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The Acts of the Risen Christ – Lesson 01 Class Notes

Objective: Understanding how the invisible universal Church is expressed in the visible local Church.

Acts chapter 2 opens with the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. On that day, the risen Christ began to build His Church to reach the world with Him and through Him.

The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts

Every time the Holy Spirit came upon someone in the book of Acts, it was tied to the purpose Jesus gave the Church in the Great Commission:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

— Acts 1:8

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

— Acts 2:42

All gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual gifts. Some are more pastoral, and some are more practical, but all come from the same Spirit.

Mary and Martha

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

— Luke 10:38–42

Mary and Martha were both followers and friends of Jesus. They were sisters, each with her own set of spiritual gifts. I picture Martha as the classic Type-A older sister, someone like me who loves to care for others, stay organized, and keep things practical. On the other hand, Mary feels more like the laid-back younger sibling, not too concerned with the details and more drawn to sitting and learning with the men.

Luke 10:39 (KJV) says:

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”

To sit at someone’s feet” was a way of saying someone was a student, learning from a teacher (see Acts 22:3). Jesus affirmed Mary’s hunger for knowledge and her desire to be with Him, and He also affirmed Martha’s devotion.

Looking at Jesus’ ministry, working as a carpenter, living and serving alongside fishermen, and washing His disciples’ feet, it’s clear He valued practical service, too.

Some of us are more like Mary. Others are more like Martha.

And that’s a good thing. Churches need both, those with a primarily pastoral mindset and those with a practical one.

One without the other is ineffective. Both are essential for a healthy church to function.

Like Mary and Martha, both are valuable in their strengths and called to grow in faith and truth.

Church Models

As you read through Acts, take note of the patterns in the early Church. These are the visible fingerprints of the invisible Church.

The local, visible community we belong to should be a real-life expression of the universal Church Christ is building. Just like fingerprints leave a mark that tells where we’ve been and what we’ve touched, the Church leaves signs, too, indicators that the Holy Spirit is moving.

In Acts, the early Church displayed unmistakable “fingerprints”, evidence of God at work.

These same signs are how we can measure the health of our churches today.

When we see these characteristics, we can recognize how much our local Church is reflecting the global Church Jesus is building:

10 Fingerprints of a Healthy Church

1. Evangelism

The Church should be actively sharing the good news. It drifts from its primary mission without intentionally reaching out and welcoming others.

2. Teaching

Through truthful and assertive teaching of Scripture, people should be growing, not staying stuck or complacent.

3. Fellowship

The Church should be a place of friendship and genuine connection. Like a family, a healthy Church supports its people in both good times and bad.

4. Worship

The Church should be a house of worship where people sing, praise, and delight in the Lord together. Congregational worship is one of the great joys of the Church.

5. Prayer

A praying Church lifts one another’s needs, joys, and burdens to God, together and privately. Both pastors and members should be grounded in prayer.

6. Unity

A healthy Church isn’t known for conflict but for peace and unity. Disagreements are handled through grace, communication, and prayer.

7. Diversity

Thriving churches embrace diversity in all its forms. Differences don’t weaken them, they strengthen them.

8. Plurality

Strong churches don’t depend on one leader. They have multiple pastors and leaders with different strengths who share the load and support one another.

9. Empathy

Great churches care deeply for people, especially those who may feel different or marginalized. They focus on understanding, not judging.

10. Equality

Top-down systems that place one group above the others can’t sustain a healthy church over time. In the Kingdom, everyone has equal worth.

Time to Reflect

Going to Church each week can easily become routine, another item on our list.

But what if we paused to reflect on what’s happening?

This Sunday, take a moment to look around. Can you see the fingerprints of a healthy church?

If not, what can you do to support your church family?

A thriving church needs all its people to grow truly.

Watch the full lesson now on our YouTube channel HERE.

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Gospel Confidence: in an Age of Fear and Shame

Writer: Charles Hegwood

 

Have you ever had this happen? You are talking to a friend and then an opportunity for the gospel pops into the conversation. Suddenly you are filled with a sense of dread and stress that you know you shouldn’t be feeling. You may later try to assess why you felt this way. Could it be shame? It could. Could it be fear about what to say? It could. Either way a good reminder for us today was captured by the apostle Paul almost 2,000 years ago. Paul reminds us why we should not be ashamed, but instead empowered by the gospel. That was his motivation and that should be our’s as well.

 

Romans 1:15-17 is a well-known passage of Scripture. And it is vital for us in our gospel endeavors. Paul reminds us that we should be eager to share the gospel and unashamed of it because the gospel is the power and righteousness of God to save those who believe.

 

Eagerness to Share the Gospel

 

In verse 14, Paul told the Romans that he was obligated to share the gospel with Gentiles. This obligation is not one of burden but of mission. Like Paul, we do not remain on this Earth to simply exist and enjoy life, instead we have a mission; a gospel mission. For Paul this mission gave him an eagerness to share the gospel with the Gentiles in Rome. He longed to strengthen their faith. We never move beyond the beauty and power of the gospel. More on that later. Back to Paul. Paul was eager to get to Rome and preach the gospel. A mark of a healthy disciple is one who is eager to share the gospel with those around them. Gospel sharing is our mission. If you were wondering what to do with your life, or what God called you to do, it is simple and clear: Share the gospel with as many people as you can. And be eager to do so.

 

Confident in the Gospel

 

Maybe today you would say you are eager, but like I mentioned above you sometimes become nervous and maybe a little ashamed when sharing the gospel. I get nervous sometimes when I have a chance to share the gospel too. Paul’s letter to the Romans in general and these few verses in particular encourage me and I hope they encourage you as well. Why? Paul said the gospel is the “power of God.” We should not fear sharing the gospel because the power of God is displayed in it. We see that through the gospel, God has the power over sin and death. There is nothing that can overwhelm or overtake God. After all, Paul said that the gospel is the power of God to save. The gospel’s power saves a lost and dying people from a lost and dying world.

 

Do not be ashamed and do not fear telling a lost and dying world there is hope in the gospel. The hope of the gospel does not balance on our ability or eloquence, though those are nice, but instead the power of the gospel rests on the shoulders of our mighty God. The gospel is His power to save. It is our mission to share it. So when you feel ashamed or when you feel fear when sharing the gospel, remind yourself of this great reality. Remind yourself of Romans 1:16. I am convinced that when we do remember that the gospel is the power of God to save, we will have confidence to share with our friends and family.

