When the Local Church Advances

You say, “Well, what is the main purpose that a local church of Jesus Christ exists?” I would say to you, the local church exists to glorify God as a body of believers united to do His will. They glorify God by together declaring to Him and to the watching world, that they have a united doctrinal and practical witness to God's glory, His Worship, and the truth of His Word. They publicly confess that it is their united intention, to proclaim by words and deeds the salvation which is found only in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So, in order that we might learn from the Apostles and this church in Jerusalem, we want to 1st of all look at the high priority of the needy widows in the first church. Then 2nd – We want to look at the higher priority for the Apostles, in preaching the word and praying for that church. And then 3rd – We want to look at the blessings which came from this wise decision of the Apostles to devote themselves to prayer and the word of God.