The Power of Proclamation and Community
Last week, we examined how the early church built its foundation on Scripture-based decisions and remained open to divine activity. Today, we’re diving into what might be the most dynamic passage in Acts – the aftermath of Pentecost and the birth of authentic Christian community.
Bold Gospel Proclamation (Acts 2:14-40)
Notice something fascinating: Peter’s first recorded sermon wasn’t a polite homily – it was a bold proclamation that cut to the heart. He didn’t soften the message to make it more palatable. Instead, he proclaimed Christ with such conviction that 3,000 people were saved.
Leonard Ravenhill once said, “The early church was married to poverty, prisons, and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.”
Consider This:
- When Peter stood up to preach, he didn’t have:
- A building
- A sound system
- A worship team
- A marketing strategy
What he had was the power of the Holy Spirit and an uncompromising message.
The DNA of Authentic Community (Acts 2:42-47)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This wasn’t just a description – it was a prescription for church health.
Look at the elements:
- Teaching
- Fellowship
- Breaking of bread
- Prayer
- Signs and wonders
- Radical generosity
- Daily community
The Results? “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Making It Practical Today
Let’s break down each element:
Teaching (Acts 2:42)
It wasn’t just casual Bible reading – the word “devoted” suggests intense, consistent study.
Ask Yourself:
- Is your teaching transforming lives or just transferring information?
- Do your people hunger for God’s Word or just show up for the service?
Fellowship (Acts 2:42)
The Greek word ‘koinonia’ means far more than coffee and donuts. It means shared life.
Reality Check:
- Do your members share life or just space?
- Is fellowship happening beyond scheduled services?
Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:46)
This wasn’t just about communion – it was about shared lives around shared tables.
Modern Application:
- How often do your church families eat together?
- Are homes being opened for fellowship?
Prayer (Acts 2:42)
Notice prayer wasn’t an afterthought – it was foundational.
Evaluation Time:
- Is your prayer meeting the least attended service?
- Do you pray until something happens or just until the time is up?
Radical Generosity (Acts 2:44-45)
They didn’t just give – they gave sacrificially.
Hard Questions:
- When was the last time your church took a radical step of faith in giving?
- Are needs being met supernaturally through the body?
The Impact Then and Now
Consider these statistics:
- The early church grew from 120 to 3,120 in one day
- They impacted their entire city
- The growth was both numerical and spiritual
Yet today:
- Only 15% of churches are growing through conversion
- 85% of churches are in decline or plateaued
- The average church sees less than 2 conversions per year
Your Next Steps
- Evaluate Your DNA:
- Which elements of Acts 2 are strong in your church?
- Which are weak or missing?
- What’s one element you can strengthen this month?
- Check Your Temperature:
- Is your fellowship supernatural or superficial?
- Is your teaching transformational or informational?
- Is your generosity radical or routine?
- Make One Change: Pick one element from Acts 2 and commit to strengthening it over the next 90 days.
Remember what A.W. Tozer said: “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference.”
Let’s not let that be true of our churches.
Next Week: Part 3 – Building Resilience and Reflecting Christ (Acts 3:1-4:31)
