They Continued Stedfastly
This Way: Missions in Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Introduction
Introduction
The church is the “called out assembly of baptized believers” in a local place. In our passage this morning, we see the worship of the church at Jerusalem. We want to see what a faithful church looks like anywhere in the world.
The mission of the church is the same mission given to the Eleven during the forty days that Jesus was on earth after His Resurrection. Jesus commissions them to take the good news of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus for all mankind to each and every person. We see throughout the book of Acts that those Eleven, and the others who were part of the church at Jerusalem, went everywhere preaching this gospel. In our series on missions in Acts, we will study several of these chapters to learn about missions in the local church.
Do you give to support missions? Do you have a heart for those here in Virginia, the United States, and the world that have not accepted the free gift of salvation? Evangelism comes from a heart that has been changed by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for sin. Missions comes from that same heart that has caught the command that Jesus has given us, His church.
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Together, we need to ask God to gives us, as a church, a desire to send and support those who are going to the lost people around the world just as we go to those here in Virginia. This is the focus of our series on “This Way” in the book of Acts.
Churches plant churches. Churches send missionaries to plant churches. Those churches plant more churches. While the world may seem to be filled with groups of people who claim to be worshipping, how many churches are there? There maybe many buildings that are called churches but what occurs inside will identify a real church. In our passage this morning, we are going to look at these character traits.
The sermon at Pentecost convicted men of their sin. Many turned to Jesus in repentance. This was the beginning of an empowering of the Holy Spirit that effects the world even today. Spurgeon points to the centrality of the Holy Spirit at Jerusalem,
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XX Additions to the Church (No. 1,167)
As an illustration: give me fire, I will not bargain for a furnace, give me but a single candle, and a city or a forest may soon be in a blaze. A spark is quite sufficient to begin with, for fire multiplies itself: so give us the truth, a single voice, and the Holy Spirit with it, and none can say where the sacred conflagration will end.
As we look at the description and prescription for the church, remember the Holy Spirit. Only through the power of the Spirit can the Gospel effectively be spread. Only through the guidance and authority of the Spirit will a church continue faithful to God. We want our church to be here 10 years, 50 years and 100 years from now. Only a continuous effort to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance will see that come to pass. Remember the foundation of the Holy Spirit’s power built on the foundation of Jesus and His sacrifice as we look at the text this morning.
Declaration
Declaration
We can say with Biblical confidence that God is the greatest evangelist of all. He will work through our faithful daily worship to bring people to salvation. Today, we must practice the elements of Biblical worship found here in Acts 2 in our churches. This faithful developing church shows seven traits.
1. Learning
1. Learning
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The first trait of a faithful church is people who are learning. We see this in the response of the people to the sermon of Peter and the centrality of teaching in the early meetings. The message of Pentecost was based on the Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in Jesus. The Jewish people responded with glad receipt of the word.
A faithful church is learning from the preaching of the Word of God. This is the central method of conveying the truth in the church. We can memorize Scripture. We can sing Scripture. We can read Scripture and explain it. Yet, all that we do in a church service must be centered on the Scripture itself. Paul wrote of this to Titus,
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
The preaching of the Word of God was met with two actions by the people who heard it. The first action was to receive the word. The next was to be baptized. Baptism was the sign of a repentant heart that pointed to the cleansing of sin that had taken place when the Word was received.
We see in verse 41 that those who were referred to as “they” are also referred to as “souls”. Darrell Bock, in his commentary on Acts, explains the importance of this,
“The term ‘souls’ is a way to refer to a person, as a metonymy. The soul is part of the person and makes one a responding being, so it comes to stand for the person as a whole…”
Bock, Acts pg. 146
So we are dealing in this world not with numbers or faces but souls. These are real people with real needs. These are real people who can really respond to the truth. In this passage, the people respond to the teaching of the Word of God.
These people were then "added" or they became part of something, i.e. church membership. The Greek word indicates that what was being added to already existed before. In other words, those who received the word became part of the group of believers from chapter 1. This is the membership of Jesus’ church that He left on earth to fulfill the Great Commission.
Verse 42 then gives the listing of what the church was involved in. The current manner of the people was they were “continuing stedfastly”. They were known and recognized for faithfulness. The first thing they were known for was “the apostles’ doctrine” or their teaching. The church was a learning church.
