If You Worship in a Home Church
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In an irl church, we normally have some music we join in together, followed by testimonies and prayers for each other, and then we rotate who brings the message, and questions are welcome. The music moves to deep worship faster, and people are freer to dance, or even to lay on the floor in worship. The testimonies and prayers take longer and people share more. The message is rotated. Often, the order is suspended, if God seems to be doing something else, and one aspect or another can take precedence. Sometimes, time is spent planning an outreach or group acitivity. Communion is rarer, but that is a group preference, leadership being rotated. Guests are frequent, and will sometimes come to bring the message. There is no collection.
In my online fellowship group, we attend a live service on Sunday (some actually wake up at 2AM to attend), with a stream/chat interface (like that provided by JSL Solutions), and the host church works with us. In fellowship meetings, which are formal, or informal (now almost 24/7), we mostly share our lives, encourage, counsel, and pray for each other as seems to be needed, and plan outreaches and organization. Music is currently shared via youtube links. We now have outreaches via Christian websites. Currently, only group music is not possible on the internet; all other functions are preserved. Communion is taken together orcehstrated by the home church. We have a plan for baptism by proxy, when the arrangements can be made.
In my online fellowship group, we attend a live service on Sunday (some actually wake up at 2AM to attend), with a stream/chat interface (like that provided by JSL Solutions), and the host church works with us. In fellowship meetings, which are formal, or informal (now almost 24/7), we mostly share our lives, encourage, counsel, and pray for each other as seems to be needed, and plan outreaches and organization. Music is currently shared via youtube links. We now have outreaches via Christian websites. Currently, only group music is not possible on the internet; all other functions are preserved. Communion is taken together orcehstrated by the home church. We have a plan for baptism by proxy, when the arrangements can be made.
If you worship in a Home Church, would you please take the time to tell me how your worship service(s) go?
What exactly do you do in your Home Church........?
(thanks..........
)
What exactly do you do in your Home Church........?
(thanks..........
)
Works quite well, thanks
I understand what you are saying my Brother, but I believe you would better describe this as "in Spirit 24/7," and not in Church. One thing I wonder if people understand is that being "in church," "fellowshipping" involves more than ourselves in a personal worship of God.........All through the Scriptures, we see that "the Church" fellowshipped together for the purpose of edifying the Church......
Now, there are times when I like to get away, all by myself, and spend "quality time" with God. Praying and just talking to Him, and listening to Him as well......AND this is very "rewarding" for me as it provides me with a "spiritual boost," but it does not serve to edify the Church/His Church..........
I believe it is important for all believers to do both!
God bless, and I hope that makes sense.......
Now, there are times when I like to get away, all by myself, and spend "quality time" with God. Praying and just talking to Him, and listening to Him as well......AND this is very "rewarding" for me as it provides me with a "spiritual boost," but it does not serve to edify the Church/His Church..........
I believe it is important for all believers to do both!
God bless, and I hope that makes sense.......
I'm in agreement with p_rehbein... we must not forsake the meeting together of believers. Many people in many countries even to this day risk their lives to meet with fellow believers in group worship and edification. Why? Because it's THAT important.
God uses people to edify other people. He strengthens his Church using all parts of the church body. We are strong together, and weak apart. So... why not be part of such a Body?
God uses people to edify other people. He strengthens his Church using all parts of the church body. We are strong together, and weak apart. So... why not be part of such a Body?
1 Corinthians 12:12-18, "For just as the body is a unity, but yet has many members; and though all its members are many, they are one body: so it is with Messiah. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Yahdaim or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit; For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the aear should say: Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the sense of smelling? But now Yahweh has set the members, each one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him."
I understand what you are saying, however I do not think we can use such a "blanket statement" for the WHOLE CHURCH "parroting the world." I can only speak for my church, those churches I know, and I can say we do not "parrot the world" with sin abounding in our presence........and our LOVE burns as FIRE......I see examples of this almost every day.
We are not all "apart of the same church".
There is no biblical "Church of Christ", there are the "Churches of Christ".
Look it up. It's in the Bible.
The so-called "Church of Christ" is a heretical cult.
Concerning the OP, home-churches are like kids that "play house".
They go through the motions, but nothing of value is produced, i.e., fruit.
There is no biblical "Church of Christ", there are the "Churches of Christ".
Look it up. It's in the Bible.
The so-called "Church of Christ" is a heretical cult.
Concerning the OP, home-churches are like kids that "play house".
