The Model Church, Part Two

In our previous study we spoke about several characteristics of the Spirit-filled apostolic church which is described in Acts 2:42-47 and which provides a model for our Christian lives today. First, we noticed that the early disciples devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine. That is an extremely important characteristic because everything in our Christian life flows from our study of God’s word. Second, we noticed that the early disciples spent much time in fellowship, which included loving one another and sharing with one another as each had need.

In this study we will consider the other characteristics of an apostolic church found in this passage, including frequent observance of the Lord’s Supper, diligent prayer, a sense of joy, evangelism and being respected by those inside and outside of the church.

The Breaking of Bread

The third characteristic of an apostolic church is the breaking of bread. This phrase, “breaking of bread,” refers to the observance of Holy Communion.

The Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified and buried, but on the third day he rose from the dead and appeared to many of his disciples over a period of forty days before he ascended into the heavens. Now seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, Jesus Christ has been appointed both Lord and Christ, the Sovereign Lord of the universe. But while Jesus was on earth he instituted the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance, a signum, a sign and seal, of the new covenant between God and man, and as a time of remembrance of his death on behalf of sinners.

The early church regularly and frequently celebrated Holy Communion as a way of remembering their Lord. On the night before he died, Jesus told his disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Whenever the early disciples ate the bread and drank the cup, they were remembering the Lord Jesus Christ and his great love for them. Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and session on the right hand of God the Father was all done because he loves us. Every time we celebrate the Holy Communion we are reminded of this great truth that Jesus Christ loves us and is for us.

In 1 Corinthians 11:26 Paul wrote, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” When we celebrate the Holy Communion, we are also proclaiming the Lord’s death. This is important because without the death of Jesus Christ there can be no forgiveness of sins. As Christians, we glory in the death of Jesus Christ.

But not only do we proclaim the death of Jesus Christ, but Paul says we are proclaiming his second coming as well. The one who died for us, the one who loved us and gave himself for us, is now the Lord and King of the universe, seated on the right hand of God the Father in heaven. But he shall soon come to reconstitute all things–a new heaven and a new earth. He who is the hope of the church is coming again, and we are reminded of that every time we celebrate Holy Communion as well.

Thus, these early disciples remembered the Lord Jesus Christ and encouraged themselves in his everlasting love for them, and that is what will happen to us also when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. As we remember Jesus Christ and his love for us, we will be built up and encouraged. Therefore, an apostolic church will celebrate Holy Communion frequently, not once a year or once in three months. These disciples may have celebrated it as often as once a day, because later on we read, “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. . .” (Acts 2:46).

A Praying Church

The fourth characteristic of the apostolic church is that the members of the church spent their time in prayer, or prayers, as it says in the Greek text. An apostolic church is a praying church.

The Lord of the church, Jesus Christ, spent much time in prayer to his heavenly Father while he was on earth and he taught his apostles how to pray. By Jesus’ work of redemption, elect sinners have been made children of God. They are now also qualified to approach God in the Most Holy Place and commune in prayer with him as their heavenly Father.

It is natural for children to speak to their fathers, is it not? I recently heard about a study that said fathers are absent from most homes in this country. That is a tragedy, because children need fathers and need to speak to them. As children of God, we also need to speak to our heavenly Father, crying, “Abba, Father,” as we read in Romans 8:15. In the Spirit-filled life such speech is called prayer.

If you are a Christian, you will be a person who prays for all kinds of things. Why? You have been made a child of God and as such you have this wonderful right and privilege of prayer. Just as children speak to their fathers with confidence and they are delighted to hear and answer their prayers, so also we can speak to our heavenly Father who wants to know our needs and answer us. He is the one who watches over the birds, clothes the flowers with beauty, and gives food to the young lions. How much more will he care for us?

An apostolic church is a praying church whose needs are to be met by her heavenly Father. Therefore, may we all come to God through the means of prayer in the name of Jesus for all our needs. If we do so, I am confident that God will never fail us.

