Worship was a primary purpose of the New Testament Church, and continues to be important today.

 The Day of Pentecost, no doubt, was one of the greatest days of worship the world has ever seen. But worship did not end with Pentecost. The second chapter of the Book of Acts records:

And they continued stedfastly ... in prayers... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple ... Praising God  (Acts 2:42-27)

 Men once asked Jesus about the Law. He gave us the Great Commandment—

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39)

 At the top of commandments is “Love God.” Loving God is worship! We are commanded to worship God. Jesus said it was written, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10). Exalt Him!

 Outreach is at the heartbeat of the Church. The early church thrived on leading people to a saving knowledge of Jesus. On the Day of Pentecost alone, 3,000 were converted to Christianity. Evangelism didn’t stop there—

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)

 Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left his disciples with a Great Commission—

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)

That an awesome and omnipotent God would entrust such a sacred task to lowly men is quite a thought! In this we see that evangelism is not just our responsibility; it is also our privilege.

Read the second chapter of Acts again, and see if you can see the precious Fellowship of the saints.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers ... And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness ... (Acts 2:42-46)

 As part of the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them.” There is something significant about water baptism. In following Christ’s example, it identifies a person with Him. It also identifies that person with a particular group—Christ’s family. Paul told the church at Ephesus—

Now you are no longer strangers to God ... but you are members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country, and you belong in God's household with every other Christian. (Ephesians 2:19 TLB)

 As Christians, we are not just called to believe, we are called to belong!

 Discipleship is the key to spiritual maturity. The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.” Those men who had walked with Christ for three and a half years during His earthly ministry, spent a great deal of time teaching new followers about Jesus—His teachings, His miracles, His character. Even in persecution, it was said—

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)

 In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” We have a personal responsibility to learn, and to teach others about Christ.

 The Church exists to equip believers for their mission in life. The Church has purpose, and each believer has a unique purpose also. God has given to each man abilities, talents, and gifts. We use these to serve others. Service was evident in the New Testament Church—

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:45-46)

 Paul told the Galatians—

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

 In the second part of the Great Commandment, Jesus said, was to “love thy neighbour as thyself.” Paul said we should “by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)