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The
Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew
28:19-20, NASB).
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April 7, 2019
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1) A Portrait of the Early Church (David McClister)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
A Portrait of the Early Church
David McClister
The New Testament is our pattern for living. Its pages reveal the
will of God concerning personal godliness, church organization, our
relationship with non-Christians, and a host of other subjects. The
New Testament shows us, through various figures and numerous
examples, how God wants us to live and work as His children.
If I may be allowed to use the imagery of a photograph album, the
book of Acts preserves for us a series of snapshots of how the
Christian life was lived in the first century A. D. It is the New
Testament pattern in the form of historical, literary pictures. As
one goes from chapter to chapter in Acts, he sees picture after
picture of life in the early church. An interesting picture appears
in Acts 4:23-35. In this portrait of the early church we can see
several remarkable things which we ought to have in the church
today. The portrait of Acts 4:23-35 shows the early Christians in a
difficult situation: Peter and John had just been released by Jewish
officials, having been threatened not to preach Christ publicly. Yet
because of the marvelous features apparent in this portrait, the
early church stood firm.
Prayerful
These Christians knew about the power of prayer and used it! When
the world threatened them, they did not disband. They did not waste
their precious time worrying about the threat of persecution (Phil.
4: 6), nor did they place their trust in their own plans, programs,
or strength. Instead they gathered together to pray. They knew that
God cared for their state and was receptive to their pleas, and thus
they placed the matter squarely in His hands. Even if they
themselves could do nothing to stop the threats of their enemies,
they knew that God could and would care for His own.
Their prayer, recorded in Acts 4:24-30, is a gem. First of all,
these Christians asked for strength to do God's work (v. 29). How
many times do we find ourselves asking God to do our work for us!
But these Christians were not so lazy. They wanted to do God's work,
and they prayed for the necessary strength. Sure, the work was
difficult, and they knew it. That is why they did not try to do it
on their own. The early Christians knew that they could be effective
only if they relied on the strength which God supplied, not on
themselves. We would all be benefited immeasurably if we would stop
asking for worldly things, which only drains our strength and
hinders growth (Jas. 4: 3), and start praying as the early
Christians prayed.
Secondly, the early Christians realized in their prayer that all
things, including their present distress, were in accordance with
God's plan (vv. 24-28). They, like their Lord, had resigned
themselves to accept God's will and working, and put their own
desires aside. How great a lesson this is for us today! Too many
times the Lord's work is hindered because of our petty jealousies
and conflicting worldly desires. We ought to review what commitment
to Christ really means.
God heard their prayer and answered it. Although we may not expect
miraculous answers to prayer (of the kind in Acts 4:31) today, we
may still expect an answer to our prayer. Just as God indicated His
support of these early Christians, so will He be on our side if we
will resolve to do God's will regardless of what the world says and
ask for God's help in doing it.
United
The early church was united. One of the most common features among
all the portraits of early church life in Acts is the unity of the
believers. That such an emphasis on unity should be apparent is no
accident. God wants us to know that a church which is pleasing to
Him is not ridden with strife and factions, but rather is united in
peace (Eph. 4:3).
The portrait in Acts 4:23-35 gives great place to unity. "And the
multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not
one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his
own; but they had all things common" (v. 32). Their unity was not
superficial, but real. It was grounded in their hearts and souls and
was manifest in their attitudes toward each other. The determination
and sentiment among them was one. And it is this very thing which
accounts in a great measure for the immense strength of the early
church. Rome fell to pieces in the first century but the church
stood solid. Herein lay God's message on growth, effectiveness, and
progress: it begins with unity in spirit. But where there is
selfishness there is no flowering of the Lord's work.
Evangelistic
The early Christians knew that their primary work was to preach the
gospel to the lost. Thus Acts 4:33 records, "And with great power
gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." This preaching the gospel
with great power was due in part to the unity of the church, but its
real cause lay in the grace of God. Grace is favor. God favored and
approved of the work these Christians were doing in spreading the
gospel, and He blessed them in doing it. Brethren, God will bless us
in the same way if we will just get engaged in that same work.
