Week 1 Day 3 -- Uniting in Church Membership

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DAY 3 -- UNITING IN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
(Acts 2:42-47)

⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. ⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

     Acts 2 records the birthday of the church. Prior to Acts 2, which happened on the Day of Pentecost fifty days after Christ rose from the dead, everyone was under the Old Covenant or “Old Testament”. This was a historic day for the world and a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Under the New Testament, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the body of believers who come together in the faith and fellowship of the gospel.

     The word church is used for the first time in Acts in Chapter 2, verse 47. (It had been previously used by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17).  It literally means “called out ones” or those called out by God from the world to salvation.

In the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), this Greek word “ekklesia,” was used to refer to the nation of Israel assembled before God and under his direct rule. Even in the New Testament, it is used to refer to the Jews of the Old Testament in Acts 7:38 and Hebrews 2:12.

The word “church” in the Bible never refers to a building, but always to a people who were chosen by God. Matthew 20:16 says many will be called but only a few will be chosen. Only those who respond to God’s calling by calling back upon the name of the Lord will be chosen as “God’s church” or “God’s ekklesia.”

Not only is the church “called” but believers must also call back on the name of the Lord. In Acts 2:21, Peter quoted the Old Testament which said salvation was promised for everyone who “calls upon the name of the Lord”. This historic day was not limited to a certain time or place. It is open for all time and all places to all people. In Acts 2:39, Peter said it was…

1.  For you (those who heard the words of Peter);

2.  For your children (their future generations);

3.  For all who are far off (not just geographically, but also for Gentiles, or non-Jewish people). Read Ephesians 2:11-13, which says, “…you who were once Gentiles in the flesh…you were without Christ…you who were far away were brought near by the blood of Christ”.

In today’s passage, Acts 2:42-47, we see in a very early form five basic “points” that should be in all of our LifeGroups. Those five points are

1.     

2.     

3.     

4.     

5.   

In the blanks below, identify the correct POINTs from above:

⁴²And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching (__) and fellowship (__), in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (__). ⁴⁴All who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need (__). ⁴⁶So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (__).                                                               

Acts 2:42, 44-47

 (Answers are in order T, I, P, N, O).

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