 

The Scope of the Gospel

 

We should be confident in sharing the gospel because it is God’s power to save. But save whom we may ask. “To save everyone who believes.” Paul talked about his obligation in verse 14, and we can call that mission. Paul talked about his eagerness in verse 15 and we can call that motivation. He talks about his confidence in the gospel as the power of God in verse 16, and we can call that encouragement. Then he expressed his hope and scope of the gospel. Paul’s motivation and confidence is that God has the power to save all that come to Him in faith. It is our mission, confidence and motivation to take that power and hope to all people. The scope of the gospel is global. It knows no cultural or geographical boundaries. “First to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Here ‘gentile’ means the rest of the world. Paul here is not creating a new scope for a new message either. The Old Testament always showed God as having a global scope to His mercy and grace. The only thing that is new is the new covenant which is grounded in the blood of Jesus. It is with this gospel that we can go to all people with confidence!

 

Hope of the Gospel

 

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” Our confidence to share the gospel is in our hope of the gospel. We see that the gospel is the revelation of God’s righteousness and goodness. We can be confident and unashamed because when we share the gospel we are doing more than just speaking mere words. We are revealing the righteousness, justice, and moral uprightness of God to a lost and broken world. That should inspire hope that in the sharing of the gospel the light of God shines on a dark world. Have hope as you tell people about the powerful gospel that we have an eagerness to share.

 

Go In Gospel Confidence

 

This is just skimming the surface of this great and deep passage of Scripture. Even in skimming we should be encouraged in our gospel ventures. Again, this is a great reminder that when we feel ashamed or fear concerning the proclamation of the gospel, we must remember what the gospel is. The gospel should drive our mission and eagerness to tell others about this great truth. It is the power and righteousness of God to save all that come to Him. We are to go to all people and introduce them to the power of God and the hope within. Let these thoughts drive you to go to friends and family and tell them of the God who has the power to save all that come to Him. Do not be ashamed of the gospel, be empowered and emboldened by it.

 

 

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Preach the Gospel like Paul

Writer: Charles Hegwood

 

In a world of ever changing and evolving technology and culture, do such changes affect the way we preach the gospel? In the world of preaching there is always a temptation to find something new and different. Interestingly, this temptation of the new and different is actually very old. In fact, in Acts 17, the Athenians loved to hear new and different things. The temptation Paul felt, that we too may feel, is to give them a repackaged gospel. However, Paul was not one for crowd pleasing or ear tickling. What Paul did in Acts 17 was give us a look at how to put into context, or contextualize, the gospel message while keeping to the truth and integrity of the gospel. We will look at how Paul delivers an old message in a new way to the people at Athens and what that means for the way we teach, preach, or share the gospel.

 

Cultural Observations

 

While we do not have Paul’s complete sermon to the Athenians, we do have what Luke recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Which means, what is in Acts 17 is sufficient to guide our conversation about how to contextualize the gospel message to any group. The first step in this process is to make observations. You have to observe people. Find what they like and what they think. Paul begins with the fact he had observed their idols.

 

As we preach, teach, or share the gospel in whatever context we find ourselves in, we must observe the people to whom we are talking. If you are talking with someone, this may be as simple as asking a question about what they believe. If you make the conversation about them, they will tell you what they worship, or what their heart longs for.

 

I remember learning from a missionary who would often start sharing the gospel with muslims by asking what they believed and how dedicated to it they were. This was not a disingenuous question. Far from it. He said he learned a lot about the person as they talked about what they believed. He simply sat back, listened and observed. Paul makes the observation that the Athenians have many idols and that is where Paul begins this gospel conversation.

 

Narrowing the Focus

 

We see as Paul’s sermon unfolds, he starts with observations but he does not stop there. I’m sure you have heard many sermons that were great cultural observations but that was all. We can not start and stop at simply making observations. We must instead guide these observations to the gospel. This is what Paul does as he mentions the idols again and then proceeds to tell them about the God not made by human hands.

 

What was Paul doing? He took the sermon in a gospel direction. He had not gotten to Jesus yet. Instead his audience would first know who God is. You may be preaching, teaching, or conversing with someone who knows little or nothing about God. They may believe in gods or no gods at all. You must definitively, unashamedly talk about God as creator of all things visible and invisible. Like a funnel Paul is moving his audience toward Jesus.

 

First, he observes. Then he takes those observations and points them toward God. Next, he will continue to narrow the focus by taking his audience to a need. They need to know God. Verse 27 provides the purpose to our being created by God. Why? So that we might seek Him. His audience may now be wondering, ‘but I do not seek this God.’ We must likewise take our audience from basic knowledge of God to need for God.

 

Getting to the Need

 

Paul now moves closer to the cross by telling the Athenians that they will be judged by this God. It is not enough to tell people that there is a God, you must tell them that we were created for the purpose of knowing this God but we have been separated from that relationship by sin. Our sin has separated us from knowing and seeking God. In verse 30, Paul called his audience to repent from their sins.

 

The resolution to our sin problem is that God made a way for us to be forgiven through Jesus’ blood which leads us to repent or turn from our sins and embrace God. We must preach, teach, or speak to people in a way that moves them from knowledge to action. This provides the perfect ground to introduce Christ.

 

Get them to Jesus

 

After establishing who God is, our created purpose, and our sin problem, Paul introduced the Athenians to Jesus. In verse 31 Paul told the Athenians that Jesus was crucified and rose again. Paul does not shy away from the gospel message. The cross and the resurrection may seem like foolishness to our modern world. It certainly did to the people at Athens as well. People were skeptical, yet he presented Jesus and his work unfiltered. He did not make the cross or the resurrection metaphoric. He instead presented both as facts of history that through them we have redemption from our sins.

 

Every sermon, every lesson, and every conversation must lead to Jesus crucified and resurrected. No matter the context, no matter the audience, we are obligated by the Holy Spirit to bear witness to the work of Jesus and present our listeners with an opportunity to respond.

 

Expect Three Types of Responses

 

The Athenians respond in three ways:

  1. Disbelief: They scoffed at Paul’s mention of the resurrection.
  2. Interest: Some wanted to hear more.
  3. Belief: There were some that followed Jesus that day because Paul presented them with the truth in their own context.

 

Conclusion

 

As we wrap up our discussion on Paul’s preaching style and how that should move us, let us consider all that we talked about. We must observe and connect to our audience’s context and culture. Then we must take the conversation toward God and their created purpose. Next, we must tell them there is a need to run to God. Finally, we must provide the answer to our sin problem; Jesus. All of our conversations are to be guided to Jesus. Take your listeners, in whatever context, to the foot of the cross to worship the King.

