Acts Two Priorities

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42

I cringe when people excitedly tell me they want to be part of an "Acts 2" church. Sometimes they want to be part of a "First Century" church. I'd rather be part of a 21st century church that stayed true to biblical definitions! I know they probably just mean they want to see biblical priorities and experiences. But Acts 2 was a newborn's first cry. Nobody wants or needs to be back to being a baby. Still, in that description we see biblical priorities that still should define what life in the church should always be.

Four things marked these first believers in their commitment together. The text says they "devoted themselves" to these things. This meant they paid constant and consistent attention to them. They were defined by a commitment to teaching and doctrine. This came from the apostles who had just trained with Christ Himself. They were committed to "the fellowship", indicating that the assembly of believers was a commitment that all believers made. It would have been strange not to be together. They were committed to "the breaking of the bread" both at the Lord's Table and probably in broader shared meals together. They were committed to prayer... to sincere devotion to God together in response to the first three priorities.

These four things form a healthy pattern for any church. It is expected that a Christian would want to be devoted (not just at weddings, funerals, Christmas or Easter) to a church that is weekly, even daily, devoted to these things.


- Posted with my iPad. The Apple Kool-Aide tastes fine.