Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 14MAR25 (Revelation 2 Intro Part 2)

 

Key roles of the end time’s church:

 

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

 

 

1.      The early church devoted themselves to the teaching of the Word. The Bible says: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

2.      The early church fellowshipped with one another. The Bible says: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

3.      The early church broke bread together rather through meals and/or observing the Lord’s supper. The Bible say: “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

4.      The early church devoted themselves to prayer. The Bible says: “Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

5.      The early church was amazed at the Lord’s miracles, which may reflect their untiring desire to see God’s handwork. The Bible says: “Frankly, I stand amazed at the unfathomable complexity of God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge. How could man ever understand his reasons for action, or explain his methods of working? For: ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him?’ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever, amen” (Romans 11:35-36).

6.      The early church’s served the Lord with eagerness, and their faith was genuine. The Bible says: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

7.      The early church worshiped and praised the Lord. The Bible says: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

8.      The early church had favor and their reputation was above reproach. The Bible says: “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? (1 Timothy 3:2-5).

9.      The Lord was the One who made the church grow. The Bible says: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).