Back to the Very Beginning Part 2: The Biblical Church
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” - Acts 2:42 - 47
Welcome to Part 2 of Back to the Beginning where we talk about the history of the church and why different denominations exist! Click here for Part 1 of our series! If we want to fully understand church history, we have to go back to the very foundations of the church.
Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus going into the synagogues, but we find that isn’t where the basis of church is. Those temples and synagogues were the places where Jesus was flipping tables (Matt. 21:12 - 13). They were also the very religious structures that sent Jesus to the Cross (John 7:14-49) This was not the church God intended to be here on earth.
However, when we look at Acts 2, we see the church start to form. The basis of the church wasn’t based on religious structure and doctrine; rather, it was the formation of a group of people devoted to a man who had given EVERYTHING to them. Earlier in chapter 2, the apostles experienced the day of Pentecost where they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were ready to be sent into the world to spread the news of Jesus. During this time period, the apostles were responsible for carrying the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.
As the apostles preached, people who started believing in Jesus, were added to their numbers each day.
They devoted themselves to:
1) the apostles’ teaching (which would today be teachings from the Bible - they would not have access to those teachings when they were alive)
2) fellowship (being together)
3) demonstrating God’s power through signs and wonders (the apostles leading were actively showing signs & wonders)
4) ALL believers were TOGETHER and had everything in common.
These 4 signs were the first basis of the church. There were apostles appointed to lead who actively demonstrated signs and wonders. The believers weren’t divided by denominations, but ALL gathered together to learn more about Jesus’ teachings and to celebrate Jesus together.
If we continue further into chapter 2, we learn a few more things about the church in Acts:
They sold the things they had to give to anyone who had need.
Every day they met together in the temple.
They ate together with joy DAILY - overcome with gladness & praise.
More people became Christians DAILY.
These were all the beginnings of the building of the church. They can & should apply to the church today. Look at your church and see if this is occurring. Is your church teaching the Bible? Are the leaders demonstrating signs & wonders? Are there opportunities for believers to be together? Do the families in your congregation demonstrate joyfulness and praise for what the Lord has done.
I hope this article gives you some insight on what a healthy church looks like. More than that, I pray it gives you a desire to praise and fellowship with other believers. May Tirzah be an online presence that creates space to bring the Kingdom of God to earth as well.