The "worship service" of the first century church

         Ever give any thought to the ideal church? We used to do that every Saturday evening after volleyball with friends. We called our church “Utopia Chapel,” but we came to realize that it was so perfect that none of us could qualify as a member.
         In the second chapter of Acts we get an ideea of what was happening in the early church. We read of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the great sermon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, and the 3,000 who believed and joined the movement. Remember that at that time there were no standard patterns for worship and no New Testament to read. So what did they do when they gather to celebrate their newfound faith? The answer is in Acts 2.42-47. The believers “devoted themselves” to four things:  to what the apostles had told them, to sharing their new life in Christ with one another, to celebrate something like the disciples’ experience in the upper room when Jesus broke bread with them, and to prayer (2:42). It has often been suggested that this should be the model for Christian worship. Let's look at each of the four things mentioned.
         How eagerly they must have looked forward to their times of fellowship. They knew that a significant change had taken place in their life but they weren't quite sure what that meant theologically. Their only source of instruction was the teaching of the apostles. I imagine that at first when they met it was simply to sharing what was happening in their live now that they had accepted Christ. I can picture a group talking excitedly about something Peter had said, adding to and explaining it. As truth was realized their faces would reflect the joy that was welling up from deep within. In a group of believers the discovery of new truth is a powerful bonding experience. In that setting the "breaking of bread" was a way of reflecting on the centrality of the redemptive death of Christ. And of course there was prayer. The warm sense of companionship with one another in a time of spiritual worship was a deeply rewarding experience.
         Let’s move now into the 21st century and consider last Sunday's worship service with what was happening in early church. I would like the comparison to be instructive not judgmental. We gathered for church in a very nice building with a sanctuary used once a week with its chairs (or pews) arranged in neat rows. Our gathering with good friends was pleasant but the conversation was probably more about trivial matters than something of real importance . The pastor would pray at several points in the service and we would bow our heads. Every now and then at the close of the service we would have a short formal ceremony depicting the death of Christ. After the service the pleasure of being together would be considerably more authentic than the three minutes in the service when we were told we could now greet one another.
         Is your church something like that – perhaps more formal, perhaps more charismatic?  Assuming that the way the early church met was what God has in mind (and that is an assumption) where would you want to go to church? As for me, I would be attracted to the first century church because of its authenticity.  In all of life – but especially in spiritual matters – the heart desires reality. To sit down with others, fresh from a genuine encounter with God, is a wonderful experience. The heart can share only when there is no hypocrisy.
         My hope is that today’s “worship service” will give up its idea that “we can’t reach them unless we become like them.” On the day Peter delivered his Day of Pentecost sermon there were about 3,000 who accepted the message and were baptized. Most contemporary churches would like that to happen again next Sunday. It could be!