The Church Acts 2:41-47

A Redeemed Community V.41, ‘…there were added that day about 3000 souls.’ The church is a community of gospel receiving people, v. 41, ‘received his word’ The church is a community of repentant people, v. 37,38a, ‘cut to the heart…repent…’ The church is a community of forgiven people, v. 38b, ‘for the forgiveness of your sins…’ The church is a community of saved people, v. 40, ‘save yourselves from this crooked generation’ The church is a community of Holy Spirit indwelt people, v.38b, ‘you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ The church is a community of baptized people, v. 38, 41, ‘…were baptized…’ Where the Holy Spirit reigns, salvation reigns!

A Teaching Community Luke begins by telling us this in v.42, ‘and they devoted themselves…’ = commitment, single-mindedness, togetherness, constant attention to. “the apostles teaching” – the gospels, the OT scriptures, the person and work of Christ, the Epistles = a known body of comprehensive, biblical truth. - Luke 24:44; John 16:13-15; Acts 20:27; 1 Tim. 6:3; 1 Tim. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:10, ‘if anyone teaches a different doctrine’, ‘…and what you have heard from me…entrust to faithful men…follow my teaching…’ Where the Holy Spirit reigns, God’s Word reigns!

A Fellowshipping Community ‘the fellowship’ – defined as a ‘single’ fellowship Word ‘fellowship’ = to have in common (i) knowing/sharing in the life of Jesus, together, 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:11; Eph. 2:12-22; Col. 3:12-17 (ii) sharing in a common love & concern for one another in Jesus, 4:32-36; Rom. 12:15-18; 1 John 2:8-11; 3:14-18 (iii) sharing in the fellowship of the Triune God, 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 1:3 (iv) sharing in the presence and gifts of the HS for the edification and maturity of the body, 1 Cor. 12:4-6 The Christian life is NOT a solo act, its to be done ‘together’ Where the Holy Spirit reigns, fellowship reigns!

The Good News God knows we can’t do this so he gave us the Holy Spirit to enable us and empower us for God’s work and for the Christian life! While we can’t make the church or cause the church to be the church, the Holy Spirit can! And every true follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit for the good of the church and the glory of God through the church!