Jerusalem Council
Early church council that welcomed Gentiles into the church (True on Quiz 4).
Lesson 4 · Course 63
The Apostolic Church, Pentecost to 100 AD
The Apostolic Church from Pentecost to AD 100 — Jerusalem Council welcoming Gentiles, Pentecost as Christianity’s foundation and new worship model (preaching, lifestyle, spiritual life), Peter’s Joel 2:28–32 sermon, and the early church’s missionary-pastoral prayer life.
At a glance
Summary
Lesson 4 covers the Apostolic Church from Pentecost to AD 100. The Jerusalem Council welcomed Gentiles into the church. Pentecost is Christianity’s foundation, separating it from its Jewish roots, and established a new worship model centered on the Holy Spirit and Christ — preaching, lifestyle (believers as the temple), and spiritual life — so worship could take place anywhere. Peter’s Pentecost sermon used Joel 2:28–32; about three thousand believed and were baptized. Paul did not attend John’s funeral. The early church prayed with missionary and pastoral focus: when they prayed, things began to happen; prayer is a privilege for all believers; they prayed for sinners’ salvation (not “no need because predetermined”) and for Gospel effectiveness.
Quiz 4: 10/10 (100%), 9m58s, attempt 101750 (cmid 1121). Essays Complete/Not graded. 1 attempt.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Jerusalem Council welcomed Gentiles into the church.
- Paul did NOT attend John’s funeral (stem “Paul may have attended” = False).
- Peter’s Pentecost sermon used Joel 2:28–32.
- Pentecost worship included preaching, lifestyle, and spiritual life.
- Pentecost was Christianity’s foundation, separating it from Jewish roots.
- Pray for sinners — salvation is not “no need because predetermined.”
- When the early church prayed, things began to happen.
- Prayer is a privilege for all believers.
- Pray for Gospel effectiveness (it is NOT unnecessary).
- Believers may worship God anywhere.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Pentecost
Christianity’s foundation, separating it from Jewish roots; Spirit’s empowering presence, birth of the church’s public witness, beginning of ongoing revival.
Joel 2:28–32
Scripture Peter used in his Pentecost sermon to explain the Spirit’s outpouring.
Pentecost worship
New model: preaching the good news alongside Scripture, singing, prayer, and adoration; lifestyle (believers as the temple); spiritual life — personal, participatory, congregational; worship anywhere.
Believers as temple
Because God dwells with His people, a clean and sanctified life matters; worship is not tied to a sacred building or fixed ritual.
Early church prayer
Missionary and pastoral focus — when they prayed, things began to happen; privilege for all believers; includes praying for sinners and Gospel effectiveness.
Apostolic Church
Epoch from Pentecost to about AD 100 (Ephesus in the seven-epoch map).
Gentiles welcomed
Jerusalem Council decision: Gentiles welcomed into the church without requiring full Jewish ritual boundary as the door.
Gospel effectiveness
A standing prayer request of the early church — it is NOT unnecessary to pray for it.
Worship anywhere
Because God dwells with His people, believers may worship God anywhere — not limited to a sacred building.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- The Apostolic Church — Pentecost to AD 100
- Jerusalem Council — Gentiles welcomed
- Pentecost Sunday — wind, tongues of fire, Spirit filling, other languages, Peter’s Joel 2 sermon, ~3,000 added
- Pentecost as foundation — separating Christianity from Jewish roots
- New worship model — preaching, lifestyle (temple-people), spiritual life; worship anywhere
- Paul and John’s funeral — Paul did NOT attend
- Early church prayer — eight missionary/pastoral requests; things happened when they prayed
- Pray for sinners and Gospel effectiveness; prayer privilege for all
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 4 | 100% (10/10), 1 attempt, 9m58s, cmid 1121, attempt 101750 |
|---|---|
| Jerusalem Council | Welcomed Gentiles — True |
| Paul / John’s funeral | Paul may have attended John’s funeral — False |
| Peter’s sermon | Used Joel 2:28–32 — True |
| Pentecost worship | Preaching, lifestyle, and spiritual life — True |
| Pentecost foundation | Christianity’s foundation, separating from Jewish roots — True |
| Pray for sinners | No need because salvation predetermined — False (do pray) |
| Early church prayed | Things began to happen — True |
| Prayer privilege | Privilege for all believers — True |
| Gospel effectiveness | Unnecessary to pray for it — False (do pray) |
| Worship anywhere | Believers may worship God anywhere — True |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Jewish roots vs Pentecost foundation
- Pentecost = Christianity’s foundation, separating it from Jewish roots
- Worship no longer centered on a sacred building or fixed ritual alone — Spirit and Christ at the center
Temple building vs temple people
- Old pattern: sacred building / fixed ritual focus
- Pentecost model: believers are the temple; clean sanctified lifestyle; worship anywhere
Prayer: predetermined vs petition
- False: no need to pray for sinners because salvation is predetermined
- True: pray for sinners’ salvation; pray for Gospel effectiveness; when early church prayed, things happened
Quiz True vs False stems
- True: Jerusalem Council / Gentiles; Joel 2:28–32; worship triad; Pentecost foundation; prayer works; privilege for all; worship anywhere
- False: Paul may have attended John’s funeral; no need to pray for sinners (predetermined); unnecessary to pray for Gospel effectiveness
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Pentecost founded the church’s public witness — Spirit-filled people, not a building, became God’s dwelling.
