View source for Home church

{{Template:Churchy}}

== Disappointing Church ==

Millions of people are disappointed or dissatisfied with what some people call the ''institutional Church''. Certainly, Churches and the 40,000 [[denominations]] of churches are operating in a drastically different way than the [[early Church|first century Church]]. 

Are people ''disappointed or dissatisfied'' with God and Jesus or are they dissatisfied and unfulfilled by the practices of the  [[Modern Church]]?

Many people are finding the home Church more responsive, more intimate, more fulfilling but are all home churches doing what Christ fully intended?

Or his the modern house Church just another form of the [[Modern Church]] with less pomp and ceremony?

While there is little doubt Christians commonly met in houses what Christ intended and what the [[early Church]] was doing reached far beyond local fellowships meetings in the homes of [[believer]]s. 

There is also little doubt that Christ wanted us to set ourselves down in small intimate groups or [[companies]] or what the Greeks called ''sumposion''<Ref>{{4849}}</Ref> since He actually [[commanded]] his disciples to "make" the people do so.<Ref>Mark 6:39 "And he ''"[[commanded]]"'' them to make all sit down by [[4849|companies]] upon the green grass."</Ref> But He also [[commanded]] that those [[4849|companies]] gather in ''ranks'' of [[Tens]].

But Jesus preached that we were to [[seek]] the [[kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]]. While that may not look like the [[Modern Church]] can we honestly say that the modern house church is doing what the [[early Church]] did according to the words of [[Christ]]?

[[Jesus]] was the ''highest son of David'' which made him the rightful heir to the throne, the rightful king of a nation. Israel was not a government like other governments of the [[world]] of the [[Gentiles]] that [[exercise authority]] one over the other but He came to set men free. For hundreds of years, [[early Israel]] had operated with no [[taxation]] except the [[freewill offerings]] of [[tithe]]s to individual [[Levites]] "according to their service".<Ref>[[Numbers 7]]:5 "Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service."</Ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;" width="35%" 
| '''Audio broadcasts''' 
|- 
| [http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181208homechurch01.mp3 Download Recording 1#] <html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181208homechurch01.mp3"></audio></html>
|-
| [http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181208homechurch02.mp3 Download Recording 2#] <html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181208homechurch02.mp3"></audio></html>
|-
| [http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181222homechurch0405.mp3 Download Recording 3#] <html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181222homechurch0405.mp3"></audio></html>
|-
| [http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181222himechurch07.mp3 Download Recording 4#] <html><audio controls src="http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/181222himechurch07.mp3"></audio></html>
|-
|
|}


The scriptures tell us that the people had ''rejected'' God when they elected to have a ruler over them in [[1 Samuel 8]]. [[Jesus]] told the [[Pharisees]] that if they actually knew Moses they would have also known Him. Evidently what the Pharisees thought they knew about Moses was wrong. Their [[Corban]] was not like that of the [[Corban]] spoken of by [[Moses]] and so somehow it was "making the word of God to none effect".

Both [[Moses]]<Ref>Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.</Ref> and [[Jesus]] told the people to "love their neighbor as themselves".<Ref>: Matthew 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine : enemy.
: Matthew 19:19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
: Matthew 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
: Mark 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
: Mark 12:33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
: Luke 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
: Romans 13:9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
: Romans 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
: Galatians 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
: James 2:8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:</Ref> Certainly they have expressed that love in many home Churches. They have helped one another in far more intimate, financial, and practical ways. This love is part of the keys to their success. But all home churches are not successful. But what is a successful church? 

A successful church is one that does what Christ intended and propagates his doctrines and ordinances. But if we are to do what Christ intended was must look at the whole gospel.

Both [[Jesus]] and [[Moses]] called out a group of men to serve the people and placed certain restrictions on that body of public servants. They both appointed [[Sanhedrin|70 men]] who were blessed with the [[Holy Spirit]]. In both the Old and New Testament there were also at least one group of [[Seven men|7 men]] appointed to help with a [[daily ministration]].

