The Local Church: Acts 2

Introduction

There’s never a wrong time to lead and sing, dare to stand like Joshua. If you open your Bibles with me to Acts chapter two, there certainly would also never really be a wrong time to look and study from Acts chapter two. Certainly not if you’re in many by many Bible studies finds itself for one reason or another in the second chapter of the book of Acts. Of course, one of my favorite things is dumb, silly, or as they’re called, dad jokes. And of course, if you look closely at Acts chapter two, and I can tell from the silence, this is going to go really well. And Acts chapter two, and if you’re reading from the New King James Version, you’ll recognize that the first car found itself, even at the days of Pentecost in Acts chapter two.

That’s right. Because in the days following, all the believers were together in one accord. Right, that’s how that sounds.

And we talk about the miracle and the marking of the day of Pentecost that had been prophesied for so many centuries, and how Mark chapter 9 and verse 1 and Acts chapter 1, verses 6 through 8 all lead to this fulfilling moment when the kingdom of God would be established, with the Holy Spirit officially coming upon the apostles and then speaking the great message. Of course, then we also think about Peter’s message, beginning in Acts chapter 2, of course, but even down into verse 17, as he’s quoting the prophet Joel, and we know this prophecy really well. And in the last days it shall be, God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even on my male servants and female servants, in those days I will pour out my spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And once again, a powerful moment in Scripture, as Peter is speaking, as he is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He’s preaching to them about how this day, this coming day that was now here, had arrived. They should take advantage of what he’s about to speak about the Christ, the crucified and resurrected Savior.

And certainly we know that point well, as Peter then proceeds to talk about David and God’s plan. He highlights it in verse 36. He says, Therefore, let all the house of Israel assuredly know that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. And then we talk about their reaction in verse 37, how they were cut to the heart, and in verse 38, Peter had the remedy for their solution of sin, which was to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins in the name of Jesus, the crucified Christ. Acts 2 is a wonderful chapter. But also, like studying Acts chapter 2, if I were to say, we’re going to talk about the work of the church this morning, we also have a pretty set idea of where it would go.

We’d say, Well, the work of the church is evangelism. The work of the church is edification, the building up and teaching of its members. And the work of the church, of course, includes benevolence. Chapters like Acts chapter six cover this, how the church is to help one another, even in a collective sense. But I want to note at the end of Acts chapter 2 some passages we kind of read over and treat as some sort of optional filler backstory. That really is an important part of becoming what we might call a model church. If we’re going to be like the New Testament church, if we’re going to be like the church that is established and revealed finally after hundreds of years and numerous prophecies as being established and being a church that belongs to God, a church that belongs to Christ.

We will fulfill the words of Acts chapter 2. Read there with me our main text this morning, Acts chapter 2, beginning in verse 42. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And all came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. And day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to their number day by day, those who were being saved.

1. Devoted to Sound Teaching

When we see in Acts chapter 2 and verse 42, we recognize, and we all agree that this first part is so critical. What did they do? Together, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. And teaching is a critical component of being a model congregation. But I want to focus not just on teaching this morning, but all that’s entailed in verse 42 and explained and expounded upon in the next several verses. So, first of all, the local church that is in God’s image and the image that Christ meant and intended for the church to have means that we will, in fact, be devoted to sound teaching. I think as we go through verse 42, we’re going to see that we agree with all the points, but we kind of lose some of our enthusiasm for them as they go.

Look at verse 42 again. Look at some of these elements of the local church that had just formed at Jerusalem. This is the church, of course, who is made up of the people in verse 41. And answering Peter’s great sermon, his great call to repentance and baptism, there were about 3,000 souls that day that were added. And of course, it is they in verse 42 who devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And of course, as we move on down, we see more involvement as well. But first of all, I think we all agree and understand there needs to be a devotion to sound teaching. That includes understanding first and foremost who Jesus is and what God sends him to do.

