Minister 's Letter - May 2009
Dear Church,
Happy Birthday!
Well we do refer to Pentecost as the birth of the Church, so we celebrate a big birthday this month. What then were the marks of this church which was created on the day of Pentecost? If we take a look at Acts 2, there are four which are easily distinguishable.
First, it was devoted to apostolic teaching (v. 42). The early Christians submitted to that authority. Every church which is ruled and filled by the Holy Spirit, will in every generation and in whatever area of the world, likewise be submitted to apostolic truth as it is found in Holy Scripture and will devote itself to the study of that life changing teaching.
Second, the church was distinguished by God-honouring worship. Notice in verse 42 that they gave themselves not only to apostolic teaching, but to the breaking of bread and the prayers. These seem to be references to services of worship. There is further reference to this in verses 46 and 47. Their worship seems to have been God-centred and joyful, bringing a spirit of holy reverence upon every soul (v. 43).
So the spirit-filled church in Acts 2 is a worshiping community. So it must be with us. The constant activity of the church in heaven and the chief business of the church on earth is worship. Thus the early church was devoted to apostolic teaching, and it was distinguished by God-honouring worship.
Third, it was united by Christlike love (vv. 44-45). These early Christians not only devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, they also devoted themselves to fellowship (v. 42). The word used, koinonia means a sharing or participation, and its primary reference would of course be to our sharing or participating in God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then it also carries the meaning of sharing out. So the believers in Acts 2 shared out their goods and their very lives with each other. A spirit-filled church is one where the Holy Spirit releases people from their self-centeredness and gives them deep and genuine care for the needs of others within the fellowship.
Finally, the church was increased by God-centred evangelism. The last verse of chapter 2 tells us that "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Notice the clear testimony here to the sovereignty of God in salvation. It was the Lord who added to their number. We greatly need to be recalled to this biblical, God-centred understanding of evangelism.
There are so many things that human talents and influence can do by itself. We can arouse people emotionally. We can indoctrinate them intellectually. But only God the Holy Spirit can regenerate them spiritually.
Furthermore, this evangelism was church-based. By that I mean that what God did when he saved people was to add them to the church. And this evangelism was a day-by-day experience. "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (v. 47). What the Lord did among them he did day by day. Their evangelism was not a sporadic experience or an occasional venture into another realm. It was the daily experience of God calling his people out of darkness into light.
So the day of Pentecost produced spirit-anointed, biblical preaching and a spirit-filled, biblical church. May God pour out such Pentecostal blessing upon us in our generation.
Happy Birthday Church of Christ!
In Him,
Christopher White
PREVIOUS MINISTER 'S LETTERS
Jul Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr