Five Basic Traits of the Early Church
Five Basic Traits of the Early Church
A. Introduction: Understand the Situation the First converts after Christ´s resurrection were facing.
1. Scared and Persecuted; many doubtful having seen Jesus crucified like a criminal; accused by the government of trying to overthrow them (Coup); accused of being Lunatics following the wrong messiah…etc
2. A rising power of the holy spirit amongst those that dared to speak of Jesus.
a) They were inspired by a mission and a clear motive for their salvation: to preach to the ends of the earth and be spent for this cause, as it is the only thing that will be remain of value for them in the kingdom to come, alongside Hope, Faith and Love.
B. 5 Traits: Glowing, Groaning, Going, Giving and Growing.
1. A Glowing Church: Attractive, that shines in the darkness, that stands out from the rest of the crowd, does things totally contrary to the world´s desires or trends.
a) Their actions, words and lifestyles showed unconditional love.
b) They always answered with words of hope through any personal distress, thus bringing hope to others around them. (even at the face of death in the Circus of Nero)
i. Acts 6:15 – Face of Stephen was like an angel while being accused of blasphemy
ii. Phil 4:7 – A peace beyond our understanding or anyone else’s.
iii. Acts16:25 – Paul and Silas Worshipped inside the prison and others heard them and were encouraged in their time of distress.
2. A Groaning Church: In constant prayer and suffering during their pilgrimage on earth until God´s appointed time.
a) Romans 8:22-23 – Longing alongside with creation to be in God´s presence at all times.
b) (vs 26) – H.S. intercedes through our speaking in tongues to express the depth of our desire to be with God and for His will to be fulfilled on earth.
c) Acts 12:5 – While Peter was in prison the church prayed without ceasing. They groaned for their leaders´ wellbeing. God answered them miraculously, to the point that they couldn’t believe it when Peter showed up at the gate…. We never know how far our prayers will move things in the physical realm.
d) Acts 1:14 – They All joined constantly in prayer.
3. A Going Church: We cannot operate like a Secret Agency. Our presence has to impact everyone around us, the community, the town, the state, and the Government. We need to be seen and known by everyone without fear of being recognized. They specialized in networking to get as many allies as possible to the cause.
a) Acts 5:42 – Every day they went to the temple, and house to house, not once a week or only when the church had a meeting…. We need to have church every day, in our homes and neighborhoods.
b) 2 Timothy 4:1-3 – Teach in season and out of season, while you can. There will be a time when we will not be able to openly talk about our faith, make the most of the time.
c) Romans 10:14-15 – How will they know if no one tells them? This is God giving us human logic for which we have no excuse. It is not God´s job to tell them about salvation through Jesus, but ours, this is the reason we have been employed by God and it is the only outcome He really desires.
d) Proverbs 26:13 – Excuses about a Lion being in the Streets, therefore we don’t want to go to evangelize. Is there a fear of rejection and ridicule by man or plain laziness?
4. A Giving Church: The mindset was to give of themselves and not demand from the church as done in our modern society. The church members took personal responsibility for all the needs of the church including the ministers.
a) They not only gave money, time, talents, homes, transport facilities, clothes but also favors and connections to help the church members succeed.
b) They also gave to the community and helped the less fortunate and forsaken by society. Took care of the elderly, widows and orphans.
c) Acts 2:46 – Shared their meals daily with each other.
d) Romans 15:1 – We that are strong need to take care of the weak.
e) Acts 20:35 – Jesus Himself reminded us that it is better to give than to receive. Because when we give, we are actually giving onto God.
f) Matthew 5:40-41– if they ask you to go a mile, go two miles. Always do more than you are expected to do. Show them God´s abundance by giving more than one expects from others.
g) Tithes and offerings were sacred: Mammon is our biggest enemy and strangler of blessings as it gives us dominion over our most valuable commodity…money. The more we depend on our limited money, the less we can take from God’s unlimited bounty. The moment we are able to give it all up onto God´s people; we are set free from its grasp upon our lives.
h) God’s financial plan for the Church to Grow: God does not want the church to depend on an evil government’s handout, but on the endless resources He pours out upon His people for depending on Kingdom blessing by sowing and reaping from God´s field of prosperity.
5. A Growing Church: The result of each member’s personal growth by following these traits. We first GLOWwith the light inside of us; we GROANto be in God´s presence and intercede for others; we GO and reach out to all the lost; we GIVE of ourselves and all we have to the brethren and others; We GROW in the truth of Christ.
a) Acts 2:42-47 – The Lord added to their numbers DAILY, because they practiced these traits DAILY !!!