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In Acts 2:42, after Peter’s beautiful message to the crowd at Pentecost, Luke says that the 3,000 who trusted Christ “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” 

Luke gives us the very first snapshot of the earliest moments of the church—and in that snapshot we see four characteristics to guide us today. 

First, the new believers studied the apostles’ teachings. Think of how wide that is: the teachings about who Jesus was and is; what He did for us; the work of the cross; and the power of the Spirit that now indwells believers, which these first Christians had just experienced at Pentecost. It is also the teachings about prophecy and about how to live a Christian life.  

So, the early Christians were students of Christ’s teaching, taught to them by the apostles who received instruction directly from Jesus. Chuck Swindoll also wrote that the apostles “were trained by Jesus from the very beginning, and they had personally interacted with the resurrected Savior.”  

Therefore, we must follow the lead of the early Christians and study God’s Word. Today, you and I have access to these very teachings—in fact, we have the entirety of Scripture. That’s why DTS is committed to training our students in all 66 books of the Bible. That’s why we teach the original biblical languages and the plain, normal meaning of the text in context. That’s why we are equipping godly servant-leaders for the church. I believe it’s life-changing for any Christian to study the Bible and, most importantly, apply it. This is one way God goes after our heart to change our lives and our walk. 

Second, the church was devoted to fellowship. That is a beautiful New Testament term—a picture of a kindred connection with other men and women who have professed faith in the Lord Jesus. They were doing life together with other believers. And so must we.  

Third, it says they were devoted to the breaking of bread. This likely means they were not only sharing meals together but also taking the Lord’s Supper. They were remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. That must be our pattern, too.  

Fourth, but certainly not least, they devoted themselves to prayer. Like them, we must pursue total dependence on the Lord. We must always move forward in a position of submission.  

Don’t we need more of these four characteristics today? Don’t we need more teachers, pastors, and Christian leaders who can train believers in the Word, share fellowship, teach the accurate proclamation of the person and work of Christ, and model a proper reverence and prayer?