If I were to ask you about what your church is like, it would be weird coming from me. But if somebody else who didn’t worship here said, What is your congregation like? What do they do? Perhaps you’re like me and you’d be tempted to first off answer, well, what really makes us different is what we don’t do. Right? When someone says, What does your church do? We say, Well, we don’t sing with musical instruments, we don’t have that type of accompaniment, and we prepare for that fight. We say, well, we don’t believe that the church should be involved in social activities. We don’t go on Easter egg hunts, we don’t have a Christmas pageant. That makes us different in some ways. But rather, we should be focused on what does our church do?

And what does our church do and teach? It needs to completely center around, not how our worship is organized or what we do, but first and foremost about Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Savior. That is exactly what the Acts 2 model is. The rest, of course, falls into place. If you turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4, you see that not only is evangelism necessary, like Peter you would say is engaged in, and certainly even the rest of the church began to be engaged in. But of course, there is this need for edification. This lesson is not to undo that at all. In fact, this is the first point in verse 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul writes, beginning in verse 11, and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints, verse 12 of Ephesians chapter 4, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that they may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped. When each part is working properly, makes the body grow, so that it builds itself up in love. Of course, we see two important points there that one, yes, edification is absolutely necessary. And what was given to the first century church for that in verse 11, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. Why were they given? Verse 12, to equip the saints. Equipping is and was necessary. Studying and being devoted to sound that is correct teaching is absolutely pertinent. And of course, the only way that growth will take place, and that we won’t be tossed to and fro by waves of any doctrine, is if we are found where?

In the true body of Christ, if we are focused on the Lord. Note in verse 15, rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, Christ. Of course, we recognize that the body is the Lord’s. And if we are going to be part of the church that belongs to Christ, yes, it involves knowing and doing the right things to please our God who told us what those things are. But if we’re being completely honest, I don’t think necessarily this morning that that’s a surprise to anyone. But just note simply that the Bible text makes it clear, sound teaching is essential to being pleasing to God and growing together. But note back in Acts chapter 2 with me.

2. Fellowship With the Brethren

We’re going to see a few other things that are absolutely essential, and that perhaps we don’t necessarily always show the same enthusiasm for, even if we know that they are essential and necessary. You know what the next part of verse 42 is that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, if you break down that verse. In fact, if you keep reading in verse 43, it goes on from there. All I come upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles, and all who believed were together, and had all things in common, how much so they were selling their possessions, verse 45 and belongings, and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need.

It meant that Peter was revealing to them what he had witnessed in Jesus, what the message of the Christ was, what it meant to be a Christian. So where does the fellowship fit in? Of course, that’s a million dollar question because if you rely on American English, just like with so many things, you will be really confused. That was funny. When we use words like fellowship today, you hear them used in all different senses, and not just even in a church sense or in some sort of religious context, but certainly there is confusion among people as to what exactly does it mean as it’s used in the text? Because I don’t get to decide what Luke meant in Acts chapter 2 when he said fellowship. We have to read and understand how was he employing the word at the time.

And so when you see the context in verse 42, they, those 3,000 souls were working together. They were listening and endearing themselves to the apostles and their doctrine that they were teaching about the Christ. When they had fellowship, what did that look like? What did that seem like? Fellowship, at its core, is a togetherness. Pretty much any definition gives it that idea. The question is, what type of context? Does the scripture reveal fellowship is about? Is fellowship just doing things together? Do you have fellowship hiking a mountain or camping or doing other outdoor things I wouldn’t find myself doing? Is fellowship, this is just going to be a slow morning. Is fellowship working together to build something? Is fellowship working together on the job? Is fellowship finding itself in a marriage, in a home?

Or is fellowship something different? Is there something particular in mind? Certainly the word itself can be used in different contexts, but when we think about fellowship found here, I’d like to read the following definition. Fellowship is a relationship of inner unity among believers that expresses itself in outer co-participation with Christ and one another in accomplishing God’s will on earth. If you think about these Christians, you’ll understand those two necessary restrictions upon it. It’s not just a togetherness, but it’s a togetherness predicated on what? The one same idea, which is who? The togetherness that comes from being in Christ. And secondly, it’s not just participation with Christians, it’s not just doing things with people who are Christians, but doing things with Christians to what? Advance the cause of Christ.

