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Acts 2:40-43

Many churches have a reputation for doing something because that is how it has always been done.  This can come in many forms, but it is always tradition.  Traditions are not necessarily bad.  When it comes to traditions, we need to occasionally ask ourselves, “Why are we doing this?”  Is it simply for the sake of tradition, or is there a good and Godly reason for it?

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And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:40-43

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Though the church was still very new in Acts 2, there were some things that they decided needed to be continued.  So, when they experienced a massive growth in membership, they taught those new members to continue in those same practices.  That is how chapter 2 ends. It is also how chapter 3 begins, and it will continue to be a theme throughout all of the book of Acts. 

The first thing they continued in was “the apostles’ doctrine”.  It is called “the apostles doctrine” because it is what they were teaching.  It was not because they decided this is what needed to be taught.  When I teach a lesson on the 3 laws of motion, I call it “my lesson”.  It is not because the three laws are my discoveries, but because they are what I am teaching that day.  The doctrines were God’s, but the apostles were teaching them.  Since it was God’s words, the church continued in them in both knowledge and action.  

The second thing they continued in was “fellowship”.  For those who claim to love God but they “don’t like organized religion”, this is what they are most certainly missing out on.  I used the following analogy when I was teaching this to our church.  If my hand loses fellowship with my lungs or heart, it will die.  It stops getting the blood, oxygen, and nutrients it needs.  If my hand loses fellowship with my brain, it dies.  It no longer loses the signals and information it needs for life.  At the same time, if my hand loses fellowship with the rest of my body, my body could very well die.  While all the others are vital organs, it is the hand that brings food to the mouth for the stomach and it is the hand that cares for the body.  So the Christian needs fellowship with the body of Christ, and the rest of the body needs the individual Christian to continue in fellowship.

They continued in “breaking of bread”.  This is “Lord’s Supper” or “Communion”.  The eating of the broken bread and the drinking of the cup remind us of the suffering and death of Jesus each time we partake.  Without His death, there is no church.  Without His death, there is no redemption.  Because of His resurrection, it is not a sad service, but it is reverential because of the suffering.

Finally, they continued in “prayer”.  Prayer is the lifeline of the church.  It is the power of the church.  It is how we continue to look like Christ so that we can truly be called Christians.  Through prayer, God changes our will to His will.  That is how God’s “kingdom come, and His will is done on earth as it is in Heaven”.  

Father, help us to continue in these important practices.  It is so easy to negate the importance of each of these, but You designed us to need them to remain healthy and vibrant.  May we continue in these like the first church so that You continue to do great things through Your church.