Home Church

 

    Consider yourself blessed if you belong to a church that teaches the Bible and have small groups for various teaching for spiritual growth. But what will happen to you if you were not able to attend your church? 

    In the book of Acts we see that people met in their homes to worship and read Scripture. Then as time progressed the official church was set up by Paul with positions of leadership and authority. Fast forward to today and you will find many people against having services at home. The Bible does say not to forsake the assembly of believers. This was said not because it would be sinful to worship alone but, there is strength in numbers and edification (building up of one another) can happen and help you as you spread the gospel. 

    But Jesus instructed us to GO into the world not STAY in one building. The disciples were taught in three years by Jesus for their mission and the Holy Spirit continued to help guide and direct them. Some church members are on their 40th year of being instructed and are not quite ready to GO yet on their own. That I guess is between them and God and I won't make any comments about it. What I do want to talk about in this post is: Can you have church at your own house with just you and your family? 

    Many churches will crumble and may never recover when their beloved pastor of many years dies. It is a sad state when the sheep are left lost and confused, having been totally dependent on one person for years. One religious group I know of prides itself (ministers) on not staying in one church too long. They don't want the congregation attached to them but attached to God. They love their congregation enough to go and let them know it is God who you cleave to in such a manner not man. 

    With cable television, people are able to turn on a church service at any time. You can pray along, sing along, and Amen along with the service within the comfort of your own home. You can take notes and mark up your Bible right there in your living room. Many do not consider television services as a valid time of worship. I ask what is the difference? You are supposed to be worshipping God and connecting with the Savior; do you need a special designated place for that? 

    One day, I told my family "Today we are going to take the Lord's Supper at home." You could see shock and fear on their faces. It became a teaching moment. "As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 2:4-5."You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29. The Bible goes on to say we are all fellow workers. One may plant the seed and one may water the seed but they both have the same purpose "For we are God's fellow workers: you are God's field, God's building" 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.    So after I convinced my family that we would not burn in Hell for taking the Lord's Supper at home I began to bless the bread and wine the way Jesus did in Luke 22:14-23. I also read the passage from 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick; and a number of you have fallen asleep." 

    The ability for you to praise and worship God is within yourselves. The ability to serve God is within yourselves. The ability for you to keep yourself focused and encouraged in God relies heavily on fellow worshippers. Your ability to grow in Christ is your responsibility but you must remember 'iron sharpens iron.' Along with the Holy Spirit you can be a great servant of God. The one thing you must always remember is that in the end there will be just you and God. Learn how to serve, worship, praise, learn, grow in God on your own. Man can fail you and mislead you, but in the end it will be you who will be held accountable for your salvation. Take it upon yourself to be able to minister to yourself. You should be your biggest advocate after Jesus. If no one was left on earth you should be able to worship God with song, praise and prayer. Become close to God. Many people believe they are close and in relationship with God because their paster is close and in relationship with God. This is not true. Know how to communicate with God for yourself.    But as I began this post, you are blessed if you have a Bible teaching church. But you should be able to minister and teach yourself also.