{"id":781,"date":"2020-01-31T16:39:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T22:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theclarion.org\/?p=781"},"modified":"2020-01-31T16:39:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-31T22:39:08","slug":"thoughts-from-the-bible-01-29-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/?p=781","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts from the Bible – 01\/29\/20"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Jerusalem Church \u2013 The Model Church \u2013 Acts 2:41-47
\n<\/strong>by Terry Broome<\/em>
\nAccording to Acts 2:1, 41-47 the church began in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after the ascension of Jesus. In many ways, under the supervision of the apostles, this new church provides us with a model of how God\u2019s church was intended to be. Let\u2019s focus on attributes and reactions in verses 41-47.
\nThe first quality that is noteworthy is that they were United in Attitude Toward the Word of God as preached by Peter. We read in Acts 2:41 that many in the audience \u201cGladly received his word.\u201d In the same verse we learn that they were obedient to that Word. \u201cThey that gladly received his word were baptized.\u201d Furthermore, they adhered to the Apostles\u2019 doctrine, Verse 42, \u201cAnd they continued steadfastly in the apostles\u2019 doctrine…\u201d
\nNext, we look at their relationship with one another. They Were United in Fellowship: Verse 42 \u201cthey continued steadfastly in the apostles\u2019 doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.\u201d The word \u201cfellowship\u201d comes from the original language, Koinonia \u2013 Mutual Sharing, joint participation.
\nIn the same verse, we learn that this Fellowship Extended to Their Worship, Verse 42 \u201cthey continued steadfastly . . . in breaking of bread, and in prayers.\u201d This \u201cbreaking of bread\u201d here appears to be different than in verse 46 where they shared in common meals with one another (as well as Acts 20:11). In Verse 42 it is used in a sequence of worship events, likened to Acts 20:7 (KJV) 7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.\u201d This breaking of bread refers to the communion of the Lord\u2019s body, the Lord\u2019s Supper. And in that regard the verse closes with, \u201cand in prayers.\u201d
\nNext, we note that they were united in a Sacrificial Spirit: Verse 44 \u2013 \u201cHad all things common.\u201d In Verse 45, This produced Liberality. They \u201cSold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.\u201d Acts 4:32 (KJV) 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
\nOther admiral qualities that are essential to the Lord\u2019s Church are: United in Purpose: Verse 46 \u201cWith one accord…\u201d \u201cSingleness of heart…\u201d Acts 4:32 (KJV) 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
\nThey Were Zealous: Verse 46 \u201ccontinuing daily in the temple…from house to house.\u201d Acts 20:20 (KJV) 20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.\u201d They Found Happiness: Verse 46 \u201cTook their food with gladness and singleness of heart.\u201d They Were Loyal: Acts 8:4 (KJV) 4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.\u201d And as a result of these qualities, The Church Grew: Verse 41 \u201c3000 were added…\u201d Acts 4:4 (KJV) 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
\nActs 6:7 (KJV) 7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
\nGo back and read Acts Chapter Two. We can be a member of the Lord\u2019s church by responding as they responded. (See Acts 2:38-42).
\nThe author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Jerusalem Church \u2013 The Model Church \u2013 Acts 2:41-47 by Terry Broome According to Acts 2:1, 41-47 the church began in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after the ascension of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tho"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=781"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":782,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781\/revisions\/782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.theclarion.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}