They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42
Into the Text
Though God’s rescue mission through Jesus had been completed, there was still work to be done. The good news needed to be spread throughout the world.
As Jesus promised His disciples, there would be a new community of believers, the church. The church is not a building. It is all the people who have been saved through faith in Jesus. The church was birthed on the day of Pentecost, when 3,000 people were saved all at once and joined the small group of disciples who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry.
Just as the coming of the Holy Spirit appeared like fire, the message of the gospel began to spread like wildfire. God called unlikely men and women like Paul and the disciples to dedicate their lives to go to places where the gospel had never been preached.
As people heard and believed, they began forming local churches where they devoted themselves around the preaching of God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship.
This design for the church has lasted for over 2,000 years and is how we form churches today. We are to gather together with other believers to worship, learn, encourage each other, and fellowship together. Though being part of a local church can be hard at times, the church is what Jesus left us, and it is worth fighting for.
Prayer
Jesus, it is a gift to gather together with other believers to worship you and grow together. May you be at work through your people to hear the truth of the gospel and to trust in you. Amen.