Something Is Missing From The Church

Acts 2:37–47 NASB 2020

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers were together and had all things in common; 45 and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 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, 47 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.

The Converted Vs 37

Gospel Preached

Gospel Conversation (Personal witnessing)

Doing life with the converts until maturity to stand independently

The Committed Vs 37b-41

Becoming a part of the Family of God through the Holy Spirit

Heard & Received the word of God

Repentance (Total change of attitude about self, sin, and God)

Being Baptized into the body as a declaration that you are in Christ

Receive the Holy Spirit

The Commitment To Leadership Vs 41, 42a

Willingness to submit to the Apostolic authority (As they follow Christ Jesus)

Willingness to be disciplined under their authority. (Authentic conviction)

Discipline is not church hurt

Willingness to support the ministry efforts of the Church

The Commitment To The Apostolic Teaching Vs 42

Sincere authentic conviction opens us up to become

Devoted to the person who presented Christ

Devoted to the person who presented truth

Devoted to the person who presented hope

Devoted to the person who presented eternal life

Devoted to the person who presented an interest in my state (Condition before Christ)

Devoted to the person who presented an interest in my standing (Position before Christ)

Devoted to the person who pushes you through boot-camp and equips you for spiritual warfare

Devoted to the person who needs the same grace and mercy that I need as a disciple

Making allowances for human error and flaws

Colossians 3:13–14 NASB 2020

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

The Commitment To The Fellowship Vs. 42

Alignment with Christ under the leading of the Holy Spirit

Alignment with Like-minded people who embraced Christ as Lord under the Holy Spirit

Engaged in supporting one another

Engaged in a deeper sense of community

Engaged in accountability

Engaged in becoming better personally/collectively

Engaged in fighting together for the faith and not each other outside of the faith

The Commitment To The Breaking Of Bread Vs 42

This produces a deeper fellowship

This produces a deeper intimacy with the family of believers

This produces a deeper empathy for one another

This produces a deeper appreciation of what God has done through means of testimonies

This produces a deeper defense of the saints against the world because you know their struggle/journey as you understand your own to defend family with greater zeal

The Commitment To Prayer Vs 42

The birth of the Church-age mandated jewish converts to prayer because

Their disappointed of the kingdom not being established

Family/Societal disassociation because of Christ

Their personal safety

The church needed direction from the Holy Spirit to their

Leadership

Personal lifestyle/journey and desire to call on the name of the Lord

Direction of the Church in times of cultural influences/attacks/vulnerabilities

The Church needed direction to remain steadfast in their fellowship

The Church needed prayer to receive divine revelation from God

In teaching/learning

The Capability Of The Holy Spirit Through The Apostle Vs 43

This is a dispensation revelation of the Holy Spirit at work instituting the church. This does not happen any longer proving the birth of this movement called the Church needed to happen to spread the message of Jesus Christ and the Power of God on display as evidence of being a witness. Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NASB 2020

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

Amazing response from the Church because of Signs and Wonders of the Holy Spirit

Disclaimer: Can signs and wonders happen today? I believe that whatever happens it is to the glory of God and that it is at a localized level, or personal. I will argue that the signs that took place in Acts were so great that if duplicated today would have to have several criteria to be seen as a move of God. 1. An environment that is unchurched and no missional contact. 2. The people are sensitive to the supernatural and God deems a revelation of His power to convince the community. 3. The moment would not become a public spectacle for cynics to discredit the power especially in the era of technology and delusional religious behavior.

The Apostles were used mightily as catalyst to display the power of the Holy Spirit

The environment has to be ripe for the Spirit to do great work. Genesis 1:1-3

Genesis 1:1–3 NASB 2020

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

The Word of God must be present for the Spirit of God to do demonstrate His power

The Community of Oneness Vs. 44-45

The fellowship with the Holy Spirit and Fellow believers produces

A workable environment when we allow the spirit of God to be our guide

It also mandates an empathy for fellow believers who are understanding of the same grace/mercy needed daily

It demonstrates that common denominator of our love for Christ and one another supersedes race, nationality, creeds, historical conflicts etc…

Acts 6:1–7 NASB 2020

1 Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God kept spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Also during this time Pentecost was ongoing and the environment was a time of intimate religious fellowship and this oneness was like unto how we celebrate holidays in western society.

Also, the selling and sharing of goods was a part of the pentecost experience that was heightened during this time period. It created a deepened sense of meeting the communal needs of the brethren. (Jewish converts)

The Consistency Of Daily Gathering & Worship Vs 46

It was a point of the church gathering at the temple

The urgency to come together

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB 2020

24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

It creates an environment of like minded people to gather, hear the word, pray and worship together and model their love for one another

It provides a place for the curious, and skeptic to come experience the love of God shown through his people

It creates an opportunity for gospel conversations about Jesus.

The fellowship daily was an affirming love on display through breaking bread, and a oneness or singleness of heart

The Consequence Of The Environment

The worship of the Lord was evident (Praising God)

The evidence of the Lord at work in the community (Favor)

The evidence of the local church was known by its rapid growth and it was authentic and not man-made growth through marketing.

2 Corinthians 2:17 NASB 2020

17 For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.