Listers,

Why is it when someone goes into another country to *plant* the Church (which btw is an impossibility) first thing he does is seek a fund to buy or rent a Church Building? How does that compare with the apostles in the 1stCen? Well...it doesn't. Once a missionary said he knew that was not the way to go, but if there was no building people wouldn't COME to hear about Jesus.

Paul and the others WENT (GO) into the world and taught the people...Jesus. They went where the people were. They didn't first build a Church Building and invite the world to COME to hear the preacher tell them about Christ. Christ said GO...today you hear COME unto us and we will tell you about Jesus.

Nuff said!

Nelta http://members.xoom.com/atlen/ Bible discussion list: 1stCen-Christianity-subscribe@egroups.com

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

Answers

Nelta....

First....I agree with you.

Second.....I personally don't know many missionaries who follow that approach. A possible building is wayyyyyyyyy.....down the line.

Third.....(this is for Randy)......training local evangelists is both sound missiological practice.....and very New Testament.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Amen, amen, amen! I answer Nelta's post for two reasons: (1) I'm a missionary vitally interested in effective evangelization; (2) An article I saw in a Christian Church magazine said to do a good mission work, here's what you should do:

1. Hire a native preacher. 2. Build a church building. 3. Start a preacher-training school.

That was the essence of the missions strategy. It is a common idea among many churches and, frankly, it stinks. (Pardon the brusqueness.) I can show you a handful of empty church buildings of those who followed that philosophy.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

House churches are a lot lower budget. The church planter moves into a village with his team of co-workers, starts sharing the gospel. He meets with those interested in homes. They get baptized, and start having communion. The meeting for communion is in a home. Everyone eats the love feast together, with communion served at the end of the meal, like the earliest church liturgies. The NT does not separate the love feast from the celebration of communion (as later churches did, and the love feast celebration faded away, or so I've read.)

Meetings can be informal. The church planter passes on the gospel to others, sets them up reading through the scriptures in the meeting, and teaching on them. Meeting styles are intereactive, and can be informal. The church planter raises up other teachers, and encourages every believer in his spiritual gift, then moves on and starts up other churches.

The church continues on encouraging one another with the word of God, growing, baptizing new believers, discipling them, loving one another and taking care of one another's needs. The church is to act as families.

The church planter comes back, and if the Lord so leads, appoints elders from among those in the church plant, as the Lord directs. Deacons within the church if there is a need for deacons. Elders can continue to work, with love gifts given from those in the church who appreciate their work. If the Lord so directs, an elder may work full-time. The churches should support the church planter, and other teachers and workers sent through to encourage them, offering room and boarding, and providing for workers as they send them on their ways to another place.

When a church gets too big for a house, split into two meetings in two different houses: a split that is not a schism.

If this type of method worked for the early church, why do people nowadays feel that planting churches is very expensive? This method does not require expensive buildings, sound systems, staff budgets, etc. There is no need to ever have the goal of purchasing a large building. If house churches want to get together for a big celebration meeting or teaching session, etc., they can meet in a field or rent a hall.

Church buildings in this part of the world tend to get burned down. I wonder why house churches aren't more popular than they are right now.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

Danny and all:

How do the missionaries you know go about teaching Christ in a foreign land? Randy gave a good 1,2,3, of how some are prepared to go, one being the erecting of a building.

Do the ones you know go *cold turkey* whereby they simply go and teach those who will listen, knowing God will give the increase?

Link, my point is since we have such a worthy product (the Lord) we don't need training except in the gospel (well of course, one would have to know the language unless one wishes to depend on the gift of tongues.) Actually, the best way IMO is to go there, teach the natives and then the natives can teach each other. That seems to be what the Christians did in the 1stCen.

Then there is the problem of support. We know that the early people supported Paul. How? Not with a salary, but with what ever he needed to survive. He stayed with some in their homes, they fed him...etc.

Nelta

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Nelta:

I have not had much time to write lately but I cannot resist the opportunity to agree with you on something. Ha!

