Funny how some verses are so big that they cast those verses around them in such a shadow that they can be easily missed or skimmed over. The realization of this hit me like a ton of bricks this morning as I read in Acts 2. Ask me what, according to Acts 2, characterized the dynamics of the early church, and I’d be quick to respond, “Continuing in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer.” On a good day I might throw in, “And they had all things in common.” This morning the Teacher registered another dynamic to the list. And awe . . .

And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.   (Acts 2:42-44 ESV)

I don’t know that 21st century Christians are called to live like the 1st century church . . . but I do think that a local body of believers today is strongest when it models 1st century principles and dynamics. In fact, if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, shouldn’t the Spirit’s active agency in a family of indwelt believers look similar throughout the ages? I’m thinkin’ . . .

And so I’m thinking that souls who are saved will want to meet together and know authentic fellowship among others who have been given new life in Christ. They will find themselves pursuing the teaching of Scripture and they will desire to commune together around the Lord’s Table. And they will pray together. Four simple yet foundational practices which, I think, should characterize a local church.

But this morning, I’m wondering if there shouldn’t be a fifth foundation . . . “And awe came upon every soul.”

I know that it was a special time, the birthing of Christ’s church. Many wonders and signs accompanied the apostles’ radical new message to authenticate the good news that Jesus was alive and that, through faith in His work on the cross, all who believed would be forgiven their sins and saved from just judgment. I get that.

But as I hover over these verses this morning, I think the “every soul” referenced to here isn’t the general population in and around Jerusalem who were seeing the impact of the Spirit poured out, but rather the born again souls who were in the houses together experiencing the impact of the Spirit who lived within them.

The Spirit giving them a passion for the Scriptures that they had never known before, because He was illuminating the Scriptures in a way they had never known before. The people in the room weren’t just others with like interests, but there was this Spirit infused sense of kinship as those who had been adopted into God’s family realized that they were, in fact, gathering with their brothers and sisters in Christ. The simple act of taking bread and drinking from a cup took on a meaning beyond anything they could have imagined as they remembered and proclaimed the Lord’s death until He come. And the prayer . . . well, they had never known such prayer before . . . the Spirit interceding within them as the risen Christ interceded for them at the Father’s right hand. Shouldn’t be too surprising then to read that the prevailing sense, as a result of gathering together, was that of awe.

Awe. I’m wondering if that isn’t a good thermometer by which we gauge how “early church” we are. If we are doing what the early church did, but it’s not producing the reverent fear the early church knew . . . if we follow their ways but don’t experience their wonder . . . then, perhaps, we may just be going through the motions with little thought as to why it matters. But if we wholeheartedly devote ourselves to that which the early church devoted themselves to, then I’m thinking we’ll know the reality of His presence which they knew. And with that, awe!

O’ that the church would be more characterized by awe. Not from the big and flashy productions we can create, but from the apostles’ doctrine, from simply knowing community together, from quieting ourselves at the Lord’s Supper, and from praying for and with one another. And then . . . let there be awe.

By God’s grace . . . for God’s glory.