== Leaving Church ==

Thousands of people are leaving what is called the Church daily. Looking at what is sometimes posing as Church today it is no wonder that so many people think they do not need “Church”. When Jesus said he would ''build His church'' he was not talking about a building nor does the original term we translate into Church mean an "assembly".

Many people have a problem with the modern version of an organized Church. One problem seems the way the Church is organized and what we think when we hear the word "organized" today. People can be so soured by their experience so that they begin to oppose anything organized like religion or even government.  The [[Modern Church]] is seldom organized like, nor function in the same way, nor seemingly for the same purposes as the [[early Church]].

Some Christian groups choose to meet in houses for a variety of reasons. They may find what is posing as the Church authoritarian, manipulative, greedy, or superfluous. Home Church groups may offer an intimacy and personalization the large church gathering cannot provide. It may certainly be cheaper than meeting in a dedicated building. 

Some believe small churches were a deliberate apostolic pattern in the first century, and they were intended by Christ from the beginning. There seems to be evidence of that intent but we need to seek the whole ''plan of God'' and His [[righteousness]].

== House Church revisited ==

[[File:Jesusfeeds.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The early church and those who gathered in the name of  Christ gathered as '''[[Commanded]]''' by Jesus. The [[early Church]] formed a temple of living stones through love that was not like the system of [[world]] nor the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] and [[Rome]] who [[force]]d the [[taxation|contributions of the people]].<Br> Jesus said he would take the kingdom from those who did not know Moses and what he was instructing the people to do and [[appoint]] the kingdom to others who would be [[doers]] of the word and produce [[fruit]]. <Br>Jesus as the Christ [[appoint]]ed His [[little flock]] and "'''[[commanded]]'''" His disciples, His [[called out]], to "make" the people "sit down" it that pattern of [[tens]] before they could receive His [[benefits]].]]

{{First Gatherings}}

== Stretching Scripture ==

The departure from organized Church can bring condemnation and accusation from the mainstream Churches, other Christians and even create feelings of personal guilt and discomfort. In order to justify that departure from the orthodox view and the institutional church assembly, people will search the scriptures to transform the modern view into something they find more accessible and acceptable.

But are they seeking what Jesus the Christ said to seek?

We should closely and honestly examine why so many people are asking "how does the Bible portray the church?"<Ref> https://www.allaboutgod.com/house-church.htm</Ref>  Unfortunately, some people may stretch the original meaning of the text to justify the home Church movement as they wish to see it and experience it. The use of quotes to associate church with a house gathering can lead people to miss or fall short of some of the primary directives, purposes and functions of those early Church.

If we are going to conform to Christ, His doctrines and ordinances we need to seek the whole truth. What did Jesus appoint to the called out ministers which were called the Church?  We were told to be seekers of the [[Kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]]. What was the [[gospel of the kingdom]] and what were they actually doing back in those ancient of times What can and should that mean to us today? 

=== House ===

One of the first scriptures quoted by some home Church advocates point to where the Church was called “God’s household”. In some translations in the King James version of [[1 Timothy]] 3:15 we see:
: "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Here we find the Greek noun "oikos"<Ref name="oikos">{{3624}} </Ref> meaning a "house". But the phrase "house of God" appears numerous times in the gospels.<Ref>[[Matthew 12]]:4  How he entered into the house <[[3624]]> of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
: Mark 2:26  How he went into the house <3624> of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
: Luke 6:4  How he went into the house <3624> of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?</Ref> These are not talking about private homes but are a specific reference to the tabernacle where the shewbread was eaten by David. 

Besidea the word we see translated "''house''" which is ''oikos''<Ref name="oikos"></Ref> did not just mean a building or the ''house'' on the street where you live any more than the Greek word for "Church" which is [[ekklesia]], meant a building where you meet on Sunday or [[Sabbath]].

