Acts 2:46-47 Devotional: Gathering of Believers

We have been going through the book of Acts chapter by chapter for the past few weeks during Bible study. As I read, it amazes me how frequently the early church met and fellowshipped together. In the 21st century, most churches meet once a week on Sunday. Some churches meet several times on Sunday or throughout the week for a mid-week Bible study or prayer service. Even if the most active church meets three times a week, it pales in comparison when looking at the early church.

In Acts 2, there is a small passage talking about the early church meeting that often goes unnoticed. Due to Pentecost and Peter’s first sermon, the ingathering of the Jewish Christians falls between the cracks as a person reads Acts. Consider the last two verses of chapter 2. “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved (NASB95).” Christians throughout history have meet frequently to fellowship and worship Jesus Christ. The early church did it more often than we do now, but we can meet in different ways than they can.

Technology has allowed an incredible wave of Gospel declaration that has never been seen before. Although the internet can be a great distraction, it can also be used for evangelism. Churches are changing as the new generation is gaining membership. Gen Z can greatly benefit from online ministries as I have witnessed much fruit from such ministries. We are told that we need to have many people in church, but we should not care about numbers, but faithfulness. The early church did not care about how many they had; they cared about the authenticity of the Christian. That needs to be our focus too. The church today needs greater emphasis on discipleship than membership. A discipled Christian will disciple more Christians and a greater impact for Christ will be shared. The early church gathered to share meals, pray, sing hymns to the Lord, and hear His teachings taught by His chosen apostles. Although the apostles do not exist today, we are to follow their teachings given to us by the Holy Spirit called the New Testament.

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