 

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All Christian History Church Development Spiritual Development Studying the Bible

The Patterns of Pentecost Plant the Church

Writer: Jon Slenker

 

The patterns of Pentecost are the patterns of the Holy Spirit that illuminate profound truths about the Christian Church and her mission. For better or worse, the number of strategies for missionary and church planting efforts have exploded, being heavily influenced by cultural shifts and human ingenuity. Yet, amidst the vast array of ideas and approaches, it’s crucial to anchor ourselves in the timeless patterns ordained by God and His Word.

 

The essence of Pentecost, symbolizing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon believers, provides a vivid template for right belief, worship, and practice. It is important to remind ourselves where Scripture is clear, we should remain clear and where it is vague, we should remain vague. Be an interpreter of the Word first, then an interpreter of humanity and culture. If we follow this principle of primacy, our strategies will be simple, reproducing and Spirit led.

 

On that pivotal day around 2,000 years ago, about 120 members of Jesus’ family, His disciples and other followers packed into a hot upper room to worship and pray. The Spirit of God fell upon, or indwelt, them. Suddenly, a sound like a rushing wind filled the place, and tongues of fire appeared above each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. Once filled with the Spirit they began to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ as the promised Savior during the festival of Pentecost.

 

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:36-39

 

While the Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us to proclaim the gospel, a false principle or rule to interpret from this passage is, in order to preach the gospel, you must speak in tongues. Note the emphasis on the word, “must.” Paul reminds the Church about this gift in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.

 

GOD’S GLOBAL PLAN IN PENTECOST

What can easily be forgotten in all the miracles surrounding this event is the festival of Pentecost itself where the nations descended upon Jerusalem. The word “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word “pentēkostē,” which means “fiftieth.” It was a Jewish festival held fifty days after Passover, also known as the Feast of Weeks, celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This festival attracted Jews and worshipers of God from surrounding regions and countries in all directions.

 

Acts 2:1-13 tells us multiple languages were represented at the Festival. The text mentions that devout Jews from every nation under heaven were present in Jerusalem at that time. Do you see God’s providential plan that Heaven will be filled with every tribe, tongue and nation? When the crowds heard the disciples speaking in their language they were amazed not only at their ability, but their message.

 

While the exact number of languages is not specified, it does mention regions and ethnic groups represented, such as Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya, visitors from Rome, Jews, and proselytes. This means there was a diverse gathering with a multitude of languages being spoken and understood during the bustling, multicultural events of Pentecost.

 

God’s providential orchestration of the timing assured the spread of the gospel as 3,000 new believers would return home and continue spreading the good news. This event marked the birth of what is known as the “Early Church”.

 

In Acts 1:8 Jesus told his disciples they would receive power when the Holy Spirit fills them. He gives them a title and mission, to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The initial shock has worn off, and the disciples are probably remembering these words from Jesus before he ascended into heaven. They realize the training is over and the work has just begun. They were called to feed His sheep and proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.

 

THE PATTERNS OF PENTECOST

The word “pattern” is the perfect description for strategy. It is clear enough to follow but vague enough to retain flexibility and autonomy no matter the context. This event sets forth a missiological pattern seen not only through Acts, but throughout the New Testament. Reflecting on Jesus’ ministry and the subsequent actions of His disciples in the gospels, the five broad stages observed constitute a roadmap for gospel movement and church vitality:

 

  • Going to people
  • Proclaiming the gospel
  • Baptizing and teaching
  • Gathering as church
  • Reproducing leaders

 

Jesus embodied this great commission pattern during His earthly ministry, and His disciples perpetuated it, as evidenced in the Book of Acts (Acts 1:8). Our God, from the outset, has been on mission to reconcile humanity to Himself, demonstrating His love, authority, and redemptive purpose through His Church. It is interesting to note that Jesus hardly teaches the pattern explicitly, rather, they are a way of life as He models it for others.

 

GOING

Jesus modeled “going” to the disciples by going to them and calling them to follow Him. The disciples are now to go to others and call them to follow Jesus. The best practice seen in the Scriptures is to first go to your “oikos” or circle of influence. Jesus visited many of his disciples’ families while on mission with them. Then, he went to new places and engaged in people of peace (Luke 10:6) who not only received them but their message.

 

A common pattern for both Jesus and Paul was to go to the synagogue or a local place of worship. When in Greece, Paul visited Mars Hill. When in Samaria, Jesus visited the well. The disciples left the upper room to go to the crowds attending the festival. Just like Jesus left heaven to go to earth, just like Abraham left his home country to go to a place God would show him, so we should continue to go and send.

 

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

In Acts, gospel proclamation abounds in the pattern of Pentecost as no less than 19 times we hear the voices of Peter, Stephen, Philip, Silas, Barnabas, and Paul preach, defend and proclaim the good news of Jesus.

 

In Acts 17:32-34, Paul received three responses to his preaching that we can learn from.

  1. Some mocked him: Paul focuses on the other two responses
  2. Some were curious & wanted to know more: Paul continues teaching them the gospel and its implications and importance
  3. Some believed: Paul discipled them as his own children and continued working through the other patterns of Pentecost

 

BAPTIZING AND TEACHING

The pattern is clear, throughout Acts Paul stays with recent converts to the faith and empowers them to take hold of their new identity in Christ in all walks of life. This does not happen from this blog or any handout or curriculum. Jesus did not give us His Word alone, but each other.

 

GATHERING AS CHURCH

Jesus commissioned the disciples to go together, not alone. The disciples instructed the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost how to gather and worship and live as citizens of God’s kingdom. Then, throughout Paul’s missionary efforts, we are given a window into what is encouraged and corrected as a faith community on mission together. Covenanting together as a church is committing to one another as co laborers, caretakers, and worshipers of God.

 

REPRODUCING LEADERS

Paul did not see from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum covered with the gospel alone. He had others like Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, John, Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos, Erastus, Lydia, Eutychus, Sopater the Berean, Aristarchus and Secundus and Gaius of Derbe and Tychicus and Trophimus to name a few. Jesus also reproduced himself by giving away varying degrees of authority and responsibility as the student grows. Who do you know that you could reproduce your knowledge and wisdom to as you share your gifts to sharpen and strengthen the next generation?

 

CONCLUSION

It is evident that aligning ourselves with God’s patterns of Pentecost will not promise healthy, reproducing believers, leaders, and churches, but it sets the stage for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in them to trend towards greater health.

