A day in the life of the church in Jerusalem

Bible Text: Acts 2:42-47 | Preacher: Philip Dhinakar | Last week we saw how the Lord continued to build His church. This morning we focus on verses 42–47 and observe what life looked like among these first believers.

Peter had called the people to “save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Every generation has its own values and patterns of thinking, and these new believers were being called to a decisive break with the spirit of their age. From now on, they were to be shaped, not by the world around them, but by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The church had become a new community with a new identity and a new way of life.

Luke gives us a glimpse of that transformed life.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

The first evidence of this transformation was a deep commitment to the Word of God.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (v. 42).

These believers had a hunger to learn. They sat under the apostles’ instruction because they longed to know Christ and understand His truth. They wanted to hear everything Jesus had taught and to understand the significance of the Scriptures.

This desire for truth is itself the work of the Holy Spirit. Peter later writes, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”

Just as a healthy baby desires milk, a healthy Christian desires the Word of God. The church at Jerusalem was both a teaching church and a learning church.

Today, the apostles’ teaching has been preserved for us in the Scriptures. How tragic it would be if we possessed only a small appetite for God’s Word. We should pray that the Holy Spirit would deepen our hunger for Christ and His truth.

They devoted themselves to fellowship

Luke tells us that they devoted themselves “to the fellowship.”

Fellowship in the New Testament means much more than casual conversation. It means sharing life together. It involves loving one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another, and bearing one another’s burdens.

Their fellowship was intentional. It was daily. It was practical.

“They had all things in common” and willingly cared for those in need. Their brothers and sisters had a claim not only on their affection but also on their resources.

Christian fellowship is one of God’s great gifts. We share the same Lord, the same faith, and the same hope. We share the same struggles and the same joys. We are all travelling in the same direction and will spend eternity together.

When genuine fellowship takes place, we experience something of heaven while still on earth.

Yet many of us find it easier to talk about work, hobbies, sports, or current events than about the things of God. We are often uncertain how to encourage one another spiritually. We need to cultivate the art of spiritual conversation and make a real effort to spend time together, building rich and genuine relationships as the family of God.

Tertullian records that even the pagans remarked concerning Christians, “See how they love one another, and how they are ready to die for one another.”

May the same be said of us.

They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread

The believers also devoted themselves to “the breaking of bread.”

This refers primarily to the Lord’s Supper. Having received the teaching of the apostles, they were eager to obey Christ’s command and gather around His table.

The Lord’s Supper is not merely a memorial. It is a means of grace by which believers participate in the benefits of Christ’s death and are reminded that they belong to one body.

Paul writes, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

Whenever we come to the Lord’s Table, we are reminded that the Son of God loved us and gave Himself for us. We are called to examine ourselves, confess our sins, and rejoice in the forgiveness that Christ has secured.

As a church, we should continue to gather around this table until He comes again.

They devoted themselves to prayer

Finally, they devoted themselves “to the prayers.”

The early church was a praying church. Prayer was not an afterthought but an essential part of their life together.

Jesus repeatedly taught His disciples to ask, seek, and knock. The apostles believed His promises, and the church committed itself to corporate prayer.

Individual prayer is important, but churches must also pray together. We need to bring every aspect of our lives before God and acknowledge our dependence upon Him.

If the first church teaches us anything, it is that God’s people must be devoted to the means of grace: the Word, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. Through these ordinary means God shapes His people into what He desires them to be.

Conclusion

The first thing that strikes us about these believers is that Christianity was central to their lives. It was the controlling influence. They gladly identified with Christ, even though it brought opposition and cost.

No one had to pressure them to gather together. Their instinct was to be with one another because they belonged to the same family, shared the same hope, and were travelling in the same direction.

What about us?

Is Christianity the controlling influence in your life, or has it been pushed to the margins? Is it something you put on occasionally, or is Christ truly at the centre?

The church at Jerusalem was marked by both joy and reverence. They worshipped with glad hearts, yet they were filled with awe. They praised God, enjoyed favour with the people, and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

My prayer for South City Church is that we too would be a joyful, reverent, loving, and Christ-centred church, and that the Lord would continue to add to our number, all for His glory.