Is that not exactly what we see in the next few verses? We see in verse 43 as the apostles are doing many wonders and signs, all came upon them. And in verses 44 and 45, they believed and had all things in common, not just in their faith, but also among their possessions. They were willing to share and distribute to any as any had need. Why? Because within Christ, they understood that they were a family. They were linked together by Jesus. They were linked together by the one whom had died for their sins, and have been resurrected, raised from dead in the same way that upon their baptism, fulfilling Peter’s idea in Acts chapter 2 and verse 38, that they were forgiven of their sins, and they were now part of that body of Christ.

What a powerful proof. And if you look in Philippians chapter 2, you see Paul making the same idea once again.

Philippians chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, and by the way, here it is again, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count yours count others more significant than yourselves. Verse 4, let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others. Now, by the way, what is the backbone? What is the perfect example of this type of unity and fellowship? Verse 5. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Verse 6, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

How did Jesus show his humility? How did he show his devotion to God? Through sacrifice, humility, counting others and loving others more than himself. And that’s exactly what Paul is exhorting the Philippians to. He says in verse 1, if there is any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, they should do what in verse 2? Be of the same mind. That’s that linkage. That’s not just being together, but being together where? In and as Christ was. But also note in verse 3, what does that mean? How does that look? It means doing nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but rather in humility, counting others as more significant than yourselves. That’s where this is hard. We can talk about definitions, and I can make bad jokes all morning.

But as we think about that local church that must have a devotion to sound teaching, fellowship with the brethren, what does that look like today? Well, it looks like something today that’s going to be really important in the next two parts of Acts chapter 2. It’s going to necessitate that we know, get to know, and continue to get to know our fellow Christians. This type of fellowship cannot and does not happen just by meeting together once or twice a week. It will never happen that way. It might with one or two people. It might with a couple families. We might have that natural connection. We might get to know each other. We might talk a little bit on Sunday, maybe talk to the same people on Wednesday.

We might grow that great intimate connection, but if you note back in Acts chapter 2, who was it that believed and had all things in common? The believers. It was not just one or two of them, it was all of them. What does fellowship with the brethren look like today? It means not just being together, but working together for the cause of Christ. How many of us band together to go out and to do different things like helping the saints? I can guarantee you there are plenty of needs here. There are plenty of people who can use help, and it takes a lot of time, effort, and sometimes just simply a human body to help. Do we work together to show sacrificial love in a physical way?

Do we work together and care about people’s souls? Do we have an interest in leading others to Christ? Do I know that maybe I can’t do this part or connect to this person, but but this person over here can? Maybe John knows somebody that I don’t know and he brings them to me, or I find someone that John doesn’t know and I bring that person to John. And we work together. Do we practice that? Do we even think about practicing true fellowship? That is a working together locally and even separately within the local church to advance the causes of Christ. This is a necessary part of the church, just as necessary as sound doctrine. If we won’t work together, we’re rejecting God’s plan. If we’re not fulfilling and advancing God’s causes, how can we say we’re pleasing to Him?

3. Devoted to the Prayers

If you note back in Acts chapter 2, you see a big one, I think that’s important. In Acts chapter 2, it made this list along with devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, which teach of the breaking of bread and the prayers. The prayers is so important. What is so important about the prayers? Well, again, we have to remember who’s doing it in verse 41. Those who had received the word and were baptized were of what? 3,000 souls. You have the apostles, you have the 3,000 souls who were baptized that day. And then you see in verse 42 that they were devoted to prayers. This is where, just like in the previous point of fellowship, we have to know one another. There is no way to get around this without knowing one another.

And here’s the rub. Praying for people seems really easy. But there’s two obstacles to it. One is, do we care enough to remember, search, and find the names? Because if you look at your email or your bulletin, or you call somebody, they know someone who you could pray for. But maybe you’re like me, and sometimes you get so distracted and caught up with your life, your concerns, and the people that you’re worried about, and you don’t pray for others. Maybe we don’t pray for others, secondly, because we don’t know there is a need. Maybe it’s not in the bulletin. Maybe it’s not in the member needs email. The only way that we can pray for one another and truly be the example of the church that Jesus demands we be is if we care and love each other enough to get to know one another to where there are no secrets.

