Life in the Early Church

(NIV)Acts 2:38-39, 42-47
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. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off---for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

[42] They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

As I am reading these few verses a few things occur to me:

1. Repentance, Baptism and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit were understood to be all related and the natural occurance of turning to Jesus. We have separated them, in large part, and even minimalized the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the church today. This was the power of the church, that changed them from frightened people in the upper room to burning healing evangelists.

2. The communal gatherings, breaking of the bread, listening to the teachings of Jesus and prayer that the church immediately adopted was actually the pattern of the apostles life with Jesus, now encompassing all the believers. This wasn't just a quick response to a major influx, but rather the life style they had been living for the last few years.

3. There had to have been small group dynamics, and the small groups had to have been relatively natural, as they gathered in each others homes, had fellowship - which means intimate relationships - and they knew about one another's needs and helped each other out. Such a different mindset then what we generally see today, here in our western culture, where we all live individual lives.

4. Miraculous signs and wonders were a part of the life of the church. This wasn't some sort of initial get the ball rolling anointing, but rather a continued sign of the new Kingdom, Jesus Lordship, and the real demonstration of both.

5. They met together every day, there was such a desire for the Lord's life, they were willing to lay other other things down and make room for a change in their life style. Chapter 3 shows that they probably met in the late afternoon as Peter and John were arriving in the temple courts around 3pm, and that was where they gathered together.