You very correctly said:

Paul and the others WENT (GO) into the world and taught the people...Jesus. They went where the people were. They didn't first build a Church Building and invite the world to COME to hear the preacher tell them about Christ. Christ said GO...today you hear COME unto us and we will tell you about Jesus.

Jesus plainly commanded apostles, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and lo I will be with you always even to the end of the world. (Matt. 28:18-20). And in the Gospel of Luke we read Jesus speaking of the same matter in these words, And he said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is immersed shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be condemned. (Mark 16:15,16). And in the gospel of Luke we read, And he said unto them, thus IT IS WRITTEN, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things. And behold I send for the promise of the Father upon you: But tarry ye in the city until ye be cloth with power from on high. Then he lead them out until they were over against Bethany: And he lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they WORSHIPPED HIM, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were CONTINUALLY in the temple, blessing God. (Luke 24:46-52).

Then where Luke ended his gospel he takes up the Book of Acts to give an Account of the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES and he tells us, by inspiration that these above words of Jesus had been addressed to the apostles in his first treatise. The former treatise I made of Theophilus (Lover of God) concerning all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN: TO whom also he showed himself alive after His passion by many proofs, appearing to them by the space of forty days, and speaking of things concerning the Kingdom of God: And being assembled together, with them he CHARGED THEM (his chosen apostles) not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father, which, said he, ye heard from me: For John indeed immersed with water but ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. They therefore, when they were come together, asked Him, saying, Lord, doest thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know times and seasons which the Father hath set within His sown authority. But ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: And ye (the apostles) shall be my witnesses; in Jerusalem, in all Judea; and in Samaria; and to the utmost part of the world. (Acts 1:8).

Then we see how the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles (Acts 2:1-4) and Peter Preached the first gospel sermon. And when asked what to do they commanded the people to who they preached the gospel to, Repent and be immersed every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38). Then we see that the number of disciples increased exceedingly in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). And the believers were the more added to the Lord, both men and women. (Acts 5:14). Then the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47). Then we see that the number of disciples increased exceedingly in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). And the believers were the more added to the Lord, both men and women. (Acts 5:14). Then they preached the gospel in Samaria (Acts 8: 14-24) then to the utmost part of the world (Acts 8:25-40; Acts 10:48; Acts 18; Acts 19).

While it is true that in all of these places where the gospel was preached they had a place to meet. Beginning in an upper room which may or may not have been rented or owned by some disciple, and it may or may not have been a home. We see them meeting in the temple, and in Acts 16 we read of them meeting in the open with Lydia at a place where it was known that prayer was want to be made. It is obvious from all of this that preaching of the gospel was not preceded by any real concern of having a building erected or a hall rented. But rather it seems that they went to places where people were already meeting and preached the gospel whether they were invited to do so or not. They did this with no concern that any one would like that their place of meeting was being disturbed by someone coming in and preaching things that they did not want to hear. They were, in fact, persecuted because the gospel disturbed the comfortable well entrenched false religions of that time. It is possible that all of this prior concern for a building may be nothing more than a fearful avoidance mechanism caused by our fear of such controversy as would be caused by going where people are already meeting and preaching the gospel to them in their own place. For if they are converted to Christ the place is no longer an issue. I do not think that this generation of do not upset anyone and do not rock the boat and do not ever offend anyone will ever focus upon that primary and most important object. The object of preaching Christ in every place instead of building a building in every place. So that they can safely preach Christ behind four walls that belong to them so as to not offend anyone by going to their place of meeting and preaching the true gospel of Christ as the apostles did in the first century. It does not seem that we have the courage to face the great controversy that would ensue if we did such things. This generation of Christians is so adverse to controversy that it is not possible for them to preach the gospel of Christ in any place that is likely to have any real effect. It appears that the reason for this is that their primary concern is to have a place of their own with a wooden pulpit where they can speak the precious gospel of Christ out into the empty air as if the molecules within that air need the precious gospel. As if the sound will miraculously drift out the window and go into someones ear. Or hoping that they can collect enough people to come and hear these hirelings who have a building and a library and a study (which is seldom used effectively these days). And a auditorium with pews and a few people that support the preachers every word so that he has no fear of severe and sometimes life threatening adversity. The idea is to let us gather the supportive along with a few curious souls that we can preach Christ without any trouble or severe adversity. Rather than the scriptural example of entering a city and find where the people meet and go to that place with the gospel. And begin preaching knowing that it is entirely possible that you will be laughed at, ridiculed, despised and rejected and thrown out and resisted on every hand when those false religions are challenged or their wealth and businesses are threatened by such truth.

