THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. The Church of Jesus on Mission Empowered by the Spirit

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1 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES The Church of Jesus on Mission Empowered by the Spirit

2 WHAT ARE WE DOING Glorify God Love God Love Others Faith Hope Love Worship Instruction Fellowship Evangelism Jerusalem Judea and Samaria World Evangelize Edify Make Disciples

3 WHAT ARE WE DOING For God s glory, the church gathers to equip (repair and prepare) believers by worshipping, instructing, fellowshipping and evangelizing, then releasing them to make disciples as they go through life by making converts who get baptized and then establishing them in the faith by teaching them to obey Christ as they relate to God in worship, His Word in submission, each other in love, and the unbelieving world in outreach.

4 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

5 "Stop treating the Book of Acts like hyperbole. Francis Chan

6 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

7 They were constantly devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Acts 2:42

8 devoted (προσκαρτεροῦντες) 1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one 2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing 3) to continue all the time in a place 4) to persevere and not to faint 5) to show one's self courageous for 6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly.

9 These new converts, along with the disciples, gave ("devoted," Gr. proskartereo, cf. 1:14) themselves to two activities primarily: the apostles' teaching and fellowship. The grammar of the Greek sentence sets these actions off as distinct from the following two activities that define fellowship. Tom C onstable

One might think from reading this, that the apostles continued in four specific things: apostolic doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Now the fact that, that little and is missing makes it more likely, that the last two nouns, breaking of bread, and prayers, are explanatory of fellowship.

10 One might think from reading this, that the apostles continued in four specific things: apostolic doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayers. In the Greek text the little word and after fellowship is not found. In fact, it is this, in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. Now the fact that, that little and is missing makes it more likely, that the last two nouns, breaking of bread, and prayers, are explanatory of fellowship. In other words, there are three activities that characterize the early church. They continued in the apostles doctrine; and in the fellowship of the breaking of bread; and in the fellowship of prayers. So three things characterize the early church s activity: the apostles doctrine, the fellowship of the Lord s Table, and the fellowship of prayers. S. Lewis Johnson

11 The verbal expression they were devoting themselves to covers four activities: the apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. Ajith Fernando

12 Community life is summarized as involving four key areas: apostolic teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. Darrell Bock

13 BODY LIFE Worship Instruction Fellowship Evangelism

14 WORSHIP Vital, Life-giving Experiences with God Himself Acts 2:42-47

15 WORSHIP The Breaking of Bread (2:42) Prayer (2:42) Praise (2:47)

16 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

17 While many scholars suggest the phrase refers to the celebration of the Lord s Supper, i.e. remembering Jesus last supper with His disciples, and while others argue that this is only a reference to ordinary meals, there is a distinct possibility that it refers to both. Eckhard Schnabel

PRAYER Prayer while waiting (1:14) Prayer about Judas replacement (1:24-25) Prayer at the temple (3:1) Prayer in reaction to apostles release (4:23-24) Prayer as a priority of leaders (6:4)

18 PRAYER Prayer while waiting (1:14) Prayer about Judas replacement (1:24-25) Prayer at the temple (3:1) Prayer in reaction to apostles release (4:23-24) Prayer as a priority of leaders (6:4) Prayer for new believers in Samaria (8:15) Prayer connected to Paul s conversion (9:11-12) Prayer as a part of Cornelius devotion (10:4) Peter praying when told to go to first Gentile convert (10:9)

19 PRAISE Worship involves both sacrifice and praise. Praise without sacrifice is hypocritical. Sacrifice without praise is selfish. Praise is simply making God the subject of your sentences.

20 INSTRUCTION Vital, Life-giving Experiences with the Word of God Acts 2:42-47

21 INSTRUCTION Apostolic Teaching (2:42) Apostolic Confirmation (2:43) Bible Studies (2:46)

22 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

23 FELLOWSHIP Vital, Life-giving Experiences with the People God Acts 2:42-47

24 FELLOWSHIP Fellowship (2:42) Sharing (2:44) Sacrifice (2:45)

25 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

26 A vibrant community extends itself in two directions: toward God, and toward neighbor. A veiled reference to the great commandment appears here. Darrell Bock

27 Everything about the Gospels and Acts tells us that God s people are to take the initiative to show community and serve those around them. Much in Western culture drives us to an individualism that undercuts this development of community. Darrell Bock

fellowship (κοινωνίᾳ) Fellowship refers here to close association involving mutual involvement and relationships. The key element in true fellowship is sharing.

28 fellowship (κοινωνίᾳ) Fellowship refers here to close association involving mutual involvement and relationships. The key element in true fellowship is sharing. This can be sharing interests, concerns, burdens or even the sharing of food together. True fellowship is not just being near someone but actually sharing life with them.

Anne Ortlund, in her delightful book Up with Worship, compares two kinds of communities commonly found in churches. One she describes as a bag of marbles.

29 Anne Ortlund, in her delightful book Up with Worship, compares two kinds of communities commonly found in churches. One she describes as a bag of marbles. The people come together for fellowship, they clack and clatter, they glitter and throw off light beautifully, and they scratch each other. They connect, but they don t mingle. That s not koinonia. The other kind of community she describes as a bag of grapes. Shake the bag around a little, and it starts to drip. Look inside and it is not a pretty sight, but they re mingling. Each life bleeds into the others. That s koinonia. That s authentic, Spirit-empowered fellowship. Anne Ortlund

30 EVANGELISM Vital, Life-giving Experiences for the People God Acts 2:42-47

31 EVANGELISM Testimony (2:47) Growth (2:47)

32 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

33 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. David Garland

34 Luke s extensive summary of the life of the Jerusalem church is not only an historical statement about the first months of the Christian movement. It is also a theological statement about God s presence in the community of believers, an ecclesiological statement about the priorities of the authentic church, and a missiological statement about the process of church growth. Eckhard Schnabel

35 FOUR RESULTS Fear of the Lord (2:43) Sharing Resources (2:44-46) Favor with People (2:47) Growth (2:47) Charles Ryrie

36 THE CHURCH S LIFE A Learning Church A Loving Church A Worshipping Church An Evangelistic Church John Stott

37 LIVING ON MISSION The church of Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit grows as the community worships and shares life together guided by the Word of God.

38 LIVING ON MISSION Participate Learn Share Tell

39 LIVING ON MISSION Remember, Pray, and Sing Understand and Apply Invest in Body Life Witness for Christ

THE HEART OF CHURCH LIFE

THE HEART OF CHURCH LIFE Devotion to the Scriptures, Fellowship, Ordinances, and Prayer Acts 2:42 A Sermon by Drew S. C. Mery INTRODUCTION If you were asked to summarize the life of the church in one sentence,