HOW DO WE MEET…SUCCESS MEANS EQUIPPING

this local church does not do small groups; this local church is a small group preferably in a home, where everyone participates.

Acts 2:42 (nkjv) and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaKing of bread, and in prayers. 46 so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaKing bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Here are the main ingredients of church in the home. BreaKing of bread, study the word, fellowship, and prayer, sharing together, giving, and caring for others, praise, worship and evangelism. We will grow in the Spirit by engaging in the same kinds of activities as those of the early church, so that we, too, may become the kind of people who can consistently announce, embody and demonstrate the Kingdom of God.

The primary emphasis of the church in the home is participation of everybody. It is in the home group that people are born again, where they are baptized. (In the Spirit and water). It is also in the home group where the little ones are dedicated to the Lord. The church in the home is fully functional. The coaching of Christians is done effectively in a home where there is a higher level of accountability and community.

It is in the church in the home where you forge your primary relationships. What would the main ingredients be that makes the church in the home vibrant and functional? (The dynamics)

Blessing and eating or edification and the Lord’s supper.

You do not build a relationship with others as you share scriptures. It is wonderful to express your knowledge of the word and to minister through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is an important part of the church in the home. I believe that we must commence to build relationships through fellowship. That means that you share your life, the real you, meeting the real brothers, sisters and friends. There has to be reality to develop relationships. For long enough have we broken bread with people we do not know, trust or think that we can rely on.

First things first, we need to have fellowship around a table. Laughter, honesty, sometimes serious, sometimes tears. The full spectrum of emotions should be expressed. It is such a precious experience to get to know people, even their frailties. We need to have patience and know that it takes time, lots of time. We have time as we do not have to rush anywhere. We are not production driven. We do not have to multiply every month.  The church in the home should experience growth in a normal sense as people are added either through new birth or friends that love being together on this journey. The church in the home is not driven by the need to grow numerically to impress. 

We need to break down the barriers around us. We need to destroy the walls of self protection and realize God will protect us from the onslaught of the devil and we do not need protection from the believers.

Then we need to restore the Lords supper from the “snack” that it has become in the church to “the supper” that the Lord endeavoured it to be. I do not know how we can call a sip of red grape juice and a crumb of a cracker the Lord’s Supper. It should be the “Lord’s appetiser”, the “Lords hors d’oeuvres”.

The Lord’s Supper originated at the last supper, which in itself was a Passover feast.

Luke 22:7-38 (nlt) now the festival of unleavened bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”  “Where do you want us to prepare it?” They asked Him.  He replied, “as soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house He enters, say to the owner, ‘the teacher asks: where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’  He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”  They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.  When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”  Then He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then He said, “Take this and share it among you.  For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”  He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “this is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”  After supper He took another cup of wine and said, “this cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.  “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.  For it has been determined that the Son of man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays Him.”  The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.  Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.  Jesus told them, “in this world the Kings and great men Lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ but among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.  Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I trial.  And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”  Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”  But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Then Jesus asked them, “when I sent you out to preach the good news and you did not have money, a traveller’s bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?” “no,” they replied.  “But now,” He said, “take your money and a traveller’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!  For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”  “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” He said.

The Greek word used here for supper is: deipnon – formal dinner, banquet, and feast. Notice that the Lord passed the cup around after supper. The word communion comes from this experience of the “dinning fellowship”. Dinning is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. Nowhere in the bible has this “the Lords supper” been abolished or reduced to a snack-style memorial. The way it is done today is indeed a violation of the theology behind the Lord’s Supper.

I have always maintained that if you can “braai” and you like to have people around, then you qualify for “church in your home”.