Careful examination of the New Testament church depicts a vibrant, sustenant, and growing body, whose strength can largely be contributed to the powerful preaching of the apostolic message. This preaching, though basic in theme, was the solid foundation upon which Christ built His church. Peter’s message at Pentecost is a prime example of the Apostolic Kerygma, and clearly demonstrates the basic elements within this type of message.
One primary element in the Apostolic Kerygma, as suggested by C.H. Dodd was that, "The Age of Fulfillment had dawned". What God had promised throughout the Scriptures by the prophets concerning salvation and the Messianic Age was realized through the coming of Christ and by the power with which he would endow all believers. Correspondantly, Peter declared to the crowd that had gathered on the Day of Pentecost that what they were seeing was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh--a direct consequence of Jesus’s coming. Old Testament prophecy was being fulfilled and a New Age had dawned with the coming of Christ.
The inception of this New Age, according to Peter, and his apostolic message, had taken place through the ministry, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus. In essence, God had placed His seal of approval on the ministry of Jesus by confirming His claim of being the Son of God, with miraculous manifestations. Then, despite the efforts of the religious athorities who had violently executed Him, this Jesus who had been predestined by the foreknowledge of God to be lawlessly murdered, resurrected with power from on High to a place of heavenly glorification. Further, He has been exalted at the right hand of God, as the Messianic head of the new Israel.
The preaching of both the suffering and resurection of Jesus were key components in the growth of the New Testament church. This was because salvation is rooted in both the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. Thus, preaching that Jesus is a Prince and a Savior to Israel, though He suffered a shameful execution from the Sanhedrin, and that God has raised and exalted Him to a place of power, was essential to the Apostolic message.
Also important to the Apostolic Kerygma was that the Holy Spirit in the church was the sign of Christ’s present power and glory. As Peter pointed out, Christ, who reigns in exaltation has poured out "that which we now see and hear," or, the power and glory of the church--the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s message closed with an appeal for repentance, the promise of salvation, and the offering of the Holy Spirit. In essence, because of what Christ had done, He who has Divine authority will forgive those who will repent from wickedness and will give the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, the Apostolic Kerygma, as demonstrated by Peter’s Pentecost sermon, along with the annointing of the Holy Spirit, was clearly fundamental in the boom of early Christianity. Furthermore, the anointed preaching of the message of Christ, will always produce growth for the church. Thus, in order for present-day world outreach to mimick the intensity of New Testement evangelism, it is vital for today’s church to utelize the anointed preaching if the Apostolic message.
One of the greatest efforts to further the Gospel was made by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts. However, Paul did not merely preach of the salvation of the Lord. When sinners were converted, Paul placed them in established churches where their decision could be nurtured and strengthened, and where they could be brought into responsible service to God. Thus, the establishment of local churches, many of which were house churches, was a necessary element in the furtherance of the Gospel and in the ministry of Paul. As this gospel was spread throughout the Roman world, the early pioneers, like Paul, continued planting new churches in metropolitan areas where converts could be fed. Such church planting was fundamental in the Biblical plan for evangelizing the lost. The Apostle Paul took this area of ministry very seriously. Consequently, he developed a strategy for church planting that worked, and used that strategy repeatedly throughout Acts. As today’s church looks at these effective tactics, a similar strategy can be patterned to effectively bring in the lost.
Upon the apostle Paul’s entrance to a new city to preach the Gospel, he would make his initial contact with the Jewish synagogue. There, when given the opportunity to speak, he would present Christ as Messiah and Lord. Ordinarily, this message would be received with mixed reactions by the people. Some of the Jews would believe and accept Jesus as the Messiah. Others, usually the leadership, would reject the gospel and force Paul to leave the temple. Subsequent to Jewish rejection of the Gospel, Paul opened the Word to the Gentiles. The Gentiles had regularly attended synagogue, earnestly seeking to know God. However they had not conformed to the legalistic requirements of Jewish traditionalists. Therefore, when Paul offered salvation to them outside of the confines of Jewish law, they were receptive to the Good News and were saved. From this point, Paul concentrated his energies toward proclaiming the truth to those who responded to the message of salvation. Consequently, the gentile God-fearers were the reaped harvest.
Perhaps the greatest factor that precipitated Paul’s success was the calling that God had placed on his life. The Holy Spirit had burned His cause in Paul’s heart, placing within him a fervor to see souls established in the kingdom. Further, the Apostle Paul realized the potential power of the ministry. He was able, through the founding of churches, to equip the saints to maintain themselves and to institute diversified ministries, especially among the Gentiles. In essence, because of God’s predestination on his life, and Paul’s zeal, he wrought mighty deeds for the cause of Christ.
