Radical Transformation: The Early Church's True Purpose

 

Summary

In the book of Acts, we find a profound depiction of the early Christian church, a community transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. This transformation is not merely a superficial change but a complete rebirth, a new life that manifests in a distinct way of living. The early Christians, once part of a crowd that called for Jesus' crucifixion, experienced a radical change through the preaching of Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit. This change was not just a moral improvement but a fundamental shift in understanding, feeling, and will—a new creation in Christ.

The early church's life was characterized by a steadfast commitment to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This commitment was not driven by obligation but by a deep desire for spiritual nourishment and growth. The apostles' doctrine was central to their gatherings, emphasizing that Christianity is not just an experience but a truth-based faith. This teaching was not a mere intellectual exercise but a life-giving truth that distinguished Christian experience from other psychological or philosophical experiences.

The apostles' teaching, rooted in the life and message of Jesus, was essential for understanding the profound change they had undergone. It provided the framework for their new life and equipped them to share the gospel with others. This teaching was not a collection of human opinions but the authoritative message of Jesus Christ, passed down through the apostles. It addressed the fundamental questions of life, offering a way of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to seek and save the lost.

In today's world, where the church often seeks to attract through entertainment or social activities, the early church's focus on apostolic teaching serves as a powerful reminder of the true purpose of the church. The church's role is not to conform to worldly standards but to proclaim the timeless truth of the gospel, which alone can transform lives and prepare us for eternity.

Key Takeaways:

- The early Christian church was marked by a radical transformation, not just a moral improvement. This change was a complete rebirth, a new creation in Christ, characterized by a new understanding, feeling, and will. This transformation is essential for anyone who claims to be a Christian. [06:46]

- The apostles' teaching was central to the early church, emphasizing that Christianity is not just an experience but a truth-based faith. This teaching provided the framework for their new life and distinguished Christian experience from other psychological or philosophical experiences. [15:29]

- The early Christians' commitment to the apostles' doctrine was driven by a deep desire for spiritual nourishment and growth. This desire is instinctive in those who have been born again, reflecting a hunger for the truth that transforms and sustains. [20:42]

- The apostolic teaching is not a collection of human opinions but the authoritative message of Jesus Christ, addressing the fundamental questions of life and offering a way of salvation through Jesus Christ. This teaching is timeless and remains the foundation of the Christian faith. [30:00]

- The church's role is not to conform to worldly standards but to proclaim the timeless truth of the gospel. The early church's focus on apostolic teaching serves as a powerful reminder of the true purpose of the church, which is to transform lives and prepare us for eternity. [53:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Acts 2
- [01:34] - The Gospel's Relevance Today
- [02:42] - The Continuing Work of Jesus
- [04:04] - Understanding Christianity
- [05:06] - Transformation of the Early Church
- [06:46] - The New Creation in Christ
- [09:33] - Leaving the World Behind
- [11:03] - Purpose of the Church
- [13:30] - The Apostles' Doctrine
- [15:29] - Christianity: Experience and Truth
- [19:53] - Desire for Apostolic Teaching
- [22:28] - Awareness of Ignorance
- [27:18] - Helping Others Through Teaching
- [30:00] - Apostolic Teaching Defined
- [46:51] - Summary of Apostolic Message
- [53:02] - The Church's True Purpose

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Acts 2:40-42
- John 3:16
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

