They Never Stopped Teaching
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles" (Acts 2:41-43, NIV).
"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:41,42, NIV).
INTRODUCTION:
What made the Early Church succeed? How did they survive? How did they cultivate the supernatural climate for evangelizing their world? They never stopped teaching!
Christian education is central to the apostolic church — in the New Testament and today! The Great Commission calls for Pentecostal teaching.
The word for the apostles' teaching in Acts 1:42 derives from the same Greek word as teaching in Matthew 28:20, the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to His Church — "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." His injunction to "teach all nations," from another Greek word, means to "disciple" or "enroll as scholars."
Luke demonstrates the fundamental role of teaching and doctrine for New Testament believers at least 20 times in the Book of Acts.
1. THE PRIORITY — Pentecostal Teaching is Foundational to the Church
- Acts opens with reference to the author's previous work, the Gospel of Luke, as "a record of all that Jesus began to do and teach" (Acts 1:1).
- Acts closes with the Apostle Paul under house arrest, still boldly preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30).
- Counting it an honor even to be beaten for Jesus' sake, the apostles refused to stop teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:41).
2. THE POWER — Pentecostal Teaching Calls for Spirit-Filled Teachers
- Threatened and warned to stop preaching and teaching in Jesus' name, the Early Church prayed for boldness and miracles (Acts 4:29,30).
- After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31, NIV).
- God answered their prayer for bold and effective preaching and teaching, for supernatural impact, with an infusion of His Holy Spirit — for many of them a refilling, a renewing of their enduement with divine power (Acts 1 and 2)
- The Word of God is the only real hope and help in a world of chaos, conflict, and confrontation. The only way to deliver that Word with supernatural impact and effectiveness is in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The only way to have ministry in New Testament apostolic power is through baptism in the Holy Spirit in the New Testament apostolic pattern.
3. THE PATTERN — Pentecostal Teaching
- Acts 1:8 gives the promise and the purpose: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (NIV).
- The generation that turned its world upside for God in the first century did so in the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen" (Mark 16:20, NKJV).
- The only way this generation can advance the Great Commission to completion is preaching and teaching in that same Pentecostal power! "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3,4, NIV).
- The basis for salvation and miracles of faith stands ever sufficient in Christ's finished work, but no basis for effective faith exists apart from understanding and applying God's Word.
CONCLUSION:
A fresh wave of Pentecost is sweeping the church for the 21st Century harvest. The best is yet to be. And it will be born, built, and bolstered — the harvest will be preserved — in the classroom and teaching ministries of the church.
The Great Commission demands that we systematically infuse, indoctrinate this generation of the Church — and the next — with Pentecostal fundamentals until Jesus comes.
We can accomplish our New Testament purpose only in the New Testament pattern and only with God's supernatural provision! To complete our mission, we must be Spirit-filled and, filled with the Holy Spirit, we must preach and never stop teaching.