 

As we apply these insights to our present-day contexts, let us remain steadfast in following the patterns established by Jesus and the early church. May the Patterns of Pentecost serve as a compass for our churches, guiding us toward vibrant faith, effective ministry, and a transformative impact on the world around us. Let us continue to walk in obedience and faithfulness, trusting in God’s provision and power to accomplish His purposes through us.

 

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Make Disciples of All People

Writer: Charles Hegwood

 

Why are there so many resources on discipleship? I think the reason is because God has placed within the very DNA of believers the drive to make more disciples. One of the ways we worship God is to bring as many people as we can to Jesus. Discipleship is one of my greatest passions. I hope it is yours too. I want to look at Acts chapter 10 and peek into how Peter leads Cornelius to Christ and disciples him. We will see that through the blood of Christ, all that come to Jesus will be made clean. They will be made whole. As disciples, we are to be faithful to go and tell people the great news of the Gospel.

 

Setting the Scene

 

Let’s set the scene, we are introduced to Cornelius, a Roman soldier and God-fearer. He is charitable and always praying. This is a man who is seeking to know God. Let us learn from Cornelius that God answers those who seek Him. After all, here was a man, a Roman, and by that distinction alone would disqualify him from the love of God especially if you were Jewish. You would have hated this man. He was an enemy and a leader in an oppressive regime. Yet he sought God and God answered.

 

God called Peter to share the gospel with this Roman soldier. For Peter this was uncomfortable. Decades of cultural education taught him that going to the house of a Gentile, moreover, a Roman soldier, would make him unclean. Even after walking with Jesus for three years, he heard the cultural echoes of “unclean”, “unworthy”. There were some Gentile believers, but at this time the burgeoning church did not know exactly how to incorporate them. Would the blood of Christ extend to these ‘unclean’ people? These would have been the thoughts rattling around the head and heart of Peter during this story. God however, has another message for Peter, for the growing church, and for us today.

 

Preparing the moment: Prayer

 

Prayer is essential for discipleship. We see that Peter had a habit of praying in Acts 10:9. He went up to the roof but soon became hungry. God uses Peter’s hunger during his prayer time to teach him an invaluable lesson about making disciples. If we have no prayer life, we will struggle to make disciples. We must have a habit of prayer built into our lives.

 

We must pray for opportunities to make disciples as well. We must approach prayer as a time to meet with God. The result of spending quality time with God in prayer is that we will be ready to make disciples in our daily lives. Making a habit of meeting with God in prayer is the first step in biblical discipleship.

 

Tilling the Field: Having the Right Heart

 

Verses 9-15 capture a very strange vision Peter had during his prayer. He saw a sheet with all kinds of unclean animals on it. We may be tempted to read this and assume we should never pray on an empty stomach. All kidding aside, many times we read this story and miss the point. We may be tempted to conclude that God is telling Peter that all foods are clean. However, the context does not support this interpretation. There are other verses to argue all foods being clean. The context of this story is a story about Cornelius, an ‘unclean’ gentile, becoming a follower of Jesus. It is about crossing cultural and ritual boundaries for the gospel.

 

The theological emphasis is not on the food but on the words ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’. The food here merely serves as an object lesson for Peter’s heart. The issue was not what Peter thought about eating certain foods, but instead what he thought about talking to certain people that were “unclean”. Acts 10:15 is the key verse to understanding this story and what God is trying to tell us today. “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” Soon Peter understood in full what God was trying to tell him. We see Peter demonstrate verse 15 as he talks to Cornelius and leads him and his family to Christ. The point here is that we too need to make our hearts right.

 

Before we go and talk to people, let us first pray and make our hearts right before the Lord. This is what Peter needed  so that he could go to Cornelius. As we look at Peter putting the proverbial rubber to the road, let us see the need for a prepared heart in our discipleship ventures.

 

Reaping the Harvest: Go and Tell

 

Back to our story, Cornelius sent men to Peter. In God’s providence they arrived as Peter was praying and perplexed by what he saw. He went with these men to the house of Cornelius. We see that while Cornelius had been waiting to hear from Peter he had also been gathering more people to hear Peter’s words. Verse 28 undoubtedly shows that Peter now understands the vision. Here is Cornelius and friends; gentiles, unclean, and forbidden. Peter saw that the vision had prepared him to not see people as clean or unclean, worthy or unworthy. Instead, God wanted Peter to tell this Roman soldier about Jesus and disciple him as someone who was clean. God may be wanting you to go to someone you think of as ‘unclean’. Hear this message loud and clear. No one is unclean that God has made clean. Cornelius believes and so do those who were with him. The visible presence of the Holy Spirit only further confirms that this was the will of God. So go and tell. Make disciples!

 

Disciple who? Everyone God puts in your path. What about mean people, people who don’t think the same as me, poor people, rich people, or uncool people and so on? Go and tell. Read your context. Who is it that you perceive as impure and unworthy of your time or the gospel? Understand that through the blood of Jesus what was unclean has become clean. His blood washes away our impurity and our sin. This is good news! So as you go and engage in discipleship; pray, prepare your heart, and go and tell everyone as God leads you to them. The Biblical model for discipleship has no place for favoritism. Discipleship has no place for thinking of anyone as unworthy of the gospel. Go with this in mind, “What God has called pure do not call impure,” no matter who it is or where they are from. Now, go and make disciples of all nations.

 

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Patterns of Pentecost

Writer: Rachel Kidd

 

Objective: To understand the message of Stephen and to introduce the ministry of Paul.

 

The book of Acts is the story of the early church and the ways God used them to propel the Gospel across the globe. One event that helped ignite gospel expansion was the death of Stephen and how it personally impacted Sual, who would later be known as Paul.

 

Then, we see the reverberations of Pentecost and how God blessed the early church for their obedience, despite the persecution they faced for their faith. We can see the seeds planted in Acts that bear bountiful fruit throughout the New Testament.

 

Stephen’s Sermon

 

In Acts chapter six, we read about the differentiation of spiritual gifts and how God uses both practical and pastoral gifts for the good of the kingdom. We see the appointment of the first deacons in the church here as well.

 

Acts chapter seven delves into Stephen and his gifts. We learn that he is practical by nature, but that he is also blessed with pastoral gifts and is Pentecostal. That simply means that Stephen is a spiritual man, who has the anointing of the spirit upon him and his ministry.

 

Preaching is more than a study of hermeneutics or theology, it is a spiritual gift that requires the unction of the Holy Spirit. And this anointing is evident when Stephen begins to preach to the Sanhedrin.[1]

 

He masterfully summarizes the entire 39 books of the Old Testament in a succinct 20-minute sermon, stunning the religious men. He describes the lives and ministries of the great men of the faith, from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the twelve patriarchs of the Jewish people including Joseph, to Moses, David, and Solomon. He shares the lineage of Jesus to make a point, that they share the same reverence for their traditions and understanding of the Torah.

