Do we need the Church buliding today?
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When Paul went into a new town he would go to the synagogues on the sabbath and as a fellow Jew who was also a Pharisee and who was trained by the Sandhedrin member Gamaliel, he knew how to communicate with these synagogue leaders. They would ask him to share or teach on the scriptures scheduled for that sabbaths reading. He would teach from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. He got different reactions from different towns, sometimes they listened for several sabbaths and many believed. Eventually, Jewish religious leaders who came from Jerusalem or others would stir the crowd against Paul and they would ban him from that synagogue. But by that time he had converts. This was Pauls method of church planting and is studied by missionaries to this day. Church planting was Paul's method for evangelizing a town or area. The new converts who were usually Jews and Greeks that heard him in the synagogue began meeting somewhere else (house churches, was a common method) and they would meet on the first day of the week. If they were Jews many continued going to synagogues that were not hostile to them on the sabbath.
Greeks / gentiles, who were called "friends of God" or who were attracted to the Jewish religion and who saw and respected the righteous living taught by the scriptures were allowed in many synagogues. There they heard the message Paul preached and followed him when he was banned from the synagogues.
Today starting a home bible study would indeed be a great way to plant a church in a town that needed one. It would not take long for the church to swell to a size that required more than a living room however. In America there is an abundance of options. From theaters that are closed on Sunday and will rent to churches, to hotel conference rooms, empty store fronts, or cheap metal buildings that can be erected.
The building does not need to look like a cathedral. Ornate buildings were started by the Roman state attempt to honor Christianity and give it government support and funding. This did not work out well and was never God's method. We need a meeting place but I don't think it should be adorned with religious art and crosses etc. But that is just me.
Greeks / gentiles, who were called "friends of God" or who were attracted to the Jewish religion and who saw and respected the righteous living taught by the scriptures were allowed in many synagogues. There they heard the message Paul preached and followed him when he was banned from the synagogues.
Today starting a home bible study would indeed be a great way to plant a church in a town that needed one. It would not take long for the church to swell to a size that required more than a living room however. In America there is an abundance of options. From theaters that are closed on Sunday and will rent to churches, to hotel conference rooms, empty store fronts, or cheap metal buildings that can be erected.
The building does not need to look like a cathedral. Ornate buildings were started by the Roman state attempt to honor Christianity and give it government support and funding. This did not work out well and was never God's method. We need a meeting place but I don't think it should be adorned with religious art and crosses etc. But that is just me.
The context is "agreeing on a matter in regard to the keys of the kingdom". But this does not detract from the contents of Matthew 18:20;
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
The sense of the grammar is; "You must gather together to excommunicate a Church member. And you must gather together to ask a petition. FOR (or because), when two or three (anywhere and at any time) are GATHERED as the Church of Christ, I am there. to support and judge the situation with you"
Maybe the opposite illustrates it better. Three Christians gather together to conspire to kick a brother out of the Church because his prophesies are uncomfortable. Is Jesus present then? No. "In my Name" means "what my name stands for", and the Name Jesus is not associated with conspiracy (Ps.138:6).
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
The sense of the grammar is; "You must gather together to excommunicate a Church member. And you must gather together to ask a petition. FOR (or because), when two or three (anywhere and at any time) are GATHERED as the Church of Christ, I am there. to support and judge the situation with you"
Maybe the opposite illustrates it better. Three Christians gather together to conspire to kick a brother out of the Church because his prophesies are uncomfortable. Is Jesus present then? No. "In my Name" means "what my name stands for", and the Name Jesus is not associated with conspiracy (Ps.138:6).
a building is just to keep the rain, snow or hot sun out.
Remember where Jesus had his famous sermon...on the mountain. Outside. So everyone could hear and see.
It was only praying that he went inside a closet and shut the door. Though he did go and pray by himself alone on a mountain.
I think having both is a good thing, though there are pros and cons of both inside and outdoor gatherings/assemblies
I personally dont enjoy meetings ALL the time, as they can get boring if they go on forever. But they are important to build up our faith. Its not always possible to carve a quiet time at home and one doesnt always want to see the same people all the time. I think in cities for intorverted people we see so many daily during the week that to add more on top of that can be a bit much. But in rural areas people crave contact and need to see each other.
Also, sheep by nature are gregarious creatures and thers a lot of safety in a herd! Jesus could leave them safe together while he went off for the one that went astray.
Remember where Jesus had his famous sermon...on the mountain. Outside. So everyone could hear and see.
It was only praying that he went inside a closet and shut the door. Though he did go and pray by himself alone on a mountain.
I think having both is a good thing, though there are pros and cons of both inside and outdoor gatherings/assemblies
I personally dont enjoy meetings ALL the time, as they can get boring if they go on forever. But they are important to build up our faith. Its not always possible to carve a quiet time at home and one doesnt always want to see the same people all the time. I think in cities for intorverted people we see so many daily during the week that to add more on top of that can be a bit much. But in rural areas people crave contact and need to see each other.
Also, sheep by nature are gregarious creatures and thers a lot of safety in a herd! Jesus could leave them safe together while he went off for the one that went astray.
It is still important to have a church building today simply because many Congregations are so spread out that Home Services are not practical. As well, there are Congregations that are to large for Home Services.