That means that it takes somebody who’s willing to share their burden and somebody to bear the other’s burden as well. It takes both sides. If you look in James chapter 5, we see why is this important? How critical is it? James would say it is of the utmost importance. And James chapter 5 and note verse 13. James chapter 5 and verse 13, I think even using a physical example to prove a spiritual point covers both parts of the ground. What do we pray for? People in physical need. What do we pray for? Those who are struggling spiritually. We say that a lot, but what does it mean? Do we care? Do we know about the power of prayer? In James chapter 5 and verse 13, is anyone among you suffering?

Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Verse 16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. There’s this part we all know the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. In fact, he gives an example in verse 17. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. I want to focus on James 5 and verse 16, because just like Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25, when he says, Do not be anxious. James 5 verse 16 must be one of the least followed Bible passages that we understand clearly what it means, and we just don’t do it. Whether because we can’t, we don’t think about it, or we don’t want to. James chapter 5 and verse 16 very clearly says, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. That means that there are two sides. There is somebody confessing their weakness, their sin, becoming vulnerable. And that’s a real problem today, isn’t it? We don’t like being vulnerable. We don’t like admitting fault or flaws.

But of course, what would make that not a problem? If we actually had strong fellowship together? If we actually showed the sacrificial love that Paul was exhorting the Philippians to in Philippians chapter 2, because if we just knew each other on that deep and personal of a level, some of our guard would at least diminish, if not entirely dissipate. If we think about the need to pray for one another, this means that we are open spiritually to one another, and we actually show concern for ourselves and for others. Can we really say that we take sin seriously? If one of God’s solutions to it, one of the ways of seeking forgiveness, one of the ways of overcoming sin is to confess our sins to one another, and we never participate in God’s plan.

Do we think that we know more than God? Why don’t we do this more? Why don’t I pray more for myself, but also confess my sins to one another who can pray for me as well? God didn’t make the church by accident. What Paul was teaching, what the apostles taught in Acts chapter 2 and Acts chapter 4, and all throughout the book of Acts and all throughout the epistles was not an accident. It was men who spoke inspired by the Holy Spirit, teaching the good news of the gospel of Christ. And that in Christ in Christ alone, we can have forgiveness of sins. But in Christ, we need to show the sacrifice and humility of Jesus. We need to show a care and concern for others.

4. Together, Breaking Bread in Their Homes

That means I go out of my comfort zone to ask people, how are they doing? What can I pray for? And yes, and most challengingly, at least to me, be willing to share with others what you could pray for on my behalf for my benefit. If we believe the Bible is inspired, and God says we are to confess our sins to one another, and that there are forgiveness of sins and overcoming sin on the line. How can we think that there’s another way to do it? Or that we’ll get by without trusting in God’s plan. We need to be willing to pray for one another. And of course, in Acts chapter 2, and one final point, and the lesson will be yours this morning. In Acts chapter 2, if you go down to verse 45 and 46, you see a critical element.

It doesn’t find itself in the law because too often it’s taken for granted. Paul writes in a way that assumes that the Christians were together. Peter, Luke, they record the gospel messages talking about how the Jews were just always together. And even it’s assumed in many cases the Christians would be together. But maybe it’s not so much of a given in today’s society. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 44, all who believed were together and had all things in common. They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. And look, verse 46. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts. I know, understand, and agree that this text is not saying we are in sin if we don’t go to somebody’s house every single day.

I would be very overwhelmed if everyone decided tomorrow was the day to come to Greg and Kashka’s house. Koshka would be ready and happy for it, but I would be overwhelmed. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 46, though, we do learn something critical that not only were they attending the temple each day, assuming learning was going on and part of that teaching that’s developed in Acts chapter 2 and verse 42, but also what? They were breaking bread together in their homes. Why is that so important? Why did Luke, who is in so many ways fairly concise if you compare him to other New Testament writers, feel the need to make this point? Whether because it was taken for granted or because the truth is there, or as the Proverbs says in chapter 27 and verse 17, iron sharpens iron, there was a need and a love for one another that they felt, knew, and understood had to be there.

