HOUSE CHURCH 101

BIBLICAL CHURCH STRUCTURE HOUSE CHURCH 101, 3/31/18   by Ken Smith
First of all, Christ Jesus said that HE would build HIS Church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.  That HIS Church would see the victory over death, hell and the grave and go to heaven in Glory.  That HIS Church would make herself ready by the blood of the Lamb, the word of her testimony and love not her life unto death.  Rev.12:11, John 12:24-25.
There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all who truly love and obey HIM are members.
There was no beginning and there is no end.  But God did create a time capsule of 7,000 years in which to create HIS family in HIS image.  It began with Adam and it ends with God making a new heavens and a new earth that is righteous.  We are now about 6,000 years into that time capsule.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The 7th, 1000 years is the Sabbath Rest of the week.
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4.And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection
GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, FATHER…  Source of all power and matter in the universe.
GOD the Father Almighty above all, existing in three forms as Father, Word and Holy Spirit. The Almighty’s presence is a consuming fire into whose presence  no human can enter and live. No man except Christ Jesus as ever seen GOD, The Father, Almighty.
Heb.12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  29 For our God is a consuming fire. Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
The Word is the creative part of the GOD force that made the galaxies and the world in which we live.  Those who allow HIM to become LORD and learn to be obedient in love and humility will go on into eternal light and HIS presence where the dimension of time does not exist.  Those souls who reject this relationship will be expelled into a  body-less eternal darkness.
The Holy Spirit was sent to earth by Christ Jesus to share the good news of GOD’s love and to help share the way of redemption.  HE was also sent to establish the Church of Christ Jesus on earth and make ready for the Church to clean house.  Then to be united with Christ Jesus and set up again the Kingdom of David and rule for a thousand years with the Church as HIS rod of iron in maintaining peace during this time.  In this time all of the promises to Abraham will be completely fulfilled.  At the end of this capsule of time of 7,000 years God Almighty will dissolve time and make a new heaven and earth that is eternal in HIS eternal dimension for HIS new family.
OK, there you have it, the plan of the ages.  GOD, The Almighty, wants to create a family that will enjoy loving HIM and obeying HIM to the place that there will never again be fear or a prideful rebellion.  HE has extended HIS invitation to all to come and drink of HIS waters of life freely.
SO WHERE DO WE START ?
Why trust the Bible in preference to other sources?
    Frankly, the folks who sincerely explore the Bible tend to be very good people.     The teachings of Christ Jesus are the only teachings the deal thoroughly with pride.     As I look at the foundations of creation I see a totally balanced intelligent design.     The testimony of the folks who have found faith through the Bible is awesome.     The Old Testament prophesies concerning the life of Jesus are extremely accurate.     As I read or listen to the New Testament I find a life and faith beyond my own.     So many men and women of faith have died painfully rather than renounce their faith.     Personally, I have experienced the power of Biblical faith in healing and deliverance.     As a test, simply consider deeply the little books of John, Acts and Romans and see what you think.
Christ Jesus, in the Bible, teaches that in the end of the “Age of the Gentiles” will come a time when the darkness will get very dark and the light will get very bright, Matt.24, Mark 13, Luke 21. Seems to me that this is what is happening in our world today.  The Bible teaches that in that time that the church of man will become a powerless institution without the Spirit of God and to turn away from that emptiness, 2 Tim.3,  and find a gathering of folks simple seeking to become like Jesus.  So what does a Biblical Church look like,
First of all it looks like a family or a flock of sheep enjoying being in unity and guarded by a good shepherd that they follow due to their trust and good  protection and good food and water.
There is absolutely no manipulation in a Biblical Church as God always honors our free will and will not violate or manipulate our free will so all are there in unity by choice.  Love can not exist unless totally free.
The Biblical Church meets where ever there is freedom and any love offerings given should be used for missions and to help the poor. Usually a Biblical Church is rather small so that the Pastor can know and be known of the flock.  This is usually not much more than about 70 people before the Church needs consider dividing and to have another elder/pastor confirmed of the Holy Spirit for a new “House” Church as noted in the New Testament.
Each Elder/Pastor would find it helpful to also be training or mentoring another pastor.  And all of the elders in a local area should come together once each week to keep the “Unity of the Faith in the bond of Peace.” and resolve issues objectively in the Holy Spirit.  Eventually, a given area should have hundreds of “House Church” gatherings and saturate and area for the lifting up of Christ Jesus, Eph.4:11-16.
The basic approach to the House Church gathering is simple like the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness.   The Early Church followed the Temple guide in Acts 2:41-47.   This is not in any way or must be done all the time kind of a guide line.  It is simply a very good way to bring folks into the Kingdom of God.  But the Holy Spirit will guide a gathering into the best way to meet all of the needs of the people who have taken the time and energy to come.
The Tabernacle was divided in to 3 areas, Outer Court (door, alter, laver) then the Inner Court (show bread,  prayer, body life ministry) and then the Holy Place.  In the Early Church the door was the Testimony of Christ Jesus, The Altar was the ministry of the WORD OF GOD) and the laver was the Agape Meal.  Then the LORD’s supper, Prayers, And the Saints ministered to one another in the Holy Spirit.  And finally the gathering came to the Elders for any final needed ministry.  These 7 steps brought a soul from the carnal world into the presence of GOD for the ministry to their needs. God’s power and love becomes obvious in HIS healing and deliverance.
Meetings can be conducted on any evening and go as long as anyone that is there needs ministry.  If the gathering is in three stages then folks can leave if not interested at any time without feeling uncomfortable about leaving.  But gatherings are more powerful when everyone present is in faith with what is going on.   The Church is not a Theater it is a yielding to the Holy Spirit and you never know what HE is going to do.  The gathering is an interactive Forum where the Holy Spirit presides and the elders assist to keep order and keep the wolves from taking over..   One week may be more evangelical, another may have more healings and yet another may be more a time of intense deliverance.  Some time a Prophet will be led to make corrections or a Teacher to give a teaching on Faith as per the Holy Spirit.  The gathering works best when the Elders in charge support the Holy Spirit in what HE would like to do at the time. And to also make sure that false doctrine and divisions are dealt with in love very quickly.
Usually, in building a new fire,   it has been my experience for the Holy Spirit to first bring in the leadership and get them trained in basket building.   Then comes the heart training in the Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit and the Ministries of the Spirit.  I had just completed a study on this for Friday but my computer deleted it????  Punched the wrong key I guess.  So I will do it again and perhaps make it better.   But this, I hope will help a bit for Friday.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org