HEALTHY CHURCH
Apostolic teaching: This is quite different from pastoral teaching. Apostles are about “Go and make disciples” whilst pastors are about “Come and be blessed.” (Acts 2:42)
Fellowship: The Greek word Koinonia
for fellowship does not mean “Hi, hello” in a
parking lot. Its purpose is to chalk out a plan a
roadmap for further expansion. Big Businessmen regularly do
this kind of fellowship in a coffee house or while playing Golf. (Acts 2:42)
Breaking Bread: They were a Household
of God, so whatever else they do, they eat together as a family.
Sharing food makes their meeting relational, relaxed, and informal, especially for newcomers. The poor had
at least one decent meal. (Acts 2:42,46; Eph. 2:19,20)
Prayer: They prayed
intercessory prayers. The Hebrew word Tefilla for Prayer also means self-examination. This means they examined
themselves to see that whatever they were doing was within the will of the
Father (Acts 2:42; 1 John 5:14).
Signs and miracles: Healing, deliverance and other miraculous solutions began to take
place, causing awe among the people
(Acts 2:43).
Household of God grows: The church had a holistic ministry, not only taking care of spiritual needs
but also physical, economic, and emotional needs (Acts 2:44-45).
Go fishing: Many of the disciples
were fishermen who knew when and where to go fishing. There would be large
crowds of people at the hour of Prayer in the Temple precincts, so initially,
they went there, even though they could be hounded and jailed by the temple authorities. Instead
of hibernating, they would pray for boldness, asking God to stretch forth his hands and do more signs and
wonders (Acts 2:46; 4:29-30).
Multiplying disciples
and churches: They would catch two-legged fresh fish and bring them to
their dining tables to share the Gospel, bringing them to repentance, baptising
them and teaching them to obey all the commands of Jesus. As a result, “And
the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in
Jerusalem exponentially;
And
so were the churches established in the faith and increased in number daily”. (Act 6:1,7; 16:5)
Prophetic church: They gathered in homes to which seekers would be invited.
Everyone, men and women would share songs, teachings,
revelations, dreams, visions, etc. Prophecy would include not foretelling but edification,
exhortation, and comfort. Highly
interactive dynamics with believers and non-believers would mature them
fast into disciple multipliers and church-planting movement igniters.
(1 Cor.14:3, 24-32).
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