“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Acts 2:42
How would you describe your church worship service? I’m sure you can you picture it in your mind. As we think about early Christianity this month, it’s hard to imagine what their church services looked like.
Alive in the first century after Jesus’ birth, Justin Martyr was a church leader who eventually was martyred for Christ. In one of his letters around AD 150, he described a church service. He said that Christians would gather in one place on Sunday to fellowship. Pastors would read aloud from both the apostles’ letters as well as the prophets. Then they would “instruct and exhort” the congregation. They also sang songs, prayed, and partook in the Lord’s Supper. Finally, an offering was taken to help orphans, widows, the sick, and the less fortunate. Sounds strikingly familiar, doesn’t it?
True followers of Christ have always taken to heart the importance of gathering together in worship with other believers. So even though styles and forms have changed over the years, the exaltation of Jesus in His church has not.
Alive in the first century after Jesus’ birth, Justin Martyr was a church leader who eventually was martyred for Christ. In one of his letters around AD 150, he described a church service. He said that Christians would gather in one place on Sunday to fellowship. Pastors would read aloud from both the apostles’ letters as well as the prophets. Then they would “instruct and exhort” the congregation. They also sang songs, prayed, and partook in the Lord’s Supper. Finally, an offering was taken to help orphans, widows, the sick, and the less fortunate. Sounds strikingly familiar, doesn’t it?
True followers of Christ have always taken to heart the importance of gathering together in worship with other believers. So even though styles and forms have changed over the years, the exaltation of Jesus in His church has not.
Scripture Focus
Acts 2:42-47
Insight
“We, Christians, are the true Israel which springs from Christ, for we are carved out of His heart as from a rock!” (Justin Martyr, c. AD 100–c. 165)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Kings 11-12
- Proverbs 5
- Hebrews 5-6
