From Apostolic Teaching To Communal Witness: Reframing Congregational Formation Groups Through Acts 2:42–47

Victor Kurnia Christyanto; Hery Susanto

doi:10.53674/teleios.v5i2.456

From Apostolic Teaching To Communal Witness: Reframing Congregational Formation Groups Through Acts 2:42–47

Victor Kurnia Christyanto, Hery Susanto

Abstract

This study aims to examine the constitutive practices of the earliest Christian community in Acts 2:42–47 and develop a biblical-theological framework for Congregational Formation Groups (Kelompok Pembinaan Warga, KPW) in the context of Gereja Baptis Indonesia in Salatiga. Employing qualitative library research and a historical-grammatical exegetical approach, it analyzes the Greek text of Acts 2:42–47 in its literary and historical setting and engages relevant New Testament, Christian education, and small-group literature. The analysis identifies perseverance in apostolic teaching, fellowship (koinōnia), the breaking of bread, and prayer as interconnected practices expressed in mutual care, material solidarity, shared life, worship, and public witness. These findings inform a six-dimensional framework for congregational formation encompassing scriptural instruction, relational fellowship, communal prayer, shared life, compassionate service, and contextual witness. The study contributes an integrated conceptual account of how the ecclesial practices narrated in Acts can guide sustained Christian formation without reproducing the social arrangements of first-century Jerusalem uncritically. Its practical implication is that KPW should assess formation not solely through attendance or the frequency of meetings but also through growth in scriptural understanding, spiritual maturity, mutual responsibility, service, and witness. As a literature-based exegetical study, it does not claim to establish the empirical effectiveness of existing groups

Keywords

Acts 2:42–47; early Christian community; congregational formation; small groups; Christian witness

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.53674/teleios.v5i2.456