Pastor Adam Gomez
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Acts 2:42–47 (NKJV) — “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
I. The Apostles’ Doctrine
What was the apostles’ doctrine?
"The Faith" and "The Gospel"
Jude 1:3 — “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Galatians 1:6–9 — “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
John, Peter, and Paul, sum up the core of this doctrine:
John 20:31 — “...but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Acts 4:10–12 — “...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
1 Corinthians 2:1–2 — “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Their focus was on what Jesus did and the process by which His sacrifice is made fully effective in our lives (belief in Him, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, living the Christian life).
Their message was contrary to worldly wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:20–23 — “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness...”
A Stumbling Block for the Jews:
For the first time, newly converted Jews listened to “unordained men” (the apostles) instead of formally educated and ordained rabbis. It was humbling to hear clarity of thought and reasoning from the Scriptures from "nobodies."
Acts 4:1–2 — “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
Acts 4:13 — “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
It was difficult for a religious Jew to accept that a Galilean carpenter was the hope of Israel. The "new way" challenged central foundations of Jewish identity: no more need for a physical temple, no more need for animal sacrifices, no more need for the Jewish religious hierarchy, and no more requirement of physical circumcision (which felt like a contradiction to Genesis 17). No wonder the mob killed Stephen with no remorse—this teaching attacked long-held customs and Old Testament directions.
Followers of Jesus maintained that entry into God’s family was free to all. Judaism held that it was reserved for the physical seed of Abraham, the circumcised, and those keeping the Law.
Despite these obstacles, Jews joined the new way in large numbers.
Foolishness to the Gentiles (The Greco-Roman World):
Romans tolerated many faiths as long as citizens made civic offerings to Rome and Augustus. Christianity’s strict monotheism refused this.
Roman society misunderstood Christian practices: "cannibalism" (eating Christ's body), "incest" (loving "brothers and sisters"), and refusal to participate in immoral public entertainment (gladiatorial games, violent/pagan theater, chariot races).
Believers were urged to avoid entertainment linked to pagan worship or sin, creating tension in secular marriages and social life.
Roman culture looked down on Christianity because it originated in the East, worshipped a crucified man, and proclaimed a new authority and government under Christ.
Jesus commanded that we love one another and obey Him. Galatians 5:19–24 contrasts worldly passions with Spirit-led living: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Despite these difficulties, large numbers of Greeks and Romans joined the church.
Fellowship (Koinonia):
Definition: Greek Koinonia = partnership, participation, communion, fellowship. Togetherness: Moving away from "us vs. them." Church is not for spectators, but active participants sharing life in Jesus.
The "One Another" Principle: We love, edify, admonish, and forgive one another. The phrase "one another" appears over 50 times in the New Testament—you cannot fulfill it in isolation.
Persecution was beginning and would be continuous for the Christian. It was important for them to stick together.
What did fellowship look like?
Acts 2:46 — “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart...”
Daily in the temple: Hearing the teaching of the Word of God from the apostles.
Daily in homes: Breaking bread and sharing the Word together.
Three Levels of Fellowship:
The early church was marked by cohesion: they loved one another, stuck together, and held their possessions with open hands to meet the needs of others.
The early church was marked by hospitality: Central to their mission, though costly in time, effort, and resources.
The early church was marked by the breaking of bread: Commemorating Christ and sharing meals together.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Acts 2:42–47 (NKJV) — “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
I. The Apostles’ Doctrine
What was the apostles’ doctrine?
"The Faith" and "The Gospel"
Jude 1:3 — “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Galatians 1:6–9 — “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
John, Peter, and Paul, sum up the core of this doctrine:
John 20:31 — “...but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Acts 4:10–12 — “...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
1 Corinthians 2:1–2 — “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Their focus was on what Jesus did and the process by which His sacrifice is made fully effective in our lives (belief in Him, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, living the Christian life).
Their message was contrary to worldly wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:20–23 — “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness...”
A Stumbling Block for the Jews:
For the first time, newly converted Jews listened to “unordained men” (the apostles) instead of formally educated and ordained rabbis. It was humbling to hear clarity of thought and reasoning from the Scriptures from "nobodies."
Acts 4:1–2 — “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
Acts 4:13 — “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
It was difficult for a religious Jew to accept that a Galilean carpenter was the hope of Israel. The "new way" challenged central foundations of Jewish identity: no more need for a physical temple, no more need for animal sacrifices, no more need for the Jewish religious hierarchy, and no more requirement of physical circumcision (which felt like a contradiction to Genesis 17). No wonder the mob killed Stephen with no remorse—this teaching attacked long-held customs and Old Testament directions.
Followers of Jesus maintained that entry into God’s family was free to all. Judaism held that it was reserved for the physical seed of Abraham, the circumcised, and those keeping the Law.
Despite these obstacles, Jews joined the new way in large numbers.
Foolishness to the Gentiles (The Greco-Roman World):
Romans tolerated many faiths as long as citizens made civic offerings to Rome and Augustus. Christianity’s strict monotheism refused this.
Roman society misunderstood Christian practices: "cannibalism" (eating Christ's body), "incest" (loving "brothers and sisters"), and refusal to participate in immoral public entertainment (gladiatorial games, violent/pagan theater, chariot races).
Believers were urged to avoid entertainment linked to pagan worship or sin, creating tension in secular marriages and social life.
Roman culture looked down on Christianity because it originated in the East, worshipped a crucified man, and proclaimed a new authority and government under Christ.
Jesus commanded that we love one another and obey Him. Galatians 5:19–24 contrasts worldly passions with Spirit-led living: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Despite these difficulties, large numbers of Greeks and Romans joined the church.
Fellowship (Koinonia):
Definition: Greek Koinonia = partnership, participation, communion, fellowship. Togetherness: Moving away from "us vs. them." Church is not for spectators, but active participants sharing life in Jesus.
The "One Another" Principle: We love, edify, admonish, and forgive one another. The phrase "one another" appears over 50 times in the New Testament—you cannot fulfill it in isolation.
Persecution was beginning and would be continuous for the Christian. It was important for them to stick together.
What did fellowship look like?
Acts 2:46 — “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart...”
Daily in the temple: Hearing the teaching of the Word of God from the apostles.
Daily in homes: Breaking bread and sharing the Word together.
Three Levels of Fellowship:
- Guarded Fellowship: People hurt by others isolate themselves to prevent future pain.
- Shallow Fellowship: Loose attachment—attending large events, but avoiding deep commitment or challenging relationships.
- Deep, Intimate ("All In") Fellowship: Eagerly seeking connection, becoming deeply woven into the fabric of the church family.
The early church was marked by cohesion: they loved one another, stuck together, and held their possessions with open hands to meet the needs of others.
The early church was marked by hospitality: Central to their mission, though costly in time, effort, and resources.
The early church was marked by the breaking of bread: Commemorating Christ and sharing meals together.
Crossroads Church of Denver
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