A Picture of the Church
Christ instituted the church to advance the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18). As pictured throughout the New Testament, a Church is a unified group of believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to please God and share Christ. The book of Acts tells about the foundation on which the church was built (Ephesians 2:20). The goal of New Life Ministries is to build exclusively on this foundation.

New Life is not a reaction to any evangelical movements; rather, it is a reaction to the moving of God’s Spirit. New Life is designed to reflect the purest form of the church, without regard to bias, class, tradition, or society. New Life is unmotivated by the opinion of man, yet relevant to the culture within the confines of God’s Word.

To reconstruct the picture of the Church in its purest form, one must return to its inception.  Before heresy had diluted and strife had divided; Before man had manipulated and tradition had restricted. This was a church that knew God intimately and changed the world — literally.

Acts chapter two narrates the explosion of the church, which begins with the event commonly known as Pentecost. We understand and confirm that some of the phenomena witnessed at this time were gifts reserved for the apostolic era, given as signs to the observers. These signs, proved that Pentecost was the genuine fulfillment of prophecy. We also contend that this was a period of dramatic transition from the Old Testament setting to the contemporary Church era, which negates any direct correlation to polity. This being said, Acts 2 provides timeless principles that produced the ultimate example of an effective local church.

A snapshot of the Church in Acts chapter two provides not only a glimpse of ancient glory-days but a consuming hope of what can still be a reality. Examining the Church in its purest form generates excitement, because God has not changed, and expectancy, because God still uses ordinary people. Simply stated, we desire what they experienced: NEW LIFE.
The believers anticipated New Life. (Acts 1:1-2:1)
  • After Christ ascended into Heaven, the Apostles anticipated His promise of the Holy Spirit from Acts 1:8. The Apostles led a core group of 120 other believers in earnest communion with God
    (Acts 1:13-15).

  • Peter took leadership of the core group to provide Biblical support for focused organization and preparation (Acts 16:16-26).

  • Pentecost (Acts 2:1) was an observance with paramount significance to the history of Christianity. Pentecost was the culmination of Passover and devout Jews from all nations of the world returned to Jerusalem during this time, seeking spiritual fulfillment (c.f. verse 5). Jerusalem was the urban center of the day, bursting with activity and people. The strategic time and location were part of God’s intricate plan to jump start the church and spread the Gospel message across the world.

  • The first verse of chapter two reiterates the core group’s assembling, quite possibly in the temple, sincerely seeking to please God. They were unified around a common faith and a common goal.
The believers exemplified New Life. (Acts 2:2-13)
  • The context establishes the unity and expectancy of the believers as the precursor to the dramatic fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s coming.

  • The Holy Spirit was the focal point during the inception of the church as proven by the frequent references, the spectacular arrival, and the supernatural gifts. The Holy Spirit utilized the supernatural employment of common phenomena (wind, fire, and tongues) to brand His authenticity within the hearts of believers.

  • The outside observers were subsequently shaken by this ultra-Spiritual experience, both the rushing sound and the ability to hear the believers in a multitude of languages. They were questioning and suspicious, but undeniably intrigued. Could this be the fulfillment of the prophet’s words in Joel 2:28-29?

  • Jesus Christ proves the supreme significance of this event by his statement in in John 16:7. He expresses the benefit for even the closest of disciples when He, the very Son of God in human form, would depart. Christ’s departure was necessary so the Holy Spirit could commence His work and His age in cooperation with the local church.
The leaders preached New Life. (Acts 2:14-36)
  • Peter is a living picture of God’s grace, as he emerges from his previous betrayal (Luke 22:54-62). He demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and resolute confidence in God’s working.

  • Peter vocalizes and clarifies the Holy Spirit’s presence as the fulfillment of prophecy. He, uses Scriptures comprehensively to authenticate this message.

  • The message of Pentecost was the clear exposition of Scriptures. The instruction is simple and consistent throughout all ages: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). 

  • Peter proved from Scripture that Jesus was the Messiah who had been crucified, resurrected, and exalted to His rightful place on the right hand of the Father. The dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit was undeniable proof that the Messiah had not only come, but also necessarily gone (33).

  • The observers were looking for a King to save them from Roman rule and a Messiah to culminate their hope of eternal salvation. Peter pointedly built to the exclamation that Jesus was both (36). Jesus was the fulfillment of their hopes, dreams, and expectations. Now, they had killed the Messiah, and and thus rejected God and His provision!!!
The observers desired New Life. (Acts 2:37)
  • As Jesus Christ had recently been pierced in a literal sense, the observers were deeply pierced in their hearts.

  • They had crushed the hope of humankind, so their reaction was predictable. The overwhelming surge of panic came from the guilt, remorse, and desperation that they experienced.

  • They realized the consequences of their sin and asked the key question, “What shall we do?”
The believers made New Life a way of life. (Acts 2:38-47)
  • The apostles preached repentance, baptism, and control of the Holy Spirit in perfect harmony with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 2:38). Repentance is turning from sin, because of its affront against God. Baptism is identification with Christ and signifies commitment to Christ rather than selfish or religious pursuits.

  • Baptism inevitably followed and represented salvation. Believing in Christ was not a generally acceptable decision, as it often resulted in complete rejection from family, friends, and colleagues. Remission of sins is the result of believing in Christ and the ultimate hope that must be communicated to all people.

  • The believers consistently proclaimed the Word of God and the results would make many suspicious today. The believers were continually growing in the knowledge of God’s Word, demonstrating an example of unity, and cultivating an intimate prayer life.

  • Some of the observers had accused the apostles of being drunk earlier, but now showed tremendous respect for the authenticity of the message.

  • The church was focused on others, not themselves. They were willing to give anything they possessed to help others and support the overall well-being of the church.

  • Christianity was not restricted to formal services but was a way of life (46-47). The church was characterized by joy not anxiety, because they rested in God’s control and sufficiency. The church balanced praising God with earning the respect of their peers.

  • They relied on the Lord for church growth, not a man, ministry, or method. This growth was daily, indicating that discipleship was a regular and natural occurrence, not restricted to a church service or program. Discipleship was assumed and resulted in the daily growth of the church.
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