TEACHING NOTES Introduction In the last few weeks we have been learning about the devotion of the early church. We’ve learned that the early church was devoted to four priorities. Because of their devotion, the early church was blessed by God and succeeded in their mission of spreading the Gospel. Now that we know what our priorities are supposed to be, today we’re going to learn the blessings of being devoted. ‌ Acts 2:42 ESV 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ‌ Devoted = Grk. proskarterountes - to stick close with, be faithful, hold fast to, continue in, persevere. This word is also used in Acts 2:46; 6:4; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2. In Acts, the early church is described as a family of devoted disciples. This means that they remained close with one another and gathered regularly to learn the Word of God and take care of each other. Here’s the main point: followers of Jesus are called to be devoted/faithful. There is no concept of casual Christianity in the Bible. Faithfulness is not a spectrum and there is no grey area. Either we are faithful or unfaithful. ‌ The teaching = Grk. te didache - teaching, instruction. The early church considered themselves to be students, which is what it means to be a disciple. Learning and studying the Word of God was a priority in the early church. ‌ The Fellowship = Grk. τῇ κοινωνίᾳ (te koinonia) - sharing, relational partnership and participation. Luke is clear that the early church operated not as an organization, but as a close family. They shared resources, responsibility, and accountability because that’s what a healthy family must do. ‌ The breaking of bread = Grk. te klasei tou artou - While this would include meals being shared together, it specifically refers to taking Communion (the Lord’s Supper). The Sunday gathering in the early church included a shared meal and included taking Communion together. ‌ The prayers = If Luke was simply taking about prayer in general, he would not have included the definite article “the” in this passage. “The prayers” indicates that the early church was devoted to gathering for worship—which included teaching, fellowship, Communion, and prayers. ‌ Blessings of Devotion: ‌God works in/through the church, and people notice. ‌ Acts 2:43 ESV 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ‌ Awe came upon every soul = Grk. phobos - The Greek word for “awe” here is phobos, which literally means “fear” and is the basis of the English word phobia. Why would fear come upon every soul? Because the apostle’s were teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God. This meant that Jesus is the Judge of the world. The Jewish people who were hearing the apostle’s preaching began to fear that they were wrong for rejecting Jesus. This fear led the crowds to listen more closely and as a result thousands became followers of Jesus. ‌ Wonders and signs = This refers to the miracles done by the apostles. Luke will go on throughout the book of Acts to tell healing stories that describe these terms. Not only were there positive signs and wonders, but also signs of judgment. For example, in Acts 5 two church members (Ananias & Sapphira) were lying about their giving so people would think they were giving more than everyone else. God killed them both as a sign of judgment against their unfaithfulness and pride. ‌ Blessing of Devotion: ‌The church family has all we need. ‌ Acts 2:44–45 ESV 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ‌ All things in common = Grk. koinonia - This is the same word that is translated “the fellowship” in verse 42. It means that all the believers shared resources, responsibility, and accountability. ‌ Distributing as any had need = The early church willingly gave what they could so that others in the church would not be in need. Luke later tells us that “no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own” (Acts 4:32) and as a result “there was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). ‌ Blessing of Devotion: ‌The church lives with joy and simplicity. ‌ Acts 2:46 ESV 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ‌ Daily attending the temple together = The Greek phrase literally means, “every day devoted to gathering in the temple.” The early church was devoted to gathering together for worship. ‌ Glad = Grk. agalliasis - joy. In the modern church, devotion/faithfulness is often viewed reluctantly or begrudgingly. In the early church, their devotion/faithfulness was the source of their joy. ‌ Generous = Grk. aphelotes - Literally “simplicity.” The root of this word means “to take away or remove”—which refers to removing what is not necessary. The early church lived simple lives because they had removed the ways of the world from their life. They removed the complexity that the world wants to keep us in. ‌ Blessing of Devotion: ‌Favor and growth in the community. ‌ Acts 2:47 ESV 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. ‌ Favor = Grk. charis - Literally “grace.” The idea here is that the church gained a graceful or good reputation in the community. Luke explains this further in Acts 5:13 by saying that “the people held them in high esteem.” The Greek for “high esteem” there is megalynen, which means great honor. ‌ The Lord added to their number = This is a recurring theme in Acts. ‌ Being saved = Grk. sozomenous - This Greek word is considered a “verbal adjective” that is in present tense. This means that “being saved” is not a moment in the past, but a continual process. ‌ In Acts 2, while the church was devoted to prayer, they were filled with the Spirit, and they begin preaching. Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” ‌ In Acts 2:47, after listing what they were devoted to (teaching, fellowship, Communion, prayer) we’re told people were added to the church daily. ‌ In Acts 3-4, after Peter and John healed a man and preached in the temple we’re told in Acts 4:4 “many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” ‌ In Acts 5, after the apostles continued to do signs and preach, we’re told in Acts 5:14 “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” ‌ In Acts 6, after the church chose deacons to help the apostles, we’re told in Acts 6:7 “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” ‌ In Acts 7-8, after Stephen is martyred and persecution begins in Jerusalem, Philip went to Samarian. Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” ‌ In Acts 9, Saul/Paul is converted and preaches in Jerusalem. Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” ‌ In Acts 10, after Peter is told in a vision to go to the Gentiles, he preaches to a group in Caesarea. Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.” ‌ In Acts 11, persecution had driven the church further into Gentile areas. Acts 11:21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” ‌ In Acts 12, after the death of king Herod we’re told in Acts 12:24 “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” ‌ In Acts 13, after Paul and Barnabas teach in Antioch in Pisidia. Acts 13:48–49 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as believed were appointed to eternal life. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” ‌ In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas teach in the synagogue of Iconium. Acts 14:1 “a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.” ‌ In Acts 16, Paul and Timothy travel through the cities of Derbe and Lystra. Acts 16:5 “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” ‌ In Acts 17, Paul and Silas preach in the Jewish synagogue at Berea. Acts 17:12 “Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” ‌ In Acts 18 Paul, Silas, and Timothy are preaching in Corinth. Acts 18:8 “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.” ‌ In Acts 19, after Paul does many miracles in Ephesus, many pagans believe and have a mass burning of pagan scriptures. Acts 19:20 says, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” ‌ In Acts 28, Paul is awaiting trial in Rome. Acts end by telling us in Acts 28:30–31 “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” ‌ Why was the early church so successful? They were DEVOTED. The early church taught and practiced faithfulness as the required response of having faith. Unfaithfulness was not considered “casual faith.” Unfaithfulness was considered unChristian. ‌ Acts 14:21–22 ESV 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ‌ Conclusion Today our proper response to this message is confession, repentance, and the celebration of our forgiveness by taking Communion. Let’s declare again our faithfulness of Jesus and pray for His help and power to do all that He has called us to accomplish.