 

Stephen concludes by harshly accusing the Pharisees, who were highly educated and deeply religious people, of rejecting the fathers of their faith and then ultimately, Jesus, the promised Messiah.

 

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” –Acts 7:51-53

 

The Stoning of Stephen

 

After hearing this admonishment, the members of the Sanhedrin were furious. Finding him guilty of blasphemy, they brought Stephen outside of the city to stone him. Even in the face of death, however, Stephen turns his focus to God in His glory.

 

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” —Acts 7:55-56

 

Stephen then became the first Christian martyr, his death the first in a pattern of persecution launched against the Christian church. It continues to this day, as believers are killed for their faith all around the world. Stephen’s legacy is his incredible faith, and his ability to speak truth even if doing so means death.

 

The Impact of Pentecost

 

The book of Acts is a “perpetual Pentecost” that resulted in the fulfillment of the Great Commission through the early church’s obedience. The Gospel continued to spread through the Spirit’s power as Christians scattered, remaining faithful by following God’s leading and teaching others to do the same.

 

Two important things occurred after the death of Stephen. First, God used the death of Stephen to impact Saul, a Pharisee who would later become the greatest missionary, apostle, and Christian teacher, Paul.

 

Secondly, God used the persecution of Christians to send them far and wide, taking the Gospel to regions beyond their home of Jerusalem in fulfillment of the Great Commission. This is referred to as the  Diaspora,  or Dispersion.

The signs of Pentecost were merely means to an important end.

 

Like ripples that dispel from a raindrop on a pond, the salvific effects of Pentecost propelled far from its initial place of impact.

 

The First Impact

 

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. –Acts 7:58-60

 

We know that Saul heard Stephen’s sermon firsthand, as well as the intense rebuke of the Jewish leaders. He then witnessed Stephen’s stoning, his death, and his spirit being received into heaven in a great vision of the resurrected Christ.

 

This certainly left a profound mark on Saul, a catalyst that led to his heart changing forever on the road to Damascus. God then renamed him Paul, launching one of the greatest Christians to ever live and one of the most prolific ministries in scripture.

 

Stephen died not knowing the fruit of his sermon or martyrdom. But it was this sermon and the fact that he was willing to give his life for his faith that changed the course of Saul’s life. All of the salvations that came from Paul’s ministry can be traced back to Stephen’s sermon, the fruit borne from that initial seed.

 

The Second Impact

 

As Christians felt the blows of persecution and martyrdom, they were forced into exile and began to dispel from Jerusalem and into Samaria. Saul was a key player in this persecution, the great Christ-hater who led violent charges into homes and churches, putting Christians to death. On one of these missions, Saul was confronted on the road to Damascus by Jesus Himself and experienced a miraculous conversion.

 

Without the catalyst of Pentecost, the stoning of Stephen, and the persecution of the early church, the Christian diaspora would look incredibly different today. God used the persecution of His people ultimately for good, launching them out into the world to share the Gospel with unreached people.

 

We see this transition in Acts chapter eight, along with the Pentecost in Symaria. God blesses those who follow His commands, as the early church obeyed the Great Commission and launched outward, they were given spiritual gifts that allowed them to reach the lost and build the church.

 

The Book of Acts is a history book of the early church, a record that allows us to trace the beginnings of the church and understand how Pentecost set so many great things into motion, changing the world forever. It is the record of the seeds planted that became ultimately incredibly fruitful for the kingdom.

 

 

 

[1] the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews during postexilic times headed by a High Priest and having religious, civil, and criminal jurisdiction.

Categories
All Christian History Church Development Spiritual Development Studying the Bible

The Visible Patterns of the Invisible Church

Author: Rachel Kidd

 

Objective: To understand the patterns of the early church as it faced many opportunities and confronted many challenges.

In Acts, we see the history of the first-century church unfolding with its purpose, promise, power, performance, and preaching.

The church faced persecution from outside, and deception and temptation from within. As God’s Spirit worked among them, we can see patterns to follow and problems to avoid in our churches today as we work towards a healthy and spiritually alive church.

 

The Seven Patterns

 

Because Acts is primarily a history book that speaks through examples, we can see clear evidence of the patterns within the church. Seven patterns are presented in Acts that point to a spiritually healthy and thriving church.

 

1)Giving: Believers shared generously.

 

The pattern of giving is established early on in the church, beginning with the Pentecost. Christians didn’t want to own property at the time, preferring to sell it and divide the proceeds among the church to evenly distribute according to need.

 

It was a kind of pure socialism and an evidence of holiness, of what belongs to God. Through the Pentecost, the apostles experienced holiness and they felt compelled to give, to give in abundance, everything they have, as evidence of the Holy Spirit within them.

 

2)Civil Disobedience: God was the supreme authority.

 

Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him. –Mark 12:17

 

Jesus famously told the crowds this when asked if they should pay their taxes. He knew His response was being monitored closely, with either the Romans arresting Him for treason or the crowds turning against Him for violating religious law and siding with the government.

 

His response is tactful for this reason, reminding the people that God will never ask for what is Caesar’s, but there are times where Ceasar will ask for what is God’s.

 

In those times, when the government asks us to deny our faith, we are called to civil disobedience. Like Daniel who worshiped God all the way to the lion’s den, we are called to obey God first in the things that matter.

 

3)Church Discipline: Those who lied to the Holy Spirit were removed dramatically, to keep the Church pure and holy.

 

In Acts 5 we meet a husband and wife, Annanias and Sapphira, who like the other members of the church were selling their property to give the proceeds back to the congregation. However, Annanias kept some of the profit for himself, lying to the apostles about the real amount.

 

Peter knows immediately that Annanias is lying and condemns him, telling him that his lies are to the entire church and God Himself. Annanias then falls down dead.

 

Soon after, his wife Sapphira comes to see Peter. She too lies to Peter about the price for the property and suffers the same fate as her husband- falling dead at Peter’s feet.

 

The fear that struck the church after these two deaths was palpable, but important evidence of discipline within the church that comes from fearing the Lord, and preachers in this case too.

 

4)Gifts: Spiritual gifts to serve the church.

 

In Acts chapter 6, we are shown the differences between spiritual gifts that are pastoral and those that are practical. There are many important outcomes of Pentecost, but the diversity of gifts given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit is one of the most important.

