A Mission-Focused Church

The Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
–Acts 2:47

The early church was Spirit empowered. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus’ followers were baptized with the Holy Spirit and began sharing the gospel with people from around the Roman Empire. The early church was also Christ centered. In the first sermon ever preached in the church, Peter centered on the resurrection and Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. After Peter’s sermon, we see that the early church was mission focused.

The early church grew not just in number but also in spiritual maturity. Acts 2:42 says, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Notice the four activities of the early church:

1. The apostles’ teaching. The early Christians didn’t have a New Testament; instead, they listened to the instruction of the apostles. Today that instruction is deposited in the Bible.

2. Fellowship. This was more than just chatting over coffee and doughnuts–the early Christians became a part of one another’s lives and took care of one another’s needs.

3. The breaking of bread. This is a reference to the Lord’s Supper, which the church observed during their Sunday evening meals. These “agape meals” were a part of their worship time.

4. Prayer. Prayer was the power line that connected the early church to the power of God.

What was the result of these activities? Verses 46–47 say, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Doesn’t that sound like the kind of church you’d like to be a part of? We see in this passage that church growth and spiritual growth go hand in hand. In order for your church to be Spirit empowered, Christ centered, and mission focused, those who are a part of the church must be Spirit empowered, Christ centered, and mission focused as well. That’s the prescription for a supernatural life and a supernatural church.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.