Are you learning from the Word of God? Are we as a church responding to the preaching and showing repentance in our life? The church at Jerusalem challenges us to be a faithful learning church.
2. Sharing
2. Sharing
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The second trait of a faithful church is fellowship. This is often associated today with meals. So it was in this church.
Some of my favorite memories of growing up in church are at “dinner-on-the-grounds.” I remember long lines to get potluck food. I remember having services in the gym and singing hymns.
Just over 10 years ago, I interned at a church in Indiana. Tom Farrell, a well-known evangelist, came to preach the Sunday services one week during the summer. I well remember going to get KFC for supper. It is a unique memory to say you ate KFC with Tom Farrell.
We all have memories of food and fellowship. That is not just a Baptist thing, it is a Bible thing!
Fellowship here is the community spirit and actions. There was not an isolation or self-sufficient Christian life. Instead, the people were common in affections and actions.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The church was “breaking” bread. This may have been the Lord’s Supper but it seems to have been regular meals instead. The church was spending time with one another. Are you spending time with other people in our church? Many people look for isolation but the Bible teaches cooperation.
The faithful church has fellowship with each other. Another way to say this is they were sharing. Are you sharing the blessings of God to you with others? Are you spending time with those who are your family in Christ? The Bible is clear about the benefits of fellowship.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
3. Praying
3. Praying
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The third trait of a faithful church is prayer. The presence of prayer in the early church is seen throughout the book of Acts. Chapter 1 points to the unity brought through prayer.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
We would see in the chapters ahead that the first action of the apostles was to pray to God for power, boldness and deliverance. Prayer is a vital part of the early church. How are we doing as a church that prays? Do we need to improve in this area? One of the epistles commands,
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Here the services of the church contained these four elements, the last being prayer. Public prayer is effective because of faithful private prayer. How is your private prayer today? Spurgeon reminds us,
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXV Constant, Instant, Expectant (No. 1,480)
Private prayer is more important than public prayer under many aspects, and is a better test of a Christian; still public prayer often reacts upon private devotion, and when two or three are together, and are agreed as touching the kingdom, their supplications will often be helpful to each other and obtain the thing which they desire.
The faithful church is a praying church. Prayer is something that we must spend our whole lives getting better at. One person said, “Prayer is thinking out loud in the presence of God.” This is what we must strive for so that we might see the blessings of God in our lives and church.
4. Fearing
4. Fearing
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
The fourth trait and following are descriptive of the way that the church continued to grow. A faithful church is fearful. This might be a strange trait, yet it is a necessary one. The miracles of the apostles pointed to the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Gospel. Those in the church were afraid of the power of God. This does not point to a shuddering or trembling but an “awe”, as one commentator called it. The Old Testament points to the “fear of the Lord” often.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
God is looking for people who will respect and honor Him first of all. God is looking for churches that will have a reverential “awe” for the wonders that He has done and will do. The church in Acts had the right central priority of honoring and pointing to God.
The faithful church is a fearful church. Are you causal about the things of God? Are you committed with all your heart to bringing glory to God? The fear of the Lord should describe the attitude of the believer.
5. Caring
5. Caring
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Another trait of the faithful church is care for others. The church has often been the first to step in and help those in need throughout history. Today, many churches are more focused on meeting their members needs than reaching a lost world with the good news. We need to look outward!
Jesus was waiting for the disciples who had gone into town for food. He met a woman who came at midday to a well. The words that Jesus spoke to her convinced her that Jesus was the Messiah. As she ran into town to bring more to hear from Jesus, the disciples returned. Their focus was on food but Jesus was on lost people. He spoke to them this command,
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Are you looking inward at your problems? Are you concerned about how you are doing? Give it to God and care about others! Look at all the people that we pass by each day that don’t know the good news of the Gospel! They don’t know that Jesus died for their sins and rose again!
The early church was not divided by wealth and poverty. They were not divided by native born Jews and foreigners in Acts 2. Instead, they had all things “common”. This is adjective form of the word “fellowship” above in verse 42. Whenever someone was in need, believers were the ones to step in and help. How great ought to be our care for others because of the care that Jesus had for us!
