First Century Disciple Making
How did the Apostles make disciples?
The Apostles seemed to be at a loss. They didn’t appear to have much confidence in their knowledge or abilities. After the crucifixion, Jesus had appeared to them, but they were hesitant in their next steps. What did they do? They reverted to their old life; they went fishing (John 21:1-3).
But Jesus came to them. And during the period prior to His ascension, He appeared to them several times. After His ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit, that all changed. As we look at that event in Acts 2, we see a turning, a change in their ability to do the work they were assigned to complete. Peter’s bold sermon proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah brought thousands to repentance that day.
Then Vs. Today
What happened next? It was time to make disciples. What they did was key to our learning to make disciples today.
Many times, people come to faith, repent of their sin, confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and are baptized. After their baptism, they are surrounded by members of the congregation who shake their hand, and are told, “Congratulations, welcome to our family!”
While this well-wishing is nice, it doesn’t accomplish what we are told to do. Make disciples. So, how do we do what we are supposed to?
As we look at the first-century church, Acts 2:42 tells us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NASB 2020)
Two Ingredients
There were two main things that they were doing: devoting themselves to the apostles’ teachings and fellowship. The way they were learning was through continual devotion. The Greek word used here is proskartereō, which means to persevere devotedly. They continued steadfastly in this teaching that the apostles were providing to them.
They taught these new disciples what Jesus had taught them. It was what He taught in His sermon on the mount. It was about being a disciple in the world, caring for others, giving to the poor, prayer, fasting, reassurance of His love, and not judging others. These were the things that they needed to do and know, and what to avoid.
For three and a half years, He had lived with them, teaching them daily the things that they would pass on to other disciples. It wasn’t just what to do, but how to do it. It was doctrine, and the application of that doctrine to their lives. It was words and actions.
The second thing was fellowship. Here it says that they broke bread and prayed together. The breaking of bread was probably both the partaking of the Lord’s Supper, and the sharing of a common meal.
Recently, one of the elders in our church brought his 2-year-old grandson, Luke, with him and his wife. After church, I heard Luke say that he was ready to eat. Thinking he was just a typical 2-year-old boy who is always hungry, I asked where he was going for lunch. “Here!” he said.
Grandma then explained to me that the previous two times he had come with them, we had had a fellowship meal after service. For him, it was the height of his day. He was very upset that day since we weren’t eating together.
That time of fellowship was important in the development of the relationships that were being built.
The Result
And this worked. The response of these new disciples is to this is told to us in Acts 2:43-47.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers were together and had all things in common; 45 and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. [1]
The church today must provide the teaching and the fellowship that these new believers need. That takes time and attention to ensure that they understand what Jesus expects from us of all as His followers.
[1] New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Ac 2:43–47.