The Prayers of the Apostles

The early disciples were constantly praying. In Acts 2 we read that they were praying in the upper room before they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and they continued to pray together daily afterwards. Why? Because prayer is a means by which believers keep in touch with God. These disciples were fellowshiping not only with one another but also with God, and we ought to do the same. In fact, we should speak to God in prayer first before we speak to anyone else.

Throughout the book of Acts we read about the apostles praying. In Acts 4 we read that the apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin where they were told to not speak in the name of Jesus Christ again. Acts 4:23-26 tells us that after the Sanhedrin released them, “Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God: ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant our father David, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.”‘” In verse 31 we read, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.” Do you think that was an earthquake. No. This was a real answer to prayer by which God was telling his disciples, “I have heard your prayer and I am going to take care of you.” And the text says, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

In Acts 12 we read that Peter was put into prison by King Herod. Herod had already killed James and he was planning to kill Peter also to please the Jewish people. But in Acts 12:5 we read, “So Peter was kept in prison but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” God heard the prayers of the church, sent an angel to release Peter, and in verse 13 we see Peter knocking on the door of the house where the people were praying for his release.

In Acts 13 we read that the church in Syrian Antioch fasted and prayed for divine direction. As they were praying, God directed the church to send out Paul and Barnabas on what became the first missionary journey.

In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas in Philippi. After they were severely beaten, they were thrust into prison. In verses 25-26 we read, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. . .and everybody’s chains came loose.” The jailer rushed in, crying, “What must I do to be saved?” and the Bible tells us that the jailer and his family believed in Christ and were baptized that very night. So I encourage you again to try prayer. Why? Great things happen when God’s people pray.

Devoted to Prayer

We must be devoted to prayer. In Ephesians 6:18-20 we read, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare fearlessly, as I should.” Paul is urging us to speak to God on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us and causes us to cry out to God the Father on the basis of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans 12:12 Paul tells us, “Be faithful in prayer,” and in Colossians 4:2 he says, “Devote yourselves to prayer.” Therefore, I challenge you: Give yourselves over to prayer. Persevere in it. If you are a child, pray to God before you talk to your father and mother. If you are a parent, tell your children, “Go to the room and cry out to God.” Teach them how to pray.

In Hebrews 4:15 we read, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet without sin.” This verse tells us we have weaknesses and are tempted. What can we do? The writer continues in verse 16, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.”

We are a needy people, aren’t we? But in this verse the writer is encouraging us, saying, “Yes, we are weak, we are tempted, and we need help. But, come on, let’s go to God. Let’s pray!” Why? Because through Jesus Christ we can approach the throne of God where we will receive all the mercy and grace we need. What a wonderful promise of God!

A Joyful Church

The fifth characteristic of an apostolic church is joy. I remember once looking for a book on joy in a seminary library. To my surprise, I could not find one! Some people think that joy is unnecessary in the Christian life. Such people think that Christians ought to appear very serious, gloomy, and miserable all the time.

When you read the book of Acts, however, you find church that is full of joy. In Acts 2:46 we read, “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.” The Greek word for “glad,” agalliasiV, means “with extreme joy, with exceeding joy, with great, inexpressible joy,” and this kind of joy ought to be a part of any New Testament, Spirit-filled, apostolic church.

People who study the Bible will be joyful. Why? Because the wrath of God, the guilt of sin, and the threat of hell is gone, and they have been given new status as children of God. Such people rejoice that God the Father loves them, God the Son loves them, and God the Holy Spirit energizes them. Such knowledge should result in great joy, don’t you think?

Joy in the Early Church

When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into the Philippian prison, what was their reaction? Were they grumbling, murmuring, complaining and arguing? Were they asking God, “God, why did you send us to Europe? We were in Troas and you gave a vision of a Macedonian fellow saying, ‘Come and help me.’ We took it as a sign from you to come over here, but here we are–severely flogged, humiliated, and thrust into prison, even though we are Roman citizens”? No. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul and Silas got up in the middle of the night and began to pray and sing hymns to God. They were filled with great joy even in prison.

