Cornerstone Apostolic Church Bible Study
What Should Church Be Like?
Hear the anointed Word preached from the Bible. Lift your voice in prayer and praise. Bring your needs to God, experience the Holy Ghost, and grow with His people. This is the church we see in Acts.
“They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42 (KJV)The church Jesus began
Jesus poured out the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Peter preached the risen Lord, people answered him, and about three thousand were baptized. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. Acts then follows that church through healing, opposition, growing pains, changed lives, and the gospel spreading to new cities. What would it mean to be part of a church like that?
Read Acts 2:1-4, 37-47
Preaching opens the Bible and calls for an answer
At Pentecost Peter stood, lifted up his voice, opened the Scriptures, and proclaimed that the crucified Jesus had risen and was Lord and Christ. The people were cut to the heart. Later Paul reasoned from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ and declared the whole counsel of God. He later told Timothy to preach the Word with patience and doctrine. Preaching in the church should open the Bible, proclaim Jesus and the apostles' doctrine plainly, speak with Holy Ghost boldness, and call us to respond. Come ready to hear God address your life through His Word.
Read Acts 2:14, 22-42; 4:8-12; 17:2-3; 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:2
Think about it: What did Peter preach, and how did people respond?
People are born again
Cut to the heart by Peter's message, the crowd asked, “What shall we do?” He answered: repent, be baptized in Jesus Christ's name for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost. In Samaria people were baptized in Jesus' name and the apostles prayed for them to receive the Spirit. In Cornelius's house the Spirit fell as Peter preached; they spoke with tongues and were then commanded to be baptized. In Ephesus disciples were baptized in Jesus' name, received the Spirit, and spoke with tongues. The church still needs this apostolic message and new birth.
Read Acts 2:37-41; 8:12-17; 10:44-48; 19:1-6
Think about it: How did people in these places respond to the gospel?
Lift your voice in prayer
David cried to the Lord with his voice and poured out his need before Him. The believers prayed together before Pentecost, and God filled them with the Holy Ghost. Later, when Peter and John were threatened for preaching Jesus, the church lifted its voice to God with one accord. They asked for boldness and for God to stretch out His hand to heal. The place shook; they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke the Word boldly. This is earnest, united prayer. At church we pray out loud, call on Jesus, intercede for others, and seek His Spirit and power with faith.
Praise God out loud and with joy
David danced before the Lord with all his might as Israel shouted and trumpets sounded. In a psalm he invited others to exalt the Lord together. The first believers praised God with glad hearts; Paul and Silas sang in prison where others heard them. Psalm 150 calls everything with breath to praise the Lord with instruments and sound. Jesus calls us to worship in spirit and in truth. We worship wholeheartedly, singing and praising Him aloud with joy, gratitude, and reverence for who He is. Come ready to join your voice with the church.
Read 2 Samuel 6:14-15; Psalm 34:1-3; Psalm 150:1-6; Acts 2:43, 46-47; 16:25; John 4:23-24
Jesus heals and delivers
A man carried to the temple gate rose, walked, and praised God when Peter spoke the name of Jesus. Many sick people were brought to the apostles and were healed. In Samaria, Philip preached Christ; unclean spirits came out, people were healed, and there was great joy in the city. These were works of the living Jesus. Bring your need, and let us pray in His name.
Read Acts 3:1-16; 5:12-16; 8:5-8
Think about it: What did the people do when they saw God work?
Repentance changes how we live
In Ephesus, people who had practiced magic confessed what they had done and burned their costly books. They broke with the life they were leaving behind. Acts also describes churches walking in reverence for the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Jesus gives power to turn from sin and live for Him. Church should help us keep obeying His Word after the first response.
Read Acts 9:31; 19:18-20
A church family meets real needs
The believers kept learning, praying, eating together, and praising God with glad hearts. They shared so people in need were helped. When some widows were overlooked in the daily care, the apostles kept their focus on prayer and preaching while the church chose Spirit-filled people to put it right. Hebrews urges believers to keep gathering and encouraging one another. Paul says what happens when the church gathers should build people up. Church is a people who worship and take responsibility for one another.
Read Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 10:24-25
Think about it: How did the church respond when its care fell short?
The Holy Ghost sends the church outward
Believers scattered from Jerusalem carried the message with them. Philip preached Christ in Samaria, where people heard the Word and saw God work. In Antioch, believers worshiped and fasted; the Holy Ghost directed them to send Barnabas and Saul. A church alive in Jesus' name reaches its neighbors and carries His gospel farther.
Read Acts 8:4-8; 13:1-3
What must I do to be saved?
Peter's answer in Acts 2:38 is still worth hearing for yourself. Follow the companion study through repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Read the Salvation Bible study.
Come experience church the Bible way
Come and see for yourself
Bring your questions, your burdens, and your hunger for God. Come hear the Word preached, pray aloud and worship wholeheartedly with us. We would love to open the Bible with you, pray in Jesus' name, and help you take your next step toward Him.