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#### Observation Questions
1. What were the key activities that the early Christians devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42? How do these activities reflect their transformation? [00:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the change that occurred in the early Christians after Peter's preaching? What was the nature of this transformation? [06:29]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of apostolic teaching in the early church? Why was it considered essential? [17:53]
4. According to the sermon, what was the reaction of the early Christians to the apostolic teaching, and how did it manifest in their daily lives? [10:22]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the difference between a Christian experience and other psychological or philosophical experiences? What role does truth play in this distinction? [16:31]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the early church's focus on apostolic teaching contrasts with modern church practices? What implications does this have for the church today? [12:31]
3. How does the sermon interpret the significance of the early Christians' desire for apostolic teaching? What does this desire reveal about their spiritual state? [20:42]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between understanding apostolic teaching and the ability to share the gospel with others? [27:56]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you experienced a transformation similar to the early Christians? If so, how has it changed your understanding, feelings, and will? [06:46]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of apostolic teaching. How can you prioritize learning and understanding this teaching in your daily life? What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of the Bible? [14:57]
3. Consider the role of fellowship in your spiritual growth. How can you actively engage in meaningful fellowship with other believers to support your spiritual nourishment and growth? [10:22]
4. The early Christians were described as having a deep desire for spiritual nourishment. What are some practical ways you can cultivate a similar hunger for spiritual truth in your life? [20:42]
5. How can you apply the sermon’s message about the church's role in proclaiming the gospel to your involvement in your local church? Are there areas where you feel the church could better focus on apostolic teaching? [53:02]
6. The sermon challenges us to examine our understanding of Christianity. How can you ensure that your faith is based on the truth of the gospel rather than cultural or philosophical ideas? [17:03]
7. Identify one person in your life who may not know the gospel. How can you use your understanding of apostolic teaching to share the message of salvation with them this week? [27:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Transformation in Christ
The early Christian church experienced a profound transformation, not just a moral improvement. This change was a complete rebirth, a new creation in Christ, characterized by a new understanding, feeling, and will. This transformation is essential for anyone who claims to be a Christian. The early Christians, once part of a crowd that called for Jesus' crucifixion, experienced a radical change through the preaching of Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit. This change was not just a moral improvement but a fundamental shift in understanding, feeling, and will—a new creation in Christ. [06:46]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs a radical transformation through Christ today? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to begin this work in you?


Day 2: Truth-Based Faith
The apostles' teaching was central to the early church, emphasizing that Christianity is not just an experience but a truth-based faith. This teaching provided the framework for their new life and distinguished Christian experience from other psychological or philosophical experiences. The apostles' doctrine was central to their gatherings, emphasizing that Christianity is not just an experience but a truth-based faith. This teaching was not a mere intellectual exercise but a life-giving truth that distinguished Christian experience from other psychological or philosophical experiences. [15:29]

Colossians 2:6-8 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your faith is rooted in the truth of the gospel rather than personal experiences or worldly philosophies?


Day 3: Hunger for Spiritual Nourishment
The early Christians' commitment to the apostles' doctrine was driven by a deep desire for spiritual nourishment and growth. This desire is instinctive in those who have been born again, reflecting a hunger for the truth that transforms and sustains. The early church's life was characterized by a steadfast commitment to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This commitment was not driven by obligation but by a deep desire for spiritual nourishment and growth. [20:42]

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV): "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to cultivate a deeper hunger for God's Word and spiritual growth in your life?


Day 4: The Authority of Apostolic Teaching
The apostolic teaching is not a collection of human opinions but the authoritative message of Jesus Christ, addressing the fundamental questions of life and offering a way of salvation through Jesus Christ. This teaching is timeless and remains the foundation of the Christian faith. The apostles' teaching, rooted in the life and message of Jesus, was essential for understanding the profound change they had undergone. It provided the framework for their new life and equipped them to share the gospel with others. [30:00]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Reflection: How can you prioritize the authoritative teachings of Scripture in your daily life, ensuring they guide your decisions and actions?


Day 5: The Church's True Purpose
The church's role is not to conform to worldly standards but to proclaim the timeless truth of the gospel. The early church's focus on apostolic teaching serves as a powerful reminder of the true purpose of the church, which is to transform lives and prepare us for eternity. In today's world, where the church often seeks to attract through entertainment or social activities, the early church's focus on apostolic teaching serves as a powerful reminder of the true purpose of the church. [53:02]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to your church's mission to proclaim the gospel and transform lives, rather than conforming to worldly standards?