 

When people are filled with the Holy Spirit, one of the first results of this is that they are made diverse. The gift of the Holy Spirit does not make us the same, in fact no two followers of Christ are the same and that is the beauty of it.

 

While all spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, there are some pastoral and some practical. The pastoral gifts have to do with those who administer the word of God, who teaches and shepherds, who counsels and teaches.

 

However, without people with practical gifts, the pastors cannot be effective. For example, as the church grew following Pentecost, multiplying exponentially, they lived in a shared community together. They had thousands of people who needed to be fed multiple times per day, resulting in a food distribution problem.

 

They needed people who could manage this food distribution other than the pastoral and ministerial types, people who were also filled with the Spirit and trustworthy. This was the origin of deacons, people who make sure the church runs in a practical sense so the teachers can teach the Word.

 

Both pastoral and practical leaders are needed for any church to run well, meaning both are equally spiritual and valuable.

 

5)Martyrdom: Stephen was the first to die for his faith.

 

In Acts 7, we learn that Stephen gives up his life for his sermon. The persecution from outside the church not only prunes it, it allows for it to grow. Martyrs are a fruitful seed from which the church grows. Without Stephen, the world would have never known Paul, who was once Saul of Tarsus who held the coats of those who stoned him. If Saul never became the dynamic and spirit-filled Paul, how different would Christianity look today?

 

6)Simony: Those who attempt to buy or influence leadership with money.

 

We learn about a practice we now call Simony in Acts 8, named after this man called Simon from Samaria. He was known as a sorcerer who had garnered quite a following of people who were amazed by his tricks and believed him to be blessed by God. However, these followers were converted to Christianity through Phillip’s preaching and baptized, causing them to denounce Simon the Sorcerer.

 

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

 

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” –Acts 8:18-23

 

We see in this interaction a tendency for people to be blinded by power and by money. Simon is desperate to regain the influence he once had and is willing to buy it back if necessary. Peter reminds us that money is not the answer and if it is, your heart is not right with God.

 

7)Healing: Miracles were common.

 

Another beautiful pattern found in Acts and the Gospels is healing. From the beginning of His ministry, we know that Jesus came to give sight to the blind, freedom to the bound, and healing to the broken. More than a third of His ministry was dedicated to healing, emphasizing its importance to Him.

 

That same Christ is working through the apostles in the book of Acts, who heal with the same fervor of Jesus. People brought their sick and dying to the streets so that when Peter walked by his shadow would pass over them and heal them. Through both the examples of Jesus and of Peter we recognize the importance of healing within the church.

 

God used all of these patterns to teach His people and to further His purposes in fulfilling the Great Commission. He continues to do so through people and churches that allow His Spirit to work in them freely. Keep these patterns in mind as you seek Him and a thriving church community.

 

 

Categories
All Christian History Church Development Spiritual Development Studying the Bible Uncategorized

The Visible Fingerprints of the Invisible Church

Writer: Rachel Kidd

 

The second chapter of Acts begins by describing the Day of Pentecost, the church’s birthday. On that day, the risen Christ began to build the church in order to evangelize the world with Him and for Him.

 

Gifts and the Holy Spirit

Anytime the Holy Spirit came upon people in the book of Acts, it was always related to the purpose given to the church in the Great Commission:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. –Acts 1:8

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. —Acts 2:42

All gifts from the Holy Spirit are spiritual gifts, however some are pastoral gifts and others are practical gifts. However, all are spiritual because they were bestowed by the Spirit.

 

Mary’s and Martha’s

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” –Luke 10:38-42

Mary and Martha were friends and followers of Jesus, sisters with their own spiritual gifts. I imagine Martha as a type-A older sister, someone like me who takes care of others well. She keeps things orderly and is endearingly practical. Mary is the prototypical little sister, avoiding the nuisance of little details and choosing instead to sit and learn with the men.

The KJV of Luke 10:39: says:“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” “At the feet[1]” refers to a student, someone who is learning the ways of a teacher or master (Acts 22:3). Jesus affirms both Mary and Martha’s learning with Him and their search for truth.

Based on Jesus’ ministry, like working as a carpenter, living and working with fishermen, and washing the feet of His disciples, we know Jesus also values practical service.

Some people are more like Mary’s and some are more like Martha’s. Churches need both types, the predominantly pastoral-minded and the predominantly practical-minded.

One without the other is just ineffective, both are equally important to the functionality of a church. And like Mary and Martha, they both are valued for their strengths and encouraged to pursue knowledge of the faith equally.

 

The Patterns of the Church

As you study the book of Acts, observe the patterns that emerge in the first generation of the church. These are “the visible fingerprints of the Invisible church.”

The fellowship of believers each of us belongs to in a community is to be a local, visible expression of the invisible, universal Church the risen Christ is building in this world. Just as our fingerprints can identify where we have been and what we have touched, the church can be identified by “fingerprints.”

In Acts, the church was known by several fingerprints—evidence that God’s Spirit was at work. These also measure the health of a church today. When we see these characteristics in our churches, we can measure the degree to which our church is a visible expression of the universal church Jesus is building.

1.Evangelism

The church must be actively evangelizing; sharing the good news. Without an active effort to share to others and bring new congregants in, a church loses sight of its primary mission.

2.Teaching

Through dynamic and truthful teaching of the scriptures, churches should bear witness to spiritual growth within the congregation. The people should be actively learning and growing, not remaining stagnant and complacent.

3.Fellowship

The church should be a place of fellowship, friendship, and community. Like a family, a thriving church supports its members and visitors alike, building each other up in good times and hard times. Especially in hard times, the church can be a wonderful place of support.

4.Worship

Church should be a house of worship, celebrating and reveling in making music for the Lord. Communal and congregational worship is one of the great joys of church, something I have always loved about Sunday services.

5.Prayer

Church is also a place of prayer, where members pray for and with each other often. Congregants and pastors can be found in prayer together and alone, lifting up their joys and worries to the Lord.

6.Unity

A thriving church is characterized not by division and conflict, but unity and peace. They resolve conflicts and disagreements that arise with clear communication, prayer, and uplifting discourse.

7.Diversity

Church families that embrace and value diversity of all forms are made stronger in their differences, not weaker. They use their differences to their advantage.

8.Plurality

A strong church has multiple pastors with different gifts and strengths. They can share the workload and support each other, preventing burnout and unilateral decision making.

9.Empathy

Great churches demonstrate incredible empathy to others, especially those who may be different than them. They seek to embrace differences and support their community, seeking to understand rather than cast judgment.

