The 4 Daily Practices of the Church in the Book of Acts
2-A:
RECEIVING REGULAR TEACHING BY ELDERSHIP
In Acts 2:41, the New Testament Church receives instruction from God which, when applied, leads to the effective growth of the Church. There are four regular practices that the Church of this time engaged in, resulting in the sound multiplication of the Church. The first of these is that they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine”. The believers at 153 House Churches Network share the belief that the day of the working of all 5 of the offices of eldership has returned to the Church today. Many believers of all walks regularly visit 153 House Churches Network and minister, and the congregations seek to live Acts 17:11 when receiving all teaching - with readiness of mind, and searching the scriptures daily to see that those things are so.
2-B: FELLOWSHIP
The second of these four regular practices is “fellowship”. Hebrews 10:24-26 tells us, “And let us consider one another to provoke one another unto love and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.....”.
We know, as believers, that we come to Christ alone. But we also know that we cannot make it “home” without the Body of Christ. God purposed that this be so. The above scripture clearly tells us that the result of ceasing to assemble with the Body of Christ - and the loss of encouragement and exhortation that we would have received there - will ultimately be the loss of one’s salvation.
We need each other. Ephesians 4:16 tells us, “[Christ]....from whom the whole Body [is] fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint (believer) supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love”.
So we see that Christ, through the “effectual working....of every part” and “that which every joint supplies”, “fitly join[s] together and compact[s]” and “increases” the Body of Christ, resulting in the “edifying of itself in love”. Again, regular fellowship is not an option, it is a necessity, because God made it so that.....we need each other.
2-C:
COMING TOGETHER TO BREAK BREAD
The third of these four regular practices is “the breaking of bread”. This aspect of the Christian community is usually either much-neglected or much-abused. Many churches do not come together to eat “as a family of God” at all or only a few times a year, under “event-driven” circumstances. But other churches come together to eat “as a family” and not “as the family of God”, thereby turning the practice into one which is social and not spiritual. On the battlefield of our lives, where satan constantly tries to drive apart the Body of Christ, the coming together of the Body to eat is a powerful ministry from God to us. The enemy seeks to convince us that we are alone or are small in numbers. But the breaking of bread, when scripturally practiced, brings us together spiritually and reminds us that “we are the family of God” and that "there are more that be for us than be against us".
2-D: PRAYER
The fourth of these four regular practices is “prayer”. 153 House Churches Network churches seek to teach and emphasize the importance of both individual and congregational prayer. Personal prayer is the essence of a relationship with God. It is our long-range weapon against the enemy. It is the most God-glorifying way in which we can minister to others, because we’re not involved personally but rather spiritually. We are out of the way, so God can perform His will and receive all of the glory.
Congregational prayer for the needs of others, including the laying on of hands, is also emphasized. the believers at 153 House Churches Network share the belief that Christ’s words in Mark 16:17 - 18 are ministries for the New Testament Church of today....“In My name shall they cast out devils......they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”.
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