Lessons from the First Church: Removing Barriers to Belonging (Acts 15)

This past summer was mine and Emily’s 10th anniversary. We went to a restaurant in Raleigh called Mandolin. It was nice—very nice. The nicest restaurant I had ever been to. We had reservations. We dressed up. We ordered their house-made cornbread with sorghum butter as an appetizer. I got a ribeye, and Emily got a pork collar. They even gave us dessert on the house because it was our anniversary—a chocolate soufflé. Our waitress was friendly and personable without ever being awkward. It was great. 

When I was coaching at Richlands, there was a Bojangles I would go to after practice or a game. The line was always long. They never had what I wanted—or if they did, they got my order wrong. Then it would take forever to get my food. 

One of these restaurants I’ll never forget. One I try to forget.

We all have places we keep going back to—and places we avoid at all costs.

If your church were a restaurant, which one would it be?

Often, what makes a restaurant stand out are the same elements that make a church stand out. So how do we get there? How do we become a church people never forget rather than one they want to forget?

Acts 15 gives us an answer.

Acts 15 presents the first major problem in the early church. Some were saying that in order for Gentiles (non-Jews) to follow Jesus, they first had to become Jews. That meant circumcision for the men and strict adherence to Jewish food laws.

So they called a meeting—you could even say the first church business meeting. This gathering became known as the Jerusalem Council. The apostles and elders came together, and different leaders made their case, including Peter and Paul. Paul and Barnabas shared stories of real Gentile conversions. Peter pointed to Scripture that supported what God was doing.

But do you know who gave the final word? James, the half-brother of Jesus.

“Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.”

In other words: let’s not make it harder for people to believe the gospel.

Why would we ask people to keep a law we ourselves cannot keep?

We don’t always realize it, but we often make it harder to believe the gospel—and to belong to the church—than it should be.

So what does that mean for us?

1. Be Welcoming

Every church thinks it’s welcoming. But are we really?

Are we welcoming to the person walking in for the first time—the one who doesn’t know where the nursery is, where the bathroom is, or where people usually sit?

Often, we’re great at welcoming each other—but not great at welcoming new people.

We don’t mean to do this. We’ve just forgotten what it’s like to be new.

We need to speak to people we don’t know. Introduce ourselves. Invite them to sit with us. Offer to take them to lunch. Have a plan for greeting, collecting information, and following up.

We must be welcoming—not just to our friends, but to everyone.

2. Be Clear

Clarity is part of being welcoming.

If I showed up at your church today, would I know where to take my kids? Would anyone be outside to help me? Once I walked in, would there be clear signage for where to go?

And once the service starts, would I understand what’s happening?

Our churches need clear signage and intentional greeters—from the parking lot to the sanctuary. We also need to communicate in a way that avoids insider language. Everything should make sense whether someone has been there five minutes or fifty years.

Clarity removes barriers.

3. Be Excellent

When the service starts, it should be excellent.

Not a performance. Not a show.

But intentional.

That means songs that are biblically rich and connected to the message. Transitions that are smooth and not distracting. Sermons that are prepared, thoughtful, and shaped for your people.

Our services should honor God, preach the gospel, stand on Scripture, and serve the people in the room.

We are asking people to believe in a man who lived 2,000 years ago—born of a virgin, who lived a perfect life, died on a Roman cross as the atoning sacrifice for sin, and rose from the grave.

Why would we make that harder by adding unnecessary barriers?

Let’s go out of our way to make it as easy as possible for people to hear, understand, and respond to the gospel.