10.Equality

Hierarchical systems in churches where any one group is considered superior to others cannot support a thriving church in the long term.

Attending church weekly can become habitual, so part of the routine that it can be easy to forget to think about our church experience critically. Next Sunday, take a minute to observe and think through the patterns. Are you seeing the patterns, the fingerprints of a healthy church around you? If not, what could you do to support your church family?

A healthy church body needs every member in order to thrive.

 

[1] Hanson, Mary Stromer. “Reinterpreting Mary and Martha: Part 1.” CBE International, 15 June 2016, www.cbeinternational.org/resource/reinterpreting-mary-and-martha-part-1/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7uSkBhDGARIsAMCZNJsimK89EI3rrCVjUCq8xVvR9QWpu4SYmWCdsd5mE7n0VC5qr8sK-IYaAt3sEALw_wcB.

 

 

Categories
Church Development Digging Deeper into the Word

Digging Deeper: The Character of Barnabas

Author: Mithun Borde & Andrew Sargent, PhD, Contributing Authors for Foundations by ICM

 

Question: How do you think the newly formed church thrived in the face of persecution and prospered spiritually in spite of the martyrdom of Stephen and James?

First Answer: The Twelve Apostles were leading the church through the power of the Holy Spirit as an effective witness to the Jewish community concerning Jesus Christ.

Second Answer: God used this persecution to forcibly expand their efforts beyond Jerusalem to include even the gentiles themselves. Just as the power of the Spirit led on Pentecost, He continued to empower a new crop of leaders for this global expansion… men like Barnabas, who plays a special role in the gentile church and in the lives of men like Paul and John Mark.

We first meet Barnabas in Acts 4:36 when a supernatural manifestation of love moves some in the new community of faith to sell land to provide the material sustenance for needy believers.  Joseph, whom the Apostles have nicked-named “Barnabas.” (Which Acts 4:36 interprets as “Son of Encouragement) is one of them. Being from Cyprus, many have suggested that this signals a severing of ties with his old life there, and his full commitment to the new community of Faith in Jerusalem.

We learn several things about Barnabas in Scripture. It is interesting to note that his revealed character sets Barnabas out as the exact opposite of the description of the sinners condemned in Revelation 21:8. For fun, we’d like to present those characteristics using the man’s English name as an acrostic.

  • B – Bold, not coward
  • A – Authentic, not unbelieving
  • R – Righteous, not immoral
  • N – Noble, not an idolater
  • A – Admirable, not abominable/detestable
  • B – Believable, not a liar
  • A – Appreciative of the things of the Spirit resisting sorcerers
  • S – Sufferer, not a murderer

B – Bold, not coward

Barnabas was not just bold to speak the word of God but was also brave to give Saul, the Christian killer, a chance when others fled him. In Acts 9:19-25, Saul proves a powerful advocate for Christ in Damascus, winning disciples. In Jerusalem, however, he is shunned until Barnabas risks his very life to embrace him.

A – Authentic, not unbelieving

Barnabas is a faithful man, full of the Holy Spirit. When he witnesses God’s grace in gentile Antioch, he rejoices & encourages them to remain true to Jesus. Seeking their betterment rather than his own glory, Barnabas brings Saul to them. The ministry prospers greatly. (Acts 11:25–26). It is the authentic minister of Christ who lives out John 3:30, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

R – Righteous, not immoral

The Greek word translated as immoral in Revelation 21:8 is derived from a base word that means to sell one’s self… prostitution. It speaks of the unwillingness of most for sexual restraint. Barnabas, however, is a prophet and teacher, a trustworthy man granted authority to collect and deliver large sums of money to sustain the believers in Jerusalem. (Acts 11:29-30). He is trusted as a righteous man who will not succumb to his passions and misappropriate their charitable gifts.

N – Noble, not an idolater

Barnabas has a noble character. He works to support himself in the ministry, just as Paul does, rather than bring the gospel into disrepute among those who are suspicious of their motives. Barnabas’ generosity in giving the proceeds from his land sale also heralds noble character. He strikes a contrasting figure with Ananias & Sapphira, whose greed leaves them unable to part with all the money from their own sale, after boasting that they had. (Acts 5:1-11). Greed is one form of idolatry, and Barnabas resists the common temptation to make a god out of money.

A – Admirable, not abominable/detestable

Barnabas is admirable. He is admired by the Apostles who call him Barnabas and by the Holy Spirit who choses him for missionary service along with Saul, also called Paul. (Acts 13:1-7). Although this mission is labeled Paul’s first missionary journey, Barnabas plays a leading role. When the time comes, Paul moves to the front without a fight for control by Barnabas. He recognizes Paul’s gifts and is happy to see them well-employed for the benefit of believers everywhere.

Here he stands in stark contrast to the detestable leaders of so many Synagogues whose greed (Luke 16:14-15) and jealousy (Acts 5:17 & 13:45) render them abominations before the Lord.

B – Believable, not a liar

The church at Jerusalem entrusts Barnabas’ witness concerning the grace of God in Antioch (Acts 11:22-23; 15:12). When the crowds at Lystra call Barnabas, Zeus (Jupiter—the supreme god), & Paul, Hermes (Mercury—the messenger of the gods & spokesman of Zeus), they restrain them from offering sacrifice to them. Barnabas doesn’t exploit this lie, even when the Jews from Antioch & Iconium coax these very crowds into stoning Paul. (Acts 14:8-20).

A – Appreciative of the things of the Spirit resisting sorcerers

Barnabas is full of the Holy Spirit and manifests the right kind of respect and humility in appreciation of the grace shown to the gifted. It is all about Christ, not himself. (Acts 11:23-24).

Thus, when arriving in his home region, Cyprus (Acts 13), Barnabas stands with Paul against the Jewish sorcerer and false prophet Bar-Jesus, just as Peter stood against the selfish wiles of Simon the Samaritan sorcerer in Acts 8.

When Barnabas witnesses the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Paul, he appreciates that gifting and allows Paul to assume leadership in their work. (Acts 13:1-13). Acts 13 shows a swift transition of responsibility changing up the phrase Barnabas and Saul (v. 2,7) to Paul and his companions (v.13) to Paul and Barnabas (v.42,50).

S – Sufferer, not a murderer

Both John and Jesus saw the heart of murder in the violent self-interest of those who give way to hate for others. (Matthew 5:22; 1 John 3:15) Barnabas, however, shows again and again that he is an encourager of others, rather than a self-interested brawler. He lives to see others promoted, even if, by the gracious gifts of God, they are promoted ahead of himself. He sees the good in others and stands for them even when it costs him personally… like the time he stood against Paul himself on behalf of John Mark when that young man fails in ministry.

