@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Genesis of the Church

A Jesus community

The first church of Jerusalem was unique in several respects. It was deeply rooted in Jewish traditions, yet it was distinct in its adherence to the teachings of Jesus. The Synagogue of the Nazarenes, as it was known, began around A.D. 33 and was fundamentally a Messianic church to which Gentile believers were increasingly added as the movement spread. The meetings and fellowship were a continuation of the community that Jesus had established with His disciples (John 15:1-8, Matthew 18:20). This same community continues today and is found wherever believers meet together in His presence to be led by His Spirit. Any home today may become a place where Jesus’ disciples meet to eat and worship together. Have you considered making your home a church and joining this Jesus movement? Those who do will enjoy the same quality of spiritual friendship and family that characterised the first church.