The First Church (3 of 3)
Series: Witnesses
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).
LEARNING FROM PEOPLE OF THE PAST
[Announce that next Sunday I'm starting a new sermon series on the book of Esther: ''Turning the Tables.'' Surprisingly, the book of Esther never once mentions God. Karen Jobes writes that ''the complete absence of God from the text is the genius of the book.'' The book of Esther shows how God-even when he seems to be absent-is working out his good will in the lives of his people. Mention that people can prepare for this series by reading through the book of Esther.]
It's fascinating to look back at how people lived in the past. Sometimes we can learn from them. [Talk about how people of the past normally didn't buy something unless they had the money for it. They didn't go into debt over everyday purchases.]
In Acts 2, we read about how the first Christians lived. They lived in a very different time and place, but they believed in the same gospel. And we can learn some things from how they lived.
[Read Acts 2:42-47.]
HOW THE FIRST CHRISTIANS LIVED
Prior to the Day of Pentecost, there were ''about 120'' followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15). Then on the Day of Pentecost ''about three thousand'' people put their faith in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:41). In verses 42-47, we are given the activities of the earliest church.
1) It was a LEARNING church. ''They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching'' (v. 42). Before his ascension, Jesus told the apostles to ''make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you'' (Matt. 28:19-20). They had a hunger for God's word.
2) It was a LOVING church. ''They devoted themselves to...the fellowship'' (v. 42). The basic idea of ''fellowship'' ...
Series: Witnesses
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).
LEARNING FROM PEOPLE OF THE PAST
[Announce that next Sunday I'm starting a new sermon series on the book of Esther: ''Turning the Tables.'' Surprisingly, the book of Esther never once mentions God. Karen Jobes writes that ''the complete absence of God from the text is the genius of the book.'' The book of Esther shows how God-even when he seems to be absent-is working out his good will in the lives of his people. Mention that people can prepare for this series by reading through the book of Esther.]
It's fascinating to look back at how people lived in the past. Sometimes we can learn from them. [Talk about how people of the past normally didn't buy something unless they had the money for it. They didn't go into debt over everyday purchases.]
In Acts 2, we read about how the first Christians lived. They lived in a very different time and place, but they believed in the same gospel. And we can learn some things from how they lived.
[Read Acts 2:42-47.]
HOW THE FIRST CHRISTIANS LIVED
Prior to the Day of Pentecost, there were ''about 120'' followers of Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15). Then on the Day of Pentecost ''about three thousand'' people put their faith in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:41). In verses 42-47, we are given the activities of the earliest church.
1) It was a LEARNING church. ''They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching'' (v. 42). Before his ascension, Jesus told the apostles to ''make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you'' (Matt. 28:19-20). They had a hunger for God's word.
2) It was a LOVING church. ''They devoted themselves to...the fellowship'' (v. 42). The basic idea of ''fellowship'' ...
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