@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'

Led By Jesus

God's pattern for the church

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the first Christian church at Jerusalem, is that it continued to be led by Yeshua following His triumphant resurrection from the grave and ascension into Heaven. The grave could not hold Him, for Jesus was not merely a man, but the Eternal Word and Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. He rose victorious from the grave and appeared to His disciples over the next 40 days before ascending into Heaven. The Father then poured out the Holy Spirit, that Jesus’ followers might continue to walk and talk with Him throughout the church age. His leadership of the ekklesia (church) that He founded continues in our day, and any who wish to may daily seek His face, hear His personal word to them, and follow His guidance. As they do, the church represents the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity on earth, the Good News is preached, and the message of salvation goes to the nations. If they choose not to listen, the church ceases to represent God accurately and falls into error and decline.  