I see people talking about we should do it the way they did back then, but do not speak about WHY the early Church met in homes. For one thing, they were facing persecution from Rome for being Christians. Beatings, imprisonment, and even death. Another reason is that they were not financially able to build and support a special building for their Church. The main thing though, is as I said about their persecution. Imagine IF they did have a special building? How easy would it have been for Roman Soldiers to wait until the believers were gathered to worship to attack them then?
Church buildings serve more purpose than just fellowship services on Sundays (or whatever day one meets), they can also serve as a focal point for the Congregation to serve the Community around them. As a Food Bank for one. Vacation Bible School. As a place for their children to be Home Schooled rather than going to the Public Schools. And many more reasons, ways to serve God and the Community. YES, they ARE still needed today.
Are they for everyone? Probably not, but they ARE necessary.
I see people talking about we should do it the way they did back then, but do not speak about WHY the early Church met in homes. For one thing, they were facing persecution from Rome for being Christians. Beatings, imprisonment, and even death. Another reason is that they were not financially able to build and support a special building for their Church. The main thing though, is as I said about their persecution. Imagine IF they did have a special building? How easy would it have been for Roman Soldiers to wait until the believers were gathered to worship to attack them then?
Church buildings serve more purpose than just fellowship services on Sundays (or whatever day one meets), they can also serve as a focal point for the Congregation to serve the Community around them. As a Food Bank for one. Vacation Bible School. As a place for their children to be Home Schooled rather than going to the Public Schools. And many more reasons, ways to serve God and the Community. YES, they ARE still needed today.
Are they for everyone? Probably not, but they ARE necessary.
zoom meetings are just making the best of a bad situation. also people must remember the distances people need to travel to gather, for many especially in congested cities, traffic needs to be taken into account.
I dont really enjoy zoom meetings they can be. bit restrictive on what you can do, but they are another way of communicating and seeing one another. Of course the best is face to face.
Why Jesus said two or three and not twenty and thirty gathered in his name well, having one on one time is a lot more productive dont you think.
I dont really enjoy zoom meetings they can be. bit restrictive on what you can do, but they are another way of communicating and seeing one another. Of course the best is face to face.
Why Jesus said two or three and not twenty and thirty gathered in his name well, having one on one time is a lot more productive dont you think.
In the new Testament, Christ is IN the Christian. The Christian is EVER PRESENT with Christ in the most intimate way. Matthew 18 only promises the GATHERING His presence. So Matthew 18 addresses the FUNCTION of a Church. It needs the whole GATHERING to administer excommunication. See 1st Corinthians 5 as well. So also, it needs the GATHERING of the Church for building up. 1st Corinthians 14:26;
"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."
"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."
i have posed this question several times before. Home church is the only
way to go. Christianity at its very root is very simple. Read what Jesus said and follow
His lead to the tee. Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. Three times
peter said yes, Jesus replied “ Peter feed my sheep.” So how did we take that simple
episode into a money making apperatus that it is today. We have televangelists
flying around in private jets, driving expensive cars and mansions to live in.
there are some pastors calling themselves doctors as if tha bolsters ther faith.
some even buid universities to show students how to suck money out of people.
Jesus called those people hypocrites. Pharisees and saducees. Conspired to kill
jesus because they made God a law which most people couldnt read. So now
we have third millenium pharisees complicating Christ crusified. They have even
made the word of God an idol. They have lost the simple love of God that Jesus died for. They sit and argue about the second coming of christ. Well folks you are going to have to wait until the lion lies down wit the lamb. Love your neighbor as yourself
until God can trust you. If you knew me would you kill me.
way to go. Christianity at its very root is very simple. Read what Jesus said and follow
His lead to the tee. Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. Three times
peter said yes, Jesus replied “ Peter feed my sheep.” So how did we take that simple
episode into a money making apperatus that it is today. We have televangelists
flying around in private jets, driving expensive cars and mansions to live in.
there are some pastors calling themselves doctors as if tha bolsters ther faith.
some even buid universities to show students how to suck money out of people.
Jesus called those people hypocrites. Pharisees and saducees. Conspired to kill
jesus because they made God a law which most people couldnt read. So now
we have third millenium pharisees complicating Christ crusified. They have even
made the word of God an idol. They have lost the simple love of God that Jesus died for. They sit and argue about the second coming of christ. Well folks you are going to have to wait until the lion lies down wit the lamb. Love your neighbor as yourself
until God can trust you. If you knew me would you kill me.
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Not "the only way" but one way to go, especially if you have just a few like-minded Christians. But if you have 100, 1,000, or 10,000 believers in one place, your theory fails.
For any sane Christian to object to a meeting place (other than a home) for the gathering together of believers is not really valid or sensible. At the same time, the place set aside for meetings does not have to be an elaborate cathedral.
For any sane Christian to object to a meeting place (other than a home) for the gathering together of believers is not really valid or sensible. At the same time, the place set aside for meetings does not have to be an elaborate cathedral.
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Many Spirit Filled Churches today will meet on Sunday in a local building where they can host the entire group and then will also meet in homes during the week in small groups spread out over the city. Members will either host one or go to one near them. It is very popular in the American nondenominational, charismatic, pentecostal, fellowships like the Assemblies of God. I am not sure if Baptists, or Methodists do it also but I don't see why they wouldn't. Just google Churches with home groups near me.
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Yes, we do that here in Australia too 
but I'm speaking of it being the norm rather than the exception.
but I'm speaking of it being the norm rather than the exception.