These notes accompany the sermon found here.

Church Membership

• Church: ekklesia – literally, “those who are called out”
• Member: melos – literally, “a limb”
• See Matthew 16:15-20, 18:15-20; Romans 6:13, 6:19, 7:5, 7:23, 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:5, 12:12-31; Ephesians 2:19, 3:6, 4:25, 5:30.
• Today’s text: Acts 2:37-47.
• A simple definition of a church member: One who believes the Gospel, responds with repentance and baptism, and becomes actively involved in ministry with others who have done the same.

Prescriptive or Descriptive?

• Prescriptive: The activity in the narrative is commanded for all Christians elsewhere in scripture, so the activity is prescribed.
• Descriptive: The activity in the narrative is not commanded for all Christians elsewhere in scripture, so the activity is merely described.

Church Activities

• The Apostles’ Teaching: Acts 8:35, 17:2, 17:11, 18:24, 18:28; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Peter 1:20-21;  Luke 24:27-32, 45; John 5:39, 17:17.
• The Fellowship: Acts 1:14, 2:1, 2:42, 2:46; Hebrews 10:24-25; John 13:34-35, 17:11, 17:21-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 John 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
• The Breaking of Bread: Refers to the Lord’s Supper, which was commonly observed at any of their meals together, Acts 2:46. See also Matt. 26:17–30 Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19, 20; John 13:1–4; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34.
• The Prayers: Acts 1:14, 2:42, 4:31, 6:4; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1; Jude 20; Matthew 6:5-15.

Continually Devoted

• What Motivated this change of lifestyle for these people in Acts 2?
• How can I be better motivated to devote myself to these things?
• Acts 2:23, 36, 42; Matthew 16:18; Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:10-18; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

What I learned and resolved today: