He says pretty much: “my speech was not extravagant. There is only one word and truth makes anybody uncomfortable. and the further we go into our view of worship or how to do things. The more we add to the word of God the more its for us to please ourselves. That’s telling me that we’re trying to lure people in with a desire for the gospel with things. If we need a better sounding music a better looking video more lights more fancy things. I am not trying to be down with the new things today in life. God wanted to worship Him with ALL our hearts with ALL our mind with ALL our strength. A persons heart it was just not a new testament thing. We like the flesh we enjoy it, we want things that are so far away from God. The purpose of the commandments and customs were because we’re really really evil. He didn’t just want them to obey and say do this and don’t do that. When God gave the commandments for the Israelites to follow. it always has been the heart since the beginning or creation. And evaluating.įor in the end, these ten things are still things the church has that the Bible doesn’t. If it’s because it’s the way we’ve always done it, that’s no good reason at all.īut if we recognize that these are man-made ideas which may help us to accomplish God-given instruction well, then that’s something to consider.Īnd to keep considering. If it’s because the Bible says so, we’re always on good ground. Once again, it all comes back to “why.” Why do we do the things we do? How easy it is to equate our experience or tradition with the Bible’s instruction!Īnd while these things may or may not be helpful to the practice of our church gathering, they are certainly unhelpful if we can’t let them go. Now, do we scratch it because it’s not in the Bible? Not necessarily.īut we do acknowledge that these are not things the Bible prescribes, suggests, or models. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that this was a gathering of believers who were being taught the Word, not evangelized.Īnd the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:45Īltar Calls. No appeal for unbelievers to walk down the aisle to accept Christ. No shiny offering plates passed by ushers while pretty music is played.Īnd they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. In fact, shock of all shockers, you will find no worship leader, no worship team, and no rehearsals. And even then, I’m not so sure they followed the practice of a lecture-style presentation where one leader speaks and all others simply listen.Īnd they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Preaching of the gospel took place outside the church gathering. Sermons.Read every description of the church’s gathering, and you’ll find no mention of a sermon. On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. Service Times. Who’s to say the early church didn’t meet at 6 pm? Or 8am? Or both? And what if they met for 2 hours or more? No verse demands 10:45am-12noon, and no verse suggests multiple services in a day. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Beyond that, no “church membership” is distinctly defined in Scripture. All followers of Christ are members of the same Body. Instead, we see church leaders addressing children directly in the worship gathering:Ĭhildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. No children’s church, youth groups, or “age-appropriate” learning. Speaking of Sunday School, there is no indication that the early church divided into age groups to learn about God. ![]() ![]() No programs, classes, or curriculum.Īge Segregation. Imagine the experience of a few families sharing their lives together, as opposed to hundreds, even thousands, who don’t even recognize others who attend the same church. Because these churches met in homes, they could only grow so large. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. ![]() No building campaigns, mortgages, custodians, and carpet discussions. Perhaps most obviously, the early church was not confined to a church building with steeple and pews. Have you observed the average evangelical church of today with Bible in hand? If so, you may have noticed a number of things the church has that the Bible doesn’t.īuildings.
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