“ESSENTIAL PRACTICES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH”
ACTS 2:42-47
OPEN
A paramedic was being interviewed on a local Dallas TV news program. The host asked, “What was your most challenging and unusual 911 call?”
The paramedic said, “It happened recently. We got a call from that big white church on 11th and Walnut. One of the ushers was franticly concerned that during their worship service about an elderly man who had passed out in a pew and appeared to be dead. The usher couldn’t find a pulse and it appeared that the man wasn’t breathing.”
The host leaned forward and asked, “What was so unusual and demanding about this particular call?”
The paramedic responded, “We carried out four guys before we found the one who was dead.”
We look at the church as it’s described in its early days and we’re amazed at the energy and life that radiated throughout their worship and their witness. We say to ourselves, “It can never be that way again.” But we’re wrong.
We have called our affiliated congregations the Restoration Movement. We believe because we’ve restored a few things, that we have fully restored the New Testament pattern. However, in many congregations, we’ve failed to restore some of the most important parts of the early church. Over the last two weeks, we’ve talked about restoring the power of the New Testament church – the Holy Spirit. We’ve also talked about restoring the preaching of the New Testament church – a focus on obedience to God’s word and God’s Son. This week, we need to talk about restoring the practice of the New Testament church.
The dictionary definition of the word “practice” is: “to do or engage in regularly; make a habit of; to do repeatedly so as to gain skill; to work at – as a profession.” There are a lot of congregations that are practicing – engaging in regularly; making a habit of; doing repeatedly; working at – the wrong things. They’re confused about what it means to be a practicing New Testament congregation.
Francis Chan commented on our misconception of what church is all about. He said, “You go to a building, someone gives you a bulletin, you sit in a chair, you sing a few songs, a guy delivers maybe a polished message, maybe not, someone sings a solo, you go home. Though Christians believe in an almighty and all powerful God who places His spirit in believers, he response among His people today is, ‘Hi, welcome to church. Here’s your bulletin. We’ll get you out in an hour. Come back next week.’ [And then he says] I mean, really? Is that all God intended for us?”
Let’s closely examine what the work of the Spirit and the willingness to obey God’s Word did in the lives of those who responded to the Spirit and the Word on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:42-47 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the
apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods,
they gave to anyone as he 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.
THEY WERE A DEVOTED CHURCH
The KJV translates this term as “continued steadfastly.” The literal meaning in the original language was “to endure; to stick to something even when the going is difficult.”
One of the biggest factors in lifeless churches is uncommitted people. No one wants to participate but everyone wants to aggravate. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and complain about how the game is being played. It’s much more difficult to suit up and actually get in the game.
It seems that being devoted, practicing commitment, and staying course during difficult times is not a concept that very many Christian understand anymore. When a small group of complainers want to control things according to their personal whims, the church gives in because they don’t have the heart to fight. When the young people move to other congregations and the church finds it difficult to attract new young people, the church gives in to the traditionalists whose adherence to cultural and generational practices have driven the young people away in the first place. When the ground in which to sow the gospel grows hard, the church gives up and claims that nobody is interested anymore. But Gal 6:9 tells us: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Devotion, endurance, continuation, perseverance – those things have their foundation in our hearts and minds. It’s what we desire to do and what we decide to do. Ezra 7:10 – For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. The KJV translates the word “devoted” as “set his heart.” Where is your heart set today?
The early Christians set their hearts on being devoted – devoted to their Lord, devoted to each other, and devoted to their mission. Vs. 46 tells us their devotion was ongoing on a daily basis. The lack of devotion, endurance, and stick-to-it-tiveness is a clear marker that shows how far away a congregation is from the practice of the New Testament church
THEY WERE A LEARNING CHURCH
They were devoted, committed, determined to know, understand, and practice what the apostles could teach them. They were a group of people who had a desire to learn.
Last week, we saw how Scripture permeated the preaching of the New Testament church. This passion for the word of God was transmitted from Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the apostles who passed it along to all who would follow Christ.
Peter tells us in 1 Pet. 1:23 – For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Jesus said in Mt. 4:4, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread
alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
In his book, When God Builds a Church, Bob Russell, retired senior minister at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville testifies how important their devotion to Scripture was to their growth as a church. He relates a particular series of events that took place as the congregation prepared to make the move from Hikes Lane to their current location on Blankenbaker Rd.
He called a special staff meeting and requested that the staff meet him at the new building. When everyone got to the location, hard hats, Magic Markers, and Bibles were passed out to each one. Bob instructed his staff to go to the classrooms and offices where they would be working and write scripture verses on the concrete floors.
Bob told them, “Someday soon the scriptures will be covered with carpet. But I hope you will always remember what you have written today. And what we do today will be a visible reminder that we are always to stand on God’s Word.”
