BibleBlox
73. the first church
/ acts 1:12-2:47 /
/ listen as you follow along /
Just after Jesus returned to heaven, ☁️ the disciples met in a large room in Jerusalem to form the world’s 🌍 first ever Church. ⛪️ There were 120 people in attendance for the first gathering, and they were celebrating 🥳 a special holiday called Pentecost together.
All of a sudden, they heard a super loud 📢whooshing sound, like an intense wind. 🌬️ As the wind 💨 filled the room, something that looked like little flames 🔥 appeared over everyone's heads. It didn't hurt them at all, as this was God's Holy Spirit coming to be with them in the form of fiery tongues. 🔥👅
Then, everyone 👥 in the room started speaking 🗣️ in different languages they had never learned before. 🤨 It was bizarre and amazing, 🤩 and all from God's power. People from different countries who were visiting 🏨 Jerusalem for Pentecost could hear the disciples and church ⛪️ goers speaking their native languages from their home countries! 😮
Peter, one of Jesus's best friends, stood up and gave a very brave speech. 🎤 He told everyone about Jesus:
- How Jesus did amazing miracles ✨
- How Jesus died on the cross ✝️ because He loves ❤️ us
- How Jesus came back to life
- How Jesus went up to heaven ☁️
- And how Jesus wants everyone to trust and believe in Him 🙇♂️
People throughout Jerusalem felt God's love 💕 in a powerful way through this first Church ⛪️ service. They came and asked Peter, "What should we do?" Peter told them to turn away from their former lives 🏃🏼♂️💨 and to follow Jesus with all their heart. ♥️ Three thousand more people decided to follow Christ that very day!
These new followers of Jesus (the first 1️⃣ community of Christians) did many things together like:
- Gathering to learn about Jesus from the disciples 👨🏼🏫
- Sharing big meals together 🥘
- Sharing everything they had - if someone needed food 🍱 or clothes, 👚 others would help
- Praying 🙏 together every day
- Visiting the Temple ⛪️ to worship 🙌
- Singing 🎤 praise and worship songs 🎶 about Jesus
- Taking care of anyone who was sick 🤧 or needed help
- Meeting in small groups ⭕️ in each other's houses 🏘️ to talk about Jesus
Everyone in Jerusalem could see 👀 how much these Christians loved 🥰 each other. Every single day, more people wanted to be part of this special family of believers. Sometimes God even helped the disciples perform miracles 🌟 in His name to prove this church was blessed 😇 by Him.
These early 🌅 Christians were thrilled to belong to the very first Church ever! 1️⃣ This Church wasn't a big building with a steeple, ⛪️ but rather a community of people who loved Jesus and loved 🥰 each other. God was quite happy 😁 with His new Church family, and He helped them be brave and strong, 💪 even when things were hard. And Holy Hannah would it get difficult in the days ahead…
72. the great commission / 73. the first church / 74. the disciples heal and are persecuted
