A REAL Church

In Acts 2:38-47, we see a powerful blueprint for how a local church is meant to operate. These verses give us insight into the birth and function of the early church—an apostolic, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-led movement. This was not a church built on human traditions or systems but one led by the Holy Spirit through apostles who were called, equipped, and sent by God.

Peter’s message in Acts 2:38 calls people to repentance, baptism in Jesus’ Name, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This is foundational for the New Covenant Church. The church wasn’t just a gathering of believers; it was a movement fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, marked by deep fellowship, prayer, and devotion to God’s Word. Verse 42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” This devotion was the heartbeat of the church—it was centered on apostolic teaching, community life, and continual prayer.

A key characteristic of the early church was unity and generosity. Verses 44-45 reveal that they shared everything in common, ensuring that no one was in need. This wasn’t mere charity—it was a demonstration of the love of Christ working powerfully among them. They operated as a family, supporting one another, meeting in homes, and praising God together. And what was the result? Verse 47 tells us, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The church grew because it was alive, vibrant, and led by the Spirit.

The first church was apostolic, and the church today must return to that apostolic foundation if we want to see the same supernatural results. Apostles are called to establish, govern, and lead the church according to God’s divine order. The early church thrived because it followed the biblical model—Spirit-filled leadership, apostolic authority, and devotion to God’s Word.

If we want to operate our churches properly today, we must get back to the Bible. The modern church often focuses on programs and systems, but the early church grew through the power of the Holy Spirit, apostolic teaching, prayer, and radical love. This is the church Jesus envisioned—a living, Spirit-led body, carrying out His mission to transform the world.

Let’s build churches that reflect this original model—churches that are Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and apostolically governed. That’s how we’ll see reformation and the Kingdom of God advancing in our cities and nations. It’s time to get back to the Bible and do church God’s way!

Doc Murphy