Act 2:42 – “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Our passage today comes immediately following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost as a commentary on the activities of the early believers and the beginnings of the church. Chapter 2 begins with the believers being together in one place. There was a unity about them. They were praying and waiting on God for the Promise of the Holy Spirit.
The above verse opens with the key words, “And they continued…” Spiritual growth begins with consistency. We cannot make appreciable progress without being consistent in four areas listed in this verse.
The Apostles’ Doctrine. At this point the New Testament had not been written. The Apostles had been commissioned to carry on the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 28:20). The early church fed on the words of the Lord while He walked this earth. We must cling to the word of God. This is why it is necessary for you to have a consistent diet of scripture and I can think of no better system than the One Year Bible to help you accomplish this.
Fellowship. There is a special bond between Christians because of the faith we share and the God we serve. We believe the same and are “like-minded.” There is communication on a different level because we understand certain truths that we collectively embrace. This makes for great conversation and intimate sharing. You should interact with other believers to take advantage of the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. True fellowship is vital to the overall health of a believer.
Breaking of Bread. While this implies sharing in the Lord’s Supper, it also encompasses the larger picture of simply sharing meals together. Gatherings around food make for great times of getting to know each other more personally and to relax. Meals throughout scripture were common and it was considered hospitable and an act of kindness to offer others a meal. Christianity is to be full of acts of kindness.
Prayers. Spiritual growth is impossible without an active prayer life. Prayer was a survival mechanism in the early church. They were being persecuted and had to pray their way out of many situations. While that is not the case for many of us today, we must view prayer as vital as the air we breathe and the food we eat. If you want to grow, grow, grow, you must pray, pray, pray!