If my reading in this forum has shown me anything it has shown me that we are not made of the same material as those who first preached the gospel to the world. We are surely at ease in Zion so to speak. Go with the gospel because Christ told the apostles to teach those whom they converted to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. (Matt. 28:19,20).

Now once they are converted to Christ a place to meet and sing and admonish one another is essential (Acts 20:7; Eph. 5:19; Heb. 10:24,25). For assembling together requires a place to assemble. Whether that place be a shade tree beside a river, or a upper room (rented or owned) by some brother or a house that is owned or rented by some brother or sister or a building bought and paid for collectively by the brethren is of little consequence. But I must admit that our concern over the ownership or not of the meeting place has taken entirely too much preeminence over the command to preach the gospel with little or no regard to a meeting place found in advance. The meeting places already exist. People are meeting all over the world to discuss their problems and resolutions to them. People all over the world are meeting in places to practice their false religions. We do not have to wait until we can get a meeting place of our own to go into their meeting places and preach the gospel of Christ. Yes this will bring controversy as it did in the first century but it will also bring converts as it did in the first century if we preach the same gospel that was preached by those who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to preach it.

Now we are not taught to convert the world nor are we taught to convince the world and we are not promised success in changing the world. We are taught by the apostles to preach the gospel for that is how God has determined to save the world. (1 Cor. 1:18-22).

SO, let us get past this church building issue which at the very least appears to be just a way of avoiding the actual preaching of the gospel in places where it is not welcome and reserve the gospel only for those who are willing to COME and hear it. Let us go preach the gospel to that vast number of our fellow men who are opposed to hearing anything even remotely related to the grand themes of the gospel of Christ. Then we will see Gods word accomplish that purpose for which he sent it forth. Until then will have to simply be content within the safe walls of our buildings wrangling with one another rather that wrestling with spiritual wickedness in high places.

I hope that I have been understood in what I have said. For it is truly important that we get away from this fear of controversy and stop hiding behind brick and mortar waiting for some poor soul to WILLINGLY come to hear about Christ preached in the sanitized environment of no controversy. And where the sinner is out numbered by saints and can more easily be pressured into reluctantly accepting Christ. And making it so convenient for him that we do not dare demand that this convert should inconvenience himself enough to actually submit (a word that is despised in American society) to the Lord in immersion in water for the remission of his sins. Shame should fill every heart that is not preaching Christ as forcefully and courageously as he was preached by those who were guided by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel in the first century.

I predict we will see a greater increase in MORTER than we shall see martyrs in the 21st century and the reason will be that we are not preaching the gospel of Christ to ALL CREATION, which includes those who would rather KILL us than hear us. I pray that it will not be so and that I am somehow miserably wrong in such a prediction. May God spare us this severe apathy and lethargy and liberal sentimentality which is more interested in their pseudo-scholarship that souls! However, I fear that our anti-controversialist will never change this comfortable and peaceful way that we are bringing the gospel, not to the whole creation but to the few that are not afraid to COME to us. Those who will listen to our sermonizing about family values and enjoy the Sunday morning entertainment provided by the preacher who tells us good jokes and keeps us laughing while delivering a morale of some meaningless already accepted societal virtue. Yes those teachers who love the scratching of the itching ears of those who enjoy quaint little human sayings and witticisms more that the searing, piercing word of God (Heb. 4:12) that convicts the souls of sin. A subject that we must avoid at all cost if we hope that these tender and touchy souls will come to like us. And if the many programs, whereby we have programmed the church to death, which we provide for their children are to have their intended effect of providing sufficient value to persuade them to become a part of our church family. Such programs that inadvertently admit that the gospel of Christ and salvation in his name is not sufficient enough reason for them to submit to Christ our Lord in obedience to the gospel. I am speaking of the baby sitting services that we provide to give parents some relief from their responsibilities as parents. I am speaking of the fun and games paid for with money that should go to our preachers of the gospel in those remote areas of the world where they do well to feed and educate their families. These starve as they go to tell dying souls of the savior who came to give the life abundantly but our young people are having fun! We are having fun! WE are thrilled while they thirst! Oh, may God forgive and grant us the wisdom to be sorely ashamed of this state of affairs among us today! I pray that we will repent!

