Easter 26 What the Resurrection Church Looked Like

[HKHaugan]

46AD. That was the year, according to biblical scholars, Paul and Barnabas began their first missionary journey (Acts 13). Because of that fact we need to get a feel for what the early church was like. We are talking 'early' here. This is just a bit over a decade from the Cross, the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost. In that incredibly short period of time the Body of Christ shot up like a rocket in a spiritual atmosphere heretofore dominated by the devil. The launch of the Son of God was entering the sin-entrenched hearts of humanity on every level of the world's social system. His life caused a spiritual upheaval and eventually the self-deifying arrogance of Rome fell under the weight of its immorality and self-indulgence.

After Jesus had called twelve disciples together to be the first visible extension of His Body the devil's counter attack resulted in severe persecution. The first believers found the truth of Jesus was real. Greater is He that is in them than he that is in the world (1John 4:4). They thrived and grew as the Spirit led them.

Consider Luke's observations in Acts 13. There we find a picture of the Lord's intention for what He wanted His church to be and to look like. In it we can see its structure had His character. It was all about Him. He was their preaching and teaching priority. Second, its practice had His characteristics. They defined His lifestyle. These two facts lead us to a third---they are what He intends for our present day churches. The following are gleaned from its verses:

1. It was a prophetic church vs.1

2. It was a teaching church vs.1

3. It was an inclusive multi-ethnic, mixed class and international church vs.1

4. It was a worshiping church vs.2

5. It was a fasting church vs.2

6. It was a Spirit-led church vs.2

7. It was a praying church vs.2

8. It was a missionary church vs.2

9. It was an obedient church vs.3

10. It was a discipling church vs.1-3

11. It was a relational church vs.1-3

12. It was a supportive church vs.1-3

13. It was an orderly church vs.1-4

14. It was a Scripture based church vs.5

15. It was a proclaiming evangelistic church vs.5

16. It was an apostolic church vs.5

17. It was a church on the move vs.6

18. It was a responsive church vs.7

19. It was a church ready to face opposition vs.8

20. It was a bold church filled with the power of the Spirit vs.9-12

21. It was a church that amazed vs.12

22. It was a church with an historically spiritual foundation vs.13-48

23. It was a follow-up church vs.42-48

24. It was a joyful Spirit-filled, thus a spiritually gifted church vs.1, 3, 5, 10-11, 12, 16-41, 49, 52.

Now we have a gauge by which we can measure where we are as individual disciples and as gathered groups of whatever size. Of course there is always more but why not stand in the midst of the Scripture and watch it blossom right before our eyes? And to think, He has called each of us personally to walk in His light and experience Him as the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).