Salutations!

If you have not done so already, you might want to read the early post,  “A Bit More Where I’m Coming From“.  Sometimes, what direction the message is coming from is just as important as the content of the message.  For those of you who have done so, let’s move forward!

Opening

I wrote early about research and Bible study I have been doing for years now.  I read quite a bit on ‘being missional’ (seems to be a hot topic these days), ‘doing church’ and other ideas.  Why?  Because, I believe after much Bible reading that in my heart, that there has to be more that I can do to move closer to the heart of God.  After evaluating a number of different ideas, I found a few that, when put together, really form the basis for a simple, yet powerful, way to do just that.  Furthermore, after discussions with a dozen (or so) of Christian friends, I believe these concepts may also benefit other Christians as well.

Before you read further, please understand a few things.  I believe everything we do, every decision we make, in our limited, human capacities should be done to glorify God.  To that end, He has given us the Holy Bible to guide us because, at the end of the day, our hearts and minds can fail us and send us in the wrong direction.  Even with that, we must pray fervently for guidance and discernment from the Holy Spirit.  I am by no means perfect, therefore, my understanding of God’s Word is certainly failed.  I am praying often, as well as seeking council from other Christians I know, so that I may be corrected should I stray into areas of sin, pride or selfishness.

I also need to stress that while some of these ideas may seem divisive, or come from those who also teach doctrines which can be interpreted as divisional, that, also, is not my intent.  The Bible does not validate man made divisions aside from geographical ones.  Therefore, we should not argue and separate on anything save for essential Christian truth.  To do so is sinful.  I have worked hard to validate whatever I accept as truth as building the kingdom and fellowship of Christians for His Glory.  Any so-called ‘truth’ which drives and inspires division is questionable at best.  At worst, much of it comes from the heart of Satan.

With that being said, let’s move forward.

The Vision

As I mentioned on my last post, my wife and I resumed meeting with a local gathering of believers (I will not name the specific body right now, since I do not have official sanctioning from them that they approve of my message.  Hopefully, we can work together and I can tie that organization to these efforts I believe God is leading me in).  Attending a corporate gathering to learn God’s Word or do a good work certainly was good.  My wife and I were immediately blessed in a number of ways, and saw potential opportunities for join efforts.  Yet, I could not shake the feeling that, in my hear, something critical was missing.  As a student of the New Testament, I could certainly testify that corporate gatherings and fellowship have these elements, but other, critical elements designed to demonstrate and glorify God were missing.  A good example would be what are often referred to as the ‘one anothers.’  These are not an exhaustive, legalistic list of elements which are required to be present in every corporate gathering.  However, together, they paint a picture of what the type of life and fellowship the early apostles advocated to lead to lives of holiness and to glorify God.  Unlike mainstream services today, the squarely focused on the deep and meaningful interactions between siblings of the faith.

Without diving too much into the theological soup, so to speak, I would like to present a series of very simple, Biblically based ideas, that, when working together, form the framework for a local body of Christ.

Life Transformation Groups (The Cell Level)

Taken from CMA Resources.  “A Life Transformation Group (LTG) is a simple way to release the most essential elements of a vital spiritual walk to people who need Jesus. This tool empowers the common Christian to accomplish the uncommon work of reproducing spiritual disciples who can in turn reproduce others. An LTG is made up of two or three people, all of the same gender, who meet weekly for personal accountability for their spiritual growth and development. It is recommended that a group not grow past three but rather multiply into two groups.”

LTGs are simple, small groups that follow a very basic pattern. These groups of two and three agree to read 20-30 chapters from the Bible each week, pray for each other (and the unsaved around them) every day, and fellowship with one another by asking some spiritually hard questions.  One of the largest challenges I see with Christians, especially new ones, is a lack of knowledge of God’s Word.  Sermons fill a specific purpose in proclaiming the Word, but if the only lessons you learn are from the pulpit, you’re missing on the many messages the Holy Spirit wants to be speak directly into your heart through God’s Word.  The LTG provides accountability one of the most critical area’s of a Christian’s life.  When our lives are built, with others, on God’s Word, it makes for solid foundation indeed.  Prayer and mutual exhortation, also critical, are also included.  Following this format, a young Christian will go through the entire Bible in under a year, have discussed it with at least one other brother with the Spirit (Where two or more are gathered, there He shall be), learned to pray using scripture, and practiced a fair number of the ‘one anothers’ with another believer.