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Belief created fellowship. Those “that believed” were together. This was the common salvation seen in the common service to others. Do we care about the needs of others as we should?
A faithful church is a caring church. This is what the world will see if we are obedient to the command of Jesus. The early church carried out what Jesus had said in the Upper Room.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
6. Rejoicing
6. Rejoicing
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The sixth trait of a faithful church is rejoicing. The joy of the church here is seen throughout the passage. The epistle of Paul to the Philippians is all about joy in the church. We see the English word “joy” used in 65 verses in the New Testament. This was a church that was thankful and honoring of God for His salvation!
The church is seen in verse 46 as continuing to spend time together both in the temple and in individual houses. The word “daily” shows us that this was not just on Sunday but often, daily! Luke had described these actions at the end of his Gospel as well after the Ascension of Jesus.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Now the church is doing the same thing that they had done before Pentecost but with more people involved. The word “gladness” is pointed out by some dictionaries as emphasizing the audibleness of the happiness. The people could hear the joy coming from the church. Think of what they would say about our church? The sound of the church speaking of the “wonderful works of God” had gathered a crowd for the sermon on Pentecost. What could occur if we let it be known how joyful we are in our salvation?
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation.
The unity of the church is seen in the phrase “singleness of heart”. The believers were “simple” in their joy and focus on God. They were praising Him. The chapter ends with the same one accord of verse 1 in verse 46. The joy and the focus of the church is seen in the lifting up of the goodness of God. This brings the church together.
Are we joyful people? Do you smile and laugh with joy to know that you have been forgiven? What do people think of our salvation when we spend our days in anger and worry? A faithful church is a rejoicing church. The people outside of the church had a positive view of the believers by their joy!
7. Receiving
7. Receiving
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The seventh trait of a faithful church is receptive. Verse 47 reminds us of that God is the One who blesses the faithful church. The first verse in the section and the last verse have the same Greek word translated “added”. In verse 41, the people are passively added to the church. In verse 47, we see Who it was who added them. The church at Jerusalem received those who God added to them.
The action of Jesus in this passage is to add to the church. We are called to preach the Gospel to the lost. We as believers are commanded to show the love of Christ to mankind. Yet, the Lord is the One who does the adding to the church. It is His church and we must be careful to leave it with Him.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Every day, they saw God bring people to faith in Him. This is not a result of marketing, manipulation, or good management. This is the result of the Power of God, the ability to carry out the Great Commission. The church at Jerusalem was a “healthy church” that was growing under God’s power and leadership. One writer points to the the need for faithfulness in the church,
Acts Acts 2:41–46
Craig Keener notes, “Whereas Peter’s preaching leads to many converts on one occasion in Acts 2:41, it is the believing community’s lifestyle that leads to continuous conversions in 2:47.”
A faithful church is receptive. Are you looking for those around you that might be ready to respond to the Gospel? God is always working. We must be looking for where and how we can be involved. No matter the background or personality of a person, we should receive them as someone for whom God has died for.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We can say with Biblical confidence that God is the greatest evangelist of all. He will work through our faithful daily worship to bring people to salvation. Today, we must practice the elements of Biblical worship found here in Acts 2 in our churches.
Biblical worship focuses on God. These seven traits of a faithful church are effective when they are practiced continuously. The blessing of God on the church at Jerusalem was based on their choice to “continue stedfastly.” I want to be part of a church that is faithful to the Word of God. Do you?
How can we apply this passage today? Look back at the list of traits. Which do you need to work on? Get it right today!
Which of these are we doing personally? Which are we doing as a church? Which can we improve on? A faithful church is a learning church. Learning from the Word of God in Acts 2, we can become a church that has a heart for missions and a desire to give the Gospel to people lost around the world.
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus for salvation, today is the day to do that. We are all sinners. This is the common problem of mankind.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jesus died for all our sin on the cross. His death paid the penalty for our sin. Our debt of sin is now cleared before the Justice of God by Jesus.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We can now live forever with Him in heaven, if we place our faith in Him! Will you do that today? Jesus calls to you today to look to Him for salvation.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Let’s choose today to be faithful people. A faithful church in Acts 2 “continued stedfastly.” May that be said of Revival Baptist Church in King William, Virginia, and of the churches planted by missionaries around the world.