Then it is to our shame that often our hope is that some will be so impressed with our programs which provide large sums for entertainment and enjoyment that they will come to love US and join with US in a religion that is comfortable and enjoyable to all. God forbid that in such an environment we should ever displease anyone. We must arrange things to the liking of every group. Little sacrifice of self and certainly no fear of reprisals from those who hate us for they now have come to respect us because we do not bother them. In fact we now seek to find ways to earn the respect of the world. Even though we know that friendship with the world is enmity against God. (James 4:4). But the scriptures tell us, Yea and all who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution! (2 Tim. 3:12). Faithful is the saying that if we have died with Him we shall also live with Him. If we endure we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him he also will deny us. (2Tim. 2:11, 12). He that comes to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children, yea and his own life also he CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE (Luke 14:27, 33).

Let us count the cost, Brethren, of our buildings, Programs and entertainment. And then count the cost of the millions of lost souls who have never heard the gospel of Christ even once and decide what is the most important. It is my conviction that we will then chose to deny ourselves the latter in order to reach the former no matter what it cost.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Wow, Lee.

I didn't know this came from you until I got to the bottom of your post. Even I couldn't have said it better.:-) (only kidding.)

Do you mind if I save your thoughts and use them on other lists?

WONDERFUL!

Nelta

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Nelta:

I thank you for your kind words.

I am happy when we can sincerely agree and Pray that we can increase the number of things upon which we can agree.

I certainly have no objections to your using anything that I write in any other forum, especially if it will benefit the cause of Christ our Lord.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2000

Danny, there is a huge difference between training national brethren and setting up a preacher training school. The latter often erects structures and institutional framework that actually inhibit true discipleship. Many training school approaches stick out like a sore thumb in the foreign culture and consume thousands of dollars (not local currency) in teaching converts in formal settings that do not get the job done.

No missionary worth his salt will neglect Paul's instruction in 2 Tim. 2:2. Many do, however, follow North American models which substitute organization for personal relationship.

Randal
a href="http://churchofchrist.pair.com/projeto/forthright">FORTHRIGHT Magazine
Going from once a week to once a day


-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

The conclusions you are reaching bring out a pragmatic concern that I have as a church planter in St. Louis. Let me provide a little community background first.

We (my wife and I) live in a very diverse neighborhood in the city, combining both black and white, rich and poor. There are probably 25 churches of various denoms in our area of about 10,000 people, maybe two with attendance over 100. About five of the churches own property, the rest meet in store fronts scattered throughout the community. People from most of these churches are only seen when there is an actual service. The Jehovah's Witnesses also come through on a regular basis.

The results? Most people are wary of the store front churches and probably wouldn't go to a church that didn't own a building.

Due to lack of funds, our "solution" was to begin a house church. We have quickly learned that the home is a private sanctuary in our neighborhood. We have walked the streets praying, shared Christ, and invited people into our home. We can't even get people to come over for dinner! One time my wife got locked out of the house and stood on the neighbor's porch talking for an hour in the middle of winter until I could get home with a key. He had gone in and brought her a cordless phone so she could let me know her predicament, but she was never invited in.

When we talk with people about Christ and the church that is going to start here, they immediately ask about the facility and literally back away when we explain that we're operating out of our home right now.