Lack of this type of fellowship may result in a shallow faith, especially amount newer believers.  Let’s face it, the pastors and elders in our church simply do not have the time or resources to handle every small issue, or to individually care for every new convert.  With LTG’s, newer members may be paired with more mature brothers.  Immediately they learn together directly from God’s Word.  If led or directed, these ‘teams of two or three” may be sent to evangelize and bring God’s truth to those who may never set foot into a religious building.  Don’t forget His promise:  “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”  Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, and in this fashion was born.  A group of two or three can often do what a 10,000 member organization could only hope to accomplish.

Small grouping is key.  It allows for greater scheduling flexibility, planner, confidentiality and free growth (in big groups, the group tends to slow down the the speed of the slowest learner).  Should others wish to join, the group grows.  Should it grow to four members, a split should occur creating more ‘cells.’  When enough cells are developed together (either through a local church body, geographically, through an evangelist / church planter, etc), a fellowship group may be formed.

Fellowship Group (The Tissue Level)

Multiple cells in our bodies form tissue. In this manner, multiple FTGs may come together to form a Fellowship Group.  Fellowship groups meet together on a regular (weekly or more) basis to break break (Lord’s Supper), pray mutually, exercise spiritual gifts, bless one another, etc.  In Acts 2, it is mentioned that the early believers met in homes daily to break bread and fellowship.  While our lives may be too busy for an every day meeting, doing this weekly is probably quite do-able.  What does this kind of group look like?  As one blogger wrote…

I’ve stopped inviting people to “church” or even “Home Church,” “House Church” or “Simple Church.” This whole thing is to happen organically. Since everyone we know EATS, I simply invite people to dinner! During the course of the evening, we may wind up counseling, praying for people the way I prayed for you guys on Saturday. We have even piled in the van and gone places to minister to others. At times, we’ve wound up playing games. The #1 goal: become a family! Think “family reunion.” We share our lives, not merely an hour. Someone with a guitar may lead us in a few songs but it’s not something we do every time. Worship, after all, is a lifestyle. Even our work is actually a form of worship. Before anybody leaves, we ALWAYS ask if we can pray for them. Most times, that winds up with laying on hands, anointing with oil, tears and even deliverance!

Fellowship Groups provide spiritual family support to the body of Christ.  Many of us are in need of support from brothers, sisters and elders in Christ.  The challenge lies in the fact that while church groups serve a purpose (such as a men’s Bible study), they never fill the spiritual roles spoken of in the New Testament.  They also do not provide the necessary atmosphere to demonstrate the full characteristics of love and grace to one another.  Finally, they provide a way to have some fun and relax in a casual atmosphere with other Christians.  The Lord’s Supper is a great example of this.  When you see mention of eating in the Bible, it is painted in context of a great meal, lots of food (and wine!), and fellowship.  Contrast that with our religious version which is very solemn and consists of a small cracker and grape juice.  Coming together for meals in a family sized context is one of the biggest blessings Jesus gave to us!  Doing it in a constant group of 10-15 (3-5 cell groups/LTGs), provides a family type of atmosphere that, to be honest, many believers do not get a chance to experience anywhere else.  Unlike many earthly families, however, Jesus is at the center of each and every gathering.

Unfortunately, some movement leaders say that this is ‘church’ implying that there’s nothing to be gained from larger gatherings.  I cannot help but feel they limit God in doing so….

Wrong type of organ, I take it?

Corporate Gatherings: (The Organ Level)

The Bible (New Testament) speaks often about how believers would come together in the market, or temple, to hear the apostles teach.  While these were mainly painted in an evangelical light, it is easy to imagine that believers were there as well, to learn more revelations of Christ.  People who stop church at the organ level miss great opportunities to learn new truths from men who spend their whole life studying God’s Word, worked in different missing fields and more.

Furthermore, in today’s society, larger church groups are able to accomplish things that smaller, fellowship groups cannot.  One such organization I know of works with the government to provide homes, food and supplies for Christian refugees from another country.  Organizations of this size are able to support city wide workshops who share truths about very specific topics.  Christian organizations of this type can provide critical, professional level support for desperate siblings (such as an abused woman trying to escape a dark situation) that a fellowship group may not be able to assist effectively.

The Global Church of Jesus Christ (The Body)

Even with the resources of a large church body, the support of various church fellowships and the discipleship training from individual cells, all working together for the glory of Christ, the body is not complete.  While divided superficially by distance and geography, the body of Christ is bound together through the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit.  Part of God’s plan (to further reveal His Glory),  is that no man, FTG, Fellowship group or even church body/denomination is totally self sufficient or has total knowledge of His ways.  Therefore, each of these groupings is further supported by church bodies and ministries from across the street and around the World.  Through loving and sacrificial service to one another, we reflect Jesus love for His church and, in turn, glorify God.

