A Template for the Church Today, Part 1

What are the distinguishing marks of a genuine New Testament church? Is the local church to be a civic organization or perhaps, a charitable organization? Who are the people that are to make up a genuine biblical church? 

We have witnessed the Ascension of Jesus our Savior, the outpouring of the Spirit, and three thousand saved. In the text before us this morning we will see the miraculous growth of the infant church. Recorded for us in these verses are the description of the worship and daily activities of the early church. We see it’s devotion and simplicity. From this passage, we may learn the essential essence of a New Testament church. 

In my study of this passage, I could think of no better outline more suited to express to you the implications of this narrative for our churches than the one devised by the biblical scholar and teacher Dr. John Phillips. Therefore, I will use it this morning with grateful acknowledgment. The trouble with church today is that it has tended toward more and more complex while departing progressively away from its original essential and simplicity. Most often, the drift has been unintentional. The desire has been to be industrious and intentional about reaching the lost. But as with most things, there is only so much elasticity possible in the original form and when it has reached its limit the essential elements will snap and a new thing now exist, usually, this is for the worse and in the case of Divinely mandated things, this can be nothing but sin.  

We have witnessed the Ascension of Jesus our Savior, the outpouring of the Spirit, and three thousand saved. In the text before us this morning we will see the miraculous growth of the infant church. Recorded for us in these verses are the description of the worship and daily activities of the early church. We see it’s devotion and simplicity. From this passage, we may learn the essential essence of a New Testament church.