The First Church Manual: A Guide from the Book of Acts
This manual is a journey back to the very beginnings of the Christian church, as recorded in the Book of Acts. It is not a guide to modern church tradition, but a return to the foundational principles that defined the life and ministry of the first believers. By studying their example, we can discover how the Church was meant to function—a body grounded in the Word, alive in community, empowered by the Spirit, and courageous in its mission.
I. The Foundation of Apostolic Teaching
The early church was founded upon the unshakeable truth of the apostolic teaching, delivered directly from those who walked with Christ. Their message was not new, but the culmination of God’s redemptive plan throughout history.
The Promised Messiah
The apostles presented Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecies from the Old Testament. “For David speaketh concerning him, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:25, KJV).
The Righteous Sufferer
They boldly declared that Jesus’s crucifixion was not a tragic failure but a deliberate and necessary act of God. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” (Acts 2:23, KJV).
The Victorious Lord
The resurrection was the irrefutable proof of Jesus’s claims. “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:24, KJV).
The Exalted Authority
After His resurrection, Jesus was exalted to the highest place of authority. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33, KJV).
II. Communal Life
The early church was characterized by strong communal bonds and lived with a spirit of unity.
Shared Life and Possessions
Believers shared their possessions and resources to provide for those in need. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” (Acts 2:44-45, KJV).
Food and Fellowship
Their daily life centered on fellowship, prayer, and “breaking bread,” which referred to communal meals. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:46, KJV).
The Law and Sabbath
As devout Jews, the first believers continued to follow the Mosaic Law and observe the Sabbath. “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (Acts 3:1, KJV).
Persecution and Courage
The church lived with the constant threat of persecution but responded with boldness and faith, rejoicing to suffer for Christ. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (Acts 5:41, KJV).
III. The Role of Prayer
Prayer was a central, constant, and powerful practice that drove the mission of the early church. It was the primary source of their guidance and strength.
Communal Prayer
The believers consistently prayed together in one accord, demonstrating their unity and trust in God. “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31, KJV).
Individual and Directed Prayer
Individuals also had a robust private prayer life. “Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.” (Acts 10:9, KJV). Their prayers were also specific and directed, such as praying for the healing of the sick.
Prayer with Praise and Singing
Prayer was often combined with acts of worship and praise. Even when imprisoned, believers found strength in this practice. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25, KJV).
IV. The Practice of Evangelism
Evangelism was the natural overflow of the believers’ lives. It was a constant, Spirit-empowered act of sharing the Gospel with everyone they encountered.
The Message
The core message was simple and consistent: Jesus is the Messiah, crucified and resurrected, and all must repent. “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” (Acts 10:42, KJV).
Spontaneous and Strategic
Evangelism in Acts was both spontaneous and strategic. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4, KJV). Paul and his companions strategically began their ministry in the synagogues.
V. The Role of Leadership
Leadership in the early church was not about hierarchy or power, but about service. It was a function of meeting the needs of the community and ensuring the apostolic teaching was protected.
Apostles, Elders, and Deacons
The church had apostles as its foundation. As the church grew, elders were appointed to shepherd local congregations, and deacons were chosen to manage practical needs. “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Acts 14:23, KJV).
Qualities of a Leader
Leaders were selected based on spiritual and moral qualities, not social status. They had to be “full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,” and were formally appointed through prayer and the laying on of hands. “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (Acts 6:3, KJV).
VI. The Lord’s Supper and Baptism
These were foundational acts of obedience, public testimony, and communal fellowship that defined the life of the early church.
Baptism: The Public Declaration
Baptism was the immediate and public response to the Gospel, symbolizing a new identity. It was for new converts and happened immediately upon belief. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38, KJV).
The Lord’s Supper: The Communal Meal
Referred to as the “breaking of bread,” the Lord’s Supper was a regular, communal meal that served as a memorial to Jesus’s sacrifice. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42, KJV).
VII. Miracles and Signs
Miracles were a core part of the apostles’ ministry, serving to confirm the message of the Gospel and validate the authority of the believers.
Confirmation and Authority
Miracles validated the apostolic message and proved that their authority came directly from God. “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people… and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” (Acts 5:12, 14, KJV).
Examples of Miracles
The book is filled with examples of healings, miraculous deliverances, and even resurrections. “And the apostles gave witness with great power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4:33, KJV).
VIII. Persecution and Suffering
Persecution was an expected and purposeful part of the Christian life. It served to test faith, purify the church, and act as a powerful catalyst for the spread of the Gospel.
A Catalyst for the Gospel
Persecution often forced the church to spread beyond Jerusalem. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4, KJV). The Gospel reached new places faster because of the suffering of believers.
A Witness to the World
The courage of believers in the face of suffering served as a powerful witness. “But at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25, KJV).
Conclusion: The Cohesive Body
The Book of Acts shows that a “first church” is not defined by a building or a formal structure, but by a unified commitment to these core principles. It is a body of believers dedicated to the apostolic teaching, living in genuine community, sustained by prayer, empowered to share the gospel, and led by servants. All of these parts work together, with persecution serving to purify and spread the body. The First Church was a complete, integrated system—a living organism for the glory of God.