Unfortunately, some church organizations have Jesus in the wrong place.

Jesus Christ (The Head)

At the center of every size of gathering, leading through the Spirit, Jesus Christ is the one and only head of the church.  His bride is too magnificent and precious to be lead by any one man or group of men.  Jesus leads the dance and the direction of His Church.  Unlike limited man made institutions which much function from the top-down to effectively communicate and lead, Christ often leads from the bottom up, using ‘the smallest of these’ to lead new movements and reveal new truths so that His Father alone may be glorified! (Luke 10:21)  However, do not believe that just because Jesus does use this method often, that the opposite cannot be true.  Many great truths and movements have come from pastors and leaders of larger organization.  Remember, God is too big to fit into ANY man made box!

This applies to so many different things as well.  Some churches say that the pastor evangelizes primarily through the Sunday Sermon.  Others say that only through one on one relationship and going out into the world can we reach the lost.  Is God not powerful enough to use both?  Is there any form of method, organization or group size that God cannot use to His Glory?  As long as men seek Him first, with a willingness to put aside anything and everything for His Glory, God WILL use them!  And never assume that because one method seems to have ‘better results’ (such as more converts) that it’s the ONLY way that God uses people.  How dare we presume that we have the corner on God’s Will and methods!?   If we will all put CHRIST first own theology, theories, methods, ministries, churches, movements and our own lives,  and allow HIM to lead, HE will use us in powerful way using people and methods we would never dream of.  Let Jesus be the head, follow the Spirit while staying saturated in God’s Word, and you will glorify God in ways unimaginable.

Conclusion

In my own search for a deeper relationship and expression of love, I have learned more about the church than ever before.  They often say that you get to know a lot about a person through their spouse. And, to be frank, it is hard to imagine that anyone can claim to truly love God without loving his bride, the Church, at the same time.  And, as I noted above, no one, including myself, has a the inside track to truth.  To anyone reading this, I implore you to compare it, yourself, with God’s Word.  if I am an error, please let me know.  I also freely admit that this blog post is hardly conclusive.  Perhaps, for your life or church, only part of it may be of benefit.  You may even modify it.  These ideas are not mine, so feel free to use this as you will (though I would love to hear any updates if you do)

There are so many subjects springing out of this (such as leadership) that I could literally write for months and still not exhaust the issue.  To those tempted to do so, don’t.  Simple is usually best (though by no means easy).  God could have made the New Testament, and the direction of the Church, as detailed as the temple building instruction in Leviticus.  He did not.  Those who attempt to do so (from those who write long church bi-laws to those who write books on “How To” have an emerging movement) risk pre-empting the Holy Spirit’s direction  and invoking the warning in Revelations about adding to God’s Word.  Phil 2:12 calls us to work out our faith with fear and trembling…not to work out others faith for them :)

For ages now, the bride of Christ has, in many of its incarnations, looked like the bride of Frankenstein.  From large organizations run by men who succumb to pride and suffer from overwork as they try to run the Church for Christ, to Christians who try to live an un-biblical faith in solitude, to new movements insisting that small grouping is the only way to holiness, we find ourselves trying to run a body with no organs, organs with no cells and cells with no body.  Institutional church, found deep in the trenches of traditionalism cannot ignore the fact that the Spirit of God is moving through the hearts of people to worship and live church in a more personal, deeper and smaller-scale way, as patterned clearly in the New Testament.  Though men and leaders being prompted in this new direction must not forget the commands of Jesus to refrain from division within the body, for blessed are the peacemakers.

We are to work together and serve one another, with all believers, through grace, humbleness, humility and fervent prayer.  Until leaders in the church learn that they are NOT in control and empower their congregants to preach/evangelize/lead on the cell/group level they will continue to see very limited results and, unfortunately, suffer to results of burn out.  On the other side, emerging / simple church leaders must network and be part of larger institutions lest they miss out on valuable blessing and resources that come from being part of a larger, organized network.  Uf we fail to do so, we not only disappoint the groom, we leave millions of Christians distraught (and ineffective) in the wake of these continued debates and wars.  Let us thank God for the truths and freedoms He has given us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Let us work together, hand in hand, with our brothers on all levels to bring and present Jesus Christ to the lost.  Through our testimony and witness (The light and love of Jesus) may those who used to be sinners accept His Gift and brothers together with us, in Christ, that Our Father may be glorified!