THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT “But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come” (1 Corinthians 11:34).

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Worshipping In Houses The Lord’s Supper The Role Of Elders Role Of Preachers

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Spontaneous Worship

Spontaneous Informal Worship 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “The gathered assemblies of the primitive church appear to have been far more participatory than what we experience; and, almost of necessity, therefore, more spontaneous and informal…How much more extreme can it get than having a printed “order of worship” from which any deviation on the part of someone in the audience would be viewed with horror, and any spontaneous contribution of thought or song considered shockingly out of order” (F. LaGARD Smith, Radical Restoration, pp. 152 & 153).

Spontaneous Informal Worship 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “When is there ever time set aside in our assemblies, not for “scheduled” prayers, but for prayer? (That is, for prayers to be lifted up by whatever brother feels moved to do so.) What sermon today is followed by a time for questions and open discussion? When is the last time you heard comments being invited from among the brethren as the Lord’s Supper was being observed? Or someone spontaneously leading (or singing) a hymn? (Ibid., p. 153).

Spontaneous Informal Worship 2) In The N.T. not everyone could speak. “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).

Spontaneous Informal Worship 3) N.T. worship was orderly & structured. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). Decently – “in 1 Cor. 14:40, “decently,” where the contrast is to disorder in oral testimony in the churches” (Vine, p. 282). Order – “of due order, in contrast to confusion, in the gathering of a local church, 1 Cor. 14:40” (Vine, p. 827).

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Spontaneous Worship Mutual Ministry

Mutual Ministry 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “Over the years, we have spent an inordinate amount of time and energy arguing with others about the so-called “five items of worship.” And yet it seems as if we never once stopped to realize that those “acts of worship” – as practiced among us today – are mostly an orchestrated religious spectacle for which we have reserved seats each week” (F. LaGARD Smith, Radical Restoration, pp. 153 & 154).

Mutual Ministry 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “Of course, it’s what happens when we are assembled for the memorial meal, and the edification and worship that accompany it, which most naturally defines our mutual ministry. Each a song, each a prayer. The very concept of worship focused around a pulpit flies in the face of the dynamic, mutually – participatory house – churches in the apostolic age. Houses don’t have pulpits!” (Ibid., p. 211).

Mutual Ministry 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “Even where opportunities naturally present themselves for more informality, spontaneity, and mutual participation, we seem to be locked into a system from which we cannot extricate ourselves. A system which (the “five items of worship” to the contrary notwithstanding) bear little resemblance to the dynamic, interactive worship we read about in the Scripture” (Ibid., p. 155).

Mutual Ministry 2) What the Scriptures teach. “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7).

Mutual Ministry 3) Members do participate in worship. (a) Someone made announcements; four served the Lord’s Supper and helped with the collection; a song leader; some led in prayer; one read Scripture; during Bible study all present could participate, etc. (b) How many partook of the Lord’s Supper? (c) How many gave back to the Lord as prospered? (d) How many sang praises to God? (e) How many participated when we were lead in prayer? (f) How many are participating in this lesson?

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Spontaneous Worship Mutual Ministry Church Treasury

The Church Treasury 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “If we could ever move away from the unwarranted idea of “giving” as a mandated “item of worship,” and begin thinking of “giving” as a way of meeting special needs whenever they arise, we would not need the same kind of “treasury” to which we are accustomed” (F. LaGARD Smith, Radical Restoration, p. 245).

The Church Treasury 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “When every collection is special – to meet a specific need which has come to the attention of the congregation – it can be as simply as everyone’s digging into their pockets and purses and coming up with the necessary money, which is immediately dispatched to those in need. Maybe that happens even during the week. Or perhaps on two or more successive Lord’s days” (Ibid., p. 245).

The Church Treasury 2) The church’s word requires funds. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also” (1 Corinthians 16:1). “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11,12). “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

The Church Treasury 3) Support provided so some could go preach. “Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (Philippians 4:14-16). “I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you” (2 Corinthians 11:8).

The Church Treasury 4) Notice the command given to the churches. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1,2). “Since the church requires financing to do its work, it is apparent that the Holy Spirit meant for the specific example to serve generally. The original expression (kata mian sabbatou) literally means, “Upon every first day of the week.” (Don Martin, sermon from his website).

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Spontaneous Worship Mutual Ministry Church Treasury The Gender Roles

The Gender Roles 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “The text of that revolutionary gospel regarding the role and ministry of women in the New Testament house churches can be summarized around nine theses: First, women, alongside men, were full-membered participants in the Christian communities… Second, women, side by side with men, were partners in leadership and ministry in the early churches… Third, women, along with men, led in public prayer… Fourth, women, alongside men, prophesied in the church… Fifth, women, with and in the presence of men, had authority in the church body…”

The Gender Roles 1) Their thoughts on this practice. “Sixth, women, in particular, were encouraged to learn the Scriptures… Seventh, women, even as men, had gifts for edifying the body… Eighth, wives, as well as their husbands, were partners in mutual submission, arising out of their mutual love… Ninth, women’s sexual roles were not dichotomized or considered at variance with men’s roles in Christ” (The House Church, Del Birkey, pp. 93-102; taken from Jim Deason’s Lecture at Florida College, 2005, pp. 180 & 181 Lecture Book).

The Gender Roles 2) What the Bible says. “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says” (1 Corinthians 14:34). “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11,12).

The Gender Roles 3) Those who were in leadership roles. “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

THE HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT Spontaneous Worship Mutual Ministry Church Treasury The Gender Roles