Fast food restaurants work hard to make their product and name stand out. They want people to enjoy good food experiences. So they use slogans to set their identity apart.
KFC – Finger lickin’ good.
Qdoba – Food for people who love food.
Arby’s – we’ve got the meets.
McDonald’s – I’m lovin’ it.
Wendy’s – Where’s the beef?
A&W – Where the food’s as good as the root beer.
Chipotle – Food with integrity.
Culvers – Welcome to delicious!
Papa John’s – Better ingredients better pizza.
Ingredients matter and so does service.
Once when Lori went off to one of the weekend lady’s retreat, Luke and I were left home. We had options for supper and lunch, leftover shredded beef. We ate “meaty” as Luke called it for lunch and supper two days in a row and nothing else. He and I ended up with digestion problems. So the next time Lori went to another lady’s retreat, she left us a menu and options to make, but I thought we should get a treat also since Lori is having it good, so I went out and bought a twelve pack of tacos from TACO BELL. I didn’t want to eat any leftovers so Luke ate 5 tacos I ate the rest. That night and the next day his and my stomach ached. Well, today Luke doesn’t care to eat at Taco Bell. The next year for lady’s retreat, I improved the situation. I thought I would be creative, for breakfast I made root beer pancakes. Well, we don’t make those anymore! Hey, at least I now know that Luke should be able to handle cafeteria food while at the university and he knows what not to eat.
Making good choices for what we eat is important. So is having people to help you make good food. When it comes to choosing a Church, making a selection would be hard without knowing some key ingredients that make for a church.
Have you had the experience of taking one bite of food, and knowing when an ingredient is missing such as salt or pepper? In Acts chapter 2, we find the ingredients needed for a New Testament church. When you take any of these ingredients out of the church, then it falls short of a biblical church.
A popular request asked of me is for a recommendation for finding a church. It’s hard to know much about a church today by name or its logo. The truth is that finding a perfect church is impossible since we are all sinners saved by grace. Yet, the bible does give us a recipe for what a church should be accomplishing. This is clearly stated in the book of Acts chapter 2
A biblical church has five ingredients that are essential.
FIRST, A CHURCH IS MADE UP OF DEDICATED CHRISTIANS.
In the Book of Acts, we clearly see dedicated Christians in the church. We also can see the purpose of why the church exists.
- The greatness of a church is not in the size of the building, or the type of worship music, or charity to the community or the ministries it offers.
- The greatness of a church is seen by believers’ dedication and love to Jesus.
- The greatness of a church is seen by those believers being different and separate from their generation’s rejection of God.
- The greatness of a church is measured by believers being dedicated to each other.
If you have any doubt about what the early church consisted of, let’s read Acts 2:40-47. This passage says of the early church, “With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there added unto them about three thousand souls. (This church was built on the preaching and receiving of God’s Word) And they continued with one accord in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord into the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
A SECOND ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS THAT A CHURCH SHOULD LOVE GOD’S WORD.
Look at verse 41, we read, “They gladly RECEIVED HIS WORD.”
Also in verse 42, “And they continued with one accord in the apostles’ doctrine.
In a biblical church people will love God’s Word and be drawn to it.
If someone loves God, they would love His Word…right? What does loving God’s Word look like? Well, it should be that the Word of God is preached, taught and believed. God’s Word allows for the Holy Spirit to convict and change lives.
It is essential that doctrine and the faithful study of Scripture be served up in large portions and not an afterthought.
A good church is known by their love for His Word and…
A THIRD ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS THAT A GOOD CHURCH WILL ENCOURAGE RESPONSES TO GOD’S WORD.
In verse 41, “…Then they…were baptized.”
The test of loving God and His Word is evident by obedience. Now one of the first things the Bible teaches us to do, is to follow the Lord in Believer’s baptism. They continued to encourage each other to honor God also notice this in…
Verse 41, “…The same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
The words, “Added unto them”, indicate they were truly people that loved the Lord and loved His Word. Besides baptism, another example of obedience as that believers were encouraged to make it a priority to join with other believers and continue the mission of Jesus which is to make disciples by teaching and baptizing (see Matthew 28:19-20).
Another response is noted in verses 45-46 they were gracious givers. The people responded to the grace of God by doing likewise and giving generously. They met needs and supported the church. They “distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And …they had generous hearts.”
A FOURTH ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS THAT A CHURCH SHOULD PROMOTE FELLOWSHIP.
Look at verse 42, “And they continued with one accord in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
In verse 42 the believers “devoted themselves” to each other.
They did not just have an emotional worship experience. The Bible says they “Continued“.
Year after year, they continued to respond to God’s Word and they love Jesus and one another.
They had “Fellowship” with one another. The Greek word used here (koinōnia). Its basic meaning is “association, fellowship, close relationship.” In secular Greek it could involve the sharing of goods, and the apostle Paul even used it this way in 2 Cor 9:13. Yet, this term is used to describe a group of people in communion with God. The meaning of the word “fellowship” would then mean that they continued to devote themselves to activity that expressed their life together as God’s people on earth.
A FIFTH ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS THAT A CHURCH REMEMBERS JESUS SACRIFCE.
They remembered what Jesus did for them when they celebrated communion. The meaning behind “breaking bread” is more of identification of who the Christians are, by remembering the Lord’s Supper together. They continued breaking of bread together because they cherished Jesus words “this is my body given for you” and Jesus commanded them to do this (see 1 Cor. 11:26). When a church“breaks bread together” it is an activity that identifies a group of believers of having communion with God and each other through Jesus’ sacrifice.
A SIXTH ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IS THAT A GOOD CHURCH IS A PRAYING CHURCH.
They continued to pray while gathering for worship and daily for each other. (see 2:46 and 3:1). They could pray for people because they gathered with people regularly.
One word that I would say to someone to focus on to find a biblical church is the word “continued.” Look for a group of people that continues to love Jesus, love each other and love God’s Word. Anything else is extra but not necessary. And if anything else is a priority above God and His Word it could be a place that may change your spiritual appetite. A believer’s appetite should be for Jesus will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (see Matthew 6:9-13).
So look at this recipe for us to follow so we can faithfully duplicate a biblical church. In the bible the believers…
- Chose to reject the practices of unbelievers.
- Chose to be identified as lovers and followers of Jesus.
- Dedicated themselves to obeying the Lord.
- Were devoted to the Scriptures and the Apostles doctrine.
- Promoted fellowship with each other.
- Made prayer for one another a priority.
- Practiced the Lord’s Supper together regularly.
We need reminders of what a church’s role is on earth. Today we will be faithful to obey what Jesus taught and commanded the church to do together until “Jesus comes again.”
Let’s take a moment of silence to personally prepare to celebrate communion that shows what Jesus has done for us.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Our tradition following the Lord’s Supper, we collect a special offering. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17-18; 23–24 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the people who keep His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.