Fortunately, Paul’s anointed ministry was continually backed by the church. This was a key element in his ministry’s success. By maintaining contact with the church, the church was able to fully uphold Paul’s cause in prayer, giving, and support. This backing proved invaluable when uncertainty about the relation of the law to Christianity was aroused by the Judaizers. When Paul and Barnabas gave their address, the Jerusalem Council was fully aware of the church’s steadfast support. In fact, even when the two were separated by the Holy Spirit at Antioch, the church sustained them.
Because Paul concentrated his efforts on a responsive people, was called by God, realized the magnitude of the ministry, and was rooted in the church, his ministry excelled. Likewise, today’s church can effectively minister to the lost. There are many groups of people that need the gospel of Jesus--they don’t have anything else. For example, the emotionally wounded, the lonely, the outcast, etc., will readily adhere to the Word if only the local body will concentrate its efforts toward them. In addition, each church needs to be aware of its individual calling. Realizing the unique anointing God has granted is the initial step of any great work. Then, the church can understand the magnitude of its ministry and can develop a strategy. When these steps are carried out, a unity of purpose and plan will be established that will enable to church to reach out to any imaginable harvest.
The Church, after expanding from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, was on the brink of launching out into a Gentile harvest field and spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Though scattered throughout the Holy land, the Church was referred to as one spiritual body, a universal church. The people had become one brotherhood. As a result of this unity, the gospel had already been spread throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. Clearly, the good news had already been cultivated in the land of the Jews, but now, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it would grow into the Gentile Caesarean land.
Throughout this transitional period, the church was strengthened and greatly blessed by God. For instance, a Roman edict ordering statues of the emperor to be placed in the temple at Jerusalem was given. Thus, the Roman Army had been sent to execute this order and to destroy anyone who did not comply. Consequently, the Jews, preoccupied with their own tyranization, suspended their persecution of the Church.
In addition to the lull of Christian persecution, an intense edification of the believers transpired. The God-fearing church became strengthened and comforted by the Holy Spirit like never before. They earnestly sought the Lord and He replied with an abundant harvest to be reaped. Consequently, the church not only grew in the spiritual dynamic but in numerical stature as well.
God allowed the Church this season of peace and blessing to prepare them to minister to the lost. Before winning the nations of the world, the Church had to be spiritually equipped. Further, because of this stage of enrichment, they were able to carry the gospel into the untouched domain of the Gentiles, thus completing the final decree of the Great Commission.
God’s pattern for new-covenant ministry has not altered from its beginnings in the Mesopotamian Church. In order for multitudes to be brought to Christ today, a similiar course must be pursued. The Church must prepare itself for the minstry by diligently seeking the face of God. For, without spiritual maturity within the present members, the Church can not expect to minister to the spiritually undeveloped. As in the early church we, too, must walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit before we can teach others to do the same.
Before Christ gloriously ascended to His power, His primary concern was the heralding of His Good News throughout all the world. Accordingly, he gave several instructions whereby His disciples might accomplish the seemingly impossible task of world evangelization. In viewing these commands, an understanding of how a handful of people could become so empowered by the Holy Spirit that they would accomplish exploits for the kingdom of God, can be found.
Christ’s first command was for the believers to be endued with power from on high. If His people were going to launch such a military assault on the kingdom of darkness, they must first be armed and equipped to do so. Likewise today’s believer must be immersed into the Holy Spirit to gain the anointing to satisfy the special commission of the glorified Redeemer.
In equipping the believers to evangelize the world, Christ admonished them of becoming side-tracked on theological issues. This warning was not to diminish the importance of eschatology, but rather to confirm to His followers that their highest priority at that moment was receiving the necessary equipment for carrying out His command to evangelize the world. Also, He assured them that the manifestation of the supernatural anointing on their ministries would be the greatest sign of the coming kingdom.
In addition, it was so urgent that the disciples understand the broad scope of their challange, that Christ restated the far reaching implications of the Great Commission. First, they were to wait in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, they were to launch an all out evangelistic thrust that would reach all the nations of the world. Thus, it could not be until the Church moved out of the confines of Jerusalem, that they would begin fulfilling the Great Commission.
Although the believers might have been content to settle in Jerusalem, God prompted their hands into action by allowing persecution to intensify. The attempts of the enemies of Christ to destroy the church played a key role in fulfilling Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." For instance, the persucution surrounding the martyrdom of Stephen was used by God to scatter believers throughout Judea and Samaria proclaiming Christ. Thus, persecution only led to a wider and fuller proclamation of the Gospel.
God also used Peter’s vision to remove prejudice and open up the Gospel to the Gentiles beginning with the household of Cornelius. Likewise, the calling of the Apostle Paul was an instrument by which God heralded the Good News. Fulfilling the Lord’s instruction, Paul helped spread the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth-the final area of the commission.
Clearly, through many ways and many persons did God establish a multi-national church in the book of Acts. Because Christ had instructed and equipped His followers, they were able to leave behind their own ambitions and realize His extraordinary command--to evangelize the world.
