The Vision of an Acts 2 Church

A personal vision to build a Church, based on Acts 2.39-47,
for those who don’t like church

I will never be happier or more successful than when I am completely devoted to God’s will for my life. As a sinner saved by grace, I will devote my life to reaching the irreligious and connecting them with Jesus and His people. May I never forget my life before Jesus Christ and the power that first loving church had on my future.

As a pastor in Jesus’ Church, I will actively and consciously lead my flock and manage its resources toward becoming a hell-defeating congregation. The result will resemble an Acts 2 church proactively seeking out the prodigal sons of the world and lovingly teaching the elder brothers the error in their religious ways. Because I fear God and not man, I will reject excuses—in my life and the lives of others—and will hold every man-made method, ministry, and tradition accountable for the supreme task getting sinners close to Jesus.

Without jeopardizing my faith, my family, or my fitness, I am giving this task every last ounce of who I am and what I have. On my deathbed, success will be defined by the results I, my family, and the churches I have led have produced for the Kingdom of God.

Bill Mesaeh, Jr.

18 Mar 11
Defiance, Ohio

 

Acts 2:39–47 (NLT)
³⁹ This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” ⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. ⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. ⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The New Testament Church

Acts 2:39–40 (NLT)
39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

· God gives the world a promise of hope. This hope—salvation and redemption through Christ—is what everyone desperately longs for, whether they know it or not

· Creating a church for the unchurched is the most Christ-like effort a group of believers could desire

· The church stood as a lighthouse of salvation to the lost of its day

· The members shared a hunger for God’s Word, and they received it through strong biblical preaching

Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

· The Church’s greatest gift to the world is conviction about the message of Jesus Christ

· When the Church delivers the Good News in a relevant, understandable, and applicable way, God responds with exponential growth

· God blesses the Church that is unified toward achieving what He wants

Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

· Regardless of location, ethnicity, background, gender, etc., the Church maintained unity by focusing on these key practices:

1. Bible teaching,
2. attractive friendship that was Spirit-empowered and deeply sincere, and
3. continually deepening their bonds to each other and to God

Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

· The church is constantly aware of and drawing upon the supernatural power of God

· A healthy fear of the Lord drives the Church to stay on mission and remain obedient to Christ

· The church is not a secular institution, and is therefore not limited by resources or manmade regulations

Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

· Deep love for each other moved the Church to “take care of its own”—extending real love

· Counter-cultural, counter-intuitive love distinguished the Church from the rest of the world

Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

· The church gathered corporately to worship and learn & scattered into each other’s homes to serve and fellowship

· The Church fought back the powers of hell on two battlefronts:

1. The AIR WAR of corporate worship and study
2. The GROUND WAR of scattered service and fellowship

Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

· As a result of the Church’s genuine worship of God, they enjoyed rapid growth and true joy

· God wants His church to grow. The Church that finds true joy and unity in radical worship and service experiences the blessings of radical growth and happiness