Early New Testament Churches
The Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are the same. The Church and the Kingdom aren’t the same.
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God 112 times, but only 2 times of the Church. The Church is thee divine agency for promoting the Kingdom.
The Word Church was never used to refer to a house of worship. 117 times the Church is mentioned in the New Testament, 19 times in Acts, 62 times in the Epistles of Paul, once in Hebrews, once in James, and 23 times in the writings of John.
Acts 6:1-7
I: No Complete History of Growth:
1. Many Churches in 1st century (500,000 Christians).
2. Meet in Homes, Temples, etc.
3. No distinctive name but designated by the city in which they were.
4. No definite plan of organization.
5. Jerusalem seemed to be the Mother Church. Acts 8:14, 11:22.
II: Some Marks of the Early Churches.
1. No record of anyone becoming a member without Repentance and Baptism.
2. They were Democratic in procedure.
3. They had external and internal troubles.
4. The Jerusalem Church!
a. Mother Church.
b. More than 5,000 members.
c. Knit by Love and Fellowship.
d. Faced Persecution from without.
e. Torn by Internal Trouble.
f. Ordained the 1st deacons.
g. Destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus.
5. The Church of Thessolonica:
a. Founded by Paul and Company.
b. Noted for its “Work of Faith, Labors of Love, and Patience of Hope.” Thessalonian 1:3
6. The Church of Corinth:
a. Founded by Paul.
b. Located in an exceeding wicked city.
c. Troubled in Immortality.
d. Members going to Law.
e. Disorderly conduct in Church.
f. Disrupting over meat ordered to Idols.
7. The Church at Rome:
a. Not started by Peter or Paul.
b. Held a prominent place.
c. Paul held it in high esteem. Rom. 1:8
8. The Church at Antioch:
a. Men from Cyrene and Cypress founded it.
b. Barnabas sent from Jerusalem.
c. Barnabas called Paul.
d. Disciples 1st called Christians. Acts 11:26
e. It was Evangelistic.
f. It was Missionary. Acts 13:2
g. It was Benevolent. Acts 11:29-30
9. The Church at Phillipp:
a. 1st Church on European soil.
b. Started by a group of women. Acts 16:13
c. Liberal even poverty. Phil. 4:15
III: Outstanding Characteristics:
1. They believed themselves to be the very sons of God.
2. The Church was more precious than possessions and life.
3. They were continually witnessing.
4. They out-thought, out-loved, and out-died the World about them