Because the early church was evangelistic, it grew. Notice that it
grew, not swelled. There is a difference. Churches swell in size
when there is a shifting of members to different locations, but
growth only comes when there are new additions to God's family. But
more specifically, the early church grew because of the essence of
its evangelism: the resurrection of Christ. The first century
Christians did not push human creeds or try to accommodate current
social tastes. They simply laid emphasis upon Christ's resurrection,
knowing that this is the cornerstone of Christianity and the very
basis of Christian living (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 4:24).
Characterized By Love and Devotion Among Its Members
Acts 4:34f is one of the most remarkable features of this portrait
of the early church. When was the last time you saw or heard of a
Christian selling his house to help another Christian financially? I
am not denying that this ever happens today, but you must agree that
it occurs only rarely. I know that our society is extremely affluent
compared to the setting of the New Testament, and that saints in
such a condition of need as in Acts 4:34f are usually not seen as a
result. But what Acts 4:34f shows is a lack of worldliness in a
willingness to help one another. The Christians of the first century
freely gave up their possessions for the cause of Christ, and this
was the effect of their great love and devotion to each other in the
Lord. Such love is described in 1 Cor. 13, and its results are seen
here. Eph. 4:16 describes these Christians perfectly.
Of course these Christians were devoted to Christ more than anything
else, but their devotion to Christ caused them to love each other in
a sacrificial way. They did not mind sacrificing possessions and
pleasure for the benefit of brethren. And so must our attitude
be today. The apostle John asked the timeless question, "But whoso
hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and
shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide
in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither with
the tongue; but in deed and truth" (1 Jn. 3: 17f).
Conclusion
In Acts 4:23-35 we see the church as God would have it. But the
Lord's church in any locale can only be this way with the "working
in due measure of each several part" (Eph. 4: 16). If the local
church is to be pleasing to God, it will take each member working
with this goal in mind. Let us all resolve to copy the portrait of
Acts 4.
— Via Searching the Scriptures, Volume XXVI, Number 1, January 1985
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-2-
News & Notes
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mary
Ellen Aldrich (Danny Bartlett’s mother) who passed away
last Thursday, April 4. Let us also be remembering her loved ones in
prayer.
James Medlock was able to return home Tuesday, but a cough
had him back to the doctors. His strength is now returning,
but he is still not entirely over all his symptoms.
Others to also be praying for: the friends and family of Veleria
Synder who recently passed away; Pat Joyner who
had been in the hospital a couple week ago because of congestive
heart failure and trouble in breathing; Jim Lively, A..J. Joyner;
Deborah Medlock; Shirley Davis; Mary Vandevander; Michelle
Rittenhouse; John Stoval; Kayleigh Tanner, Amris Bedford,
Everleigh and Hazel Greer; Danny Hutcheson; Roger Montgomery; Rex
& Frankie Hadley; and Tommy Lin
WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/the-gospel-observer-april-7-2019/
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The
Steps That
Lead to
Eternal
Salvation
1) Hear the
gospel, for
that is how
faith comes
(Rom. 10:17;
John
20:30-31).
2) Believe in
the deity of
Christ (John
8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of
sins (Luke
13:5; Acts
17:30).
4) Confess
faith in
Christ (Rom.
10:9-10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in
water for the
remission of
sins (Mark
16:16; Acts
2:38; 22:16;
Rom. 6:3-4;
Gal. 3:26-27;
1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in
the faith, living
for the Lord;
for, if not,
salvation can
be lost (Heb.
10:36-39; Rev.
2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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Tebeau
Street
CHURCH
OF CHRIST
1402
Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00
a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m.
& 5 p.m. (worship)
Tuesday: 2 p.m.
(Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible
class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912)
281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel
Observer website with pictures
in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version of Gospel
Observer website without
pictures, but back to March
1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermon)