Acts 13:14–15, A synagogue service. In that day as in our day, a typical Jewish Sabbath day synagogue service involved reading the from the Torah and the rest of the Tanakh and then hearing a teaching on what was read or on some other biblical subject. Add these Sabbath day activities to those mentioned in Acts 2:42, 47; 1 Tim 4:13; Eph 5:19–20; Col 3:16; Jas 5:13–14 and 1 Cor 14:26 and we have a list of activities the early believers did when they came together. These include
- Teaching the word of Elohim (including the Torah), teaching doctrine, presenting the gospel (Acts 2:40–42; 1 Cor 14:26; 1 Tim 4:13)
- Baptizing new converts (Acts 2:41)
- Fellowshipping (Acts 2:42)
- Sharing meals together (Acts 2:42
- Praying for the sick (Jas 5:14)
- Singing psalms (Gr. psallo meaning “to play on a stringed instrument a praise song to Elohim, Jas 5:13) or to give a psalm (Gr. psalmos meaning “a striking, twanging, of a striking the chords of a musical instrument, of a pious song, a psalm, 1 Cor 14:26), for singing in general (1 Cor 14:15)
- Confessing one’s sins one to another (Jas 5:16)
- Praying for one another (Jas 5:16) or prayer in general (1 C or 14:14–15)
- Turning those who are wandering from the truth back to Elohim (Jas 5:19)
- Reading the Scriptures (1 Tim 4:13)
- Exhorting (Gr. paraklesis meaning “calling near, summons, importation, supplication, entreaty, admonition, encouragement,consolation, comfort, solace,” 1 Tim 4:13)
- Exercising the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12) including speaking in tongues and prophesying (1 Cor 14:12, 26, 29, 39)
- Giving spiritual revelations (1 Cor 14:26)
How many modern day churches do all of these things on a regular basis? If not, maybe it’s time to find a new church…
