ACTS 2:42
'And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.'
After Pentecost and the apostle Peter's great sermon, Christ's Church in Jerusalem grew tremendously. 3000 people were added to the Church in one day, as they repented of their sins, believed on Christ, and were then baptised. The Bible tells us that, after this, the Church devoted themselves to the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.
It seems apparent why this was the case: they wanted to know Christ, and grow in grace. The four ordinary activities are thus dubbed, 'ordinary means of grace.' This is because Christ is the focal point of them all, and God uses them to extend Himself to His people and encourage His people in the faith.
After Pentecost and the apostle Peter's great sermon, Christ's Church in Jerusalem grew tremendously. 3000 people were added to the Church in one day, as they repented of their sins, believed on Christ, and were then baptised. The Bible tells us that, after this, the Church devoted themselves to the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.
It seems apparent why this was the case: they wanted to know Christ, and grow in grace. The four ordinary activities are thus dubbed, 'ordinary means of grace.' This is because Christ is the focal point of them all, and God uses them to extend Himself to His people and encourage His people in the faith.
ITS IMPORTANCE TO US
Acts 2:42 has particular importance for Foothills Bible Fellowship because we want to be a church which keeps Jesus Christ at the centre and is led by the Spirit! We want to encounter God regularly, and come to Him with a deep assurance that we will experience Him.
These means of grace give us a steady confidence that we can meet with God.
The Lord has specifically attached His blessing to these four ordinary activities, and has promised that in, by and through them, He will make Himself known.
1. In the Apostles' Doctrine, we behold Christ, as the Gospel, which God uses it to bring salvation, is declared clearly and simply.
2. In Fellowship, which is that sharing and participating in life with each other, Jesus is there, present with us, by His Spirit, because we meet in His name.
3. In the Breaking of Bread, we come to remember the great salvation given to us by Christ, and so focus on and commemorate what Jesus did for us.
4. In Prayers, we come to speak to our Heavenly Father, and are dealt with by His Spirit, as we make our request known, and ask for Jesus to intercede for us.
These means of grace give us a steady confidence that we can meet with God.
The Lord has specifically attached His blessing to these four ordinary activities, and has promised that in, by and through them, He will make Himself known.
1. In the Apostles' Doctrine, we behold Christ, as the Gospel, which God uses it to bring salvation, is declared clearly and simply.
2. In Fellowship, which is that sharing and participating in life with each other, Jesus is there, present with us, by His Spirit, because we meet in His name.
3. In the Breaking of Bread, we come to remember the great salvation given to us by Christ, and so focus on and commemorate what Jesus did for us.
4. In Prayers, we come to speak to our Heavenly Father, and are dealt with by His Spirit, as we make our request known, and ask for Jesus to intercede for us.
HOW IT SHAPES US
By maintaining these activities as guideposts, they help to inform our worship together as a church, and daily lives as Christians, ensuring that God is setting the agenda for us and leading the way.
In our adherence to these means of grace, we find that we become increasingly ready and wanting to follow Christ and be committed to Him as a disciple.
Through the apostles' doctrine we learn what God has revealed about Himself throughout all of Scripture, what Christ did to save His people, who we are and how we are to respond to the Gospel and Christ event. As the whole of the Scriptures are opened up to us, we must be willing to heed the instruction of the Word.
Through fellowship we come together in the name of Jesus. Therefore, we trust that He is in our midst. Church is not just a social gathering, but a true time of participation: firstly, with Christ and the life He has given us; and secondly, in life together to encourage one another and bear each other's crosses.
Through the breaking of bread we regularly remember what Christ has done for us, and receive, by faith, refreshment in our walks as disciples. The Lord's Supper was incorporated into regular patterns of worship early on in the Church's life. We therefore carry on in that pattern.
Through prayers we intentionally come before God and trust that we will see His hand move. We come before God our Father, and are able to obtain mercy and find grace. Even in our times of weakness, if we come earnestly to God, His Spirit will help us, and Jesus Christ will make our prayers effective as He intercedes for us.
In all these things, we can find God and therefore be led by Him.
In our adherence to these means of grace, we find that we become increasingly ready and wanting to follow Christ and be committed to Him as a disciple.
Through the apostles' doctrine we learn what God has revealed about Himself throughout all of Scripture, what Christ did to save His people, who we are and how we are to respond to the Gospel and Christ event. As the whole of the Scriptures are opened up to us, we must be willing to heed the instruction of the Word.
Through fellowship we come together in the name of Jesus. Therefore, we trust that He is in our midst. Church is not just a social gathering, but a true time of participation: firstly, with Christ and the life He has given us; and secondly, in life together to encourage one another and bear each other's crosses.
Through the breaking of bread we regularly remember what Christ has done for us, and receive, by faith, refreshment in our walks as disciples. The Lord's Supper was incorporated into regular patterns of worship early on in the Church's life. We therefore carry on in that pattern.
Through prayers we intentionally come before God and trust that we will see His hand move. We come before God our Father, and are able to obtain mercy and find grace. Even in our times of weakness, if we come earnestly to God, His Spirit will help us, and Jesus Christ will make our prayers effective as He intercedes for us.
In all these things, we can find God and therefore be led by Him.
ITS EFFECTS
We become a church thirsty for encountering God and keeping Jesus at the centre.
We understand the need to live for God and intentionally disciple one another in a Christ-centred fellowship.
We are emboldened to reach our locality with the Gospel and invite them to be involved in a discipling community.
We understand the need to live for God and intentionally disciple one another in a Christ-centred fellowship.
We are emboldened to reach our locality with the Gospel and invite them to be involved in a discipling community.
