Acts 2 Congregations
ACTS 2 CONGREGATIONS
Characteristics of Fruit-Bearing Congregations
Eugene Peterson, in his contemporary rendering of the Bible called The Message, writes these thoughts in his introduction to the Book of Acts:
“The story of Jesus doesn’t end with Jesus. It continues in the lives of those who believe in him. The supernatural does not stop with Jesus. Luke makes it clear that these Christians he wrote about were no more spectators of Jesus than Jesus was a spectator of God – they are in on the action of God, God acting in them, living in them. Which also means, of course, in us.”
The apostles and earliest disciples of Jesus bore much kingdom fruit. They were able to do so because God, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, was in them, and they were responsive and obedient to the Spirit’s leading. The Book of Acts is a lively record of both the means and the ends (fruits) of God’s activity in and through God’s people.
The fruits are clearly identified in the second chapter of Acts, verses 41 – 47:
v persons of all nations and races being added to and included in the faith community;
v persons receiving the Good News and being saved;
v persons being cared for as they had need; and
v persons demonstrating wonders and signs of God’s kingdom-reversing and kingdom-multiplying power.
But, the means are also clearly identified in Acts 2:
v hospitality that welcomes persons of all nations and races into the community;
v glad and passionate worship that praises and magnifies God’s presence;
v devotion to the apostles’ teachings, fellowship and prayer that grows disciples; and
v justice and mercy ministries that serve the community.
The following characteristics of fruit-bearing congregations will serve as benchmarks for pastors as they develop ministry plans and seek to lead their churches toward becoming Acts 2 Congregations.
List of 2006 Acts 2 Congregations
Acts 2 Congregations- Characteristics of Fruit-Bearing Congregations
Criteria for Acts 2 Congregations