#5 Acts (2:42-47)

 What we know about the first church up to this point

1. The church of Jesus Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit  Acts 1 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

2. The church is given a mission to the world  Acts 1 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

3. The first church has 12 apostles to position themselves as True Israel—the representatives of the kingdom of God as prophesied by Daniel  Acts 1 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time … For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

4. The mission of the church is to declare the Good News of the kingdom—which focuses on the resurrection of Jesus  Acts 1 22 … For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

5. The church appointed the 12 th apostle by lot and not by election  Acts 1 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

6. The first church made up of Jews and converts to Judaism from all over the world  Acts 2 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

7. The Holy Spirit enabled everyone to hear the Good News in his own language  Acts 2 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

8. The gift of Holy Spirit and the call to evangelize is for everyone  Acts 2 17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

9. The first church grew from 120 people to 3,000 people overnight  Acts 2 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

 Up to this point, we have no idea what the character of the first church was like

 Description: as prescription or inspiration?

 Acts 2 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

 How does a Holy Spirit empowered church looks like?

 Four (4) vital church habits  Acts 2 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 Acts 2 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 The right mental input  Truth matters  Garbage in – garbage out

 Information age | noisy world  Historic Christian truth  Christians instinctively know the importance of good teaching

B-A-R-E Biblical Authentic Relevant Effective Biblical: Neither Liberalism nor Legalism

 No separate term for worship at this point  How? Daily? Weekly?  (Acts 2 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.)

 Sunday meeting was absolute minimum

 The Worship Service

 Value of Christian fellowship  Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 What is the ideal Christian fellowship?

 What is your experience in being separated from Christian fellowship/worship?

 L!FE Groups

 Meaning: the Holy Communion / the ordinary fellowship meal  Possibly a distinction that came later (like when to fellowship/worship)

 E.g. last wed – a wonderful time over food | study | prayer  Meeting without meal is different

 Praying together is a vital habit for the church and the individual  Not the last priority – something has to be stated last!  (Order? teaching – fellowship – food – prayer)

1. Prayer draws on God’s power 2. Prayer produces holiness – we have to make right with God 3. Prayer calls us to authenticity before God and man 4. Prayer expands our love 5. Prayer promotes our healing from hurt

 Context of prayer: in a smaller group

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Love God and man in action

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  Daily  Mingling with the society

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  Authentic & intimate fellowship

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  Sincerity was apparent to all – opposite of hypocrisy

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  Life characterized by praise.  Not ashamed to give God the glory

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. who were being saved.  People liked the Christian community they saw  They wanted in!

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Daily numerical growth – season of growth

 God does not work on us alone – but in wonderful Christian fellowship!