The New Testament provides little structural information about its first generation church.

There are no details like those given to Noah to build his boat. There are no details like those given to Moses to build the tent of meeting. There are no details like those followed by Solomon to build the Temple of God.

For over 200 years, my church family—with the noblest of resolve—has aimed at restoring the church to its first generation status. I like the appeal of wanting to be a church like Jesus established.

His church is perfect and eternal. I entered Jesus’ church by placing my trust in Him and participating in resurrection from the water grave of baptism.

Although church on earth partakes of the eternal reality, we humans keep it rather messed up.

Perhaps because of our mess, my desire grows stronger toward the idea of moving closer to imitating the first generation church of Jesus.

I find the pure form of the first generation church in its first New Testament description:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The bar is set. Jesus sees His church as His followers who are devoted to God’s instructions, to fellowship, prayer, being deeply thankful for the forgiveness reflecting from the cross, while the church takes care of each other.

It was a church that met together in the temple courts, had a wonderful time eating and being together in one another’s homes; they couldn’t stop praising God, and they were admired by all of their neighbors.

I suspect not many 21^st century churches can claim to be matching the traits of these wonderful brothers and sisters of the first generation church.

This current generation could add greatly to heaven’s role call if we could do better at living like the first generation church.

What would happen if those committed to Jesus as their Lord and Savior started to imitate the first generation church?

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells on Cross-Church