Both these words can be used in different ways to imply different senses to the word depending on their context. Context is not only the sentence they are used in but the whole context of scripture and the times in which they are written. 

The word "oikos" could mean "all the persons forming one family", "the family of God, of the Christian Church" or even the "descendants" of a family. The word appears more than a hundred times in the Bible including references to the "lost sheep of the '''house''' of Israel"<Ref>Matthew 10:6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
: Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.</Ref> and a reference to the temple as the "house of God"<Ref>Matthew 12:4 "How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?"</Ref> or the temple where Christ is calling it "My house" "the house of prayer" and then cast out the [[moneychangers]].<Ref>Matthew 21:13 "And said unto them, It is written, My '''house''' shall be called the '''house''' of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."</Ref>

Several passages in the [[Bible]] seems to specifically mention churches meeting in ''houses''. 
* '''Upper Room''' of Acts 20:8 "And there were many lights in the upper chamber<Ref>{{5253}}</Ref>, where they were gathered together."
* '''Lydia'''’s House Acts 16:40 "And they went out of the prison, and entered<Ref>{{1525}} </Ref> into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed."
* [[1 Corinthians 16]]:19 "The churches([[called out]]) of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the '''church([[called out]]) that is in their house'''."
* '''Priscilla and Aquila'''’s house:
: [[Romans 16]]:3-5 "Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in [[Christ]] Jesus: 4  Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches([[called out]])  of the Gentiles. 5  Likewise greet '''the church([[called out]]) that is in their house'''. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits<Ref> {{536}} </Ref> of Achaia unto Christ."
* '''Archippa'''’s house [[Philemon]] 1:2 "And to [our] beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the '''church([[called out]]) in thy house''':"  Archippus is named once alongside Philemon and Apphia as a host of the [[called out]], and a "fellow soldier."<Ref>{{4961}}</Ref> In [[Colossians 4]]:17 we see Paul intimating "And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry<Ref>{{1248}}</Ref> which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."
* '''Nympha'''’s house in Laodicea Colossians 4:15 "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the '''church([[called out]]) which is in his house'''."

All these verses could be talking about people gathering in someone's house if "oikos" only meant someone's house and not "all the persons forming one family" or the "descendants" of a family or the '''house''' of Israel or even the "kings house"<Ref>Matthew 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft [clothing] are in kings’ houses.</Ref> which include all the people who work for the king which brings us to the term "ekklesia" which we translated "Church". 

The word "[[ekklesia]]" did not mean a gathering or assembly of congregants. People like to say that an ''ekklesia'' is an assembly but is misleading because there are ''many'' words that more accurately mean an ''assembly''. If you are going to read the words aas they were said the word ekklesia means the "called out". 


== Ekklesia ==

The word ''Church'' could be used in a general sense to describe everyone following the way of Christ. Or it could be used to describe a more specific group of people. People even use it to describe a building. But that is not how the term was used in the original text. 

The word '''[[Ekklesia]]''' did not really mean an ''assembly'' but it was clearly a [[called out]] group. Jesus called out the apostle for a particular purpose. But before we address that purpose let us look at some other words that can mean assembly. 

Words like ''agora'' and ''paneguris'' as well as ''heorte'', ''koinon'', ''thiasos'' can all mean an ''assembly''. There are other words in the Greek that can mean a ''small assembly'' of people like ''sumposion'' <Ref>{{4849}} </Ref> which is used in [[Mark 6]]:39 when Christ [[commanded]] the people be assembled in familiar patterns of [[tens]]. The Greek words ''sunagoge''<Ref>{{4864}}</Ref> and ''sunago''<Ref>{{4863}}</Ref> or even ''sunalizo'' a verb that means "to gather together, assemble" <Ref>{{4871}}</Ref> all contain the root of the word ''synagogue'' but none of them mean the same as the term ''[[ekklesia]].''

