In today’s world, you don’t have to travel far before you see a church building. It’s true here in South Florida. It’s true where you live. It’s true in New York, Chicago, Manila, London and Paris. Everywhere we go; we see churches.
This weekend at Family Church we’re going to look at the story of the first time anybody started a church. It’s before there was a Pope. It’s before a building was ever built. It happens right after another big first—the first time in world history that somebody ever preached the gospel. We find the story in Acts 2:37-47.
People from all over the world were gathered in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to preach about Jesus crucified for our sins, buried and raised from the dead. The people heard the gospel, it cut to their hearts and they asked, “What must we do?” Peter told them to obey the commands of Jesus: repent, believe and be baptized. Then he gathered them together and these people started the very first church. They met together as a church family and started doing some things: teaching, praying, fellowshipping, meeting needs, baptizing and sharing the Lord’s Supper.
As they gathered and lived out the mission together, the Bible says that more and more people were compelled to repent, believe, be baptized, gather and join the mission. From that point on, every story in the book of Acts is about someone starting a church, strengthening a church or dealing with something in a church. Every New Testament book that follows is either to a church or pastor or instructing a church or church member. Post Acts 2, there is no understanding of Christianity apart from a church. The church is the engine that drives Jesus’ mission to make disciples.
People have continued to do what Jesus told them and the Spirit moved them to do. They have embraced the mission. They have gone out and told the story of Jesus. They have invited people to repent, believe and be baptized. Then they have gathered to form churches and this has gone on and on and on to this very day. It’s why we will gather this Sunday—to carry out the mission of Jesus and invite people to join us as we do it.