The New Testament Church Acts 2:40-47 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The Early Church (the Church of Acts) was a Church that was different...distinct. Why? It turned the world upside down... It was ever increasing. How? This was no accident and it wasn’t just God. It was God but it was God AND a committed family of believers following Jesus. This is the pattern that we should follow. This facilitates an atmosphere that the Holy Spirit can work in. How can we do that? Follow their example. 1. They Were Committed To The Word “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” They were committed to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. It wasn’t a passing fancy to them...they continued steadfastly in it. Jesus said to make disciples and to teach them to do what He had commanded them. This Church was a disciple making church. This was disciples doing the Word. This was no “spectator sport.” They knew they had to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Too many have tried to build the church on their ideas. It is a Church built according to the dictates of the mind and the flesh of men. The Church is God’s idea. He planned it from eternity. It is all about His will and His glory. It’s about redemption. It’s about souls being saved. It’s about discipling them to be Christ-like. They were sold out to the the very Word of God. “He said it, I believe it, that settles it.” That should be the attitude of the Church. We should take it just like it is and not attempt to change it to fit our notions and the latest fads. The Word is solid, sure, unchanging. You can’t pick and choose. It is not a buffet. You can’t say this part is true and that part is not. If you cut one verse out you may find that there is one you liked on the other side of the page. It’s a package deal. It is “settled in heaven.” Heaven and earth will pass away but the Word will abide forever. We cannot place our trust in anything more sure that the Word. In the end everything else will fade into oblivion but God’s Word and those trusting and clinging to it will abide! They knew the Word had power. They understood that it was alive and powerful and sharp. They knew that it was a light and a sword. They knew it was the power of salvation to those who believed it...that God had sent it to heal...to purify...to set men free. They preached it, taught it, believed it, lived it. They ordered the Church after it. 2. They Were Committed To One Another “they continued steadfastly in ... fellowship” “all who believed were together” Acts 2:1 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Eleven times in Acts we are told that the Early Church was in one accord. This speaks of the unity that existed between these believers and their commitment to each other. They understood that there are no “lone rangers” in the Kingdom. If the work of the Kingdom is to be accomplished it must be done by a group of believers who are committed to the Body above themselves. This was true fellowship. The Church is a “family based on covenant.” It is our bonding to each other through the Holy Spirit that is in us. We help, bless and serve one another as the Lord enables us. The New Testament Church understands it has an obligation to one another. The NT Church had no structure or forms in which to bind them. It was all about people. That,s what we have to make it. It has to be about people who God that love each other. You need the Church family...for encouragement and strength and edification. The Church family also needs you. You are an instrument that God can use to give encouragement and strength and edification to someone else. A Spirit-Filled believer knows that it’s not just about them...it’s about God and what He wants to do in the lives of others. Ephesians 4:1-3 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. A perfect Church is not one in which there is no disagreements or friction. In God’s plan a Church that pleases Him is one that loves each other in spite of disagreements or offenses. A New Testament Church loves each other in spite of such things. A N.T. Church is a Church with merciful and forgiving people. The Holy Ghost cannot work where there is strife and contention. This also implies a commitment to “assembling together.” They were with one accord in one place. What was important showed in their lives. Fellowship was high up on their priority of things to do. 3. They Were Committed To Praise “So continuing daily...praising God” The Early Church was a praising, worshiping Church. They opened their mouths and glorified the Lord. They had a lot to praise Him for. People took note of that. That was what first got their attention. The world ought to be able to see our excitement about Jesus and His work in our lives. Acts 2:11 11 we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” We have much to praise God for. He has revealed Himself to us. He has saved us. He has delivered us. He has blessed us in so many ways. You could be on your way to hell. You could be bound up by Satan. You could be living under a bridge. We could still be groping around in spiritual darkness. You could be lost and hopeless but instead you are in a wonderful love relationship with the Creator. We ought to praise Him. If you are Spirit-Filled you are a worshiper. It goes hand in hand. The cripple man “walked and leaped and praised God.” We have been healed of spiritual paralysis. We have had our spirits raised up from Satan’s graveyard. There should be a hallelujah in our left foot and a praise the Lord in our right. It should be as natural for the Spirit-Filled to praise Him as it is for a goose to go barefoot. 5. They Were Committed To Outreach And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Act 5:14 (14) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.   Act 6:7 (7) And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly They were a Church interested in souls. They understood that this was the reason for their existence. Jesus said to go and make disciples. That is what they ALL did. All 120 were involved in the outreach. Peter preached but after the witness of the 120 had brought them in. They believed in preaching and witnessing and praying for the lost. I believe they were burdened for souls. Paul said that if he could be accursed for the souls of lost people so that they would be saved then let him be accursed. He was broken hearted over lost souls. Acts 8:4 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. We must scatter and preach Jesus to all who will listen. We must invite the lost to Church. We must weep and pray for them. They saw that there was a price to pay for lost souls to be saved. Do we?