If any church had IT, it was the early church in Acts. IT was unique. IT was powerful. But most importantly, IT was life-changing. At BridgeWay, we have found our values in Luke's description of the early church to help us not only find IT, but keep IT.
in-ten-tion-al-i-ty (ĭn-těn'shə-nāl'ĭ-tē) n. A course of action that one intends to follow; an objective that guides behavior.
Jesus said to them: "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." (Acts 1:7-8)
com·mu·ni·ty (kə-'myü-nə-tē) n. A unified body of individuals; a group of people with a common characteristic.
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. They all joined together constantly in prayer. (Acts 1:13-14)
au·dac·i·ty (ȯ-'da-sə-tē) n. A boldness or daring; a confident disregard for personal safety or conventional thought.
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Those who accepted his message were baptized...about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:38-41)
gen·er·os·i·ty ('je-nə-'rä-sə-tē) n, A readiness or liberality in giving; freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. (Acts 2:44-46)
te·nac·i·ty (tə-'na-sə-tē) n. A tendency to adhere to another; persistence in maintaining or seeking something valued or desired.
Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)
au·then·tic·i·ty (ȯ-'then-'ti-sə-tē) n. A genuine article, not false or copied; conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features.
Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit. What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4)