In 1 Peter 1 we find this Greek word, agalliasiV, in verse 6, “In this you greatly rejoice,” and in verse 8, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” We find it also in Jude 24, “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. . . .”

Let me pause for a moment and ask you: Have you experienced this great joy? That is what Spirit-filled living is all about. It doesn’t matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. The Spirit of the Lord will cause us to experience inexpressible, extreme, exceeding joy in all circumstances. Didn’t Jesus say, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly”?

An apostolic church is a rejoicing church. As we read in Acts 2:46-47, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” These people were continually praising God and giving him glory for what he had done, praying, “O God, we praise you and thank you for Jesus Christ, whom you sent to accomplish our redemption. Now our guilt is taken away and your wrath is gone. We were dead in trespasses and sins, but, O God, your great love and rich mercy changed us. Now we are new creations and through the blood of Jesus Christ we can come to the very throne of God. Praise you, O God!” What great joy to praise God and give him all the glory and credit! To God alone be glory–soli Deo gloria!

Did anyone tell these disciples, “Now let us all praise God” when they prayed? No! This was a spontaneous, Spirit-produced praising of God. I used to hear my mother saying, “Stothram, stothram, stothram,” as she went about her work. What does “stothram” mean? Praise God! As you are cooking, praise God! As you are washing dishes, praise God! As you are working, caring for children, working in the fields or whatever, praise God! In other words, if we are New Testament Christians, we will praise God for everything no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing.

An Evangelizing Church

The sixth characteristic of the apostolic church is evangelism. At the end of verse 47 we read, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Why do you think people were joining the church? Because they saw the transformed lives of the disciples.

Can you imagine what these people were like? They were full of joy and new life. They were studying the word of God with great earnestness. They were fellowshiping with one another and loving one another as brothers and sisters. They were always rejoicing and singing God’s praises.

Other people began to notice all these changes, especially when the believers went into the temple courts where the Jews and unbelievers gathered. When they saw such transformed lives, the Jews and unbelievers would ask the disciples, “What is going on here? What is the reason for this great transformation?” Then the disciples would tell them about Jesus Christ. They would plainly say he was the one whom the people crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. They would proclaim that God had made Jesus of Nazareth both Lord and Christ and seated him on the right hand of God the Father. They would declare that this Jesus had poured out his Holy Spirit who was doing all these wonderful things in their lives. Then they would challenge the crowd, “Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you also will be saved,” and the Bible tells us that the Lord added to the church those who were being saved.

Whole Life Evangelism

We must realize that evangelism does not just mean speaking some words with our lips. We must have a whole life transformation, a changed life, as well as the articulation of the gospel. In Acts 11:19-20 we read, “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.” You see, evangelism was not all done by the apostles. It is also done by the people of God as a part of their ordinary, daily lives. And in verse 21 we read, “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

These disciples were living transformed lives, beginning with Bible study and moving into great fellowship and love for one another, the breaking of bread and prayers, demonstrating exceeding joy and praising God. Through such people God added many other to his church.

Declaring the Gospel

The early disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin to speak. What do you think these people were talking about? In Acts 2:11 we read that they were declaring the wonderful things of God.

The Spirit-filled disciples were not speaking of their miseries and problems. Every pagan can speak of his own miseries and problems. We do not need to speak about such things. No, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, these disciples were speaking the wonderful things of God. And what do you think is the most wonderful thing of God in the entire universe? It is Jesus Christ of Nazareth–God become man–very God and very man. The most wonderful thing we can speak about is that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. It is that he performed miracles, taught the ways of God, and lived a pure life. It is that he was crucified and buried, but on the third day, according to the Scriptures, God raised him up, of which the disciples were witnesses. It is that he is now Lord and Christ and is coming again. It is that he poured out the Holy Spirit who had transformed their lives so much that they could rejoice in the middle of persecution and pain. It is declaring that Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification. That is evangelism. We plant, someone else waters, and God gives the increase.

