TEACHING the WORD of God is what the early church gave themselves to –
As we consider THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARLY CHURCH, We see …
- THEY WERE FEEDING – ON THE WORD OF GOD
Their Diet was Gods Word; They were continually devoted to the Teaching of the Apostles…” -{Acts 2:42}- The Greek Verb, “continually devoting”-
{ proskarterountes}. Literally means “to be strong towards.”
That tells us that the early believers were earnestly and perpetually dedicated to the apostles’ teaching. It also may speak of Enthusiasm and excitement toward it.” “The Greek verb translated “Teaching” [Doadache] encompasses both the Content and Manner of the apostles Teaching….Understanding both of those will help us to evaluate Biblically any church today...We have to know WHAT the Bible says about something before we know How to act. We don’t know how to worship, pray, evangelize, discipline, shepherd, train, or serve UNLESS we KNOW what the Word of God says” – {Wayne Mack p 35,37 “Life in the Father’s house.”}
THE APOSTLES; What did they teach? THE WORD OF GOD. The Truth; The Foundation of the early church was Revealed Truth. God designed the church to be a place where His Word is Proclaimed, and Explained, and Obeyed.
What was the Response to such Teaching?
1. PERSECUTION because of the Teaching
Acts 4:1-2 “And as they were speaking to the people. The priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the saducees, came upon them being GREATLY DISTURBED BECAUSE…they were TEACHING the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they LAID HANDS on them and put them in jail…
2. SALVATION because of the Teaching
V3 BUT MANY of those who had heard the message Believed; and the number of men came to be about five thousand.”
3. OPPOSITION
Acts 5:17-29 ; Peter and apostles placed in Jail over the teaching … an angel comes during the night and opens the gate and lets them out and tells them” Go your way, and
STAND and CONTINUE TO SPEAK to the people in the temple, the whole message of this life.”
4. BOLDNESS on account of the teaching
Acts 5:25 -They were found in the temple and what were they doing? V 25 -“Behold the men are standing in the temple and TEACHING the people.” Acts 26-29
“And when they had brought them before the council. And the high priest questioned them saying” We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this NAME, and behold you HAVE FILLED JERUSALEM with your teaching, and intend to bring this Mans blood upon us.”
5. OBEDIENCE
Acts 5:29 – “BUT Peter answered and the apostles answered and said “WE MUST obey God rather than men.” The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a prince and a Savior, to GRANT Repentance to Israel and FORGIVENESS of sins.”
“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who Obey Him.”
6. CONVICTION
Acts 5:33 -“But when they heard this they were CUT TO THE QUICK and were intending to Slay them.”-
7. REJOICING … and SUFFERING
Acts 5:41 “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council REJOICING that they had been considered Worthy to SUFFER SHAME for His Name.”
8. CHRIST CENTERED TEACHING
Acts 5:42 – “And EVERY DAY, in the temple and from house to house, they KEPT RIGHT ON TEACHING and preaching Jesus as Christ.
Acts 18:30-31 “And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was WELCOMING ALL who came to him, Proclaiming the kingdom of God and TEACHING CONCERNING the Lord Jesus with all openness, unhindered.”
9. A GROWING CONGREGATION
Acts 6:7 – “And the Word of God KEPT ON SPREADING and the number of disciples CONTINUED to INCREASE Greatly in Jerusalem…
10. A SAVED CONGREGATION
Acts 6:7 – “And a great many of the priests were becoming OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH.”
11. JESUS CHRIST WAS THE CAUSE OF THEIR AMAZEMENT
Acts 13:12 “Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being AMAZED at the TEACHING of the Lord.”
12. LEADERSHIP WERE DEVOTED TO THE ” MINISTRY OF THE WORD”…
In Acts 6:1– a dispute broke out because some of the widows were not being taken care of. The twelve apostles Summoned the congregation and told them in verse 3 to select spiritual men to do the undertaking of meeting the need they brought to them and in verse 4 “they said” But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the WORD.” … the result of the people submitting themselves to these Godly leaders. And the result of these Godly leaders placing the emphasis on their ministry where it should be.
Acts 15:59 – “Paul and Barnabus stayed in Antioch, TEACHING and preaching, with MANY OTHERS ALSO, THE WORD OF THE LORD.”
You want to have an exciting life? Teach God’s way which is to teach His Word!!!
The early church were Devoted to the Apostles teaching which was the Foundation for the early church…
As a result of this teaching there was Persecution, Salvation, Opposition, Boldness,Obedience, Conviction, Rejoicing, Suffering, Christ -cenetered, Growing, Saved , Amazement, Leadership were devoted to the Ministry of the Word … as they were TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD. What Power…could this be one reason we see so little change, and spirtually weak congregations ,because we have departed from TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD?
1. TEACHING IS PART Of THE GREAT COMMISSION – Matt 28:20
2. TEACHING IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHURCH LEADERS. – 1 Tim 3:2
3. TEACHING IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY BELIEVER – Col 3:16; Rom 15:14
THE PRIORITY OF TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD in the Early Church…BROUGHT WITH IT RESPONSE!
Today some have abandoned the Word of God as Sole authority and Source of Nourishment and instruction for God ‘s people and have moved away and embraced “vain philosophies. humanism, comedians and entertainment and mysticism as the “source” of our “authority.” We are more concerned with “numbers filling the pews than believers filled with Gods Word and maturing. Gods Word is Living and is what God has called all believers to hear, submit to, and teach.
Amidst all the demands upon pastors, from the outrageous to the notion he is a “CEO”, the pastors must take time to “nourish” on Gods Word in order to feed others – 1 Tim 4:6
A CONGREGATION DOES NOT GROW SPIRITUALLY AND GODLY BY ADDITION BUT BY NUTRITION OF GODS WORD!
Eph 4:11-16…. when the Word of God is “received” for what it is – {1 Thess 2:13,} and Applied- {James 1:22} ; Motivated by Love for the Lord Jesus -{ John 14:21-24} and this is the Evidence of being in the Family of God- – {Matt 12:50}.
David Jeremiah in his book “God in you” notes,
“Gods Word is the Objective truth. Whenever you find the Word of God central in an assembly of believers you will find people coming to Christ, growing, nurtured, and being built up in their faith. Whenever you move it out of the center, you will find confusion, constant controversy, and experience-centered discussions.” –
And so we have “experience,” how “I FEEL,” how “I“ interpret what “God is telling me” as the Barometer for decision making, rather than the Revealed Will of God in His Word and our congregations are weak…{Note, who the authority is in these cases? It is not Gods Infallible Word but instead “fallible” man!}
Gods Word is Truth – John 17:17
Gods Word is Timeless – 1 Peter 1:23
Gods Word is Trustworthy – Psalm 19:7
Gods Word id to be TAUGHT– Acts 2:42
Is your Teaching Based upon Gods Word?
Gods Word is to be the FOUNDATION of our Teaching – MATT 7:23-27