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The Basics                   Acts 2:40-47

The Greek word for church is ekklesia. It comes from combining the words ek and kaleo. Ek means “out of,” and kaleo means “to call.” Put them together and we understand that the church is made up of “called out ones.”

The 3,120 believers in the first church in Jerusalem had been called out of the world into a new God-centered ___________________ that would go back into the world with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.

Four Basics that are to define God’s church:                        V. 42-46

1.         Devotion to the ___________________________

The Apostle’s teaching was their explanation of how Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and the ramifications for living now that He had completed His work on the cross and risen from the dead. Our _________________ Testament is the apostle’s teaching!

The Lord values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.             -Psalm 147:11

2.         Devotion to each other in the Christian community

The word that comes to my mind is ________________________: true Biblical fellowship is being totally devoted to other people who are also totally devoted to Christ!

Philippians 1:3-5         1 John 1:6-7                2 Corinthians 8:3-5

Christian giving is _____________________________ and motivated by the love of Christ. The sacrificial giving of our fellow Christians inspires others to do what they can.

3.         They were devoted to the _______________’s Supper      

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a SHARING in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a SHARING  in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread.              -I Corinthians 10:16-17

The Lord’s Supper joins baptism as the 2 ordinances we are commanded by Jesus to observe.

Baptism is done just once after a person is born again.

The Lord’s Supper is done more often, to get us to reflect on the saving gospel of Jesus Christ and the value of our koinonia with each other in His Name.

It gives us opportunity to be forgiven and forgive.

The early church devoted themselves to it!

4.         They devoted themselves to Praying __________________

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.               -I Timothy 2:8

 

Now what happens when a church devoted themselves to the things the first church devoted themselves to?

First, something happens ___________________ them!

Second, something happens in our sphere of ___________________!

Finally, something happens in _______________________!