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What can we learn for the First Century Church? Part 3

January 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The story of the work of Jesus Christ in His people has long fascinated and challenged me. I have to admit that as a kid I could not get enough of fantasy stories in movies and comic books that featured heroic acts by individuals with super powers. So naturally I was interested when I learned in the bible about real heroes who trusted in God and were able to accomplish amazing things!

At the same time I felt a disconnect between the Christian world of that time and that which I saw in the bible. Growing up it seemed as though it was more about what we cannot do rather than what we can do through Christ. When I found a church that read, and studied and preached from the book of Acts in the bible I was immediately drawn to it. None of us were super heroes like Samson, David, Daniel, or even Peter and Paul. But that did not stop us from desiring a greater experience of the power of the Holy Spirit.

In that desire the Lord did some wonderful things among us. His presence was very real in our meetings. Over the years we also had some great disappointments. From where I stand, it looks like eventually many lowered their expectations of what God might do supernaturally among us. A few even rationalized that the only supernatural work would be that which takes place within us.

Of course we know that the main focus of Jesus was always on the condition of our hearts. Our prayer is to be for the will of God our Father to be accomplished in earth as it is in heaven. That must first be fulfilled within us by the miracle of the New Birth. It does not end there, however. If heaven enters my heart, my entire life will eventually change. The miracles and the amazing spread of the Gospel in the book of Acts came about through people who were dramatically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was by that same power that they believed and obeyed Christ. What can we learn from them? I submit that like them, we can still hear from God, follow Him, and be empowered to obey Him! Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!

My hope is that in our day we will revisit the book of Acts with open hearts and minds. By many accounts the Christian church is in decline at least in the West. Yet, there is still the possibility that believers in our day can “turn the world upside down” as did the early Christians. Maybe we can cast off unnecessary practices that have become heavy burdens, and take up the very principles that enabled the early Christians to overcome impossible odds. This is not a boring faith by any means, but an adventure that has continued for thousands of years!

If you are interested in considering more things that the First Century Church could teach us, I hope you will join me in this study by subscribing to my blog at https://livingtruth.com or my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom

I Love Christian Gatherings!

December 30, 2024 / / 4 Comments

I love Christian gatherings. That was not always true in my younger days. Then in my early twenties I was humbled by circumstances in my life to the point that I came to a greater level of surrender to Christ. At that point I was drawn to other believers with whom I found more in common than before. The meetings we had in the church building were very exciting, powerful and encouraging. We were in a time of what some call revival, others might call a “move of God.” Many believers that I knew outside of that fellowship were also experiencing a new awareness of the presence of God in their lives. It was a time that I will never forget. In this environment, evangelism is free and natural. Who wouldn’t want to share joy such as this?

Since then I have never lost the desire to gather with other people who love God. There have been many painful times, for sure. Close friends have suffered illnesses like cancer, others experienced divorce or loss of a child. When people become close through their faith in Christ, they learn to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” There is also the pain of separation. Sometimes families move away from the area. Sometimes they are called to serve elsewhere. Sometimes strong disagreements can cause separation. Like I said, there are many painful times, but still I have never lost the desire to gather with the people of God. Over the years I have been exposed to various concepts of what a meeting should be like. I have learned to respect the patterns and traditions of others for the most part, as long as Jesus Christ is at the center.

There have been times when my entire week has been centered around the church I am a part of. I am not saying that is necessarily a bad thing. I have been in close communication with others involved in the planning of meetings. Much of this time helps to build relationships among us. Having often been a part of the group that provides the music and leads in the singing of praises, I know how much time that can require. Other times I have had the privilege of teaching, and I need to invest in preparation for that part of the service.

Getting together in men’s and women’s groups and small group bible studies during the week have been also normal for my wife and me. One of her favorite aspects of Christian fellowship is in teaching children about God and the bible on Sundays and during summer Vacation Bible School. Other opportunities have come along for us to serve at senior centers and homeless shelters and we are blessed in them.

All of this can and should be beneficial and a part of life in the Kingdom of God. At the same time I can see the possibility of some misconceptions here. Is this all there is that constitutes what we read about in the bible of life in Christ? Could everything become too focused on that one event on Sunday morning which is over after an hour or so? Think for a moment. In the bible, the people of God always had meeting times. In the New Testament, they were highly motivated to gather because of Christ. Yet there is very little of our modern forms seen in the Old or New Testaments. Have we enshrined our traditions, however wonderful they might be, while limiting other possibilities?

Everywhere we read about the need to serve one another, to build up one another in Christ, to love one another. Nowhere are we encouraged to always gather together around one man or woman to hear only what one individual has to say. In Paul’s writings it was always about everyone having a gift from God by which others can be served. He even describes a gathering where everyone could take his or her turn at sharing what God has given to them.

The greater danger is in placing too much control in the hands of a few individuals. It is true, some are more experienced than others, but we are all a part of His Royal Priesthood, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. These days, many are learning about other valid expressions of Christian community. They are finding the freedom to serve in the gifts that the Holy Spirit has placed within them, without rejecting the true call to unity in Christ.

They are meeting in parks, restaurants, in their own homes, or anywhere that serves His purpose for them. They do not need the support of an ancient denomination or their bank accounts to “plant a church.” They are the church, the community of born-again believers in Christ. They know who they are in Him, and do not need a name or someone with a title to approve of them.

More importantly they need to understand their total and utter dependence upon their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only by humbling themselves before Him can anyone find true fellowship as His body, the fulness of Him Who fills all in all!

