For as long as I can remember, I have desired to experience God and His church like I have seen modeled in the book of Acts. As a young man, I remember studying the Scriptures to discover the necessary components of church from God’s perspective. I knew that if two or three gather in His name, He is in the midst of us. But I also realized that the church is certainly more than two or three meeting for a Bible study. I needed more answers, which I eventually found in Acts 2:38-47.

According to these scriptures, a local church in the book of Acts was made up of those who had repented of their sins and received Jesus Christ as Lord. They were connected to leadership in the whole body of Christ (they taught the Apostles’ doctrine). They were not required to use a church building because they often met in homes (from house to house). They prayed together and experienced the power of God in their midst, they shared life together and they served one another.

Church was a spiritual family, and families need parents, so the leaders took on the role of being a spiritual parent! People came to Christ every day and joined these new spiritual families.

Lord, help us to experience you and your church as we see modeled in the book of Acts.