They go through the motions, but nothing of value is produced, i.e., fruit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-18, "For just as the body is a unity, but yet has many members; and though all its members are many, they are one body: so it is with Messiah. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Yahdaim or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit; For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say: Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the sense of smelling? But now Yahweh has set the members, each one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him."
Also if we dont have a wolf in sheeps clothing standing behind the pulpit leading us into a ditch "nothing of value is produced, i.e., fruit."
Anyone who make a man his "head" and not the Messiah his "head" is cursed.
Also if we dont have a wolf in sheeps clothing standing behind the pulpit leading us into a ditch "nothing of value is produced, i.e., fruit."
Anyone who make a man his "head" and not the Messiah his "head" is cursed.
L
Please read the sermon Jesus gives after the Last Supper. The Body(church) of Christ is one.
The "churches" you mention are only grouped by city, never a specific building or denomination. You are stretching the scriptures to suit some agenda(although I admit, I do not know what agenda you are pushing).
The 1st century believers met in homes, and there is no Biblical reason for us to meet in a designated "church building". This only leads to idolizing the building itself, and forgetting the purpose of the gathering. This tradition came from false teachers, who were manipulating believers, and then amassing wealth.
You bring up fruit. Where is there evidence for your assertion that home churches don't produce good fruit? I am sure we have many believers on this forum that can testify to the fruit of a solid home-based church.
I can personally testify to abuses in the Church due to centralized leadership, and centralized worship, caused by the "physical church building" model.
The "churches" you mention are only grouped by city, never a specific building or denomination. You are stretching the scriptures to suit some agenda(although I admit, I do not know what agenda you are pushing).
The 1st century believers met in homes, and there is no Biblical reason for us to meet in a designated "church building". This only leads to idolizing the building itself, and forgetting the purpose of the gathering. This tradition came from false teachers, who were manipulating believers, and then amassing wealth.
You bring up fruit. Where is there evidence for your assertion that home churches don't produce good fruit? I am sure we have many believers on this forum that can testify to the fruit of a solid home-based church.
I can personally testify to abuses in the Church due to centralized leadership, and centralized worship, caused by the "physical church building" model.
Well, if we are going strictly by the number of times His Church is called one thing or another, then I would say that His Church is called "The Church of God" at least seven times in Scripture........far more than any other name........
However, ALL believers are part of the One Church. If they are blood bought, born again, believers in Jesus Christ, they are His, and have become heirs to the Promise. Now, certainly it is true that there are no denominational names, or individual religious names of churches in Heaven.......however that does not make people "cults" in and of itself.
I have a few good friends who are SoF CoC, and I certainly know that they are God fearing men and worthy to be called Brothers in Christ........just saying. I may not agree with all the CoC teaches, but that does not make them a cult. If we use that standard then where does it end? I don't agree with everything the Southern Baptist teach, but I do not consider them a "cult." Same can be said for other churches/denominations........surely we are not going to label every one who disagrees with our theological understandings a "cult" are we?
As for Home Church.........I acknowledge that SOME may be play pretend.........however, I would suggest that these would be the exception and not the rule. Simple truth is...........world wide there are millions of believers who ONLY HAVE someone's home to meet in, to fellowship and worship God. Hardly play pretend in my opinion. Even here in the US, there are some very good believers who worship in Home Churches. Sometimes this is how a Congregational Church begins.......
The "building" does not justify the believer............THE BELIEVER JUSTIFIES THE BUILDING.......and The Holy Spirit makes that possible in my opinion.
However, ALL believers are part of the One Church. If they are blood bought, born again, believers in Jesus Christ, they are His, and have become heirs to the Promise. Now, certainly it is true that there are no denominational names, or individual religious names of churches in Heaven.......however that does not make people "cults" in and of itself.
I have a few good friends who are SoF CoC, and I certainly know that they are God fearing men and worthy to be called Brothers in Christ........just saying. I may not agree with all the CoC teaches, but that does not make them a cult. If we use that standard then where does it end? I don't agree with everything the Southern Baptist teach, but I do not consider them a "cult." Same can be said for other churches/denominations........surely we are not going to label every one who disagrees with our theological understandings a "cult" are we?
As for Home Church.........I acknowledge that SOME may be play pretend.........however, I would suggest that these would be the exception and not the rule. Simple truth is...........world wide there are millions of believers who ONLY HAVE someone's home to meet in, to fellowship and worship God. Hardly play pretend in my opinion. Even here in the US, there are some very good believers who worship in Home Churches. Sometimes this is how a Congregational Church begins.......
The "building" does not justify the believer............THE BELIEVER JUSTIFIES THE BUILDING.......and The Holy Spirit makes that possible in my opinion.