Acts 2:42-47 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” After the Lord had added three thousand to the group of the disciples (remember, that it was not Peter who added but the Lord who added, as in V47. Family, too often we can get caught up in the latest program that is being used in a church that is growing rapidly. While it is a good idea to use good ideas, we must always remember that it is God that provides the increase. All too often we see a church go from one “growth” program or principle to another and as one looks back, there may have been a slight swelling of numbers for a while, but then the swell recedes and the size of the church goes back to about its original size. Family, what God is using at another church may not be what He has for your church. John 21:20-22 “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” We see that what God desires for one is not what God necessarily desires for another. Jesus basically told Peter to not be concerned about what He is doing with John, but to be about what God has called Him to do. Family, if a book, or a program from another church, has a blessing that can help us to become more greatly rooted in the Word, then praise God and utilize it. But we should not be seeking all the “How to’s” and “To do’s” that are out there. We are to be simply be loving God with all that we are and to be loving each other. We are to be growing in this love of God and of each other. If we have done that, we have completed our mission as Jesus said that all things are contained in these two commandments of love (Matthew 22:37-40). If we do that then people will know we are God’s people who are filled with God’s love and that will attract the saved. In a dark world, when a light is turned on, people will come to it (Matthew 5:14-16).
Here is the simple, but proven way to grow a church. A church that is large in number but lacking in commitment to God is not what is desired. To have a church that loves God above all else, we must have faith in God and what He has instructed us to do. Peter, in his first sermon, was led by the Holy Spirit and three thousand were saved from Hell. There was then no collection of writings known as the “New Testament.” Led by the Holy Spirit, Peter preached from the Old Testament, what the Law and the Prophets taught and prophesied. He proclaimed the Word of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit taught them what their scripture meant. Hearing the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit moving upon them, a great number came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Plain and simple. Be inspired by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Preach the Word of God as the Holy Spirit leads. Have faith that God Himself will save. And love. Always love. Family, it is not about programs, it is about the Word of God as led and revealed by the Spirit of God.
After the day of Pentecost, the first believers continued to meet. So the Word is clear, meet together with fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25). When they met they listened as the Word of God was taught to them by the Apostles. Today, we meet and listen to what God speaks to us through the Bible, which is God’s Word given to us through His Apostles and Prophets.
They fellowshipped together. Fellowshipping here means that people who have the same beliefs, the same interest and the same goals meet for the same purpose. They love God and want increasingly more of Him in their hearts, minds, and actions. They gather to praise God and to seek Him as a group and as individuals. They speak the Word to each other to encourage each other. To all who are new, they speak the Word, as led by the Holy Spirit, that they too may come to full fellowship with God.
They broke bread. Yes, they had Holy Communion in remembrance of Christ. But they also ate meals together. They loved each other and enjoyed each other and by the expressing of individual faith, inspired and encouraged each other. Family, we should have friends who are Christians and those who are not. Sincerely though, if our main goal is to grow in Christ, then most, not all, but most of the people we spend our time with will be other Christians (1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Psalm 1:1). Family, do we truly want to grow in Christ, then most of our fellowship should be with fellow believers so that we build each other up.
They prayed. When teaching His apostles to pray He did not say “If you pray” but He told us how to pray with the full assumption that we would be praying continuously. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 instructs us to “pray continually.” There are many forms of prayer and what we must remember, and do, is to continually be in communication with God. We must both speak to God and listen to Him. Of course, what He has to say is much more important than what we have to say and so that should dictate that we need to listen more than speak. Still, there is a time for both.
Family, do we want our church to minister to more new people and to see God grow those new people in the faith? What God has called us to is simple. Follow Him. Know His Word. Live in remembrance of what God has done for us through Jesus. Love and encourage each other. Talk to Him. Share the Good News with everyone who will listen. Everything else will not last throughout eternity, but these things will. Praise God! Let’s keep it simple: Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.