A Growing Church
In the days following Pentecost the early church was growing rapidly.(Acts 2:46,47) We can learn a lot about what it takes to be a healthy, growing church today from their example. Take a minute to consider what was going on with them and what should be going on today.
The believers were in "one accord." There was no strife and contentions among the believers. They were in agreement around the will of God. They loved to worship the Lord together, so they were going to the temple every day, not just once a week. Then, they were spending time together in each other's homes, eating and having fellowship together. All of this was done in an attitude of gladness and simplicity, so that they were constantly praising God for who He was and all He was doing for them. This brought favor from "all the people," not just other believers. The result was that people were being saved and added to the church every day.
As we continue reading in the book of Acts, we see that problems entered the fellowship, but as soon as they followed God's will to solve them, the Lord started growing the church again. That is God's will for the church, but it depends on our willingness to follow Him with joy and sincerity, so others can see Jesus in us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 4-6.
The believers were in "one accord." There was no strife and contentions among the believers. They were in agreement around the will of God. They loved to worship the Lord together, so they were going to the temple every day, not just once a week. Then, they were spending time together in each other's homes, eating and having fellowship together. All of this was done in an attitude of gladness and simplicity, so that they were constantly praising God for who He was and all He was doing for them. This brought favor from "all the people," not just other believers. The result was that people were being saved and added to the church every day.
As we continue reading in the book of Acts, we see that problems entered the fellowship, but as soon as they followed God's will to solve them, the Lord started growing the church again. That is God's will for the church, but it depends on our willingness to follow Him with joy and sincerity, so others can see Jesus in us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 4-6.