This being said, I would love to hear your comments, suggestions, and feedback.

Scott Jewell The Urban Mission www.umstl.org

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2000

Scott,

Thatsounds like a difficult situation, especially if you can't even get people to come to eat a free dinner! Maybe some people dont' want to let people into their own private space, even if they did go to church with you to a building, that could be a problem. The traditional church building and the traditional Protestant church setting make for a situation where it is possible for someone to attend meeting without getting to know someone.

If you go to someone's house, there is somethign social about that already, even if it is for a meeting. A church building is owned by the group or by an organization. So it is not as personal as going to someone's home. In this limited sense, a church is 'neutral territory.' You don't have to let people into your private space to go there.

The early church had meetings which were carried out in such a way that believers could edify and exhort one another and eat the agape supper together. The style of the modern non-participatory church meetings was adapted to make evangelistic crusades. Now, the evangelistic crusade is done in the church building. So there are meetings to gain new believers done in regular church meetings.

I believe it is important for us to meet for mutual edification. The early church did evangelism by going out and preaching to unbelievers. Just think about evangelistic crusades or evangelistic church meetings. Some churches try to get unbelievers to come to meetings. The preacher preaches on salvation. But think about the situation. An unbeliever comes in, listens to and sings songs, etc.

Can you imagine Paul getting ready to preach the gospel in the market place, but first asking everyone he was going to preach to to sing a hymn? There is something different about the way evangelism is done these days.

If you did have a church building, you might be able to attract spiritual hungry people who because they didn't know much about community or what 'church' means, or for some other reason, did not feel comfortable with churches that meet outside of traditional church buildings.

If you have people really interested in learning about Jesus and fellowshipping with others, and have built up a relationship with them, then you may be able to get them into your house wit a group of others to fellowship, eat, sing, and study the Bible together.

The Lord may lead some groups to meet in traditional church structures. I don't see a problem with meeting in these types of buildings as long as we are obedient to the Lord. The early church continued in the apostle's doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. Many modern meetings make an attempt to provide opportunity for doctrine, breaking bread, and maybe prayer, but the fellowship aspect is often weak. Many modern meetings don't include that element. Early church meetings may have, since they often met together to eat a meal- according to the Bible and the earliest church history. In churches today, it is possible for someone to go every week, hear the teaching, and leave right after the meeting, and not ever let other believers into his 'private space.' He goes away thinking he is doing what a Christian should, without participating deeply in Christian community or participating in mutual exhortation.

Early church meetings were not just sitting and listening to lectures. There was discussion, taking turns prophesying, taking turns singing songs to one another, and that sort of thing.

If the people in your area are the type that are slow to get to know people, that might make them reluctant to go to other people's houses. If they did go to a church building, someone would still have to break into their 'private space' eventually.

Maybe there is some wise way to establish relationship with these people. Is there any kind of social life shared by neighbors? Do they ever have neighborhood barbeques or anything like that? Can you help people work on their cars? Working on cars with people is a way of building relationship. Can you cut an elderly woman's grass? What if you could pass out invitations to a barbeque? If you or your wife happen to cook too many pies, you could take one next door and give it away- that sort of thing.

I think not having a congregation and renting a building to start one up might work if there is a 'demand' for a church like that. If there were a number of CoC and CC people around your area that had to travel 15 miles to go to another church, and you opened up, you might get some of the people that went to other churches. If there was a church split or tensions elsewhere, you may get even more people. Some churches grow because of growth patterns in an area more than evangelism. I am not saying this is wrong. Christians need places to meet.

But if you want to grow from new souls, then you have to find the souls. If you can get people learning about the word of God and praying with you, and your ministry grows, then a church may grow out of that. Maybe you could just not mention the idea of starting a church, and tell people about getting right with God, etc. Maybe you could tell them about studying the Bible together, etc. Of course, that might scare people off. It could be the word 'church' without a steeplehouse to go with it that scares them off. If you study they Bible with them, then you can show them what 'church' really means.

