How today’s Church should interpret Acts
During this summer, I’ll be taking a class through the Antioch School on the books of Acts. I’ll be sharing some of my projects for you.
As we begin our journey through the book of Acts, it’s our goal to determine how we can properly apply the Luke’s meaning to our modern culture. Many churches around us have become stale, while many others have embraced another “Jesus Movement.” While an amazing time of growth in the church is happening, it’s important to stop and compare if we are executing our growth as well as our apostles did.
The book of Acts is a unique writing among the New Testament books. Its main purpose was to record “a selective history of the early church.” In this book we can see how Luke wove together a collective group of events to showcase the true meaning of church following the resurrection of Christ. In Acts, believers are to be sent out and bear witness to both Jews and Gentiles regarding the good news of Jesus Christ, a theme which we still abide by today.
When asking how we should interpret and apply the book of Acts, I believe it’s easily found in Acts 2:42-47. As BibleGateway.com summarizes it as “The Fellowship of the Believers”. This section is the first summary seen in Acts, showing how the Christian community shares a common life. Luke shows us how each member was involved in fellowship not just inside the ‘church walls’ but outside in the real world, where church happens. We see believers meeting in homes (v.46) and the temple to offer prayers and breaking of the bread. A clear point to show church isn’t just a Sunday thing.
In verse 42-43, Luke writes of a “devoted” lifestyle to the teachings of the apostles, a clear case of serving no master but the Lord Jesus. Believing in the anointed teaching of Jesus. It is here where we find believers sharing meals together, “breaking of bread” and offering up prayers a “reverent fear” in response to witnessing miracles, which were seen as signs of God’s power and glory.
Verse 44-45 is where we begin to see some strong acts of love. As people were voluntarily selling possessions and giving “proceeds to all, as any had need.” Clearly showing generosity among believers and the early church. This was an act of love to help in showing how each member “had all things in common” as to not have a single man or woman stand prouder than the next because of worldly things.
Verses 46-47 are interesting and important to take note of. These verses were recorded by Luke to help show that church is not a Sunday activity but a lifestyle. Something to be lived throughout the week as “day by day” the entered the temple and “together”, showing community, “breaking bread in their homes” showing the importance of a sense of belonging to more than just your Heavenly Father. But it was in these instances we can see how a communal environment is what the Lord has meant for us in a church setting. Together we are praising the Lord and having “favor with all the people” is an attitude of love towards all—an extension of God’s love for all through us. It is by these measures that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (v.47)
How can today’s modern church interpret and apply Acts to their form? It seems simple through the reading of Acts 2:42-47. Cultivate an environment where church doesn’t happen only on Sunday; but, the Sunday gatherings are merely a strengthening point for the church body to get through the constant warfare. How today’s churches apply this vary in many ways. You can walk down a street several ways, but what matters most is that you’re walking.
