We could continue this discussion in Mark, Luke and John but that is an assignment for the reader to ask questions about the church in the rest of the Gospels. Ask: How is this relevant to the church God can build through us? One final thought before we get onto the practical experience of the early church, is found in John 17. Jesus prays for the church that is about to begin on Pentecost. Some highlights could be the following.
“that they may be one… the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil… Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth… that they may be one… “ (KJV)
Sanctify is from the Greek word which means to make holy or make saints. Sainthood or holiness comes in part through God’s truth. Unity and saintliness are important attributes of the Christian church. While we may become a separate and independent local church, we must never forget that God’s grace is sufficient for a wide variety of churches and we must never allow a self-righteous spirit to dominate us.
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3 NKJV)
I dream of a church that is so immersed in fighting for and defending this faith, that it does not have time to become self-righteous by comparing itself to others.
Pentecost
Let’s continue our journey in Acts 2, with the first megachurch, a congregation of more than 3,000 people. What happened there that is relevant to how we would want to approach our new church?
Multicultural
The first thing we might notice, that may be relevant to planting a church, is that this is what today’s generation might call a multicultural church, with people from all over.
“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs …” (Acts 2:9-11 NKJV)
I dream of a multicultural church where people of different races, languages and cultures are comfortable together because their new allegiance is to the kingdom of heaven more than any customs of this world.
Key Speaker
There is a clue that perhaps all the apostles said at least something.
“They were surprised and amazed, saying, ‘Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them?’” (Acts 2:7 CEB)
However, one stands out as perhaps the keynote speaker, Peter.
“Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd: Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say!” (Acts 2:14 CEV)
This may happen in a local church run by a board of elders, where one is particularly gifted in public speaking and others are not. It requires humility to stand aside and let the more gifted one lead, or even slowly hand over the reins as a younger one matures into a new role within the ministry of the church. We will notice that later with Barnabas and Paul. Will there be rivalry as occurred while the Apostles were in training?
“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.” (Luke 9:46 ESV)
I dream of a church where this kind of tug-of-war does not exist, but that each promotes the other for the sake of the Gospel.
Church Unity
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:42-47 KJV)
O that such singleness of heart would exist in every local church, but that might be a little unrealistic. Most churches seem to have some kind of personality conflicts over a thousand silly and unimportant things.
O that genuine wonders and signs would be done in every new church, but alas that too does not happen all the time, and when it does, it is often reported to have been faked.
O that we might be strong enough in faith to share our possessions as they did. I think that most of us, at least in the west, will probably ignore that passage and quickly move on as if nothing was written or make quick excuses. So, let’s leave that there for our consciences to deal with.
I dream of a church where people uplift those with greater gifts, where genuine miracles occur, not fakes, and where people are known for outrageous generosity.
