1200-1 Believer

ACTS 2:41-47
G. Worthy Traits for 44 And all that believed were 4 A people who were
Today’s Church, together, and had all things together—sharing in
2:41-47 common; ministry
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45 And sold their possessions
1 A people who received and goods, and parted them
the Word—gladly 41 Then they that gladly re- to all men, as every man had
a. Result 1: Were baptized ceived his word were bap- need.
b. Result 2: A large church tized: and the same day there 46 And they, continuing daily 5 A people who were unified
were added unto them about with one accord in the tem- 6 A people who worshipped
2 A people who continued— three thousand souls. ple, and breaking bread from & praised God daily

steadfastly
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42 And they continued sted- house to house, did eat their a. In the temple
a. In doctrine
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& fellowship
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fastly in the apostles’ doc- meat with gladness and sin- b. In their homes
b. In the Lord’s supper
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trine and fellowship, and in gleness of heart, c. With joy & united hearts
& prayer
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breaking of bread, and in 47 Praising God, and having d. Praising God
3 A people who stirred
prayers. favour with all the people. e. Results
souls with a godly fear
43 And fear came upon every And the Lord added to the 1) Favor with people

soul: and many wonders and church daily such as should 2) Souls were added to
signs were done by the apos- be saved.

the church
tles.

BELIEVER’S LIFE & WALK: BASIC ESSENTIALS

G. Worthy Traits for Today’s Church, 2:41-47

(2:41-47) Introduction: this is the first look at the early church. It shows us the traits that characterized the daily lives of be-
lievers. It should prick the conscience of the modern-day church.
1. A people who received the Word—gladly (v.41).
2. A people who continued—steadfastly (v.42).
3. A people who stirred souls with a godly fear (v.43).
4. A people who were together—sharing in ministry (v.44-45).
5. A people who were unified (v.46).
6. A people who worshipped and praised God—daily (v.46-47).

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(2:41) Word of God: the early believers were a people who received the Word gladly.
1. This is the basic trait, the very first trait of a true church. It actually defines a church. A church is a people, a body
of people who have received the Word of God. They were not receiving...
• a set of ideas • a human philosophy
• a man’s thoughts • a position
• a set of rules and principles • a religion
They were receiving the Word of God, the very revelation of God Himself. God had revealed Himself in Jesus Christ to
His disciples. And Peter, the spokesman for the disciples, was proclaiming the Word about Jesus Christ. God had spoken to
the world through His Son Jesus Christ, and the early believers had received His Word.
2. Note the word “received.” A true church, a true body of believers, does not just hear and listen to the Word. They
are not just present to join the crowd and see what is going on. They do not sit with wandering minds and closed hearts. A
true church receives the Word of God; they...
• welcome it • practice it • hunger for it
• believe it • experience it • joy and rejoice in it
• take it in • hold on to it • share it
3. Note the statement: “They that gladly received his word.” Not everyone present received it. Some were there for the
wrong reasons and others were closed-minded and disinterested. Still others simply refused to believe and rejected the Word.
But they who received God’s Word became the very first body of believers, the first church.
4. Note that they were baptized: the idea is immediate baptism. Note also the large number: three thousand “were add-
ed” to the 120 disciples.

“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about
five thousand” (Acts 4:4).
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem great-
ly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all rea-
diness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words
unto the ends of the world” (Ro.10:18).
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God
which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God,
which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Th.2:13).
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