Acts 2:42, (NIV) – They continued steadfastly in apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers…
There are four elements that make up the life of early Christian community. These four elements caused the church to be dynamically connected and exponentially grow. The book of acts records the story of the first seventeen years of Church growth. Dr. Rodney Stork, an eminent sociologist in his famous book – ‘The Rise of Christianity’ says that the church grew at an average of 40% per year.
The challenge before us is to get back to New Testament Church practice. By continuing in this way, they reached the then known world. There is such a chasm between belief and behaviour in both our personal life as Christians and as well as the corporate.
Some bold steps needed today to get back to Bible ways are:
1. Confirm to the Word The early Christian community confirmed to the Word. The Word of God is like the bones of the body. Without the bones, the body will lack form and direction. The early church continued steadfastly in path – being obedient to the Gospel ways. They acted on their decisions that brought in transformation and results. We should continue to do what the Scripture enjoin us without vacillating. While Faith is not “being unreasonable”, it is certainly beyond reason. Reason is based on knowledge. Faith is based on knowledge of God. Knowledge of God comes through obedience to the Scripture. Thus faith also helps us into a life of sustained commitment.
2. Live in Fellowship The early Christian community had strong fellowship. The root Word for fellowship has been rendered in three ways. In Luke 5:10 it means ‘partnership’, in Philippians 1:5 it means ‘sharing’ and in 2 Corinthians 13:14 it means ‘communion’. The basis of our fellowship with one another should be on the basis of our fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John. 1:3). The Church is a body of people who have a common vision and a purpose. We should also invest our energy, talent, time and money towards the common vision (Acts 2:43-48).
3. Break the Bread The early Christian community broke bread together. Christian Fellowship is a fellowship of brokenness. When we come to break bread, we recognize that, ‘who we are’ is by the grace of God demonstrated in the brokenness of Jesus. It also expresses our incompleteness without others in the body. When broken people find meaning and purpose in all their suffering and trauma, the outside world will find hope. There is no wound that the cross of Christ cannot bind; there is no pain that the cross of Christ cannot heal. It is only the broken that can bless and be fruitful.
4. Join together in prayer The early Christian community prayed together. Even as the community lives in a dynamic relationship, prayers will become a necessary expression of the need to depend upon God. It is only while working out the details of community living, one begins to discover the need for God and His intervention. The power to love one another comes from God. Corporate prayers must become the way of life. Corporate prayers are an expression of involving God in the affairs of the community. Lets make these four elements part of our life and recreate the New Testament style of living in our present times.
Author: Mr. J. Varadaraj is a disciple of Christ, leading a prayer movement based in Bangalore. His mission is ‘Encouraging Divine Connections’.
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