The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Part 2

March 28, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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First the Kingdom, part 11: The Mustard Seed Conspiracy, Part 2

Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to nature in the manner of its growth. He said that the tiny mustard seed had the potential to grow far beyond its original size. He also noted that amazing things happen in the earth while we sleep. A farmer does not have to stand over the area where he prepared the ground and planted the seed. The seed gradually absorbs moisture and nourishment from the ground, and extends its roots very quietly and steadily. Most of the growth is hidden at first, and even when visible it is not much to look at. Many months go by before the goal of the farmer is actually reached. Finally in the harvest season, he can bring in the visible proof of this process, providing food for many!

In modern times many are in such a rush to achieve their goals. They need to see results fast. I have noticed how excited people get in the process of new church buildings. They are usually eager to give money and time to something they can physically see come into view. I know buildings do not grow up overnight, but you can see fairly soon that digging has begun. All the heavy machinery is there throughout the process of preparing for water, gas and electric lines. Then the foundation is laid, walls go up followed by the roof. Sometimes progress is seen daily. Often it is at least weekly, unless held up by unfavorable weather.

Actual spiritual growth is different. Maybe that is why patience is so emphasized in the Bible. There are times when the seed is being sown, but very little growth is seen. The message of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ are being shared, but it takes time for hearts to be changed, and lives to reveal what God has done in them. This is both true with individuals and groups of people. Because things often move slowly, some become discouraged and even give up in the effort to spread His Word.

A common way to generate enthusiasm in a church is to start another building program. This really sparks interest. Today however, some folks are finding the joy of Other wonderful efforts that can equally spark interest. These might not draw as much attention, but they can be powerful expressions of the Kingdom of God in the earth. Things like prison ministry, small group Bible studies and House Church networks, prayer groups, recovery groups, serving the homeless or young families etc. These activities are the Church in action. They mirror the forward movement of the First Century Church.

If this message does one thing, I hope every one of you who feels insignificant in the Body of Christ will come to realize how powerful in Christ you really are! Paul in his letter to the Romans strongly urges his brothers and sisters in Christ in this way. In chapter 12 he tells them the greatest act of worship is to offer our bodies, our lives in service to God. This is different from the world in general and requires the transformation of the renewed mind. If you are feeling insignificant, then you need to have your mind renewed! Hear the Word of the Lord! God has given each of us a special capacity to serve and to bless others! Notice in Romans 12 that this is not limited to leadership gifts. He simply gives examples of some of the things that God might want to do through you. Don’t worry if your gift is not included in that list. It is the principle that counts. I have often noticed that the best environment for discovering your purpose is in the fellowship of small, dedicated groups of believers.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he explains how important it is for each person to fulfill his or her purpose. As each organ and part of the human body needs to do its part for the body to be healthy, so it is with the Church, the Body of Christ. As each part functions, the whole body becomes stronger and grows to the full potential that it has in Christ. This is real Kingdom growth. While a church building with a sign on its door can become filled with people, that does not necessarily translate to the growth of the Body of Christ. In fact, up to half and even more in some situations are not even born-again children of God!

The growth of the Body of Christ cannot be measured by the size of the building or the numbers in the seats. Thank God for buildings full of people who are hearing the Gospel and learning about Christ! But thank God also for the small groups all over the world that only God can count. Those who deeply love Jesus, and one another. It can become a problem in our modern culture for the people in large meetings to miss the growth the comes through true fellowship. To some, church is sitting in a pew for an hour and watching others perform. Then they go home and return to their ordinary lives, missing the joy of participation in the adventure that is the Kingdom of God!

If you have ever tasted of the vital church experience that even in a small way resembles that of the Church in the book of Acts, you know what I am talking about. I have found that I can no longer be satisfied with anything less. While I love large gatherings with dynamic music and powerful preaching, I have found that face-to-face gatherings and one-on-one fellowship are much more important to me. This is where I learn of the great value that Christ has invested in my fellow believers.

In this context I have watched when an individual confesses a need, and others who never speak up in the public service rush in with compassion and support. Then there are the times when I discover that someone was confused by what was said from the pulpit, but was not free to ask a question. This is where the small group can greatly help bring understanding and at the same time build relationships with one another. This is where we discover that we are not a corporation, but a family!

Speaking only from my own experience, it is only too easy to think of people as a necessary component of the church, and not the church itself. Sometimes we even tend to think that the people are there to support the pastors, teachers and evangelists so that they can do the work of the ministry. As a matter of fact, in God it is the other way around! These are gifted to the Church to equip the members for their individual ministries!

We need the Biblical view that each follower of Christ is a member of this supernatural Body in which Jesus Himself lives! The material building is only important for how well it provides a place for the Body of Christ to meet. The Early Church met from house to house and in the Temple courts in Jerusalem. Elsewhere they took advantage of any suitable venue. In fact, the true temple to them was made up of individual living stones, that together made up the House of God!

It is important to notice that during the period before the building of dedicated church buildings, the growth the Church was phenomenal! The Kingdom of God is about transformed hearts, minds and lives. This hidden work is much more effective in transforming society than a great show of success on television. History will bear this out. George Whitfield along with John and Charles Wesley did most of their work in the open air in 18th Century England. Then they organized small groups for discipleship outside of the established Church. During this period the Gospel of Jesus Christ transformed England in many visible ways. Look it up!

It is time that God’s people allowed themselves to realise that He is not confined to special buildings we call “churches,” but He is everywhere His people are! If we return to the simple pattern we see in the New Testament, we will see how the Holy Spirit of God can work through us in wonderful ways as well, and we will experience the true freedom that He has always desired for us!

We hope this series on First the Kingdom has been helpful to you. To continue in this study with us, we invite you to “like” and “follow” https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom/ or subscribe to our blog on https://www.livingtruth.com

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