The nature and ministry of the church: growth

The nature and ministry of the church:

Growth

Acts 2:41–47 NLT

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 4:31–32 NLT

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.

Acts 2:42 gives a list of the things the church should be doing

++…there is no directive to be seeker sensitive

++…there is no specific age-group programming

++…there is no politically correct agenda

++…there is a specific list of things that should be the backbone of the church

Notice there is no directive here for feeding the poor,

++or providing this service or that service,

++or ministering to those in prison

++…but there is clear direction about what the church should be doing!

in verse 42, the word translated “devoted” is a word that I’m not going to try to pronounce (προσκαρτεροῦντες)…quite literally, this word means to be obstinately persistent to the point of devotion

The “nature” of the church, the thing that should drive the “ministry of the church is obstinate persistence and devotion to 1) The apostles’ teaching. 2) To fellowship with one another. 3) To sharing meals together (including the Lord’s Supper). 4) To prayer.

Out of these “core values and commitments” the ministry of the church will go in whatever direction God has planned.

In Acts, whenever the believers were doing the things that were listed in 2:42, the Lord added to their number daily.