Developing A Biblical World View

Eleven men were given an impossible task. They did not form a committee to decide who would go where. They did not take up an offering to see how far they could book passage. They did not vote and follow the decision of the majority. These men went to an upper room and with one accord devoted themselves to prayer. Here, the Church was birthed in a great demonstration of power.

Acts 2 records the coming of the Holy Spirit. This power of the Holy Spirit was directed power given for a specific purpose. The purpose was to reach the nations with the Gospel (Acts 1:8). Acts 2 also records the origin [beginning] of the first Church. When the Holy Spirit was given in this new revelation of power, Peter preached a sermon which resulted in 3,000 responding to the Gospel. These people formed the first Church. The record of their multiplication and mission is presented in the remainder of the book of Acts.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH

To accomplish the mission of the Church, God established basic principles of organization. Members of the Church are related to one another as spiritual brothers and sisters. They are called "The Body of Christ,” of which Jesus is the head. The Church is to work together in unity just like a human body. They are to function under direction of the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God sets special leaders in the church including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. God also gives each Spirit-filled believer a spiritual gift [or gifts] to be used for the work of the ministry.

The discussion of how these leadership and ministry gifts function to help the Church accomplish its mission is beyond the scope of this study. Harvestime International Institute has devoted an entire course to this subject entitled "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit.”

THE WITNESS OF THE EARLY CHURCH

The book of Acts in the New Testament is the story of how the Church began to fulfill the Great Commission of spreading the Gospel to the world. Thousands were saved within just a few weeks after the events recorded in Acts 2. As time went on, the number of believers in Jerusalem greatly multiplied.

God allowed persecution to force the believers out of Jerusalem. They scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria:

. . .And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria except the apostles. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word. (Acts 8:1,4)