God wants faithfulness

from his church. Christ wants a bride that becomes

beautiful in the way in which He wants it to.

Christ wants his bride to be devoted with all

of their being, all of her person, to the apostles'

teaching, to fellowship, and to prayer.