Churches of the New Testament: Jerusalem I. Introduction A. Acts 1:8 B. Jerusalem as center of Jewish life and religion 1. City of David 2. home of the Temple 3. city of the prophets 4. final destination of Jesus in His ministry C. Fitting that the church would start in Jerusalem 1. Temple and God's presence there 2. Beacon of Jews D. The fate of the city sealed before the church even began, however E. Let us inquire into the first church here in Jerusalem II. Geography and History A. Jerusalem not a standard capital 1. Not on major roads or water travel routes 2. Not much to commend it B. In the hill country of Judah in Israel 1. 33 miles east of Mediterranean Sea 2. 15 miles west of northern end of Dead Sea 3. 2500 feet up C. Has some benefits 1. Gihon spring presents constant water 2. Deep valleys to the south, west, east provide protection D. Old city 1. 2000 BCE: Abraham and Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18-20) 2. Later populated by Jebusites, even after the conquest (Judges 1:21) 3. Captured by David, made capital since it was a border town where no Israelites had claims (2 Samuel 5:6-10) 4. Solomon built Temple there (1 Kings 6) 5. Capital for Kingdom of Judah until Babylonian destruction and exile in 586 BCE (2 Chronicles 36:17-21) E. Exiles restored city and temple (Ezra 1-2, 6:13-18) 1. Held by successive empires-- Persians, Ptolemies, Seleucids, Romans 2. Self-rule from 167 to 63 BCE F. Important in Jesus' ministry 1. Presentation and teaching (Luke 2) 2. Where He would die (Luke 13:31-35) 3. Cleansing of Temple, prediction of destruction (Luke 20-21) 4. Tried, executed, buried there (Luke 22-23) 5. Raised from the dead there (Luke 24) G. Center of Jewish life 1. Predominantly Jewish in population 2. Hotbed for insurrection and revolt 3. Tense city III. The Earliest Church (30 - 31/33 CE) A. Church started in Jerusalem on Pentecost 30 CE (Acts 2) 1. Acts 2:1-7: Holy Spirit upon twelve Apostles, spoke in tongues 2. Peter preaches Gospel lesson, 3000 convert (Acts 2:14-41) 3. Some natives, some from other nations (Acts 2:8-11) B. Description: Acts 2:42-47 1. Spent time together 2. Devoted to Apostles' teaching, association, prayer, Lord's Supper 3. Signs and wonders by the Apostles 4. All sold their goods, distributed to any who had need (cf. Acts 4:32-37) 5. Many added to their number: 3000 to 5000+ C. Extraordinary solutions to extraordinary situations D. Dissension in Acts 6:1 1. Hebrew and Hellenists, matter of distribution of food to widows 2. Handled fairly with seven servants selected (Acts 6:2-6) 3. Church grows stronger, even priests converted (Acts 6:7) E. A compelling example 1. Jews believe in Jesus, show great love and association toward and with one another 2. Very attractive group to join! IV. The Middle Years (31/33 - 61 CE) A. This idyllic situation could not last B. Stephen 1. Went about preaching the Gospel, brought before Sanhedrin (Acts 6:8-15) 2. Preached Gospel, condemned council, stoned (Acts 7) C. A great persecution began, scattering brethren everywhere, save the Apostles (Acts 8:1) 1. Good for the Kingdom... 2. ...not the greatest for the church in Jerusalem! D. Difficulties abound 1. While some probably returned after Saul's persecutions, and many are converted (cf. Acts 9:31, 21:20)… 2. ...many challenges exist for Jerusalem, as the records indicate E. Persecution 1. Explicit in Acts 12:1-3: Peter and James arrested, James executed (ca. 42-44 CE) 2. James the Just, brother of the Lord, executed in 61 ' (Josephus, Antiquities 20.9) 3. Probably constant, however; consider Paul and his sufferings at the hands of the Jews of the Diaspora (e.g., Acts 17) F. Doctrinal Disputation 1. All was well when the church was Jewish, despite some wranglings between Hebrew and Greek Jews (cf. Acts 6:1) 2. When the Gospel went to the Gentiles, however, there were problems from the start (Acts 10, 11:1) 3. While convinced that the Gospel should go to the Gentiles (Acts 11:18), a dispute arose as to whether they should be subject to the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1-5) 4. Pharisaic Jewish Christians said that they should, taught this in Antioch, led to a council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-6) 5. Demonstration of elders in Jerusalem (Acts 11:29-30, Acts 15:5) 6. Council established that Gentiles were not bound to Law (Acts 15:6-29) 7. Nevertheless, some were disobedient to this: Judaizing issues in Galatia, Corinth, Rome, and Colossae 8. Even if not every one of them came from Jerusalem, Jerusalem as center of their hope and doctrine 9. Jerusalem as center of earliest doctrinal disputation in the church G. The church in Jerusalem in Acts 21 (ca. 57-59) 1. The clearest picture of the church in Jerusalem at this time comes from Acts 21:19-24 2. Paul, after missionary journeys, has returned to present the benevolence of the brethren from Greece (Acts 20-21, Romans 15:25) 3. Concerned about his reception (Romans 15:31-32) 4. Acts 21:19-24 shows why 5. Jewish Christians "zealous for the Law and customs" 6. Reported that Paul has induced diaspora Jews to forsake law and customs 7. Paul urged to act like a good Jew, does so (vv. 25-28) 8. Right or wrong? No indication given that any are in the wrong 9. Nevertheless, focus too much on the Jewish customs, not enough on Christ, as we will see V. The End of Jerusalem (61-70) A. The path toward the end began in 61 with the death of James the Lord's brother 1. Peter either had left or would leave soon 2. Rest of the Apostles likely also left the city 3. Bereft of previous leadership B. Tensions mounting in Jerusalem 1. Romans constantly agitated the Jews 2. 66-- depravity of the governors reached a boiling point, Jews revolted from Roman rule C. At some point between 66-70, Christians evacuate Jerusalem, heeding the advice of the Lord (Luke 21:34-36; Eusebius, Eccl Hist 3.5.3, Epiphanius Of Weights and Measures 15). D. 70-- city and Temple destroyed by Rome 1. Full end of covenant between God and Israel (Hebrews 7-9) 2. Distinctiveness of church of Jerusalem lost permanently 3. Some would return, Gentiles would enter, but church never the same E. Evidence from this period: letter to the Hebrews 1. Consensus: written to Judea ca. 64-66 2. Written to encourage the brethren in their times of difficulty 3. Chastisement for immaturity (Hebrews 5:12-6:4) 4. Encouragement to keep the faith (Hebrews 3:12-14, 10:26-31) 5. Reminder of the superiority of the covenant with Christ (Hebrews 2:2-4, 3:1-6) 6. Encouragement to obtain rest (Hebrews 4:1-11) 7. Encouragement to accept the discipline of God (Hebrews 12:3-29) 8. Reminder of previous survival of persecution (Hebrews 10:32-33) 9. The end is near; encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25)! 10. The whole letter demonstrates the superiority of what they have, passing away of the former covenant F. The church in Jerusalem at this time demonstrates that persecution and suffering can lead to despair, especially when maturity is not developed VI. Conclusion A. Church in Jerusalem lasted forty years as we have seen it, went through three phases B. Great example of love and association in the beginning, a church that survives constant persecution and harassment C. Conformity to the environment, however, led to disputations that hindered the Kingdom at large and misdirected their own energy D. The church that began with such power and energy in Acts 2 is weak and discouraged by the time of the letter to the Hebrews E. Acts 2:42: the church in Jerusalem shows this to be the key for growth and success F. Let us learn from their example! G. Invitation/songbook