Acts 2:42-47 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 2:42-47

• What was it like to be one of the first Christians? This morning in the temple courts you heard some Galileans speaking in different languages praising God and for what He has done. Then you heard people calling the men drunk but they didn’t act like drunk men. One stood up and talked about Jesus and how was the promised Messiah.  You remember hearing Jesus teaching in the temple court and were told about His many miracles.  This one who stood explained how prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus. You, had heard the news of Jesus crucifixion and then it dawns you… we have killed our Messiah the Son of God!  But then this news that Jesus is not dead but alive all 12 men said they had seen Him and touched Him.  You are cut to the heart and wonder what can be done, surely we will be punished by God.  You respond to the words of a man named Peter urging the crowd to repent and be baptized into Jesus to be forgiven of sins… and receive this gift of the Holy Spirit.  You want to be saved. Now, I am standing soaking wet in the temple courts… I have been praising God with others…no one wants to leave now there is so much joy but… what do I do next?
• Context:
  • This is where we are in Acts, the first full gospel sermon has been preached. There is not church building, pews or choir.  What do you do with 3000K brand new Christians? There is no programs for new Christians. No elders or deacons and In fact you don’t even have a written New Testament. What a way to start a church!
• Acts 2:42
• 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
  • Luke gives kind of a summary statement as to what happening in Christ’s kingdom on earth, what we call church- the called out ones; Ekklesia
  • What did these new Christians devote themselves too?
    • Apostles’ teaching,  to the fellowship, to the breaking of Bread and too prayer
  • What does this word “devoted” mean?
    • To continue steadfastly- To cleave faithfully with someone- to endure – to remain- those who continually insist on something or stay close to someone.  In this context it appears these new followers of Jesus Christ were continuing steadfastly in these four activities.
  • Why did they devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching?
    • Many would not know the full teachings of Jesus, in fact some of the people may have been calling for Jesus death 50 days earlier.  Many of this people became Christian convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and they as a people had crucified Him but they did have an idea what it meant to live as a follower of Jesus… so teaching was needed.
  • How important is the apostles’ teaching to the church?
    • See  Ephesians 2:19-20
      • 19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
  • What did Jesus say about teaching and making disciples to the 12 before He ascended?
    • See Matthew 28:19-20
      • 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  • How were the apostles equipped to be good teacher of everything Jesus had taught them?
    • See John 16:12-15; The Holy Spirit was in them
      • 12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.
  • When did these new believers become part of the Church?
    • When they responded in faith, repented and were baptized into Christ receiving the Holy Spirit. These people were not voted on they were called thru the gospel message… remember God adds to His church.
  • NOTE: This means the knowledge that makes one a Christian or makes a group of Christians a church is not a particular set of facts or doctrines.  A Christian is someone who is in Christ and in whom Christ lives. A covenant relationship.  They seek to follow Christ in daily obedience to please Him and seek to live in loving relationships with others who follow Jesus.  Yet all this grows from teaching of Jesus, the prophets and apostles from God’s word.
• Now let’s consider the 2nd thing they were devoted to…the Fellowship
  • What was their common fellowship based in?
    • See I John 1:3 & Ephesians 4:3-6.
      • I John 1:3  3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
        • Based on the common relationship in Jesus Christ. 
      • Ephesians 4:3-6 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
  • This Word “Fellowship” Koinonia – It is not simply coming together but a community that is concerned about the needs of one another and fulfilling ministry and good works, encouraging one another sharing with one another.
• Next they were devoted to the Breaking of bread:
  • What do you think, “breaking of bread” is referring too?
    • The Lord’s Supper.
      • Does Luke tell us when they had the Lord’s Supper or how they had it?
        • He does not share frequency or the precise manner but I bet it was done differently than how we do it. It is believed the Lord’s Supper was often recognized with a love feast- shared meal.
  • Why was it important for them to be devoted to the Lord’s Supper?
    • Christ commanded it and it keeps the focus on Christi’s atonement
• Next they were devoted to prayer:
  • How important is prayer to the church?
    • Philippians 4:6 & 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 
    • Jews in Jesus day would traditionally pray 3 times a day.    How are the followers of Jesus to pray? 
    • Philippians 4:6 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
    • Prayer is the church’s most direct link to the heart of God
• Acts 2:43
• 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
  • What did the early church have that we do not have today?
    • The 12 apostles … we have a record of their teaching in the N.T. but we do not have them and the wonders and signs done thru the apostles.  
    • Why were these signs and wonders being performed by the apostles?
      • It was to authenticate the gospel message and the messengers.
• Acts 2:44-45
• 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
  • How is the faith of these new Christians showing up in their lives?
    • In their love for one another.
      • 1 John  3:16-18 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
  • Does this mean the early church was communal living or an example of socialism or communism?
    • No, there is not demand that people sell their property, and private property is not prohibited.   
    • What it was, is Christian love being demonstrated.  These followers of Jesus were taking care of the needs of other Christians who needed help.
      • Galatians 6:10 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
• Acts 2:46-47
• 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
  • How often did these early Christians meet with one another?
    • Every day…does that mean that every Christian met with the entire congregation every day? I doubt it.  
    • Why would they meet so often? They want to learn from the apostles about Jesus, and how they were to live for the Messiah.  They were also worshipping together… Praising God.
  • Where were they meeting?
    • They had no church building. So they met in the temple courts. The temple courts were more than 25 acres.  So there various places for them congregate. It appears at this point there is no open conflicts between the apostles and the temple leaders. They were also breaking up into smaller groups into homes and ate together.
  • What did the community at large feel about the followers of Jesus?
    • At this point time the people outside the church favored them.  
    • Why do think that was?  How they took care of one another, especially the needy. Their joy and they may have noticed changed lives.
  • What was happening to the church, what was the Lord doing?
    • Adding to their number daily… those being saved were hearing the gospel message and responding to it like the first 3,000.
      • We often think of evangelism as one person sharing the gospel with another person. But here we see the impact of the church corporately and it’s example to the society it was in. Where the church attracted the attention of the people of Jerusalem.
• TAKE AWAY
  • Does the church today still need the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer?
  • What is the difference between the early church and us?
    • There doesn’t have to be a difference (other than we do not have the 12 apostles here to work wonders)  – we have access to the same Spirit – we can live with the same passion and abandon – and our influence can have the similar results
  • As followers of Jesus what are we devoted to?