The authors of the ''[[Bible]]'' used the term [[ekklesia]] for a good reason. The word ''ekklesia'' was often used as a political term in the Greek. This makes perfect sense if we accept the idea that ''Jesus'' was the King of the [[Kingdom of God]] at hand. In classical Greek "[[ekklesia]]" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly."<Ref>Liddell and Scott define ekklesia as "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly." [R. Scott, and H.G. Liddell, A Greek-English Lexicon, p. 206.] Thayer's lexicon says, "an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating" [J. H. Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 196]. Trench gives the meaning as "the lawful assembly in a free Greek city of all those possessed of the rights of citizenship, for the transaction of public affairs" [Richard Chenevix Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, 7th ed., pp. 1-2]. Seyffert's dictionary states, "The assembly of the people, which in Greek cities had the power of final decision in public affairs" [Oskar Seyffert, A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, pp. 202-203].From "fully after the LORD" by Steve Flinchum http://www.bryanstation.com/flinchum-fully.htm</Ref>

The [[disciples]] were [[called out]] much like [[Moses]] called out the [[Levites]] to be separate and do service to the congregations of the people. Those [[Levites]] were the [[called out]] by [[Moses]] and appointed by his authority to become the "[[Church in the wilderness]]". Jesus certainly was not telling people to seek the Church of God but the kingdom of God. The called out were to feed His sheep and provide other services to the people who would follow [[The Way]].


=== Household ===

There are several words in the New Testament translated "household". One of the first appearances is when Jesus warns us in [[Matthew 10]]:25 and [[Matthew 10]]:36<Ref name="matthew10">Matthew 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
: Matthew 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.</Ref> that his disciples will be falsely accused or even demonized. The noun "oikiakos"<Ref>{{3615}}</Ref> only appears in the Bible in these two verses and is referring to "one belonging to a house". The ''belonging to a house'' does not necessarily mean family house.  In the first verse, we also see the phrase "master of the house"<Ref name="matthew10"></Ref> as a phrase referencing Jesus as ''Lord and master'' of His house translated from the word "oikodespotes" <Ref name="oikodespotes">{{3617}}</Ref> which is more commonly translated [[householder]] or ''goodman of the house'' but clearly means someone who has rule over a house.
 
=== Household of God ===


We see the phrase "house of God" three times in the epistles in a much different context. Of course, [[1 Timothy 3]]:15 which we have seen but also in Hebrews and Peter.<Ref>[[Hebrews 10]]:21  And having an high priest over the house <3624> of God;
: 1 Peter 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house <3624> of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?</Ref>   None of this has anything to do with church service in the home. If we misapply verses or the original meaning of words in scripture we can easily miss their intended message of the author.

We also see the phrase "household of God" where the adjective "oikeios"<Ref name="oikeios">{{3609}}</Ref> is used in [[Ephesians 2]]:19.<Ref name="Ephesians2"> Ephesians 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household <3609> of God;</Ref> The term "oikeios" is describing someone who is seen as " belonging to a house or family". So the text is talking about people who belong to the "house of God" which could also be another way of saying the "children of God" which is another common Phrase in the text.<Ref>Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
: Luke 20:36  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
: John 11:52  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
: Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
: Romans 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
: Romans 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
: Galatians 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
: 1 John 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
: 1 John 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.</Ref>

And finally we see the phrase house or "household of faith" mentioned in [[Galatians 6]]<Ref>Galatians 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household <3609> of faith.</Ref>

=== Service Rendered ===
 
Now another word translated "household" is the completely different Greek word "'''therapeia'''"<Ref name="therapeia">{{2322}}</Ref> meaning a "service rendered by one to another" which is found in [[Matthew 24]]:45, [[Luke 9]]:11, [[Luke 12]]:42 , and [[Revelation 22]]:.2<Ref "nametherapy">Matthew 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household <2322>, to give them meat in due season?
: Luke 9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed[[2390]]> them that had need of healing <2322>.
: Luke 12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward<[[3623]]  oikonomos (''house law'')>, whom his lord shall make ruler<make, ordain [[2525]]> over his household <2322>, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
: Revelation 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing <2322> of the nations.</Ref> As we can see this noun does not mean your house or s house but has to do with a "service rendered by one to another" specifically a "medical service: curing, healing" "of a nation" orit can refer to a "body of attendants, servants".<Ref name="therapeia"></Ref>

