A Pattern of Priorities

Though we do not know how long Peter preached on that historic Day of Pentecost, we do know that his preaching produced astounding results. By day’s end the church had grown from about 120 to over three thousand people. Now the real work begins. You see, there were 3,000 spiritual babes born that day. Three thousand untrained, untaught, ignorant, brand-new believers with no church handbook, no guidelines, and no building to meet in. Add to that a hostile society that had taken an active part in the crucifixion of the Christ and you’ve got the makings of a superhuman task. This is the work Jesus, when He ascended into heaven, left Peter and his eleven colleagues to do – this demanding and exhausting work of spiritual infant care (Matthew 28:19-20; John 21:15-17).

The first responsibility was to baptize them. The three thousand were immersed in water. Luke doesn’t tell us how, when, or by whom because the details are not important. What Luke does give us is three relevant facts: the first is that “they received his word”; that is, they accepted preaching as truth, believing what he said, heeded his admonition to repent, and began following the Messiah. Second, they “were baptized.” Wherever this was done, it publicly identified them as followers of Jesus Christ and gave them a strong sense of belonging. Third, they “were added.” In a single day, the movement grew by three thousand.

I. The Pattern of the early church’s priorities. 2:42

Verse 42 – Luke begins his next line with the phrase “they were,” and we should see that as an encouraging and exciting “they”-- not the apostles, the 120, or the 3,000, but as one body with no distinction between old and new, the believers were doing certain things.

Rendering Luke literally, he is saying, “they were being in a state of constant engagement in the teaching of the apostles. . ..” In these verses Luke is summarizing a period of time.

Now we see Luke's use of the imperfect, which emphasizes habitual, continual actions. This became the practice of the early church.

the phrase “continually devoting themselves” translates a verb which means that they were continuing to do something with intense effort with the possible implication of despite difficulty (Cf. Romans 12:2; Ephesians 6:18). The idea being expressed is that over an extended period, the early Christians devoted themselves to, persisted in, four key basics:

A. “The apostles teaching” – The new Christians were instructed by those who had been personally instructed by Jesus Christ Himself, sharing His teaching with the new believers as well as teaching from the Old Testament scriptures as interpreted through the Holy Spirit. They made a choice to gather with others where they were to be instructed by the apostles.

B. “fellowship” - The Greek word is koinonia. The word in its use implies a close association involving mutual interests and mutual sharing. It is interesting that the Greek writers used this word to describe the unique bond between a husband and his wife. When it referred to a group, it meant a mutual personal investment of the members with one another. We need one another. This is why the church expresses fellowship with one another. The Holy Spirit has knit us together in one body locally and we are also one body with other Christians in the world. By coming together, we are helping each other enjoy the things of God in the power of His Spirit.

C. “the breaking of bread” - This is a focus on worship where communion is served as taught by the Lord. This became a part of what came to be known as love feasts which included a banquet, the singing of hymns, the reading of Scripture, and hearing teaching. This meal was “a meal which had the double purpose of satisfying hunger and thirst and giving expression to the sense of Christian brotherhood. At the end of this feast, bread and wine were taken according to the Lord's command, and after thanksgiving to God were eaten and drunk in remembrance of Christ and as a special means of communion with the Lord Himself and through Him with one another.” [Bromiley, ed. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed., (1979) 1:66.]

D. “prayer” – This is an expression of the believers’ dependence upon God, and as they met together, praying together they prayed for God’s help in accomplishing the great commission of their Lord and for their own living testimony in the world.

These four priorities led to some great results as we read verses 43 – 47.

II. The results of the priorities of the early church, 2:43-37.

A. Regarding instruction, verse 43

These new believers were receiving great instruction from qualified, trustworthy men who had been granted supernatural ability and divine power to affirm their teaching through “many wonders and signs.” As a result of this teaching, “everyone kept feeling a sense of awe’, meaning a profound respect and reverential wonderment.

B. Regarding fellowship, verses 44-45

The picture Luke presents here is not a communal arrangement, but a development of a strong sense of community. This seen in their common confession in their Lord, choosing to spend much time together, sharing with one another, and participating in a common vision and purpose.

Sometimes a false impression is gained that these early Christians sold everything they owned when they joined the church. This was, in fact, the practice of the Qumran community on the Dead Sea. When someone joined that group, his property and earnings were all handed over to a trustee in the community and it became part of a common fund [Arnold, ZIBBC: John, Acts, (2002) 2:238]. This is not what is being practiced here. These verses mean that their unique fellowship produced extraordinary unity and generosity where people became more important to them than things or even their own comfort.

The verb tense for “selling” (imperfect) implies that there was not one big sale of goods when a person became a believer, but that individuals sold portions of their personal and real property as needs in the community surfaced. This was a voluntary action that was not commanded by the apostles but displayed a heart of compassion and care for their fellow believers.

