Becoming a great Church... Part 1

Nothing can be as dry as dust, as pointless and wearisome as church work without the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is also true that nothing can be more exciting and uplifting, so alive and full of power as a church experiencing the anointing of the Spirit, with Spirit filled, inspired members.

2000 years ago, after the first Pentecost Sunday, a congregation of believers was planted in Jerusalem, that without a doubt was such a Church. We read all about this in Acts, chapter 2, and we are astonished about what God does in the lives of people and of congregations.  The Jerusalem congregation was a living, dynamic expression of the power of God changing lives and ministering to the community.

What made this Church great was that we see God at work. We see God at work as the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. We see God at work when Peter, earlier a cowardly follower of Jesus, receives the boldness to become a fisher of men. We see God at work when three thousand people are added to the Church in one service. We see God at work in changed lives, miracles and deliverance of men and women devoted to Jesus Christ. It was a great, dynamic Church, because we see God at work there.

We want to be a church like that. We want to experience the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit of God. We want to see God at work amongst us. We want to experience the life which comes from the mighty initiative of the Holy Spirit amongst us.

So we have to ask ourselves - what can we do to follow their example?

Over the next few weeks, we will see from the book of Acts several characteristics of a great church. But it will not be enough to merely see them and note them. We have to ask God to make it happen! We have to pray with the earnesty and faithfulness of the first congregation. We have to love as unconditionally and we have to follow Jesus as faithfully as individuals and as a community.

Acts 2:37-41:  When the people heard this, (Peter’s sermon)  they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.