What does it take to become a ‘group of people’ who are united in truth and in deed? What does it take to become a healthy body of believers who long to do church God’s way? This passage reveals four components that the early church focused on in becoming and remaining a healthy church body that continued to grow and grow.

Teaching [doctrine]

Fellowship [koinonia]

Communion [Lord’s Supper]

Prayer [corporate & personal]

What was the result of this growth? Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe as they saw and experienced God’s power at work and His Spirit enabling the apostles to perform many signs and wonders. Luke then follows up with – All those who had believed were together and they had all things in common. This was a “common unity” of believers.

As a result, they began selling property and possessions and shared them with those who were in need. This was a group of people who enjoyed worshiping together in the temple and in their homes. That was who they were on the inside. And vs 47 reveals that on the outside, they were having favor with ‘all’ the people, which includes those who were not a part of this church community.

Jesus’ prayer on behalf of future believers was being answered. “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me” [Jn 17:23]. God’s Word reveals that inward growth leads to outward growth; but it is a growth that God must produce. Luke makes this evident when he states in vs 47 – The Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

There is also another component that is indirectly evident – the leadership of the apostles. Luke tells us that the congregation of believers continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. This single Greek word for ‘continually devoting’ means they did this constantly, consistently, and with great conviction. As a group, they were loyal and faithful to the apostles’ teaching. This was their response and their responsibility (which Jesus had given to them). The responsibility of the apostles (leadership) was to teach the truth according to God’s Word [Mt 28:20]. This means they taught as Jesus did. Jesus was always about the whole truth; in fact, He called Himself the Truth. Many times, in the Gospels, Jesus proclaimed the following words – “I tell you the truth.”

The leaders who have been called out by Christ are called to proclaim His truth. It is God’s Word that reveals to us how we are to do His church…and how we are to be His church…and how we are to grow His church. Because it is His church…isn’t it?