My last post described the journey I’ve been on for the past year. It was a journey without a clear destination. It was a journey with many, many ups and downs. It was a journey through many books, a lot of Scripture, and tons of conversations with God and people. It was a journey that eventually brought me to Acts 2:42-47.
Acts is an interesting book in many ways. It is certainly an descriptive book, telling the story of the spread of the early church. There is some debate, however, as to whether it is also a prescriptive book: does it prescribe the way in which churches are to be today? I think the answer is “kind-of”.
The description of the 1st century church family provides the prescription for the 21st century church. Not what it should look like, but what it should be like!
Let me try to show you what I mean:
| Description (the 1st century Church) | Prescription (the 21st century Church) |
| They devoted themselves (attended constantly) to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. | A church family devoted to knowing and living out God’s Word in intimate fellowship with Him and each other, reflected in regular communion and prayer. |
| Everyone was filled with awe (fear, reverence), and many wonders and miraculous signs (attesting miracles) were done by the apostles. | A church family overwhelmed with reverence for a holy God, experiencing many things that are simply unexplainable without Him. |
| All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. | A church family so united that they regularly, willingly sacrifice their time, talents and treasure for anyone in 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, | A church family that diligently gathers together in both formal and informal fellowship with great joy and simple devotion. |
| praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. | A church family known for praising God together and being a blessing to their community, where decisions for Christ are a common occurrence. |
Until the next post, try to imagine a church like the one described here. Try to imagine a small group like the one described here. Try to imagine a family like the families described here.
