Effective Church Ministry

Acts 5:12–23
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This passage gives a run-down of what went on in the early Church:

1.    Where did the church meet? (v. 12) – They met where everyone could see them, in the open space on Solomon’s Porch, one of the two great porches that surrounded the temple area. 

2.   How did the people respond to them? (vv. 13-16) – Some, while holding the believers in high esteem, wouldn’t dare join their group (v. 13). But the vast majority, it seems (more than ever before), came to faith in Jesus and joined the church (v. 14). God, miraculously working through the apostles, healed the sick and cast out demons (vv. 15-16). 

One of the qualifications for an apostle was that he had seen the risen Christ (Acts 1:22; I Corinthians 9:1). Since no one can claim that experience today, there are no apostles in the church. If there are no apostles, this means there can be no “signs of the apostles” as found in Acts. This does not mean that God is limited and can no longer perform miracles. It is just that we do not have the need for confirming miracles now that we have the completed Word of God. We should be testing each pastor, evangelist, and teacher today by their message, and not by miracles.

The Sadducees grew even more frustrated at the Apostle’s preaching and were jealous of their successful ministry (v. 17). The apostles risked their lives to share the living Word of God, while the Sadducees desperately tried to defend their dead traditions. The high priest and his associates had the Apostles arrested and put in jail (v. 18). The apostles did not resist arrest or call for a public protest. Instead, they quietly went along with the temple guard. However, during the night, an angel set them free and told them to return to their witnessing in the temple (vv. 19-21). When the Sanhedrin sent for the prisoners the next morning, they found only empty jail cells (vv. 22-23).

Application

Does my church display the three qualities listed above? If not, which one is missing? What can I do to help bring these qualities into my church? It is one thing to criticize, and another to help solve the problem.