Acts 2:42-47
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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Is this a good model for the church today???
Peter just preached a Sermon, and 3000 were saved, and after they were saved and baptized we see that they gathered together, and they grew in their relationship.
Something I want you to think about is Christianity is personal, but its not individualist its corporate.
This text we are in shows us a good model for the church..
Devoted to the Word of God.
Devoted to the Word of God.
The apostles devoted themselves to the Scripture. And taught from the scriptures about Jesus.
I really like one quote that said, In this Spirit filled congregation the people didn’t abandon study of the Word because the Spirit is at work. All true spiritual awakening is rooted in the word of God.
Lets look at an Old Testament Example of this…
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
Paul teaches in the New Testament just how important teaching is from the word of God 1 Tim 4:16
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
A church cannot be the church if it is not centered on the word of God, because what we know about God determines how we worship him.
You see in this text something we don’t see today in such as way and that is the fact that these apostles teaching the early church were accompanied by signs? Why is this, few things you need to know, 1 it was show the validly of their teaching because during this time the Word of God as we know it was not full developed Yet. 2. God does still do miracles but it is not to validate his word, because its already validated by the Work of Jesus on the Cross, and the testimony of his apostles.
One quote I found extremely helpful was this.. There is no such thing as a Spirit-filled Christian who neglects the study of the Word of God. There is no such thing as a Spirit-filled church that does not give itself continually and steadfastly to the study of sacred Scripture. The first sign of a Spirit-filled church is one in which the Spirit-filled people do not flee from Scripture and seek a substitute for it but are driven to it to have their spiritual lives rooted and grounded in the Word of God.
The church was another thing as well at its this..
Devoted to one another.
Devoted to one another.
They had real fellowship.
Tied to 1 John 1:3
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Scripture is full of this idea that they were devoted to one another…
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
jas 5:16
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
It is a privilege that we can do those things..
Devote ourselves to the Lord’s Supper.
Devote ourselves to the Lord’s Supper.
The early church did the Lord’s Supper everytime they met when they first started, and we must remember that when we do that what a privilege and opportunity it is to do that very thing together…
Devoted to Prayer..
Devoted to Prayer..
Nathan brought this up to me a few months back, and I came up with something real simple to pray for on the corresponding day specific things, and I want to not just do it for 30 days I want to do it everyday atleast for the rest of the year..
We might not be known for alot of things at Agape, but lets be like the early church, and be devoted to prayer.
Devoted to Generosity.
Devoted to Generosity.
This isn’t communism. But a mark of believers in Jesus is generosity. The church if able is to give freely, voluntarily, sacrificially, and generosity.
One guy said… Jesus changed hearts and as a result we should want to invest in what he is doing in the world. One biblical reason…
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The early church was aware of its needs…
The church should be in constant interaction with one another.
The church should be in constant interaction with one another.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Half the job as a good member of the church is showing up.
The church should gather in multiple ways..
The church should gather in multiple ways..
46b…
The church should have a spirit of awe, gladness, and praise to God.
The church should have a spirit of awe, gladness, and praise to God.
43a. 46-47a
The church should display Attractive Faith…
The church should display Attractive Faith…
41
The church should be evangelist.
The church should be evangelist.
47c
Where do we fall short as a church?