The church received the word of God.
First, the word must be preached. Not ideas, thoughts, rules, philosophy, etc.
Second, the word must be received. Welcome it, believe it, take it in, practice it, hold on to it, hunger for it, share it.
Now the key thought is found in vs. 42 and 46, “they continued” means to persevere, endure, stick, persist. Just the opposite of quit, back off, fade away, or slip back.
“Steadfastly” Only time this word is used in the N.T.
• To be earnest towards
• Constantly, diligent
• To attend, to adhere closely
• To be strong
“Now what did they continue in?”
I. They Continued in the Apostles Doctrine
1. Doctrine or the teaching, the instructions of the apostles.
2. There is only one message, only one word, that saves, roots, and grounds people in the Lord.
a. The word of God Himself. 2 Timothy 3:16
b. Matthew 28:19-20
c. Luke 24:45-48
3. Now, what was the purpose of the “Apostles Doctrine?”
a. To edify and unify the saints and to prove the word of God is real.
b. By this the saints could tell the genuine from the counterfeit.
c. 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
4. Now a danger: to make the doctrine of God fit the philosophy of man.
a. 1 Timothy 6:1-5
b. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
5. But we as ‘bible believers’ ought not to ‘neglect’ or ‘ignore’ God’s word, on any given subject. Colossians 2:8
a. Human nature would like to remove and weaken the foundational doctrines of this grand old book!
b. Always has been, always will be
6. I wonder which or what doctrine causes us to want to compromise. To water it down or alter. Revelation 22:19
7. The doctrine of salvation, which affects many other doctrines.
a. Heaven – John 14:6, Acts 4:12
b. Hell – Mark 9:42-47
c. Eternal Security – New Birth
8. Doctrine of Sin
9. Doctrine of Prophecy
10. Doctrine of the church
11. If we are to be blessed and used of God, we must continue in doctrine, preserve, endure, persist
II. They Continued in Fellowship
1. 1 John 1
a. The basis of the fellowship is family. Born again, same Heavenly Father
2. Christianity is first an individual matter, then it becomes a social matter.
a. We are attached to Christ individually.
b. We do have brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. The Christian does have an inward life, but also an outward behavior.
a. This bible does teach that each of us should have an active part or role in the lives of others.
b. Hebrews 10:25
4. The danger is fellowship and society can be “over-emphasized.”
III. They Continued in Breaking of Bread
1. Wiersbe says, “the breaking of bread probably refers to regular meals.
2. Note vs. 46 – 47
3. They were together, they had many things in common.
IV. They Continued in Prayer
1. The idea here is “church prayer”
2. Prayer united the whole body of believers.
a. Psalm 145:18-21; 73:28
b. Matthew 18:20
3. For us collectively and individually
a. Matthew 21:22
b. John 16:24; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 3:14-23; 5:13-15
