Did You Know… Acts 2:42 says, “They [the church] were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” Many churches today refer to themselves as “Spirit-filled” churches. Typically this means that they speak in ecstatic utterances (tongues) and/or play loud upbeat music in their worship gatherings. This, however, is not what was happening in the early church which had just been baptized by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:42 reveals exactly what a true Spirit-filled church really is.

First, a Spirit-filled church is a Scriptural church – a Bible-centered church. The believers in Acts 2 gathered around the apostles and their teaching. They weren’t looking for esoteric experiences to boast of, rather they sought God through the study of theology! Anti-intellectualism and the fullness of the Spirit are mutually incompatible, for the filling of the Spirit and its subsequent fruits (Gal. 5:22) come as a result of studying biblical truth (Col. 3:16). The apostles’ teaching continues today in the pages of the New Testament which, along with the OT, is given for instruction, reproof, correction, and training for righteousness – so that Christians will be equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The second trait of a Spirit-filled church is the fellowship of believers. Fellowship is about partnering and sharing together. Hebrews 10:24-25 expresses fellowship well: “Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” So it’s about being together and holding one another accountable. It’s certainly not about living the Christian life on an island, as it were.

Third, the Spirit-filled life is Christ-centered. This is clear in v. 42 in that the early church “broke bread” together. This can signify a regular meal together (as part of fellowship), but more likely it has to do with the observance of the Lord’s Supper which is given by Christ as a remembrance of his death. Thus, the church gathering is Christ-centered, remembering the cross.

            Finally, the Spirit-filled church prays (also part of its fellowship). Jesus had told the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest (Matt. 9:37-38; Luke 10:2), that is, pray to God that more people would believe. They knew that they were to be witnesses for Christ even to “the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8), and more workers would be needed. Thus, a healthy church prays diligently for the things Christ told them to pray for.

The underlying theme in Acts 2:42 is Christian activity following the Spirit’s baptism which comes at the moment a person places their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The life that follows is a Spirit-filled life, and Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.”