Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)
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.
Now that we’ve properly defined “the church” (the body of Christ), we can answer the next question Pastor explored. The question posed - “What should our church look like?” We already understand the church is the body of Christ, so we must then explore what the body of Christ should look like. As with anything in our Jesus Walk, we begin with prayer and Scripture. We need not peer any further than the first church, the early church of the Book of Acts, to garner our example. I’ll stick to ten things. And I’ll bow out and allow the Scriptures to do the talking…
Characteristics of the Early Church:
1. Christ is the Head. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
2. Unity. (Acts 2:44, Acts 4:32)
3. Lives of worship and joy. (Acts 2:46-47)
4. Fellowship. (Acts 5: 12-13)
5. Shared everything. (Acts 4:32)
6. Read Scriptures. (Acts 6:1-7)
7. Collective Prayer. (Acts 6:1-7, Acts 4: 23-31, Acts 3:1)
8. Discipleship. Building up the inside. (Acts 2:42)
9. Church Planting. Building up the outside. (Acts 12-20)
10. Healing. (Acts 5:16, Acts 3:1-11)
Doesn’t get much clearer than that. Just imagine if Refuge followed through on ALL ten of these things. Let us vow to become a healthy, thriving body of Christ, so we can be both pleasing to Him and appealing to a hurting world.