Barnabas influences both Paul and John Mark at crucial points in their spiritual lives, and thus, though superseded by both, has a share in their inspired writings. That which makes men murderers has no foothold in Barnabas’ soul.

Conclusion

We need leaders like Barnabas in our churches. We need leaders who are selfless and act honestly without any ulterior motives. We need leaders who are faithful, staying true to who they are in Christ, and focused primarily on keeping others close to Christ, rather than seeking to become the object of hero worship. Behind every Paul, there is a Barnabas, and we need a Barnabas in every local church. Those whose aim is not competition for prominence but only a deep desire to hear the Lord say to them, “Well done.”

Categories
All Church Development Digging Deeper into the Word

Digging Deeper: The First Church in Acts 2

Author: Andrew Sargent Ph.D., Contributing Author for Foundations by ICM

 

I love discovering deeper layers of meaning in books and movies than stand out on the surface. I get excited when, having read or watched something on one level, I discover upon further personal meditation or discussion with others the true profundity of the work. Of the many things I love about Scripture, one is its ability to prove deeper in intention than my ever-expanding mind and heart can fathom.

In this vein, let me say that Acts 2 is a wonder of Old Testament quotation and allusion. Its subtlety in drawing in the full theological weight of Israel’s sacred writings and weaving the Pentecost event into Israel’s sacred history is, to wildly understate it, masterful. Though a thousand pages could scarce unpack the whole, here, I’d like to provide just a nibble on the role given to the hopes of Isaiah 59 in the Pentecost narrative.

From Corrupt Society to Spirit-Filled Community

Isaiah 59 begins with a diatribe of the general corruption of human society and man’s ability to escape his own depravity enough to create a thriving world. This plagues both Israelites and Gentiles and plays a role in Paul’s own summary of world corruption in Romans 3. In verse 16, Yahweh determines to bring both justice and salvation. He promises to come to man Himself and plant a redeemed, Spirit-transformed community in the world. His coming is described in verse 19 as a fear-inducing, glorious, “rushing stream” driven on by the Spirit of Yahweh. This Spirit is both upon them and in them overflowing in prophetic speech as spirit-filled families and communities continue expanding in the world.

In Acts 2, the story does not begin with neutrality, but with darkness, with a murdered messiah. The people and religious leaders and Gentiles preyed on Him for His righteousness and continue to reject Him through His followers. Into this comes the Spirit of God, sounding like a mighty rushing wind, with holy fire upon them and divine speech flowing from them. They rush into the streets where those hearing the sound witness the wonder of their emergence from the upper room.

Pentecost

On this day of Pentecost—the historic celebration of the coming of Torah, the creation of Israel, the mighty works of God, and the sending of David—the witnesses hear the disciples of Jesus declaring the mighty works of God to the gathered Jewish representatives of the nations. Peter stands up and delivers a Spirit-inspired message about the resurrection of the rejected son of David and calls upon those under the Spirit’s conviction to repent and cry out to God. In addition to several other allusions to Isaiah 59 already noted, Peter follows his call for repentance with a composite of Isaiah 59:21, Isaiah 57:19,  and Joel 2:38 in Acts 2:39.

He says,  “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Thousands respond and join these believers in the creation of the Church of Jesus, who is the Christ.

This is not the end, however. The crescendo of Acts 2 is not with coming power or prophetic speech. It is not with inspired preaching, apologetics, or evangelism. It is not with a massive altar call or swelling church numbers. The crescendo of Acts 2 is found in Acts 2:41-47 in the establishment of a community of love and devotion that stands out as a miraculous light in the great human darkness around it.

Community summaries like the one in Acts 2 play an important role in the unfolding of Acts.

The First Church

We have an early depiction of the 11 with their followers—in one accord, devoted to prayer… both men and women, Jesus’ family— in Acts 1:14. We see the filling up of the Apostle’s ranks in 1:15-26, a typological restoration of Israel.

3000 are added at Pentecost (2:41), who are devoted to the Apostle’s teaching, fellowship, eating together and prayer, experiencing signs and wonders with divine fear, sharing with each other freely, worshiping in the temple, well received by the community and growing daily in number (2:42-47).

At the end of 4:4, another 5000 are added over the incident with the lame man. We hear of the oneness of the community in sharing all things (while defending property rights which are an important social foundation throughout Scripture). We hear of the power at work among them as they preached in 4:32-37.

Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead by God causing great fear in the community as signs and wonders continue. They continue as one. Many men and women are added, but others, while admiring keep their distance. (5:11-14) In 5:42, they meet daily in the temple and from house to house.

Growth of the Spirit-Led Community

With Paul’s conversion, the church enters a period of Peace throughout Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, being built up, fearing God and finding comfort in the Holy Spirit. They multiplied. (9:31) After Peter speaks to Gentiles who come to faith, some of those scattered begin to speak to Gentiles as well, and a great number turn to the Lord. (11:21) In 11:24, “a great many are added.” In 12:24, “the word of God increased and multiplied.”

Paul and Barnabas have Isaiah’s Servant mission proclaimed over them in 13:43-49 as they turn away from the Synagogue in Perga to the Gentiles there saying, “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed,” (13:48) and  “the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” (13:49)  In 16:5, “they increased in number greatly.” In 19:20, the word prevails and increases greatly. Throughout, we find prayer 21x, worship 7x, fellowship, and breaking bread 5x.

This depiction stands in constant contrast with the darkness around them. Isaiah 42 is quoted over Paul and Barnabas in 13:47. Thus, the context of the church’s light is the darkness of the Jews & Gentiles, lowly & Great.

The Beauty of the Mundane

What does all this mean to us?

While anecdotal, my experience in schools and churches has convinced me that, like the Corinthian community, many have a tendency to measure spirituality by “spiritual” looking manifestations (the weirder the better) and to ignore the more meaningful measure of the fruit of the Spirit in community.

The idea that the coming of the Spirit in Acts 2 climaxes in the uncommon “mundane” should be a check for us. Heavenly signs, fire, tongues, exuberance, bold proclamation, miracles, and massive “altar-calls,” find their intentional end in a community of devotion to God and to each other. We are excited by and eagerly seek Acts 2:2-41, but pause little over our failure to produce Acts 2:42-47.

Many others have given up the whole paradigm, contenting themselves with little more than a doctrinal reflection on the transforming power of the Spirit in life and community. Don’t be one of them. Cry out to God for His transforming power in your life and the social and societal fruit that it should bring.