The Foundation Knowing

Review Most things need a proper foundation A building, a sports team, individual athletics, and disciples. Steps need to be followed in order The need The plan The preparation The construction The occupation

The Development Of The Early Church Ephesians 2:20-22 “having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Development Of The Early Church Christ the cornerstone 1 Peter 2:7 “This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, ‘The Stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone’.” (Psalm 118:22)

The Development Of The Early Church The help of the Holy Spirit in Development Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.”

For the equipping of the saints Giving the early church the tools to accomplish maturity Did not have a bible to settle differences Holy spirit helped Apostles gave them guidance

For the work of service Our reward is not because of who we are, but of what we do for the Lord. We must work out our salvation This is our job, this job is non-transferable. Christianity is to be a life-style, not a religion. Serving others is our highest profession.

To the building up of the Body of Christ The goal of the Holy Spirit is to get all Christians to a state of spiritual maturity. The Body of Christ is the church of Christ. As Christians, we are to work together to accomplish the building up. We must build on the proper foundation, and in the confines of God’s law God’s law is truth and truth is the foundation.

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith All Christians are to be a part of this. We are one with another 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 There is one head Ephesians 1:22-23 We must be united in: 1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith Each member has a part in this. We are to help each other just as all the members respond when a part of the physical body is harmed. We take direction from the head (the brain). Without the head, the body is dead. We must be active, alive, and willing to do whatever it takes to benefit the body to do what it is meant to do.

And of the knowledge of the Son of God. Jesus the Christ is what it is all about. We must learn about Him, and come to know Him in our hearts We need to know why He died. We need to follow His example. We need to see His glory that He plans to share with us. We need to share in His goals.

To a mature man, the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ We see what Christ did to obtain glory. His obedience to the point of death. “Not my will, but Thy will be done”. We must develop ourselves to be like Him. To pray: ”not my will, but Thy will be done”.

Conclusion The early church was unique and different. The early church had the help of the Holy Spirit just as we do today. The Holy Spirit directed through various means back then, The Holy Spirit directs through the Bible now. So that is where we must go—to the Bible.