In [[Luke 12]]:42  we see several interesting words that Jesus said, "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward<Ref name="oikonomos">{{3623}}</Ref>, whom his lord shall make ruler<Ref name="kathistemi">{{2525}}</Ref> over his household<Ref name="therapeia"></Ref>, to give them their portion of meat<Ref>{{4620}}</Ref> in due season?"

People had a choice when Christ came. To obtain their "portion of meat" or [[free bread]] they could get it from the Church ministers appointed by Christ or from the [[Caesar]]'s administers appointed by [[Rome]]. [[Caesar]] and the [[Pharisees]] were using [[force]] to fill their treasury and provide that daily [[free bread]] but the apostles and the Church were using [[charity]] which is the righteous service of [[love]] in action to which is why they say that they ''rightly divide the bread from house to house.''

This was what the doctor ordered. This is what [[Jesus]] the teacher was saying and if we were not doing this we were not considered [[believers]] by the [[early Church]]. Until John the baptist everyone was trying to use systems like [[socialism]] to establish their kingdoms or government utopias by [[force]]. Jesus was preaching a kingdom of [[love]] and [[charity]] and [[appoint]]ed his [[Little flock]] the ''responsibility'' to see that His people, His sheep, lived by that [[charity]]. Unlike the governments of the [[world]], they could not [[exercise authority]] one over the other.


=== Other verses ===

Other quotes that home churchers use talks of "common meals" together in almost a communal fashion. 

[[Acts 2]]:45 CONTEXT  
: 42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and [[fellowship]], and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44  And all that believed were together, and had [[all things common]]; 45  And sold their possessions<Ref>{{2933}}</Ref> and goods<Ref>{{5223}}</Ref>, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46  '''And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,''' 47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

[[1 Corinthians 11]]:CONTEXT 
: 17 "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better (advantage), but for the worse. 18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19  For there must be also heresies(choices) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  22  What? '''have ye not houses''' to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
: 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.



[[Acts 16]]:3 "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees<Ref name="dogma">{{1378}}</Ref> for to keep, that were '''ordained'''<Ref>{{2919}}</Ref> of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."

'''This word ordained in verse Acts 16:4 is not the word "kathistemi"<Ref name="kathistemi">{{2525}}</Ref> we saw in [[Luke 12]]:42''' which would have been better translated "ordained rather than "rule over".


----
* "There is a simple exercise I walk through with church leaders. First, I have them list all the things that people expect from their church. They usually list obvious things like a really good service, strong age-specific ministries, a certain style/volume/length of singing, a well-communicated sermon, conveniences such as parking, a clean church building, coffee, childcare, etc."

* "Then I have them list the commands God gave the Church in Scripture. Usually they mention commands like “love one another as I have loved you” ([[John 15]]: 12), [[Pure Religion|“visit orphans and widows in their affliction”]] ([[James 1]]: 27), “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28: 19), “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6: 2), etc. I then ask them what would upset their people more—if the church didn’t provide the things from the first list or if the church didn’t obey the commands in the second list." '''Letters to the Church''', Francis Chan.

What about [[repent]]ing, feeding his sheep, [[Keep the commandments|keeping the commandments]], making the people gather in [[tens]], to say nothing of [[forgiveness]], [[love]] and [[seek]]ing the [[kingdom of God]] and His [[righteousness]]? Christ was insistent that is not what you say but [[Doer|what you do]] which is your confession of true faith or the lack of it.

