These are some general descriptions of earliest Christianity and how the first generation of Christians fellowshipped and worshipped. Does your church look like the earliest church?
The earliest church had (or did) the following:
APOSTLES CHOSEN BY GOD:
Acts: 1:2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he [Christ] had chosen.
Acts 1: 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 2:42 [The Fellowship of the Believers] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
DISCIPLES:
Acts 6:7: So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
EVANGELISTS and PROPHETS:
Acts 21: 8, 9 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
ELDERS (presbyters/priests) and DEACONS:
Acts 6:2-4 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
Acts 20:27-30 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
TEACHERS:
Acts 8: 29-30 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
ALL WHO PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF GOD:
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."Acts 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH:
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Acts 10: 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT BY TONGUES OF FIRE:
Acts 2: 3-4 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
AND BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS OF THE APOSTLES:
Acts 8:17-19 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.Acts 19: 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
WERE UNIFIED:
Acts 2:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul...
PRAYED TOGETHER:
Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in , they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John.... These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 2: 42 And they continued steadfastly.... in prayers.
CELEBRATED THE LORD’S SUPPER:
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread....
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
PASSED ON APOSTLESHIP TO NEXT GENERATION:
Acts 1:23-26 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell , that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
APOSTLES DID MIRACLES:
Acts 2: 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 3:4-8 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him... In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk...and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.
Acts 5: 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;
HAD VISIONS:
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy , and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams...
WERE DEVOTED TO THE APOSTLES
Acts 2: 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:34-37 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
HONORED APOSTLES AUTHORITY
Acts 5:9-10 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth , buried her by her husband.
2 Thess. 3:14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
KEPT MIRACULOUS RELICS OF APOSTLES:
Acts 5: 12-14 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;... Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Acts 19:11,12 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
VOLUNTARILY GAVE UP WEALTH FOR CHURCH:
Acts 2:44,45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Acts 2:32-34 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ...Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold.
WORSHIPED DAILY:
Acts 2:46,47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people.
WERE PERSECUTED:
Acts 8:1-3 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ...But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Acts 16: 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison ; and now are they sending us away secretly ? No indeed ! But let them come themselves and bring us out."
LEADERS CALLED COUNCILS TO DECIDE DOCTRINES:
Act 15:1-2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
COUNCILS AUTHORITATIVE FOR WHOLE CHURCH:
Act. 16: 4,5 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 19:18-20 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
LEADERS CLEARLY DENOUNCED SIN:
Rom. 1:29-32 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
