If Jesus were to plant a Church in your local area, what might that look like? Thankfully, the New Testament isn't mute on this matter. By reading the book of Acts, we gain a pretty clear portrait of what the first century Church was like. Yes, the very same one established by Christ and His disciples. But what about today? Does the example of the first century Church still apply in the 21st century?
Absolutely! The same characteristics that defined the early Church should be present in every New Testament church, regardless of time or place. Below are just a few of those defining marks for our consideration:
1. The Word of God is Supreme and Governs Every Area of Life
(2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:12)
2. Fervent Prayer is a Lifestyle, and Leaders Emphasize Its Importance
(Matthew 26:41; James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
3. Members Fast Regularly for the Salvation of Souls
(Acts 13:3; 2 Corinthians 11:27)
4. Genuine, Intimate Fellowship Occurs Throughout the Week
(Acts 2:46)
5. A Visible Love for God and One Another
(Galatians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 13:12)
6. A Healthy Fear of God Leads to Confession and Repentance
(Acts 5:11; 1 Timothy 5:20; James 5:16)
7. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts are Greatly Encouraged and in Operation
(Luke 24:49; Acts 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 14:26)
8. Evangelism is the Responsibility of Every Member
(Acts 28:31; 2 Timothy 4:2)
9. Generosity Abounds—No One Claims Exclusive Ownership of Possessions
(Acts 2:45)
10. No Tithes or Offerings—Only Voluntary Donations to Help the Poor
(1 Corinthians 16:2-3)
11. No Women Pastors
(1 Timothy 2:12)
12. No 'Once Saved, Always Saved' Doctrine
(Romans 11:21-22)
13. No Divorce and Remarriage Unless Certain Biblical Exceptions Apply
(Matthew 5:19; Mark 10; Luke 16; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
14. No Denominational Labels—True Unity in Christ
(1 Corinthians 3:4-6)
15. Simple Church Structure—Often in Homes
(Acts 12:12; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15)
16. Pastors Meet All Biblical Qualifications
(1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
17. Church Discipline is Practiced—Unrepentant Sin Leads to Excommunication, with Restoration for the Repentant
(1 Corinthians 5)
18. Full Accountability Among Members
(Ephesians 5:21)
19. No Favoritism—Everyone is Valued Equally
(Matthew 23:8; Acts 10:34; Galatians 3:28; James 2:2-6)
20. A Biblical Standard of Modesty is Encouraged to Avoid Sin and Vanity
(1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Peter 1:16)
21. Pastors and Leaders Are Open to Correction
(1 Peter 5:5)
22. Teaching is Convicting and Life-Changing—Yet Delivered with Love
(Ephesians 4:15)
23. Correction is Given with Gentleness—Unless a Sharp Rebuke is Necessary
(Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:20)
24. No Sugar-Coated Preaching
(2 Timothy 4:2)
25. No Face Covering Restrictions or Vaccine Mandates
(A growing concern for many churches today)
26. Holiness is Required, and Help is Available for Those Who Struggle
27. The Fellowship is Both Joyful and Serious
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)
Would such a Church be welcome today? More importantly, would we be willing to align ourselves with this biblical standard? The early Church thrived under these principles, and so can we.
Note: For a more in-depth study on the biblical definition of the Church and its characteristics, refer to my detailed teaching article on this subject (located here).
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