The Church
Rev. Gary Gleason
Oregon District Superintendent
The amazing story of the birth and progress of the early church challenges us in modern day…it is our legacy…our heritage. We are living the continuance of church history, and, Should the Lord tarry, generations to come need to read about this twenty-first century church with the same excitement we feel when perusing the story of the Acts church!
How does that happen? How can we be truly an extension of what the apostles birthed and established starting at the day of Pentecost?
In Acts 2:42-46, we get a picture of some of the things that made the early church successful. If we intend to carry on what was begun back then, we need to continue in their steps.
The early church continued in the doctrine…
Never can we compromise the doctrine and still remain steadfast. We must stay true to the fundamental doctrines… one God… Acts 2:38 salvation plan… separation from the world…the soon coming of our Lord. These are a few of the foundational principles that marked the early church.
The early church placed strong emphasis on teaching…
•Teaching solidifies disciples.
•Teaching gives us understanding of God’s way.
•Teaching helps us to understand why we believe and practice the things we do.
•Teaching gives a church stability when the storm comes.
Never underestimate the importance of teaching. The study of the Word helps us to be “…approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed…” (II Timothy 2:15).
The early church had much fellowship…
Our fellowship should center on the people of God and not the people of the world. It is a blessing to the saints of the various churches in the Oregon District when an emphasis is placed on being at the District meetings such as District Conference and District Camp meeting. It is a joy to fellowship together and share the good things of God!
The early church prayed and worshiped much…
Early in the New Year, the Oregon District gathered for a Prayer Summit where the power of God was manifest in a mighty way as we prayed together. Just recently, we gathered in each section for prayer together. Many wonderful reports were received from these special times of prayer. This is something that we need to continue… corporate prayer. It’s what the early church practiced!
The early church was unified in purpose…
They put aside their own agenda for the good of the kingdom. We are joining together across the world in a united effort to double in a decade. The effort has a name — “Global Impact” — but in essence, it is simply an effort to fulfill the mandate of our Lord to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). As we unify our efforts in the Oregon District, we believe God will help us reach our goal of starting three brand new churches in the year 2009!
The early church put a great emphasis on preaching…
Preaching is one of the ways God talks to us. Thank God for the clear sound that the preacher gives to us here in Oregon. Preaching is vital in helping us stay on the pathway to Heaven.
The early church put much emphasis on giving…
It takes money to move the gospel and God’s work is greatly blessed when we give liberally to the various worthy causes that come before us. There is a Biblical principle that never fails —”Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). God blesses giving!
The early church was constantly reaching out to the world around them…
We live in a hurting world. What a blessing it is when we let our light shine.
•A personal testimony.
•A home Bible study.
•An invitation to a church service or special church activity.
•Giving a tract.
•Bringing someone to church.
•Praying with someone.
These are wonderful ways to touch a life. I challenge you to make this a year in which we impact our personal world with this glorious gospel message as never before!
If we desire the “early church results” let’s follow the “early church example!” AA’
From, “Apostolic Accent” By Rev. Gary Gleason
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