Acts 5:42

A MODEL MINISTRY

‘And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’

Acts 5:42

I. The subject of their ministry.—‘That Jesus is the Christ.’ Not things about Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ Himself. Creeds may satisfy the reason, but the heart craves a Person—the Christ. The heart grows, but creeds are stationary, lifeless. Christ and His fullness ever transcend our utmost need. A Christian ministry of which Christ is not the grand theme is a misnomer—worthless, and injurious.

II. The method of their ministry.—‘Teaching and preaching.’ ‘Preaching,’ literally evangelising. ‘Teaching,’ instructing those who had received the evangel. Notice, (a) The great importance of these two things. (b) The difficulty of one person doing both well. (c) The difficulty of obtaining appreciation for both in one congregation. Yet the Church must have and exercise both.

III. The sphere of their ministry.—‘In the temple and at home.’ Their ministry was—(a) Public. (b) Domestic (compare chap. Acts 2:46). And still we need the ministry of both the temple and the home.

IV. The frequency of their ministry.—‘Daily.’ ‘Every day.’ Here is a message to those who never enter the sanctuary except on the Lord’s-day. Urge the full and frequent preaching of Jesus Christ.