The Design of God's Churches Session 8: The Design of God's Churches

The first church of God individual, once together, repeated “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… together, repeated …they were continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.” Jerusalem Acts 2:41,42

The first church of God Continued… The church came into existence on the Day of Pentecost when about 3000 people responded to Peter’s preaching. They were each saved, baptized in water and added to the approximately 120 apostles & others who had been together. Continued…

The first church of God …Continued They continued together in: carrying out the Lord’s commands, as taught by the apostles (2) being together with the apostles and each other (3) the gatherings for the breaking of bread in remembrance of the Lord’s death & resurrection (4) the gatherings for prayer

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” 1. Salvation “Many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 4:4; 8:4

Unbelievers cannot be in a church of God 1. Salvation The first requirement for a church of God is that all who are in it be believers on the Lord Jesus Christ - that they acknowledge Him as their Saviour & Lord. Therefore preaching the gospel to unsaved people is important for every church of God, and is part of the “Great Commission” to make disciples.  Unbelievers cannot be in a church of God

2. Disciples' baptism “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?“… So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water…” “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ... And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 8:35-38; 10:44-48

Unbaptized believers cannot be in a church of God 2. Disciples' baptism Believers are to be baptized in water, into the name (authority) of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. This is a public acknowledgement of what occurred at their salvation & a commitment to discipleship. The baptism is by immersion in water, by another disciple, symbolic of burial & resurrection and identification with Christ (Romans 6:3-7). Unbaptized believers cannot be in a church of God

3. Being added to a church of God At Jerusalem “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” At Antioch “A great number believed and turned to the Lord…. Barnabas…encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord...And a great many people were added to the Lord.” Acts 5:14; 11:21-24

3. Being added to a church of God The baptized disciples left where they were and were joined to those already gathered together. This is also described as being added to the Lord. They became part of the group of disciples who were under the authority of the Lord Jesus; they were therefore “in the Lord”.

4. The apostles' teaching “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” “The word of God kept spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Ephesians 2:19,20; Acts 6:7

4. The apostles' teaching The basis for the community of disciples - their doctrine - was “the apostles’ teaching” (“the faith”) ; they had been built together on that foundation. This continued to be the basis for them associating together – they taught it & practiced it.  

5. The fellowship “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 John 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9

1 John 1:3 describes our individual fellowship with God. 5. The fellowship 1 John 1:3 describes our individual fellowship with God. BUT - Acts 2:42 describes the community of which the disciples in the churches of God were a part - “the fellowship”. It is the same fellowship (community) that is described in 1 Corinthians 1:9, into which God had called them. 

6. The breaking of bread “I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

This began the giving of collective worship as the holy priesthood. 6. The breaking of bread The first spiritual activity the church engaged in each week was the keeping of the Lord’s remembrance. This began the giving of collective worship as the holy priesthood.

7. The prayers “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” “Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations?’” Acts 12:5; Mark 11:17

7. The prayers The church gathered together regularly to pray (in addition to their personal prayers). Prayer is a regular spiritual service that the Lord expects a church of God to do.  

Getting the order right salvation baptism addition the apostles’ teaching the fellowship the breaking of bread the prayers

Session 8: The Design of God's Churches Reaching for the Summit Session 8: The Design of God's Churches