The earliest Christian church was at Jemsalem. This community began the process of understanding Jesus' mission and living in relationship with their "living Lord" Almost all that is known about the church at Jerusalem is found in the Acts of the Apostles, a New Testament book. Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, and both books were written by the same author. Luke tells of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acts tells about the church in Jerusalem and the expansion of the church into the Greco-Roman world (the part of the world controlled by Rome). This church would remain an important center for the young Christian faith until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E.
The church at Jerusalem was dominated by Simon Peter and the other eleven apostles (the people chosen by Jesus to be his students and most intimate friends). 6 The church met in homes for simple services involving prayer, singing, preaching, and, often, the celebration of a love feast remembering Jesus' last meal with his disciples. At first, the Christians saw themselves as a Jewish group. In addition to holding their own services, they worshiped at the temple and followed the Jewish Law.