第一世紀末葉有一本被稱作《十二使徒遺訓》，或「十二宗徒訓誨」（Teachings of the 12 Apostles）的手冊，指導聚集在敘利亞各地小型家庭教會的新信徒，如何施行洗禮、聖餐，以及如何禱告、如何接待傳教的使徒與先知等等。
初代教會當時所關切的議題之一，就是如何施行聖禮。那是教會的一項必要條件，也是主耶穌基督親自命令之下，賦予教會的責任。第一世紀末葉有一本被稱作《十二使徒遺訓》，或「十二宗徒訓誨」（Teachings of the 12 Apostles）的手冊，指導聚集在敘利亞各地小型家庭教會的新信徒，如何施行洗禮、聖餐，以及如何禱告、如何接待傳教的使徒與先知等等。
以下是《十二使徒遺訓》在各方面教誨的簡要說明（摘自何姆斯
Holmes編輯，《使徒後期教父》The Apostolic Fathers）：
1. 洗禮
「現在談到洗禮，施洗應該按照下法：在你已複習過上述所有教導之後，就奉父、子、聖靈的名在流動的水下給他們施洗。但你若是沒有流動的水，那就在其他的水下施洗。而且，你若無法以冷水施洗，那麼就用溫水，但你如果連這兩種都沒有的話，就把水傾倒在頭上三次，歸於父、子、聖靈的名。在洗禮之前，施洗之人與領洗之人都得要禁食，其他任何參與之人亦同。並且，你必須命令這位領洗之人在一天或兩天前，就要開始禁食。但不要讓你的禁食和那些假冒偽善的人一樣。他們在週一和週四禁食，然而，你應當在週三與週五禁食。」（第七、八章）
書上還說：「你禱告的時候不可以像那些假冒偽善的人，反之，你要這樣禱告，就像主在祂的福音書裡所囑：我們在天上的父，願人都尊你的名為聖。願你的國降臨；願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我們日用的飲食，今日賜給我們。免我們的債，如同我們免了人的債。不叫我們遇見試探；救我們脫離兇惡。因為國度、權柄、榮耀，全是你的，直到永遠。每日應當如此禱告三回」。
2. 聖餐
「現在，有關聖餐，要按照下面方式感恩：首先，有關於杯：『我們將感謝歸於祢，我們的父神，為了岀於祢僕人大衛的神聖葡萄樹，這事祢已透過祢的兒子耶穌來向我們顯明；榮耀永遠歸於祢』，在作了這樣的禱告後，接著才可以發餅：『我們感謝祢，我們的父神，因為祢透過祢的兒子耶穌向我們顯明了生命和知識；榮耀永遠歸於祢』。以下這些話語在分發杯和餅的時候，將會被複誦：『就如同擘開的餅散佈在山間，然後又被聚集並且合而為一，願祢的教會也同樣從地極被召聚，進入祢的國度；因為榮耀和權柄透過耶穌基督全是屬你的，直到永遠』。但是，不要讓任何人來領受聖餐，只有那些受過洗歸入主名的人才可以。因為在這事上，主曾經這麼說過：『不要把聖物給狗』。在你領受之後，應當致謝如下：『我們將感謝歸於祢，聖潔的父神，因為祢使祢的聖名長存我們心中，更為了祢使我們透過祢的兒子耶穌所明白的知識、信心和永生；榮耀永遠歸於祢。』」（第九章）
3. 巡迴傳教的使徒與先知
「現在，有關於使徒和先知，應對接待他們之時需照福音書裡面的規定：『讓每一位前來探視你們的使徒受到款待，宛如他就是主。但他不可以停留超過一天，除非真的有此需要，那樣的話他就可以再多待一天。』款待那些人，就好像他們是主。他們可以暫住一日，但如果他們停留超過三天的話，他們就是假先知。當他們離開的時候，除了到下一晚住處之前所需用的餅，其他都不應該取。然而，他們若是開口要錢的話，你就知道他們其實是假先知」。（第十一章第三節）
「每一個奉主名前來之人，都應該受到款待，然而，務要查驗他們，你們將可發現真相，因為你們將會有洞察力來辨別什麼為真、什麼是假。但是，前來之人如果只是路過的話，要盡你們全力來協助他。可是他絕不可以暫住你們中間超過兩日，如果真有需要的話，頂多延長到三天。不過，他若是想要定居在你們那裡，而且他又是一名工匠的話，那就讓他自己工作謀生。如果他並非是工匠，你們就要自己來判斷，這人將如何以基督徒的身份定居在你們中間，卻不至於閑懶不做工。但他若不願意如此配合，那麼他就是以基督為交易。這種人你們務要防範。你們應當欣然接待下面這類人到你們當中，如果他們願意成為你們團體中的一份子，安頓下來，工作、並且岀力；可是他們若不願意這麼做的話，他們就不該被接待。」（第十二章）
原文：
1. Baptism
"Now concerning baptism, baptize as follows: After you have reviewed all these things, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit in running water, if you have no running water, then baptize in some other. And if you aren't able to baptize in cold water then you can use warm, but if you don't have either of these then pour water on the head three times, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And before the baptism, let the one baptizing, and the one who is to be baptized, fast, as well as any others who are able to join them. Also, you must instruct the one who is to be baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand. But do not let your fast coincide with those of the hypocrites. They fast on Mondays and Thursdays, but you must fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. You should not pray like the hypocrites, rather pray like this, just as the Lord commanded in His Gospel: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors. And do no lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the power and the glory forever. Pray like this three times a day." (chap. 7 – 8)
