by Pastor Rich Carlson          

You know me and lists. Every time I find something that looks like it could be made into a list, I interpret it as a place where God may have a special message that He outlined to help me understand. In my Bible I have written in the margin by Acts 2:42-47, “Thirteen characteristics of a church the Lord causes to grow.” Here’s what I found.

According to the passage, Peter and all who were joining this fellowship of believers devoted themselves to: 
1. “The apostles teaching.” They were teachable and listened to God’s leaders.
2. “Fellowship.” They simply enjoyed each other’s company.
3. “Breaking of bread.” This may be the Lord’s Supper, or it might be the hospitality of a shared meal.
4. “Prayer.” It’s an essential—but sometimes neglected—devotional experience.
5. “Being filled with awe.” To be wowed by God is, to me, real worship.
6. “Being together.” Here is more fellowship. Maybe this idea of supporting each other is something important.
7. “Having everything in common.” Christian socialism at its best?
8.  “Selling their possessions and giving to everyone as they had need.” The phrase implies not an indiscriminate disposal of everything, but a willingness to sacrifice to meet the needs of Christian brothers and sisters.
9. “Meeting together in the temple.” Church socials are not enough. We need to worship together in God’s house too.
10. “Breaking bread in their homes.” More fellowship.
11. “Eating together with glad and sincere hearts.” This is not just a backyard barbeque, but a feast of gladness and joy in the Lord.
12. “Praising God.” The ultimate reason for the whole process.
13. “Enjoying the favor of all the people.” This is a group in which members are genuinely unselfish and kind with everyone else in the group.         

“And then,” says the text, “the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.” They took care of each other, and God took care of bringing more converts. That's an interesting plan of evangelism.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.