The Church Was best At Its Birth

Let me ask you, what are the top ten most important events in human history? This is a tricky one. Do you mention the invention of the wheel? Perhaps you would add the discovery of farming. Or maybe you think about the great Ice Age that created a land bridge to the Americas. Of course, we must include the death and resurrection of Christ. The life of Christ has shaped the world for over two thousand years.
 
But there is a sleeper event that most people wouldn’t even consider: Pentecost. Pentecost is the event in Acts when the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 disciples hidden in an upper room, gave them gospel boldness, Peter preached one of the greatest sermons ever, and 3000 responded and were baptized. This was the launch of the church.
 
Scholars say the church went from 120 people to about 7,500 people by the end of the first century. While that is really good growth over 65 years, it’s hardly a blip on the world’s population. But, by 200 AD, there were an estimated 200,000 Christians worldwide. Then, by the time of Constantine’s baptism, there were an estimated 34 million Christians in the world (Which was greater than 50% of the Roman Empire).
 
Let me run those numbers by you again. Over the course of 300 hostile years, the church went from 120 Christians to 34 million. What was their secret? How can we see that kind of gospel growth? It had to be some complex systems that are hard to replicate. Plus, I’m sure it included some skilled preaching. And almost definitely a fog machine, laser lights, incredible musicians, and a camera gimbal.
 
Wait… it didn’t include any of those? What was their secret?
 
According to Acts 2:42, there were four simple devotions: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
 
At Arborway, we believe the church was its best at its birth. Worship with us tomorrow and see how a church dedicated to those four simple things will experience a powerful move of God.