The First Church Was a Praying Church
“God added” and “they continued steadfastly” are two keys to church formation. God adds together those who receive the apostolic proclamation that Jesus crucified is Lord and Messiah with repentance and baptism. God continually adds the saved to his church (Acts 2:40-41, 47b). This is followed by an idealized portrait of the first Christian community (Acts 2: 42-47a). The community is “those who believe” later called the church (Acts 5:11; 8:1). The first church continued in adherence to 1) “the apostles’ teaching,” 2) “sharing with each other” [koinonia], 3) “eating together,” and 4) “prayers.” Rather than a check-list of four characteristics of the true church or true worship, they describe church formation. Those whom God adds together must be formed or shaped into a living and active community (cf. 4:32-33). Both “God adding” and “they continuing” are necessary to be like the “first church.”
While all four activities (Acts 2:42) are essential, the evidence in Acts indicates that a praying church is primary. Consider Acts 1:14 — the waiting community of 11 apostles, together with women, and family of Jesus were devoting themselves to prayer. Acts 1:24 — their prayer to be ready for their task to bear apostolic witness to Jesus’ resurrection, and to choose who should round out the 12. Acts 2:42 – Prayer to be a community. Acts 3:1ff – Sharing in Israel’s hour of prayers, Peter and John pray for healing and bear witness to Jesus as God’s Servant who was raised and who heals a lame man and Israel. Acts 4:24-31 – After threats not to speak about Jesus, Peter and John gather with friends to pray. The lengthy worded prayer recites Scripture, recall God’s kingly action in his Servant Jesus and asks that they, his servants, may have power to continue their witness. Acts 6:4,6 – To be devoted to prayer and ministry of the word the 12 appoint 7 servants to needy widows with prayer. The list continues – Acts 7:59-60; 8:15; 8:22; 9:11, 40; 10:2, 9, 30-31; 12:5; 13:2-3.
Jesus’ church prays not only because of the example of the early church but because Jesus prayed and he taught his disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4). May we continue to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.?”
—Tom Yoakum