2. Eucharist
"And now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks as following: First, concerning the cup: ‘We give you thanks our Father for the holy vine of David your servant which you have made known to us through Jesus your servant; to you be glory forever.’ That prayer is to be given, and then the bread is to be distributed: ‘We give you thanks our Father for the life and knowledge which you have made known to us through Jesus your servant; to you be glory forever.’ Those words are to be used, then, as the cup and the bread are distributed: ‘Just as the broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and then was gathered together and became one, so may your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom; for yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.’ But let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord. For the Lord has spoken concerning this: 'Do not give what is holy to dogs'. After you've had enough, give thanks as follows: 'We give You thanks holy Father for Your holy name which you have caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you have made known to us through Jesus your servant; to you be glory forever’".(chap. 9)
3. Travelling apostles and prophets
"Now concerning apostles and prophets. Deal with them as follows, in accordance with the rule of the Gospel: 'Let every apostle who comes to you be welcomed as if he were the Lord. But he is not to stay for more than a day unless there is need, in which case he may stay another’. Welcome them as if they were the Lord. They can stay for a day, but if they stay three days they are false prophets. And when they leave they are to take nothing except bread until they can get to the next night's lodging. But, if they ask for money, you know that they are false prophets".（chap. 11, verse3）
"Everyone who comes in the name of the Lord is to be welcomed. But then examine them and you'll find out, for you will have insight for what is true and what is false. But, if the one who comes is merely passing through, assist him as much as you can, but he must not stay with you for more than two, or if necessary, three days. However, if he wishes to settle among you and he's a craftsman, let him work for his living. If he's not a craftsman, decide according to your own judgement how he shall live among you as a Christian, yet without being idle. But if he does not wish to cooperate in this way, then he is trading on Christ. Beware of such people. And you ought to welcome them gladly into your midst, if they're willing to become apart of you community, settle in, work, and contribute, but if they don't, they must not be welcomed.”(chap. 12)
版主評註：
這是一本很有意思的「怎麼做」指導手冊，旨在協助指引那些擴散在整個羅馬帝國內的小型基督徒團體，如何在社區中實踐基督的事工，以及如何來建造教會。對於早期基督徒而言，妥切明白如何來建造教會實在是一項艱鉅任務，因為他們不像我們一樣，擁有將近兩千年來的一切經驗，而且在今日都被視作理所當然。
