Organizing the Early Church
In the early stages of the Christian church, the new believers shared their possessions and goods, met together daily for worship, and enjoyed fellowship together. They were "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people" (Acts 2:47, NIV). Things were going well under the leadership of the apostles.
But, as the church grew, problems arose. It became clear that the church needed an organizational structure. Peter and the other apostles realized there had to be a proper balance between maintenance work and their main mission. They decided: "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" (Acts 6:2, NIV).
As new congregations were formed in new areas, proper church organization became even more critical. It was vital to ensure that the believers were properly established and nurtured in their new faith.
The Jerusalem church began sending missionaries in groups of two (following the example of Jesus when He sent out the apostles and the disciples two by two).
What did the leaders in Jerusalem do when they heard about the new group of believers in Samaria that Philip had established? Acts 8:14. Or when a new church was founded in Antioch? Acts 11:19-26. What is the significance of these actions?
Throughout the book of Acts, we see Peter and the other church leaders in Jerusalem keeping a close administrative and spiritual eye on the rapid growth of the church, particularly among the Gentiles. They realized how easy it would be for them to slip back into paganism or to be led astray by false doctrines. Having come to Jesus as babes in the faith, these new believers needed to be weaned from the "milk" of the Word and firmly planted in solid doctrine. What more could you do to help new members be better grounded in Jesus and our message? Why not take a new member under your wing and help him or her along?
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