We have to have this love that dedicates us to Christ and to fulfilling not only sound doctrine and sound teaching, but also to fellowship and advancing God’s causes. We have to understand the need is there for one another because we need to pray with and for one another. We need to just spend time together. Why? Yes, iron sharpens iron, but also if we are not together, then we are apart. And if we’re a part of we find ourselves in the world, we find ourselves separated from those who are most like the Lord whom we are trying to submit and conform our lives to, how do we think that will turn out for us? Do we really think that we don’t need what God is offering? If God has the local church as a plan, if he says he desires that we be together, that we come together and worship, it’s not just for his benefit, although we should gather to praise God.

He made it this way because he knows his creation. He knows we need each other. And that means I have to be willing to reach out and to reach up. I have to reach out to help. And I have to reach up, raising my hand, saying, you know what? I need help too. And we’ll never know that if we don’t care enough to spend time together. Or we’re not spiritually minded enough to try to spend time together. Really, if we don’t spend time together, and I’m as guilty of this as anyone would be, it’s only for one of two reasons. Either we don’t care to make it a priority, we don’t care to make sure that we make the time to do that. Or we actively know it, and we just don’t think it’s that important.

We just think that we can get through anyway. If you know in the New Testament, the Christians were eating together. In fact, there was confusion sometimes over how and why they were supposed to do that, and there were abuses when it comes to the Lord’s Supper and different elements, just to name an example. But when we think about praying together, how are we going to find out that somebody has a need? How are we going to share that we have a need? We have to meet together. That starts as individuals, and if we can’t do it within the local body here at South Bumby, what makes us think we can do it outside? We have so much to do. We have so many temptations from the devil, so much work that goes into transforming our lives, conforming ourselves to the image of the Christ.

Conclusion

That we need all the help we can get. And we need to offer all the help that we can muster. We need to work together, stand arm in arm and work together. Be standing, as the text says in verse 46 of the New King James Version, being in one accord. And of course, in verse 47, all of this is tied together how? Praising God, having favor with all the people, and what happened as a result of this great effort, this church that was together, this church that was the absolute model in many ways of what is expected. And the Lord added to their number day by day, those who were being saved. It’s not a coincidence that people would find themselves intrigued by this teaching of Jesus the Christ, who is told of in Scripture, yes, there is a scriptural element that we need to know and envelop ourselves in sound doctrine and teaching.

But also it is infectious when people are working together in Christian fellowship, when we are praying together, and when we spend time together, people recognize there is something different about those people. And what’s different is what Peter taught on the day of Pentecost. What’s different is the Lord. We need to be like Jesus. We need to humble ourselves. We need to think more of others, and we need to be of unity in spirit and mind and of love for Christ. Will you go to God in prayer with me? Our dear God and most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for loving us in a way that you not only revealed your word to us that we may know you, that we can praise you, and we can understand who you are and what your expectations are, but we’re thankful to you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

We’re thankful for the prophecies that state what Jesus would do and why he had to die. We’re also thankful for the prophecies and the fulfillment of his resurrection, allowing us to know that we can have life, that we can put to death the man of sin within us, and also like Christ, be raised to walk in newness of life. Forgive us of when we sin, forgive us of when we selfishly put our will before yours, of when we don’t conform to the image of Jesus, of when we spend our time focusing on ourself and the pursuits of this life, thinking that we can do it and that we can make it, all the while recognizing that if we trust you, if we submit to you, and we love you as you have first loved us, you will take care of our sinful burden, and that we can be with you forever.

Help us to have that trust. Help us to walk courageously, help us to walk in love, help us to be devoted to sound teaching, help us to walk in Christian fellowship, help us to pray and understand each other, and help us to emphasize and prioritize spending time with one another so that we can sharpen one another and be with you forever. Thank you for sending Jesus to die in our stead. It’s in his name we do pray. Amen.