1. The church must be devoted to the word.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 (CSB)
12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 4:12 (CSB)
8 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 (CSB)
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Tim. 4:1-5 (CSB)
2. The church must be devoted to fellowship.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 (CSB)
35 After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat.
Acts 27:35 (CSB)
3. The church must be devoted to unity.
44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.
Acts 2:44 (CSB)
4. The church must be devoted to generosity.
45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Acts 2:45 (CSB)
35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35 (CSB)
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:21 (CSB)
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47 (CSB)