The early church in Acts 2 was marked by five core commitments, but at the heart of their devotion was a life of intimate prayer and overflowing praise. These weren’t religious duties checked off a list—prayer and praise were the vital signs of a community transformed by the reality of Jesus’s resurrection.
From the apostles maintaining their regular rhythm of temple prayer to believers gathering in homes with glad and sincere hearts, the early church shows us that prayer isn’t confined to specific times or places but permeates every aspect of life.
Today, we face the danger of knowing about prayer and praise without actually living a life marked by them—of having the right theology without the transforming practice. As we explore what it means to be people of praise, we must ask ourselves: Does our life pulse with the rhythm of prayer and praise that characterized the courageous early church?