The word “church” means many things to many people. Depending on your background, “church” may loom large as an institution or a structure of hierarchies. Others might think of the church as a group of people. But, when Christians speak of “church life,” what does that describe?
To get a sense of what the church is and what it does, there are few better places to look than the Book of Acts.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul…— Acts 2:42–43
In this short passage, timeless truths about the essence of the church are revealed. Specifically, the early church is described as devoting itself to four things.
The Apostles’ Teaching
First, the early Christian church committed themselves to the apostles’ teaching. The great British minister John Stott likens this commitment to the opening of “a school in Jerusalem,” where the people of God were to be tutored by the apostles that Jesus himself had commissioned. For us today, the teaching of the apostles’ is faithfully preserved in the New Testament. Put simply, the church submitted itself to Scripture.
From the very beginning, the Christian church has been defined by its commitment to the teachings of the Bible as its final authority.
The Fellowship
Second, the early church is described as a place committed to “the fellowship,” that is, the gathering of Christian believers. This is expanded upon throughout the rest of Acts. The members of the church spent time with one another. They shared meals, went to the temple together, and even gave financially to one another so that none of their members would be in need (Acts 2:45–46).
In combination with the teaching of Scripture, the individuals of the church carved out time to spend with one another on a consistent basis.
The Breaking of Bread
Third, the church devotes itself to the breaking of bread. This is a reference to the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion. In the Lord’s Supper, the church takes up bread and wine as a sign and seal of Jesus’ sacrifice. The purpose of this supper is to remind the Christian of Jesus’ saving work on the cross and, by faith, to taste the benefits of his grace.
As Jesus institutes this practice, he instructs his disciples to take the bread and wine “in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). So, after Jesus’ ascension, it is no surprise that the early church commits themselves to regularly taking the Lord's Supper as they gather together. At its core, this supper is an act of supreme worship. It is a time for the church to remember and draw near to her Savior.
The Prayers
Fourth, the early Christian church gave themselves over to “the prayers.” This almost certainly describes both private and corporate times of prayer. When they were together, they prayed. When they were alone, they prayed. The early church understood that prayer is not a dispensable part of the Christian life. Instead, they embraced the practice of prayer as a pillar of their church life.
Devotion is Essential
One final note must be made. The keyword which grounds this entire passage is “devoted.” The church is a place of deep commitment. The teaching of Scripture, the fellowship of believers, the taking of Communion, and prayer are all taken up with a heart of burning devotion. These pillars are not just observed, they are cherished.
These practices are a matter of deep commitment to God and to one another. They are not traditions or loosely held beliefs. This word helps make clear that these practices are not complementary or incidental to the church. These pillars help form the very basis of the church fellowship itself, and thus we must take them seriously in our day.
Ordinary and Beautiful
The Christian church is beautiful, and Scripture helps us readily understand what church life consists of. The question “What does the church do?” has a simple, biblical answer. At the very ground level, the church studies Scripture, spends time with one another, partakes in the Lord’s Supper, and regularly prays.
These pillars of the church are simple and transformative. In a world that loves flashy transformation and spectacular phenomena, this biblical understanding of the church offers something deeper.
Acts records that as the church pressed into these normal everyday practices, “awe came upon every soul…” The brilliance of God’s design is that ordinary things like Scripture, fellowship, Communion, and prayer have the power to inspire awe before the face of God and thus completely transform a person’s soul.
When we hold to a biblical vision of what the church does, we will find that these practices are a means to a greater end, that is, a transformative relationship with God. The Creator of the universe has decreed that he will be known in the context of these simple, yet extraordinary, ways. So, as the church devotes itself to these, it devotes itself to Christ.
Footnotes
John Stott, The Message of Acts, The Bible Speaks Today, (Inter-varsity Press, Leicester: England, 1990), 82.