He writes how the staff really got into the swing of things. Some of them found some spray paint and began using it so the words would show up better. Those in the children’s ministry wrote things like, “Let the little children come unto me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” In the education wing, the adult educations ministers wrote, “Study to show yourself approved unto God…” In the music practice rooms the music minister wrote, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” In the offices of the preaching staff, they wrote: “Preach the word in season and out of season.” One single lady in the children’s ministry wrote her favorite verse on the floor of her office, “It is not good for a man to be alone.”
The scriptures-on-the-floor idea caught on and soon hundreds of church members followed suit. In a matter of weeks, there were scriptures all over the concrete floors – down the hallways, on the stairways, and on the steps leading up to the pulpit.
Bob Russell commented: “I believe the greatest reason God has chosen to bless Southeast Church and thousands of other churches around the world is that we have been serious about upholding the absolute truth of God’s Word.”
God’s Word is wisdom for those who need guidance. It’s power for those who are weak. It’s encouragement for those who are discouraged. It is hope for those on the brink f despair. It is life for those who are facing death.
A church that wants to follow the practice of the New Testament church has to be devoted to God’s Word.
But more than being preached from the pulpit, more than taught in Sunday School and Bible studies, more than sung in songs of worship, the Word of God must live forth in the lives of individual members of the congregation.
THEY WERE A FELLOWSHIPPING CHURCH
Our use of the word “fellowship” has lost its true meaning over the last 2,000 years. We use it to refer to things we do to be together to have an enjoyable time. Most often, we use it to refer to times when we eat together and we call it a “fellowship meal.”
However, the term that Luke uses here is a term that meant “a participation in partnership; a sharing of something in common.” You see, these early Christians knew that they were in this thing together. They knew that the success of the church was not just in the hands of a few but in the hands of everyone.
This idea of fellowship runs throughout the New Testament. One of the most common phrases in the letters of Paul, James, and John is that of “one another.” 1 Jn., 3:11 says that we’re to love one another. In fact, this phrase is used five times in 1 John. Rom. 15:14 tells us to instruct one another. 1 Thess. 5:11 – encourage one another. Rom. 12:15 – rejoice with one another and weep with one another. Eph. 4:32 – forgive one another. James 5:16 – confess your faults to one another and pray for one another. Eph. 5:21 – be submissive to one another. Col. 3:16 – warn one another. Eph. 4:32 – be kind to one another.
As you look at passages in the New Testament that deal with this issue, you find that fellowship is generally comprised of three fundamental parts. The first part is enjoyment – getting together just because its fun to be together. The second part is a little harder. It’s encouragement – when someone is down, you lift and build them up. The third part is the toughest part and the one most ignored. It’s accountability – the confession of struggles and asking for help during these struggles. It’s being responsible to someone else for your behavior. This one is the toughest because it requires that I trust that you won’t hurt me when I’m struggling and needing help but that you will come to my aid.
It’s been said that a chain is only as good as its weakest link. How do you fit into the “one another” scheme of things?
Years ago, an anonymous writer composed a piece that speaks loudly to this practice of the New Testament church: This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service, if I who make it what is, am filled with these. Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these thing I want my Church to be.
THEY WERE A WORSHIPING CHURCH
They were known for their lifestyle of worship demonstrated in their daily praise of God and their weekly sharing in the Lord’s Supper. The phrasing in the original language indicates a continual demonstration of worship and praise that has no ending or finish.
Our word “worship” comes from the older word “worthship.” It designates that is worthy of our adulation and service. Our word “praise” comes from an Old French word that means “to prize.” Again, it denotes that we recognize God’s worth.
As they went about their daily lives, the early church members demonstrated the value that they put on their Lord and Savior. Those who lived around them saw it in what they said and what they did.
Not only did they worship Christ with their individual lives, they gathered for corporate celebration. The early church was known for its gathering together to celebrate the Lord’ Supper.
Paul instructs us in 1 Cor. 11:23-26 – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The New Testament church was regular in sharing together in Jesus’ victory over sin and death and the power that His resurrection gave them to live lives of sacrifice and service Christ, to each other, and to their community.
THEY WERE A PRAYING CHURCH
After World War I, Lawrence of Arabia came to visit Paris. He brought with him some Arab friends. He showed them all around the city but the thing that fascinated them the most was the water faucets in their hotel rooms. They spent quite a lot of their time in Paris just turning the faucets on and off. They were amazed that they could get all the water they wanted simply by turning a handle.
When it came time to leave Lawrence found them in the bathroom trying to remove the faucet from the wall. He asked them what they were doing. They replied, “It is very dry in the desert. What we need are faucets. If we have them, we will have all the water we want." He had to explain to them that the effectiveness of the faucets lay in their connection to the pipeline.