C. Regarding worship, verse 46

– This verse describes the worship of the early church. These early believers, Jews, continued to participate in the temple sacrificial worship prescribed by the Old Testament, never losing their sense of Jewishness. The Messiah’s teaching was and is entirely compatible with biblical Hebrew theology. They worshipped the one true God who made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, made them into one nation, and promised them a Messiah. Christianity became a fulfillment of true Hebrew worship and practice.

Their worship went from the temple to their homes where they gathered for heartfelt fellowship with the Lord and fellow believers. Luke characterizes their worship with two Greek words that mean “joy” and “simplicity.”

D. Regarding prayer, verse 47

Following the pattern of these verses expanding on verse 42, these words in verse 47 can be understood to amplify “prayer.” Their joy, sincerity of heart and prayer produced a people with a satisfying vertical relationship and great horizontal relationships -- the way a group of believers ought to be. Well-taught, authentic followers of Jesus praise God and encourage people. And they look to the Lord in prayer to add to their number. The Lord worked, and as their friends and peers examined their manner of life, that first community of believers grew exponentially.

So, let’s look at the church today. As Christians, we have a commitment to one another, regardless of our positions, our levels of maturity, or how long we have been believers. We are mutually bound by a duty to help one another grow toward greater maturity in Christ. The community of believers—not the building—is how we accomplish that. Every congregation must commit to godly priorities that further this purpose, just like the first body of believers. Luke described their priorities in these verses we just looked at.

The church is called in the NT the bride of Christ. Chuck Swindoll uses an acronym “WIFE” to describe the four responsibilities of the church—

Worship, Instruction, Fellowship, Expression.

Worship – The church continued to meet in the temple not only because it provided a sufficient place for its growing numbers, but it seemed a natural place to meet. As good Jews, they continued to participate in temple worship. We are also told by Luke that they met in homes, where they sang together and observed communion.

The purpose of salvation is to bring into God's presence a body of worshippers. in Ephesians, Paul says God foreordained us “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6). In Philippians he says that Jesus came to earth and suffered as he did and was raised “so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). We were created for worship, we were redeemed for worship, and we will enjoy worship for eternity. Therefore, the church must make worship a priority.

Instruction -- it seems the first Christians couldn't get enough teaching. They met in the temple for instruction. They also met in homes where teaching took place. They wanted to know everything that Jesus had taught the apostles. They remained hungry for spiritual nourishment.

Paul says transformation begins with the mind (Romans 12:2). Although we mustn't mistake biblical and theological knowledge for maturity, growth cannot occur without it. Instruction gives the mind the building material with which the Holy Spirit renovates the old person into a new, Christlike person. If new Christians are like hungry babies needing nourishment, then a church must provide quality biblical and theological teaching, or it will forever remain a nursery.

Fellowship – As a reminder, each of these four essentials are interconnected. The people gathered for worship. Instruction was a part of their love feasts. Baptism gave them a sense of identity with one another. They prayed individually and communally. Sharing the bread and the cup reminded them of their interconnectedness, and that prompted them to be extraordinarily generous with one another. Like coals in a fire, people grow cold and die when separated; however, they produce light and warmth when they are connected, sharing joyfully and generously with each other.

Expression – Acts 2:42 specifically lists prayer as the driving force behind everything the church does: satisfying worship, nourishing instruction, life-sustaining fellowship, meaningful outreach, and effective evangelism. That’s why Luke amplifies the idea of prayer in the phrase “praising God and having favor with all the people.” The result? “The Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (2:47).

Churches can become overly inward focused, adopting an “us four and no more’ mentality. Worship, instruction, and fellowship serve the needs of the body, while visitors feel like outsiders looking in. Meanwhile, no one gives any thought to impacting the culture and community beyond the church property line. Expression in the biblical sense cannot be contained; it naturally affects everyone the members encounter, wherever they may be.

Churches can also become overly outward focused, so that every function of the church becomes evangelistic. While evangelism is an essential function of the church, it must not come at the expense of other priorities: worship, instruction, and fellowship. If all four priorities are upheld with prayer and maintained in balance, evangelism naturally occurs. People don't have to be cajoled or coerced to tell others about Christ; their spiritual growth will become an easy topic of most conversations. As the first Christians devoted themselves to worship, instruction, fellowship, and prayer, they became bold witnesses of the gospel to the world outside. Millard Erickson stated it this way:

In biblical times the church gathered for worship and instruction. Then they went out to evangelize. In worship, the members of the church focus upon God; in instruction and fellowship, they focus upon themselves and fellow Christians; in evangelism, they turned their attention to non-Christians. It is well for the church to keep some separation between these several activities. If this is not done, one or more may be crowded out ….for example, worship of God will suffer in the gathering of the body becomes oriented primarily to the interaction among Christians, or if the services are aimed exclusively at evangelizing the unbelievers who happened to be present. This was not the pattern of the church in the book of Acts. Rather, believers gathered to praise God and be edified; then they went forth to reach the lost in the world without. (Erickson, Christian Theology, (1984) page 1057).

Is your church a healthy bride of Christ?