The Power of a Loving
Church: Acts 2:41-46
Let’s meet the powerful first church that met in
The first
thing we can note about these believers is that they loved the Lord. Acts
41 and 42 state “then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The people were happy to
hear the message the disciples carried. When they learned about the love of God, they responded to the good news (the
gospel). They were baptized, which was outward evidence that they loved
the Lord.
The
breaking of bread (communion) and baptism illustrate God’s love. When believers
remember the Lord each Lord’s day the bread and wine
speak of the death of Christ (I Cor
11:23-26). The baptism speaks of the Lord’s burial and resurrection, (Acts
6:3-4)
When a
believer is baptized they publicly declare and show their love for
Christ. Baptism is showing the world that we are going to follow the Lord
Jesus (Matt 3:15-17). It shows that we are obeying the Lord
Jesus, Matthew 28: 19-20 states: “Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.” Baptism is identifying with the Lord
Jesus.
In Acts 2: 42 -46 we begin to see that not only did the early church
love the Lord but they loved each other. We are told they they gathered together “in the apostle’s doctrine.”
The early believers loved to gather together to hear God’s word. Today we have
a tendency to gather less. Hebrews 10:25 reads, “
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.”
We are
told that they were in fellowship. Fellowship is a great reason for
gathering together and to worship. Christians should love one
another, John 13: 34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
In 1
Corinthians 12 we are shown that our closest bond is that we are members of His
body. There is great unity in our diversity.
The early
church met for the purpose of breaking bread. They were remembering the
death of Christ, they were a united community with one
voice and a focus on the one who had sacrificed his life on their behalf.
The death that Jesus died on the cross speaks of God’s great love for
mankind.
They were
meeting “in prayers.” As they prayed the bond of love between them grew.
The prayer was building and uniting the church. The Christians came
together and they shared their needs with each other and rejoiced and thanked
God for His provision.
Not only
did they share love among themselves, they loved lost people. These
believers were constantly proclaiming and praising the Lord Jesus Christ.
As they continued to declare God’s love and concern for sinful humans, the
church had interested people being added to their company. The Lord added
to the church daily, (Acts 2: 47). As a community we are all to be
involved in reaching out to the lost. We are a family, but we also are a
team and we must use co-operation to reach the world with the good news (the
gospel) Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
So, what
did the
By: Brian McKibbin