The Bible uses the word church to describe the way in which the early Christians lived and were organized. From the beginning, we see that the local church is primary to God’s purposes.
- Acts 8:1 “There arose on that day a great persecution against the church…”
- Acts 11:22 “The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem…”
- Acts 11:26 “For a whole year they met with the church…”
- Acts 12:1 “Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church…”
- Acts 12:5 “Earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church…”
- Acts 14:27 “And when they arrived and gathered the church together…”
- Acts 15:3 “So, being sent on their way by the church…”
- Acts 15:4 “They were welcomed by the church…
The first Christians were “added” to the church. To become a follower of God was to be added to the people of God. Church membership represents being “added” to a particular local church.
- Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
- Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
An intentional record was kept. In other words, the early church counted heads and kept records of those who demonstrated faith in Jesus Christ – likely for purposes of planning and care (cf. Acts 6; 1 Tim 5:9).
- Acts 1:15 “a group numbering about a hundred and twenty.”
- Acts 2:41 “there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
- Acts 4:4 “the number of the men came to about five thousand.”
