We are part of a growing number of believers in
Christ that have come to see the importance of Christ’s headship over
His people in the churches. The
New Testament churches that the apostles organized had three
characteristics; they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching,
fellowship in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Acts 2:42
We are told to hold to the traditions that were
delivered to us.
Now I praise you brethren, that you remember me
in all things, and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you.
1 Cor.11:2
Therefore, brethren stand fast and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Theses. 2:15
There is a uniform pattern or way that Christ’s
apostles organized local church assemblies.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace as in all the churches of the saints. 1Cor. 14:33
We are to follow Paul’s ways which are in
Christ, which included open participatory gatherings and the Lords’
supper as a full fellowship meal and plurality of servant leaders for
each church which gathering in their homes.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy who is my beloved
son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of
my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Cor.4:16,17
Now ye are the body of Christ and members in
particular. And God has
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, third
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Cor. 12:27,28
Page
2
OPEN
MEETINGS
The church had open meetings where everyone could
participate and edification of the whole body was the intended purpose
for gathering. The presence
and liberty of the Holy Spirit brought renewed strength and vision to
the Lord’s people.
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.
1 Cor. 14:26
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you
are the commandments of the Lord.
But if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant.
1 Cor. 14:37,38
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
2 Cor. 3:17
LORD’S
SUPPER
The Lord ’s Supper was a weekly full fellowship
meal that they had in common when the church came together.
Upon the first day of the week we gather to enjoy this fellowship
meal together and thus build our unity and common union with each other
in Christ. We look back to
what Christ did for our redemption and forward to that great day of the
marriage supper of the lamb.
And they continued daily with one accord in the
temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with
gladness and singleness of heart.
Acts 2:46
And upon the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread. Acts 20:7
When ye come together into one place, this is not
to eat the Lord ’s Supper. For
in eating every one takes before the other his own supper: and one is
hungry and another is drunken. What have ye not houses to eat and to
drink in? or despise ye the
church
of
God
and shame them that have not? What
shall I say to you? Shall
I praise you in this? I
praise you not. For I have
received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you, that the Lord
Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he
had given thanks he brake it and said take eat:
this is my body, which is broken for you:
this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft
as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Cor. 11:20-25
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to
eat, tarry one for another. And
if any man hunger, let him eat at home…1 Cor. 11:33,34
Page
3
PLURAL
SERVANT LEADERS - Men only
The church had leaders called Elders they were
always plural for each church that gathered in their homes.
Apostles also at times can function as Elders as the apostle
Peter describes in his epistle in 1 Peter 5:1
Women are not to be elders in a New Testament church.
And when they had ordained them elders in every
church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on
whom they believed. Acts
14:23
And from
Miletus
he sent to
Ephesus
, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:17
For this cause left I thee in
Crete
, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.
Titus 1:5
If any man desire the office of an overseer, he
desires a good work. An overseer then must be blameless, the husband
of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality,
apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy
lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well
his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; for
if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care
of the church of God? Not
a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. Moreover,
he must have a good report of them which are without: lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Tim. 3:1-7
But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence. For
Adam was first formed, then Eve. And
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the
transgression. 1 Tim
2:12,13
Page
4
ELDERS,
OVERSEERS, PASTORS
The term elder refers to the man’s maturity in
spiritual matters and wisdom from his life experiences.
Overseer, refers to the man’s work of watching over the
assembly for troubles that could arise and handle the different
difficulties to bring harmony and defend the faith that was once
delivered unto the saints. Pastor
describes the shepherd qualities of leading and feeding the sheep into
places of comfort and rest. These
three descriptions are but the same person having these three-fold
qualities.
Acts 20:28 Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer, to feed the
church
of
God
, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a
witness of the suffering of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s
heritage, but being examples to the flock..
1 Peter 5:1-3
HOME
ASSEMBLIES
The home of the saints were used for gathering
together and supporting itinerant workers.
There was no man-made structures as we commonly have today that
people call churches. The
Lord’s people and not man-made buildings are the church.
Each home functioned as an independent church making decisions
for themselves, with leadership that was home-grown.
They baptized, exercised church discipline and in general
functioned as a unit.
The foundation of the church was laid by the
apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus the chief cornerstone.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom
all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit. Eph.2:20-22
This house of God is a spiritual house not a
building made with men’s hands.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1Pet. 2:5
Each believer is a living stone that God uses for
his building material. 1 Pet.2:5
I keep back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to
house. Acts 20:20
Greet the church that is in their house.
Rom.16:5
The churches of Asia salute you,
Aquila
and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the church that is in
their house. 1Cor.16:19
Salute the brethren which are in
Laodicea
, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Col.
4:15
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our
fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house
Philemon 1:2
Page
5
OTHER
CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLIES
While we believe God uses other Christian
assemblies we must let the scriptures be our final authority in all
matters. 1 Tim.3:16; 1
Thes.2:13; John 17:17
With the scriptures as our authority and our
conscience our guide there is but one scriptural basis for gathering
together in Christ and we have made that choice to be obedient in all
things to our Saviour Jesus Christ.
By whom we have received
grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all
nations, for his name. Rom.1:6
Those things which ye have both learned, and
received and heard, and
seen in me, do and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phil. 4:9
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching
every man in all wisdom: that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labour, striving according to his
working which worketh in me mightily.
Col
1:28-29
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us:
2Thes.3:7
Page
6
OUR
IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST
We do not take any name to set us apart from the
body of Christ as so many others have.
The primary identity of the churches were called by the family
that hosted the gathering and who opened their homes for such
gatherings. Rom.16:5; Phil
1:2 ;1Cor 16:19;
Col
4:5
Secondarily the churches were called by the city
where they live or were domiciled in.
Thirdly, the churches were called by the regional
geographic area that they lived in.
We can greatly heal and restore many divisions and
barriers today that giving
yourself a name has created by returning to the way churches viewed
themselves to each other. Stop
giving yourself a name. Rather
identify yourself by the city you live in and the house you gather in.
This is the light we walk in should you wish to
contribute to what has been written we welcome your insight and
spiritual understanding.