The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Acts 2 says that the early church devoted itself to the apostles teaching the bible. Churches that grow wide without growing deep are not. The bible gives four characteristics of a good church. The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. What characteristics does this act reveal about him. Outline your knowledge and understanding of the main characteristics and structure of the acts of the apostles 35 the acts of the apostles is the fifth book of the new testament which outlines the events of apostolic age of christianity. The early church was a church that shared the gospel. To call the church to renew its vision to be a new. Its initial chapters describe the church s founding and early years. Many of the characteristics of the church in america today were not. The characteristics of the early church are listed vv. To look at characteristics of the early church in order to become more like them.
I encourage you to study the book of acts and all of its sermons to see them for yourself. Although the visible and the invisible church were initially the same entity, the picture changed as false believers began to associate with the church. The invisible church became visible as believers began to gather together. In reality, the one is impossible without the other. Characteristics of the early church sermon by jeff simms. And as you philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when i left macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving.
The early church was used by christ to develop churches. In the book of acts the invisible church became more visible. Characteristics of the early church sermon by jeff simms, acts 4. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. Acts offers heroic portrayals of people in the life of the early church. Rick warren shares 8 characteristics of a healthy church the. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. Characteristics of the apostolic preaching in acts. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. It would be life changing to sit at the feet of two men god used in amazing ways in the life and growth of the early church.
Its an exciting ride, from the coming of the holy spirit at pentecost, to shipwrecks and imprisonments, to life changing sermons delivered by exfishermen. Four characteristics of the early church clear bible. While leading figures such as peter and paul and their ministries dominate the narrative, there is a substantial amount of evidence that many more people than the apostles were involved in spreading the gospel. Each of the characteristics listed below can be found all over the book of acts, and for the sake of brevity i chose to only include one example for each. The main characteristics and structure of the acts of the. The opening pages of the book of acts show us the church god used to. The book of acts is a record of the growth of the early church, started by jesuss disciples and then expanded by the apostle paul.