Sunday Morning Service

4 Traits of the First Church Acts 2:40-42

This past Wednesday evening pastor Sug shared at the Meal and Message – about why we go to church. From one of my favorite passages, Acts chapter 2. When Sug shared the message, I was thinking that our entire church needed to hear this message, and I had been looking for a message that covered both baptism and also communion, as today we will partake in both of these ordinances. And upon being reminded of this passage, I said this is the one.  

It is a fascinating passage, we will beginning in acts 2:40-48. As this passage records the birth of the Church.

After the resurrection of our Lord, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, and they were told not to depart from there but to wait for the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit’s coming. There were approximately 120 disciples in this group, about the same number of people as we have gathered here today.

Peter, who had denied the Lord 3 times, now stands in front of the crowd gathered in Jerusalem, numbered in the thousands, filled with the Holy Spirit, stands in front of a crowd, some were mocking the disciples as they were speaking in other tongues or languages. Saying that they had been drinking cheap wine.

And Peter, the man who had cowered earlier at the taunts of a little girl, stands bravely in front of this crowd of thousands and preaches a powerful sermon. Telling them to repent and be saved.     

In verses 14-39 Peter preached about the beginning of the last days, he challenged the Jews about their atrocious crime of crucifying the Messiah, about Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. He didn’t put any sugar on it. V 36

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

And the people were cut to the heart, V37-38 asking what they should do,

Which is the correct response after the preaching of God’s Word, God’s Word not only calls us to repentance it calls us to action. If we are listening to the Word of God, there must be a response in our lives, to lead a holier life, to grow closer to Him and to seek to please the Master and to serve Him, a life that is changed.

Peter not only told them to repent, he also said that they should be baptized. V38 For the promise was to the Jews- even though they had made the tragic and reprehensible mistake of killing the very son of God, it was sin, it was wrong. Yet God allowed it as His predetermined plan for mankind.

In our text today in Acts 2:40-47 we read that Peter had an altar call, and 3,000 are saved- thus is established the early church.

Here we see the result of his preaching, we see the birth of a church. Which was something that was totally new. For never before had there been a church. Let’s read verses 40-42 and learn of 4 things that we find in the early church which we need to insure are evident in our church.

Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.