- Welcome the nations: the Jerusalem Council opened the door to Gentiles.
- Worship is preaching, life offered to God, and Spirit-led participation — and it can happen anywhere.
- When the church prays, things begin to happen — pray for sinners, workers, boldness, healing, and Gospel advance.
- Prayer is a privilege for every believer; do not let fatalism silence petitions for salvation or Gospel effectiveness.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Jerusalem Council welcomed Gentiles
TrueJerusalem Council welcomed Gentiles into the church.
2. Paul may have attended John’s funeral
FalsePaul did NOT attend John’s funeral.
3. Peter’s Pentecost sermon used Joel 2:28–32
TruePeter explained Pentecost from Joel 2:28–32.
4. Pentecost worship included preaching, lifestyle, and spiritual life
TruePentecost worship = preaching, lifestyle, and spiritual life.
5. Pentecost was Christianity’s foundation, separating it from Jewish roots
TruePentecost = Christianity’s foundation separating from Jewish roots.
6. No need to pray for sinners because salvation is predetermined
FalseDo pray for sinners — not “no need because predetermined.”
7. When the early church prayed, things began to happen
TrueWhen the early church prayed, things began to happen.
8. Prayer is a privilege for all believers
TruePrayer is a privilege for all believers.
9. It is unnecessary to pray for Gospel effectiveness
FalseDo pray for Gospel effectiveness — it is NOT unnecessary.
10. Believers may worship God anywhere
TrueBecause God dwells with His people, worship can take place anywhere.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Pentecost worship model
Pentecost brought a new model of worship centered on the Holy Spirit and on Christ rather than on a sacred building or fixed ritual. Preaching the good news became as important as Scripture reading, singing, prayer, and adoration. Worship also meant offering our whole lives to God; believers were now the temple, so a clean and sanctified life mattered. The service was personal, participatory, and congregational, with lay believers sharing in hymns, Scripture, exhortation and teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Because God dwells with His people, worship could take place anywhere.
early church prayer requests — 8
The early church prayed with a missionary and pastoral focus. Eight clear requests were: (1) guidance and discernment for choosing leaders, (2) that the Holy Spirit would work powerfully in believers, (3) the salvation of sinners, (4) that God would send workers into the harvest, (5) the Gospel’s spread and effectiveness, (6) boldness for pastors and missionaries to speak, (7) healing for the sick, and (8) protection and deliverance for His servants. Their prayer was not centered on comfort or buildings, but on God’s will, spiritual power, salvation, the advance of the Gospel, the needs of people, and faithful ministry.
Pentecost Sunday events
On Pentecost Sunday about 120 disciples were gathered in Jerusalem, continuing in prayer as Jesus had commanded. Suddenly there was a sound like a rushing mighty wind that filled the house. Tongues like fire appeared and rested on each person, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in other languages, so Jewish pilgrims from many nations heard God’s works in their own tongues. Peter explained the event from Joel 2 and proclaimed Jesus. About three thousand people believed, were baptized, and were added to the church. Pentecost therefore marked the Spirit’s empowering presence, the birth of the church’s public witness, and the beginning of an ongoing revival.