Before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait to be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). The power that Jesus was referring to was the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit. Receiving this power, gave the apostles the ability to be witnesses for […]
As Christians, there are some things that we must do for ourselves. Paul once said, “For every man shall bear his own burden” (Galatians 6:5). We took on certain obligations and responsibilities when we obeyed the gospel, and we alone can meet them. This being said, most of the commandments that we receive from God […]
One of the elements of the three-fold work of the church is benevolence. There is no question that the New Testament church was benevolent. When brethren were in need, the church stepped up. Acts 2:44–45 (ESV) 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their […]
Paul once warned us about the danger of keeping bad company. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” If bad company ruins good morals (and we know that it does), what will good company do? The answer is obvious—it will improve our morals. What is the best company […]
In Acts 2:42, Luke tells us that the early Christians were devoted to four things. Acts 2:42 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Let us take a few minutes to consider fellowship tonight. What is fellowship? We often hear people […]
The apostles’ doctrine was not the only thing in which the early Christians continued. According to Acts 2:42, they also continued in fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. In this blog, I want us to consider the habit of praying that the first-century church developed. Prayer has always been important to the people of God. The […]
The apostles’ doctrine was not the only thing in which the early Christians continued. According to Acts 2:42, they also continued in fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. In this blog, I want us to consider the habit of praying that the first-century church developed. Prayer has always been important to the people of God. The […]
The early church understood the importance of the apostles’ doctrine. Acts 2:42 (NKJV) 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Today, most churches seem to devalue the significance of the apostles’ doctrine. First-century Christians did not make that mistake, at least not in […]
Don’t misunderstand the title of this article. It is not meant to suggest that some of us live completely apart from sin. The truth is, we all sin from time to time. John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).” […]
In Acts 2, we see the long-awaited arrival of the Lord’s church. Isaiah prophesized about it hundreds of years before (Isaiah 2:2-4). Jesus had promised to build it during His ministry on earth (Matthew 16:18). Now it is here. As we go forward in this study, we will see the church in both of its […]