Every great movement of God in history has involved people on their knees before God. No revival, no great work has ever been accomplished without the framework of prayer. Lifeless congregations suffer from a lack of this framework of prayer. They’re efforts have failed because on the whole they have failed to be devoted to the process of prayer.
We say we will pray for people and their needs. We promise to lift up the church and its leaders in prayer. We know that God has called us to be people of prayer. But as someone once said, “When all is said and done, more is said than done.”
James 5:16 tells us that we should pray for one another. Paul said in Phil. 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Even Jesus prayed regularly and fervently.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Every time we pray, our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time. And the amazing thing is that we don’t pray more.”
THEY WERE A MIRACULOUS CHURCH
Among the early church, there were “many wonders and miraculous signs.” It was a reminder that Jesus worked many miracles and that He was still active among His people even though not physically present.
When a congregation steps out in faith after seeking God’s guidance, miracles still happen. People are saved. Goals get met. The power of God is seen in the community. And because of it, people do praise God.
THEY WERE A UNITED CHURCH
A young father heard a commotion out in his backyard. He looked outside and saw his daughter and several playmates in a heated quarrel. When he intervened, his daughter called back, “Dad, we’re just playing church!”
We’re told that “all the believers were together.” That’s probably the biggest miracle in itself! How many congregations are divided among themselves over what really amounts to things that are petty and insignificant?
The New Testament clearly teaches the importance of unity in the body of Christ. Jesus said in Mt. 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” We know how fervently Jesus prayed the in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before he went to the cross that His followers would be one.
THEY WERE A GIVING CHURCH
We’re told that they shared everything in common. No one with a need went without. The phrasing in the original language indicates that this was something didn’t just happen on special occasions but occurred on a regular basis.
Jesus said in Lk. 6:30 – “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” Then in vs. 38, He adds, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Paul would echo that teaching in Gal. 6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
THEY WERE A JOYFUL CHURCH
Acts 2:46 tells us that they did all these things gladly. Phil. 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Sadly, too many Christians are complainers and not rejoicers. They look like they were baptized in pickling brine. We’ll sing “I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart: but the the look on some of our faces is downright scary!
C.S. Lewis said, “Joy bursts in on our lives when we go about doing the good at hand and not trying to manipulate things and times to achieve joy.” The New Testament church clearly understood and practiced this concept.
THEY WERE A RESPECTED CHUIRCH
They “enjoyed the favor of all the people.” The people who lived around them saw the change in their lives. They saw the power of God working through His people.
The word translated as “favor” here is also the word for “grace.” God’s beauty was seen and experienced by the people in the community as they watched these early Christians go about their daily lives. And people were impacted in a positive way.
THEY WERE A GROWING CHURCH
What happens when the local church practices – engages in regularly; makes a habit of; does repeatedly; works at the practices of the New Testament church? It grows!
In Acts 2:41, it tells us how about 3,000 people responded to Peter’s sermon and that they were added to the number of believers. Then we read in vs. 47 that as the church practiced what they professed that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
As the early church continued to practice what they professed, the phenomenal growth continued. Acts 4:4 tells us that the number of men (not including the women and children) was about 5,000. Then in Acts 5:14, it describes further growth this way: More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. The phrasing indicates that at this point, it was now becoming difficult to keep up with the number of people making decisions for Christ.
CLOSE
Fred Sigle, preaching minister at Garfield Christian Church in Indianapolis tells about Mark Knutson. On
August 28, 1993, he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer. When diagnosed, he was already in the late stages and was only given a short time to live.
Mark’s biggest worries were not for himself but only for his wife and two children. Who would take care of them? Would there be people to love and support them throughout his orde3al?
By September 19, his worries were taken care of. The Knutson family heard noise outside, opened the window, and saw that the street was filled with Christian friends from their church. After completely encircling th4e house, all of the friends joined hands and prayed for Mark and his family. They let the Knutson family know they were loved.
Mark was too ill to receive visitors but the show of love continued. These Christians continued their public display of love throughout through the next six weeks. During that time, not a day went by in which 2-20 people gathered in the corner of the yard to pray for the Knutsons. Because Mark was so sick, they kept a prayer register on the back porch so that Mark would know who had been there.
These Christians did more than pray. Many faithfully sent cards of encouragement. Some helped with transportation and other needs for the Knutson children. The Knutson’s said, “We truly felt a hedge of love encircling our home.”
Mark fought valiantly but in November of the same year, he succumbed to the cancer. Mark passed away knowing that his wife and children were loved and taken care of by their church family. Not only did this six-week display of Christian love affect the Knutsons, their neighbors were influenced in a positive way. Several neighbor families witnessing the love of /Christ in action obeyed the Gospel.