Quotes



The early hope for the world tonight in all its troubles and perplexities and anxieties and unhappiness is the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but now the question arises immediately, what is that gospel what is that message and as I need scarcely remind you there is great and tragic confusion with regard to that never perhaps as they've been greater confusion with regard to this question then there is at this present time. [00:01:45]

A Christian essentially is one who has been entirely changed now you know these 3,000 that were added to the original group of hundred and twenty you remember one hundred and twenty people met there in an upper room with the Apostles to that number as the result of one sermon preached by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost 3,000 people were added to the Christian Church and what we've seen about them is this that they underwent a very great change. [00:05:10]

The Christian is not merely somebody who's slightly different from somebody who's not a Christian he's not just a little bit better known no the point is that he's entirely different he's got a new understanding and the Oakland can you mind he feels in a different way his will necks in a different way he's a new man he's a new creature these are the terms that are used in the New Testament. [00:06:43]

The first thing these first Christians desired was further teaching from the apostles the Apostles teaching the Apostles doctrine they coveted this and they desired it with the whole of their being shall we before we go any further SQL is a simple Christian do we desire the Apostles teaching the Apostles doctrine God grant that that's the thing that brings us all to this meeting tonight that we want to know the Apostles teaching the Apostles action. [00:14:26]

Christianity is not only and not merely an experience now I've been emphasizing that it is an experience and I must go on doing that it is merely an intellectual point of view when a man becomes a Christian he's undergone the profoundest change of men can never move it is indeed a profound experience but it isn't only an experience why do I have to emphasize that well for this good reason that there are other agencies in the world that can give people experiences. [00:15:17]

It was teaching that made the early church there would never have been an early church but for a particular teaching so we have bound to emphasize this that the teaching must come first because it is the teaching that led to the conversions the change and therefore the establishing of the Christian Church it was Peters preaching which is pre Peters teaching Peters doctrine it was that that brought these people together. [00:17:42]

The Apostolic doctrine and teaching answer they formed their trees the Apostles Creed not that it was actually compounded by the Apostles but it represents their teaching the Nicene Creed the Athanasian Creed all these great Creed's of the church are expressive of the unity of the teaching the unity of the doctrine and when you come to the great confessions of the Reformation period you have exactly the same thing whether it be the Church of England thirty-nine articles or the Westminster Confession of faith in all the great essentials of this teaching they are one their unanimous and they are agreed. [00:44:24]

The message is summarized in many places in the New Testament Peter has already given them a summary of it by saying repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sin it already explained the death on the cross to them Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did not of you as he yourselves also know him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God you have taken and by wicked hands of crucified and slain from God there is not. [00:46:51]

The Apostolic Doctrine deals with those questions and it ends on them it is the only teaching that does the Philosopher's don't know they can talk totally they can't live so well many of them there is nothing under the Sun tonight that deals with our fundamental and essential problems and Christian save this apostolic dr. Oh thank God for it thank God that it's playing thank God it's clear thank God that it's been preached through the running centuries thank God that it's as true tonight as it was nineteen hundred years ago thank God it is the everlasting gospel. [00:54:28]

If you have believed this and received it you've got new life spiritual life and that will show itself in this way you will be hunkering and thirsting from all of this if you become the greatest interest of your life you'll be interested still in other books but you'll find as I say to the glory of God that I find there are many books I'd like to read I just haven't got time I'm too busy reading this and books that helped me to understand it now I'm not criticizing the others I like to read books on history I like reading biography. [00:55:38]

I find life here I find something here not only for my mind but it moves my heart it melts me it moves me it fills me with rapture it strengthens my feeble will I want this and any man who has new life in him the life of God in his soul there's new spiritual life will be like a newborn babe he will desire the sincere milk of the word that he may grow thereby have you got that desire if you haven't you're dead I don't care whether you're a church member or not if you haven't got this desire you're Ted. [00:56:58]

Go to God to repent confess your sin tell him you realize you're dead ask him to give you life anew to breathe this spirit upon you and to give you new life from amongst the dead and one of the first things you'll find about yourself is this that this will become central you want to know more and more you have a hunger and a thirst for it and you put everything on one side in order that you may know this because this will build you up and prepare you've not only for death but for the glory that awaits you the other side of it. [00:58:52]

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Transcript
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