The Lord Jesus had promised Peter that after His resurrection He would build His church and the gates of hell should not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). The response to Peter’s sermon was astounding (Acts 2:14-36). As a result, the Lord began building His church by adding 3,000 souls. As the church began to meet together, there was a similar outcome as “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (2:47). The question we must answer is, “What were the conditions under which the Lord was pleased to build His church?”. Pastor Craig outlines and applies four conditions present in the early church that must be present in any church today. God’s people must be:
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- Devoted to growing in Christ (v. 42)
- Devoted to loving like Christ (v. 42, 44-46a)
- Devoted to worshipping God through Christ (v. 442, 46b-47a)
- Devoted to witnessing for Christ (v. 47b)