Journey Through Acts
Lesson 15
Acts 2:42-47
The Model Church
Acts 2:42–47 (NLT) — 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
- What is a church?
- Ecclesiology
- The Local Church - A church is a congregation, community, and family, of baptized believers united in a holy covenant to observe the teachings and execute the will of Christ. A church is a local body of disciples, meeting in one place for worship.
- The universal church - The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved.
- Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
- The church is not the building but the people.
- The building is for convenience.
- The cousin of ecclesiology is priesthood of the believer.
- We alone can go before God and worship.
- Ecclesiology
- What is the purpose of the church?
- Five Priority
- Our purpose statement - To bring people to Jesus and membership in his family, develop them to Christlike maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name.
- We celebrate God’s presence and resurrection in worship. Verse 46
- We worship through prayer.
- We worship through preaching of the gospel.
- We worship through music.
- We devoted to reaching the spiritually lost and dying. Verse 47
- Sharing and inviting.
- We are devoted to one another. Verse 42, 44, 47
- Everyone deserves a second chance.
- Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.
- We are devoted to God’s Word. Verse 42
- Preaching of Word.
- Teaching of the Word
- Study the Word
- We are devoted to giving because we have been given so much. Verse 46
- Time, Talents, Money.
- Five Priority
- What makes a true church?
- Examples of false church.
- Jehovah Witness
- Mormons
- What is the mission of the church?
- Two things
- Like the marks of a church, it can also be defined by its mission.
- A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission build a great church
- The Great Commandment
- Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV) — 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- The Great Commission
- Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV) — 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Two things
Study Questions:
- What are the key activities that the believers in Acts 2:42-47 devoted themselves to?
- What is the difference between the local church and the universal church based on the lesson's explanation of ecclesiology?
- What is the difference between the local church and the universal church based on the lesson's explanation of ecclesiology?
- What are the two main components of the mission of the church according to the lesson?
Answer Key:
a. The gospel rightly taught.
b. The sacrament of Baptism
c. The sacrament of Lord’s Supper