The first disciples loved God first and then the church. But these disciples also loved the world, so they began to declare the gospel to the Gentiles. They did not need any professional training; they merely told them “the good news about the Lord Jesus.” And what was the result? “The Lord added to their number.”

Now, we must realize that this church growth was accomplished without using any gimmicks. Today we have church growth specialists who tell us we have to have short, entertaining sermons with lots of jokes, humor, and stories in them. “Don’t say anything that will upset anyone,” these people will tell us. “Don’t tell them about repentance and sin and all these other things. Make it all nice and cozy and warm.” Such is man’s way of evangelism and such will be the churches man builds. But this text tells us “The Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” The Lord saves and adds to his church. In Matthew 16 Jesus said, “I will build my church.”

In 1 Peter 2:4-5 we read about the church built by the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter writes, “As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him–you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house.” . . .” God saves us and makes us living stones. Then he places us in the building called church in relation to everyone else upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

In other words, the true church of God is not a pile of bricks. It is a structure built properly in relationship to others and built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. And the Lord adds to this church such as are being saved. God is the builder, in other words, and we do not need any gimmicks. May God help us to understand this!

Meeting Together as a Church

Acts 2:46 tells us, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” Why do you think the disciples went to the temple to meet? First, because there was probably no other place in Jerusalem where so many people could meet together. By then the church had over three thousand people, and in Acts 4 we read that it grew to about five thousand. These disciples needed to meet in a large place where they could hear the apostles’ teaching, and the court of the temple fulfilled that requirement. But there is another reason the church met in the temple courts. That was where unbelievers would be found, and the gospel could be shared with them.

In the latter part of verse 46 we are told, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” The disciples met in a large group in the temple courts, but they also would meet in small gatherings of ten or twelve people in houses. What would they do in these small groups? They would fellowship, eat, rejoice, get to know one another, talk about problems and difficulties, pray for one another, encourage one another, and build one another up. There is no question that it is proper to have small groups within a larger church body. It is a proper thing to do, provided we do it for the glory of God rather than for the glory of the small group leaders.

It is proper, therefore, to come together as a large group and it is proper to have small groups in which believers eat together, worship together, and fellowship together. And through all of this, the Lord will add to his church such as are being saved.

A Respected Church

What is the seventh characteristic of the apostolic church? It was respected by everyone. In Acts 2:43 we read that “Everyone was filled with awe,” meaning people in the church as well as people outside of the church were filled with awe as they observed what God was doing in their midst. In Acts 5:11 we read, “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” In Acts 19:17 we read, “When this became known to the Jews and the Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” In the New Testament church, the people inside the church were filled with awe and wonder, outsiders were gripped with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ was held in honor.

What about our churches today? Are we filled with awe and fear? Do we pray to God, “O God, honor your name. Come, Almighty God, with such power and perform your work in such a way that your church will be gripped with reverential awe and the people outside will be filled with fear.” May God give us churches which display this characteristic of the New Testament, apostolic, Spirit-filled church!

The New Testament church was respected by all. In verse 47 we read, the people were “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Of the Lord Jesus Christ it is said that he grew in favor with God and with men. Christians, in other words, ought not to be the butt of the joke. Rather, as they are filled with the Spirit and transformed in their lives, having God in their midst and doing his work, they will tremble and the people outside will fear. Such a church will grow in favor with all people.

Apostolic Christianity

As we learn from this passage about the first church, may God help us to live a Spirit-filled life like these early disciples. May we devote ourselves to the apostles’ doctrine, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. May our lives be characterized by inexpressible joy as we are indwelt by the Spirit of God. May the church be respected and Christ’s name be exalted because of us. And may outsiders see our transformed lives and ask the question, “Why are you like this? What happened to you?” When these things happen, then we can tell those who ask about the greatest event that ever took place in the history of the universe–the coming of Christ and his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his session, his coming again. And when we share the gospel in this way, may the Lord add daily to his church such as are being saved. Amen.