Biblical guide for a "church service"

Originally Posted by Dr. Vaughn

Grasshopper, I disagree..... Pauls context is VISITORS not understanding whats going on....

You have outsiders and they walk in during praise and worship and all over the building people are speaking in tongues..... they will think were all mad... so this has nothing to do with Pausl frame of reference.. in trying to say he just mean speaking publicaly before the church.... he was against the use of tongues in the public church service UNLESS there would be an interpreter

Paul obviously wasn't against tongues being used during personal devotions and times of prayer before or after the church service. First off...the early church met in homes not in big buildings. Second...these gatherings were intimate and rather close and small, typically no more than 15 to 20 people on average. They also didn't "order" services like we do. There was normally a full meal where bread and wine was offered as part of the Lord's Supper... after they had eaten the main courses. This meal was typically before the teaching portion of the meeting. In addition the teaching wasn't in Greek fashion with one speaker "preaching". The word "preached" used in Acts where Paul preached until midnight is the same word we get our word, "dialogue", from. You see they most likely ate and had the Lord's Supper. Then one of them opened the scroll of an OT book and the preacher began to teach. Then a dialogue began and the teaching and discussion continued often late into the evening as in our case in point. During these times everyone was allowed to bring a song, a teaching, and if there were an interpreter a prophetic utterance in tongues. However, Paul never advocated that they forbid speaking in tongues...especially if it were during times of prayer or private devotions before or after the preaching.

It was a relatively primitive structure bro.

Dr. Vaughn, have you ever been used in the gift of interpretation?

[DanielR]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Paul obviously wasn't against tongues being used during personal devotions and times of prayer before or after the church service. First off...the early church met in homes not in big buildings. Second...these gatherings were intimate and rather close and small, typically no more than 15 to 20 people on average. They also didn't "order" services like we do. There was normally a full meal where bread and wine was offered after they had eaten. This meal was typically before or after the teaching portion of the meeting. In addition the teaching wasn't in Greek fashion with one speaker "preaching". The word "preached" used in Acts where Paul preached until midnight is the same word we get our word, "dialogue", from. You see they most likely ate, sat down, one of them opened the scroll of an OT book and Paul or the preacher began to teach. Then a dialogue began and teaching and discussion continued often late into the evening as in our case in point. During these times everyone was allowed to bring a song, a teaching, and if there were an interpreter a prophetic utterance in tongues. However, Paul never advocated that the forbid speaking in tongues...especially if it were during times of prayer or private devotions before or after the preaching.

I have been to services like this, and in my opinion it's better than the typical church service. I learn alot more in this early church structure than today's modern structure.

Originally Posted by DanielR

I have been to services like this, and in my opinion it's better than the typical church service. I learn alot more in this early church structure than today's modern structure.

Me too. I think the IC is missing out.

[DanielR]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

Me too. I think the IC is missing out.

In the last two churches that I attended, the mens meeting was set up in that fashion. I love it, it's better than sunday service.

[papapraiz]

Respectfully, It appears to me that the early church met daily in the temple and from house to house.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. KJV

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by papapraiz

Respectfully, It appears to me that the early church met daily in the temple and from house to house.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. KJV

They did...I pointed that out as well....and what were they doing? Praise God, eating their meat and breaking bread.

They gathered for many reasons. They also gathered NOT just in a house or in the temple but in the streets to evangelize and also in synagogues

[papapraiz]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

They did...I pointed that out as well....and what were they doing? Praise God, eating their meat and breaking bread.

They gathered for many reasons. They also gathered NOT just in a house or in the temple but in the streets to evangelize and also in synagogues

My point was that many people have this misconception that the early church gathered only in houses and did not have a church building.

Also, they met daily in in the temple and from house to house in Acts 2, but it is important to note the scriptural pattern and purpose for the early church meeting on the first day of each week.

If we do not understand this, then we miss the spiritual significance for gathering together on the first day of each new week, the day we call sunday.