A couple Sundays ago, someone asked me if I thought it was possible to have an Acts 2 church in our modern culture. That, of course, got me thinking about what defined that first church and do we really want to be like them. You can read about the church in Acts 2:42-47.
As I studied there were three traits that stood out in that church: 1) they were Christ-centered, 2) they were Holy Spirit empowered; and 3) they were steadfast and “daily” in their practices.
The message was simple. It was all about Christ Jesus, His work on the cross, His Resurrection and Ascension—and the repentance of those who heard that message.
The church also found its power in the Holy Spirit. They didn’t have shiny services, great tabernacle choirs, worship bands, PowerPoints, fog machines, special lighting, glossy mass mailers, or programs galore. They had the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
The third trait, however, is the one that really made me think. “They continued steadfastly …. They continued daily.” [vv 42, 46 paraphrased]
Steadfastness is proskartereo {pros-kar-ter-eh’-o}, and it means to be persistently attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere and not to faint.
They were steadfast every day. They didn’t walk out a building or meeting hall and suddenly become something different. And they were not controlled by time restraints. Can we have an Acts 2 church is our modern culture? I’m still thinking about that one.