Chan quotes “bear one another’s burdens” from Galatians 6: 2 but in context:
: 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5  For every man shall bear his own burden. 6  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

So if you want your home Church gatherings to be a "household of faith" you must gather in faith doing what the [[early Church]] and home assemblies did. That is being a [[Doer]] of the word.

----

== Church services ==

[[File:3rdadchurch.jpg|right|thumb|This said to be an [[early Church]] building converted from a house.]]
The word Church has become synonomous with Church service until people debate where we should "[[Do Church]]". Where did the modern format of "Church service" come from?

* "Strikingly, nowhere in the New Testament do we find the terms church (ekklesia), temple, or house of God used to refer to a building. The first recorded use of the word ekklesia to refer to a Christian meeting place was penned around AD 190 by Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215). Clement was also the first person to use the phrase "go to church"--which would have been a foreign thought to the first-century believers. (You cannot go to something you are!) Throughout the New Testament, ekklesia always refers to an assembly of people, not a place." ''Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices'', Frank Viola

The Dura-Europos house church is considered one of the earliest identified Christian buildings. It was apparently a normal domestic house which was also used for gathering some time between 233 and 256. It contained frescoes and a room which was dubbed a baptistery by archeologists. This was clearly a Hellenistic house where Christians met before Constantine’s edict. The upper floor functioned as a private house with the downstairs for larger gatherings of little more than 60 people. There is a reason to believe that it has been vandalized by ISIS.

What were Christians doing when they gathered?

[[Justin the Martyr]] gives us a pretty clear picture of a gathering of Christians in the early part of the second century.

We need to read these texts within the context of the times.




Philippians 2:1 ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

== Early Church ==

We clearly see Jesus “[[called out|calling out]]” a small group of men he calls his little flock. He then "[[appoint]]s" to them "a kingdom" but also "[[commanded]]" to gather in groups of [[Tens]] and forbid them to “[[exercise authority]] one over the other” like the “governments” of the "[[world]]". 

We see the [[early Church]] complying with that command and providing all the social welfare for a broad Christian community that had spread across the Roman Empire. They were eventually persecuted because they would not apply to the [[temples]] of Caesar for his "free bread" and welfare benefits. Those benefits of [[Rome]] were considered to be ''deceitful dainties''<Ref>Proverbs 23:1 ¶ When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: </Ref> and real Christians had no [[appetite]] for those [[wages of unrighteousness]]. because that would be [[covet]]ing their neighbor's goods through men who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority. The called out appointed men, the  Church, were benefactors locally and internationally, as we see in acts rightly dividing bread from house to house, providing a "[[daily ministration]]" and international relief during economic "dearths". They were able to do this is because they organized the people by a network of voluntary "companies" of tens which were connected through servant ministers of these called out public servants all across the world as Jesus "[[commanded]]". The [[modern Church]] and even home church groups say it is okay to apply to the rulers of the governments who exercise authority taking from their neighbor to obtain their social welfare benefits which practices do seem to go against Christ and the prophets who said we should not covet nor desire the [[wages of unrighteousness]].

== The Kingdom ==

Jesus told the people what His plan was when He explained what He intended to the [[Pharisees]] and others who sat in the seat of [[Moses]]. He was going to take the kingdom away from them and appoint it to another group, His [[little flock]], so they could bear [[fruit]] that the existing ministers of the [[Kingdom of God]] were not producing.<Ref>Matthew 21:43 "Therefore say I unto you, The [[kingdom of God]] shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."</Ref>

He was not going to take that government away from them by force or even establish that [[Kingdom of Heaven]] at hand by the use of [[force]]. They would denounce there position out of their own mouths<Ref>[[John 19]]:15 "But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar."</Ref> and Jesus would establish His [[Kingdom of God]] by His sacrifice and through the [[faith]], [[hope]] and [[charity]] through [[love]] of [[Believer|believers]] who were willing to repent and live according to [[The Way]] which James calls the [[perfect law of liberty]].




{{Template:Network}}

== Footnotes ==

<references />