Marks of a Spirit-Filled Church

Acts 2:42-47

I. Biblical Teaching and Preaching

1.  “Apostles’ teaching” in the original context was the teaching of Jesus as communicated verbally through the Apostles (ie. Peter, James, John etc.)

2.  The Apostles’ verbal teaching was later written down in what we know today as the New Testament

• Ministry of the Word must include the message of the gospel as originally delivered by the Apostles (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
• Paul’s instruction to Timothy centres on the primacy of Biblical preaching and teaching

II. Fellowship with Other Believers

1.  We ought to meet together regularly for corporate worship as a local body (cf. Hebrews 10:24)

2.  We need one another if we are to obey the various ‘one another’ commands of the New Testament

3.  True Biblical fellowship goes far beyond socializing!

III.  Regular Observance of the Lord’s Supper

1.  The “breaking of bread” is a reference to the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (cf. Acts 20:7,11)

• Early Church celebrated very frequently
• The Lord’s Supper in the Early Church was usually accompanied by a full meal

2.  The Lord’s Supper is a feast we enjoy together as a church family to remind us of our unity with Jesus Christ and with other believers!

3.  Celebration of the Lord’s Supper came after Water Baptism  (Repentanceà Water Baptismà Local Church Membership à Lord’s Supper)

IV. Corporate Prayer

1.  Corporate Prayer was an normal part of worship in the Early Church (cf. Acts 1:14, 24; 4:24-31)

2.  Visits to the Temple were most likely for the purpose of prayer (cf. 3:1)

V. Generosity within the Body

1.  Nobody in the Early Church was destitute!

2.  Believer’s held their earthly possessions with an open hand and a willingness to give sacrificially to one another.

3.  This is not Communism!

• Selling of property was voluntary
• Selling of property was in response to specific needs (not a one-time event)
• Believer’s owned private homes and property

VI. Evangelism

1.  The Early Church did not follow the “Seeker Sensitive”/ “Mega-Church” model of ministry

• Worship services were geared toward believers (ie. Apostolic Teaching and Lord’s Supper)
• Evangelism happened primarily through the witness of the church community

2.  The believers enjoyed the favour of many outsiders

3.  God (not clever gimmicks) brought the growth!