A common misconception about the first Christians was that they rejected the Jewish religion. But these believers saw Jesus’ message and resurrection as the fulfillment of everything they knew and believed from the Old Testament. The Jewish believers at first did not separate from the rest of the Jewish community. They still went to the temple and synagogues for worship and instruction in the Scriptures. But their belief in Jesus created great friction with Jews who didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, believing Jews were forced to meet in private homes for communion, prayer, and learning about how Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. By the end of the first century, many of these Jewish believers were excommunicated from their synagogues.
A healthy Christian community attracts people to Jesus. The Jerusalem church’s zeal for worship and brotherly love was contagious.
Meditation prompt:
What are you doing to make your church the kind of place that will attract others to faith in Jesus?