15 unique facts about the church. The
church was God's plan before creation.
Paul teaches the church was in God's
eternal purpose. Ephesians 3:101, not an
afterthought.
The word church means called out ones.
Ecclesia in the Greek doesn't mean a
building. It means people called out for
God's purpose.
Jesus used the word church before
Pentecost.
Jesus said, "I will build my church."
Matthew 16:18.
Long before the first gospel sermon in
Acts 2.
The first church grew without buildings.
Early Christians met in homes,
courtyards, marketplaces, and even
catacombs. The gospel spread person to
person. The earliest church prioritized
teaching.
The very first description of the church
emphasizes doctrine first. Acts 2:42
teaching anchored everything else.
Baptism was the entry point into the
church. In the New Testament, every
conversion ended with baptism. It marked
the beginning of belonging. Acts 2:41,
Romans 6:34.
Communion was originally a full meal.
The Lord's supper was celebrated during
a communal fellowship meal, 1
Corinthians 11, before later becoming
symbolic portions.
Singing was a capella for the first 6700
years. Early church history shows
Christians sang without instruments
universally until medieval innovations.
The early church was known for radical
generosity.
Christians cared for the poor, widows
abandoned infants and the sick, and
pagans noticed. Acts 4:32:35.
The church grew wildly during
persecution.
Instead of shrinking, Christianity
exploded during Roman persecution.
Tertullian famously wrote, "The blood of
the martyrs is seed."
Women played significant ministry roles
in the early church.
Phoebe, Priscilla, Lydia, and others
hosted churches in their homes and
supported mission work. Romans 16.
Elders and deacons came from Jewish
synagogue structure. Church leadership
roles were modeled after familiar Jewish
leadership offices, making organization
natural for early believers.