How To Have Church During Martial Law

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by coksiw

If you are asking about the effectiveness of small gatherings, I can tell you the one we started years ago increased from 3 to a little less than three dozens in 2 years. When the group reached one dozen, 8 received the Holy Ghost in one night speaking in tongues. After that revival followed with signs, prophetic words and conversions.

Then I moved, and the church I went to started home groups, and the home groups initiative became strong. Many people were reached through that ministry. The main church could not hold that many new converts so they had to split the Sunday morning service in three services.

I moved again, and now in small gathering at my house, everyone has the Holy Ghost and is baptized, except my toddlers, and we are working on it.

Awesome testimony

[coksiw]

Originally Posted by coksiw

If you are asking about the effectiveness of small gatherings, I can tell you the one we started years ago increased from 3 to a little less than three dozens in 2 years. When the group reached one dozen, 8 received the Holy Ghost in one night speaking in tongues. After that revival followed with signs, prophetic words and conversions.

Then I moved, and the church I went to started home groups, and the home groups initiative became strong. Many people were reached through that ministry. The main church could not hold that many new converts so they had to split the Sunday morning service in three services.

I moved again, and now in small gathering at my house, everyone has the Holy Ghost and is baptized, except my toddlers, and we are working on it.

It does take time, though. In my experience, it always took few years to see a significant expansion. I also was the minister in another small gathering in somebody's house with mature Christians in between the first and second testimony above. I recall only a couple of conversions in that one. However, it was still awesome. I recall one night three people out of like seven attendants received instant healing in Jesus name.
I didn't last long in that one as I had to move.

I am strong believer in small gatherings. The book of acts shows small gatherings and large gatherings. They all have their place. If you go to a large church building you better do home groups. If you go to house churches it is good to have fellowship with other ones in then area, especially the ones that came out of the same missionary work.

[n david]

Originally Posted by coksiw

If you are asking about the effectiveness of small gatherings, I can tell you the one we started years ago increased from 3 to a little less than three dozens in 2 years. When the group reached one dozen, 8 received the Holy Ghost in one night speaking in tongues. After that revival followed with signs, prophetic words and conversions.

Then I moved, and the church I went to started home groups, and the home groups initiative became strong. Many people were reached through that ministry. The main church could not hold that many new converts so they had to split the Sunday morning service in three services.

I moved again, and now in small gathering at my house, everyone has the Holy Ghost and is baptized, except my toddlers, and we are working on it.

I understand the effectiveness of home (cell) groups. I'm asking about house churches.

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by n david

I understand the effectiveness of home (cell) groups. I'm asking about house churches.

Are you wondering about how many are filled with the Holy Ghost in each service? What do you mean by effectiveness?

House church is the foundation of the early church.

The question is, how effective will the church (i.e members) be with House Service? The western mindset has damaged our faith on how God works.

[hometown guy]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

Are you wondering about how many are filled with the Holy Ghost in each service? What do you mean by effectiveness?

House church is the foundation of the early church.

The question is, how effective will the church (i.e members) be with House Service? The western mindset has damaged our faith on how God works.

Forgive me I have not read through this thread ... I don’t mind a house church but on what grounds do you feel that mindset has damaged our faith on how God works? Maybe you have been on different type churches that i have been apart of....

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by hometown guy

Forgive me I have not read through this thread ... I don’t mind a house church but on what grounds do you feel that mindset has damaged our faith on how God works? Maybe you have been on different type churches that i have been apart of....

I was referring to what nDavid was asking about. I believe Home Church/Service was the foundation of the early church. I believe the effectiveness isn’t dependent on the platform of “Home Service” yet it depends upon the members that are going.

The western mindset has I believed damaged us in our walk for God. We have it so easy in this country our dependence on God is not where it should be in various areas of our life.

For instance,
Financial problem, we have credit cards
We get sick, we have insurance
We have problems, we can solve them
We lose our job, we have unemployment insurance

Being dependent on God, is being dependent. When the Lord tells us he’ll take care of us, then he will. Yet, before God can act, we move forward with the “answer”. The western mindset is, God doesn’t help those that don't help themselves. So, we help ourselves and we don’t allow God to help us. This is my personal opinion, if you have other thoughts please tell me.

As far as Home Service, there are several church’s I know would be against it, they’re so used to having service in a building they don't believe in Home Service. The western mindset is there is a better, more modern way to have church, thats why 90% of church’s have been live streaming there services.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I didn't really say our posts contradict each other, that wasn't my point. I was trying to say we shouldn't distinguish between house church or small group church on the one hand and something else on the other, rather the focus should be on the BIBLICAL MANNER, we should all want to have BIBLICAL church rather than X, Y, or Z style church.

The only structure that should be set is God's structure. If that is taught nobody is gonna worry about "their favorite song" because they will have been taught all singing is for TEACHING and ADMONITION not enjoyment.

One guy making all the decisions is most certainly NOT Biblical church.

Singing? Here is apostolic instruction:

1 Corinthians 14:26 KJV
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.

In our meetings, and in the meetings we had with the house church we were originally with years ago, nobody "structured" anything except God. Nobody decided which songs and how many and what order, nobody decided what teaching was presented (and no more). We gathered, we prayed, then anyone could speak, testify, preach, read, sing, etc as they were led. And whatever was said was JUDGED RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN THE MEETING. The elder would usually give a word of exhortation or doctrine. More praying, testifying, etc. Then often a meal together. There was no need for some person to "structure the meeting to prevent people from wanting to sing something" that the alleged "person in charge" didn't want to hear. It's not their personal meeting anyway, it's the Lord's.

But to each his own.

But Bro n Sis so and so paid for the fellowship hall, pews, water fountain, pulpit, AND the songbooks! Their names are even inscribed in gold around the rim of the offering plate and speaking of offerings...if they left thatd be a lot of money gone and the "First Lady" was really looking forward to that Alaskan Gospel Cruise this year because Branson is just old hat these days.


Seems house church would cut alot of that out...puts people on equal footing before the cross in a genuine and real way thats unscripted and flexible.


Good post man...not that my opinion matters or anything lol