The Ideal Church

Acts 2:41-47

INTRODUCTION: The word “ecclesia” means a body that originally was not a body, but has been called out; to meet together; to purpose, as a group, to carry out a specified task; or, to apply it to our way of thinking we have been called out from the world of sin to carry on the ministry of the Gospel. This was the function of the early church. Because of this activity, this church was almost an Ideal Church.

The church in the Book of Acts and in the rest of the NT was what is often called a house church. The early Christians met in houses rather than in special ecclesiastical buildings. It has been said that religion was loosed from specially sacred places and centered in that universal place of living, the home. Unger says that homes continued to serve as places of Christian assembly for two centuries. (Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Bible Handbook, p. 586).

E. Stanley Jones wrote:
I looked on the Bambino, the child Christ in the Cathedral at Rome, laden with expensive jewels, and then walked out and looked upon the countenance of hungry children and wondered whether Christ, in view of this hunger, was enjoying His jewels. And the thought persisted that if He was, then I could no longer enjoy the thought of Christ. That bejeweled Bambino and the hungry children are a symbol of what we have done in putting around Christ the expensive livery of stately cathedrals and churches while leaving untouched the fundamental wrongs in human society whereby Christ is left hungry in the unemployed and the dispossessed.

1. THE IDEAL CHURCH IS A LOVING CHURCH.
A love for the Bible.
David’s love for the law. Psalms 119:07
Paul’s love for the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:13
A love for prayer.
Jesus’ example in the garden.
Paul’s exhortation. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
A love for the brethren.
Church in Philadelphia. Revelation 3:7-9
Church in Jerusalem. Acts 2:1; 4:24; 5:12

2. THE IDEAL CHURCH IS A LOYAL CHURCH.
Loyal in attendance.
We are commanded by the Word. 1 Corinthians 4:2
We are strengthened by believers. Galatians 6:2
Loyal in tithing.
The big-heartedness of the Israelites. Exodus 36:5-7
The blessings of the participants. Matthew 3:10
Loyal in attitude.
Never deny the Lord.
Never ignore your responsibility.

3. THE IDEAL CHURCH IS A LABORING CHURCH.
Laboring in Missions and outreach
God’s plan universally. Mark 16:15
God’s plan ecclesiastically. Acts 1:8
God’s plan individually. John 17:18
Laboring in Soul-winning.

CONCLUSION:
The apostles’ doctrine. This means the inspired teachings of the apostles, delivered orally at first, and now preserved in the NT.

The fellowship (koinonia) means association and close relationships. This was more than just getting together, certainly more than just a religious meeting. It involved sharing goods, having meals together, and praying together.

the Lord’s Supper) is “the breaking of bread.” It refers to communion services that were celebrated in remembrance of Jesus and patterned after the Last Supper, which Jesus had eaten with his disciples before his death (Matthew 26:26-29).

Prayers. This was the fourth principal practice of the early church, and expressed complete dependence on the Lord for worship, guidance, preservation, and service.

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