What Is the Church Suppose to Look Like?

On Sunday mornings at NMC, we are currently studying the early church in the book of ACTS. The focus is on getting back to the basics of what it really means to be the Church and to live like Jesus.

In reading through Acts 1-4, I've noticed at least 11 characteristics that defined the early Church. The hard truth is that the Church in America today doesn't looks much like what the church was intended to look like in isn't original form.

11 Characteristics of the Church in Acts

(1) THEY DID LIFE TOGETHER
“They joined with other believers” (2:42)
“Devoted themselves to fellowship” (2:42)
“Believers met together constantly” (2:44)
“They worshipped together at the temple daily” (2:46)

(2) THEY LIVED OUT THE SCRIPTURES
“Devoted themselves to the apostles teachings” (2:42)

(3) THEY SHARED IN THE LORD’S SUPPER – ATE TOGETHER
“Shared in the Lord’s Supper and prayer” (2:42)
“Met in homes for the Lord’s Supper” (2:46)
“Shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (2:46)

(4) THEY EXPERIENCED THE SUPERNATURAL
“Apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders” (2:43)

(5) THEY SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD
“Believers shared everything they had” (2:44)
“They shared everything they had” (4:32)

(6) THEY GAVE TO THOSE IN NEED
“They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need” (2:45)
“They felt that what they owned was not their own” (4:32)

“There was no poverty among them because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need” (4:34-35)

“He (Barnabas) sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for those in need” (4:37)

(7) THEY HAD AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
“A deep sense of awe came over them” (2:43)
“Shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (2:46)
“Praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people” (2:47)
“Everyone was praising God” (4:21)

(8) THEY GREW IN NUMBER
“Each day the Lord added to their groups those who were being saved” (2:47)

“…so that the number of believers totaled about five thousand men, not counting women and children.” (4:4)

(9) THEY WERE UNITED
“Believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer” (4:24)
“All the believers were one in heart and mind” (4:32)

(10) THEY PREACHED & PRAYED WITH BOLDNESS
“Spoke with Boldness” (4:13)
“Prayed boldly for healing power and miracles” (4:29)
“They preached God’s message with Boldness” (4:31)
“Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your servant Jesus.” (4:30)

(11) THEY SPENT TIME WITH JESUS & WERE FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT
“Recognized as people who had been with Jesus” (4:13)
“They were filled with the Holy Spirit” (4:31)

And because they did these things…“God’s great favor was upon them all” (Acts 4:33)