19 October 2025 - Peter van Breda - What is the Church pt.2

Acts 2 gives us a beautiful picture of what it means to be the church—a people marked by devotion to Jesus, deep community, generosity, and a life shaped by the Holy Spirit. The early believers devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, to prayer, and to fellowship, not as a ritual but as a living reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and the unity we share in Him. Communion is not just a Sunday tradition; it’s a continual invitation to examine our hearts, remember the cross, and publicly identify with Jesus. This practice, rooted in the earliest days of the church, is a foretaste of the great feast to come—the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Generosity is another hallmark of the Spirit-filled church. God’s people are called to give freely, not out of compulsion, but from a heart transformed by the generosity of God Himself. Everything we have is a gift from Him, and we are stewards, not owners. The difference between a tax and a tithe is that the former is demanded, while the latter is a joyful response to God’s grace. True generosity is not measured by the amount, but by the heart behind the gift, as seen in the widow’s offering.

Baptism is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is an act for believers, a testimony to the world of the new life we have received. Regular gatherings—both large and small—are essential for encouragement, accountability, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. The church is not a building or a Sunday event; it is a living body, called to love, serve, and bear one another’s burdens.

Community is where we work out our faith, sometimes in the midst of challenges and difficult relationships. God uses these moments to shape us, teaching us patience, love, and perseverance. Our mission is always to make disciples, to see lives transformed by the gospel, and to multiply the family of God. Every believer is called to be a witness, to share the hope of Christ in their circle of influence.

Ultimately, the church is a family—diverse, imperfect, but deeply loved by Jesus. Our calling is to love one another, to serve, to forgive, and to walk together in the adventure God has for us. Jesus is our shepherd, and as we follow His example, we become a community that reflects His love to the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Communion is a living proclamation of the gospel, not just a ritual. Each time we partake, we are invited to examine our hearts, remember Christ’s sacrifice, and publicly identify with Him. This practice roots us in the reality of grace and calls us to authentic self-examination and repentance. [68:43]
• 2. Generosity is the natural outflow of a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. True giving is not about the amount, but about the willingness to share what God has entrusted to us, reflecting His own generosity. The church is not called to demand, but to invite, and cheerful giving brings joy both to the giver and the community. [76:29]
• 3. Baptism is a believer’s public testimony of faith, symbolizing death to the old life and resurrection to new life in Christ. It is not merely a tradition or a family expectation, but a personal step of obedience and identification with Jesus. This act affirms the work of the Holy Spirit and strengthens the faith community. [79:28]
• 4. True Christian community is both beautiful and challenging. God often uses difficult relationships within the church to shape our character, teaching us patience, humility, and love. Community is not about finding perfect people, but about growing together, bearing one another’s burdens, and learning to love as Christ loves us. [90:57]
• 5. The mission of the church is to make disciples and multiply God’s family. Every believer is called to be a witness, sharing the hope of Christ in their daily lives. The growth of the church is not about numbers, but about lives genuinely transformed by the gospel and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. [93:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [66:47] - Introduction and Acts 2 Overview
• [67:13] - JESUS Acronym Recap
• [68:17] - Communion: Remembering the Cross
• [69:47] - Living Out Communion in Community
• [71:09] - Huge Generosity: The Heart of Giving
• [73:12] - Generosity vs. Communism: Biblical Stewardship
• [74:41] - Tithes, Taxes, and the True God
• [76:29] - The Joy of Generosity
• [78:04] - Underwater Baptism: Public Declaration of Faith
• [80:20] - Regular Gatherings: The Importance of Meeting Together
• [82:22] - Big and Small Gatherings in the Early Church
• [87:35] - Community: Fellowship and Real Relationships
• [90:57] - God Uses Difficult People for Our Growth
• [91:36] - Harvesting Through Evangelism
• [94:31] - Loving the Church Family
• [97:35] - Shepherding and Spiritual Leadership
• [99:28] - Community Groups and Spiritual Health
• [101:08] - C.T. Studd and William Booth: Examples of Mission
• [103:26] - Final Scriptures and Call to Action
• [104:17] - Closing Prayer and Communion Invitation

Bible Reading

Acts 2:37–47 (ESV) — > 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
> 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
> 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
> 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
> 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
> 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
> 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
> 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
> 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
> 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
> 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Luke 21:1–4 (ESV) — > 1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,
> 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
> 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
> 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–29 (ESV) — > 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
> 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
> 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
> 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
> 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
> 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
> 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 2:42–47, what were the main activities and characteristics of the early church community?
2. In Luke 21:1–4, what does Jesus notice about the widow’s offering compared to the others?
3. What instructions does Paul give about taking communion in 1 Corinthians 11:23–29?
4. In the sermon, what is the difference described between a tax and a tithe, and what does this reveal about the heart behind giving? ([01:14:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the early believers devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, prayer, and fellowship—not just as rituals, but as a way of life? ([01:08:43])
2. What does the story of the widow’s offering teach us about the kind of generosity God values? How does this challenge common ideas about giving? ([01:16:29])
3. How does baptism serve as a public testimony of faith, and why is it important that it is a personal decision rather than just a family tradition? ([01:19:28])
4. The sermon mentions that God uses difficult people in community to shape our character. How might challenging relationships in the church help us grow in patience, humility, and love? ([01:30:57])

Application Questions

1. When you take communion, do you see it as a living proclamation of the gospel or just a Sunday tradition? What would it look like for you to approach communion with more intentional self-examination and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice? ([01:08:43])
2. Think about your own giving—whether time, resources, or finances. Is your generosity motivated by joy and gratitude, or does it sometimes feel like an obligation? What is one step you could take to give more freely and cheerfully this month? ([01:16:29])
3. Have you been baptized as a believer? If not, what holds you back from making this public declaration of faith? If you have, how can you share your testimony with others to encourage them? ([01:19:28])
4. Are you regularly participating in both large gatherings (like Sunday worship) and smaller community groups? If not, what is one practical way you could become more connected to the church family this season? ([01:22:22])
5. Can you think of a relationship in the church that has been challenging for you? How might God be using that person or situation to grow your character? What is one way you could respond with more patience or love this week? ([01:30:57])
6. The mission of the church is to make disciples and multiply God’s family. Who in your circle of influence could you pray for or reach out to this week with the hope of Christ? ([01:33:43])
7. The sermon describes the church as a family—diverse, imperfect, but deeply loved by Jesus. What is one way you can show love or serve someone in our church family this week, especially someone who might feel left out or burdened? ([01:34:31])