The type of chruch planting Paul did was to preach Christ and to lay a foundation of Christ for people to be built on.

I don't have all the answers for you. Just keep praying and asking for God to send people your way. Recently, it seem slike the Lord has been sending people to my wife and I. When we went to Bali, we prayed that the Lord would send us someone that he wanted to hear the gospel. We were going to rent a car one day we were there to deliver something to a church planter on the island. The island is full of it's own variety of Hinduism. Most Balinese are devout idolators. It is all over the place. A large percentage of the houses have a temple area in the yard which is as big as the hosue itself, once you get out of the cities.

The day before we went to see the church planter, I prayed that the Lord would give us a driver (that came with the car we were renting) whose hometown was the town the preacher lived in, and who was interested in hearing the gospel. Sure enough, the next day, the driver we got was from that city, and he was interested in becoming a Christian. He had thought about it after seeing the Jesus film, but hadn't because of his parents. We shared with him about the history of Israel, how God was against idolatry, how Christ came to save manfkind, about forgiveness of sins, etc. We hooked him up with the church planter. The church planter made plans to see him later.

The driver said he thanked God for meeting us that day. He'd had problems with his live-in fiancee getting pregnant, which made it likely she would get out of school. He wanted to meet with the church planter to find out more about Christ.

When we came back, my wife was thinking of buying a washing machine. We'd been loooking for a maid (cost of labor is low here) for a long time. She was going to buy a washing machine, but felt that she should wait, and felt the Lord wanted her to go check at a certain house of certain person she had contacted before about finding a maid. Sure enough, there was a maid. The day before we came, she had been thinking about going back to the village. Then she had a dream, something about working for a Christian for a certain amount of money. It was the very amount of money my wife was offering. This maid was a Muslim.

This maid was nearly deaf, and looks a lot older than she is. My wife has shared with her. We lent her a radio, and she used to stay up late blasting gospel preaching. She has decided to become a Christian. She hasn't been baptized yet. Yesterday, she decided to leave and rest in the village for a while, because she has some kind of skin rash, and other problems that I didn't know the meaning of, and needed to rest. So she found a friend to replace her and work for us while she wen tback to the village for a couple of weeks.

My wife had a dream before our other maid left. Maybe this new maid is going to become a Christian, too.

It is interesting to see how the Lord can just bring people that need him across your path if you ask him to. When I was back in college, I prayed one day for the Lord to bring someone across my path that I could share the gospel with. That day I met a Buddist, who, as I shared with him said, "I wan to know Jesus Christ."

There are a lot of people out there that would argue with you about what you believe. Maybe some of these will believe over time as the gospel works on them. Others are ready and open.

Pray every day that the Lord will bring you to the ripe fruit, the grain that is white for harvest. Sometimes these people just drop right in front of you, and you don't have to go out and look for them.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000

Scot and forum,

I want to give my opinion on the subject of bringing people to us to be taught. Starting out, please consider the fact that Jesus said GO, not settle in and say COME.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000

OOPS! That post got away from me before being finished.

My point is that if we use the examples of the early apostles we will go where the people are, not bring them (invite them) to where we are. We are all ministers of the word and we teach while going about our daily lives, as the early Christians did. We teach by our examples and as we discuss Jesus and what He did for us. Inviting them into our homes is a fine jester, but not for the purpose of having them come and hear about Jesus, and not by wanting them to become a part of a Church. Our only goal ISTM is to help them come to Christ. He then will add them to His body. THEN they gather with other Christians for the interaction with said Christians. We have the cart before the horse when we bring them to us first.

Just my thoughts!

Nelta

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000

Hi, All,

I always have thought of the local buildings where we meet to be like the temple and the synagogue and the homes where the early Christians met. Sometimes daily.

They are places to learn and be 'edified' (built up) in the faith, and to fellowship in the 'remembering Him 'til He comes' in the form of the bread and the fruit of the vine, and then to go out in the world and because we are overflowing with the good things He has given us, we can't help but 'spill over' with our message to everyone we meet.

Then we should bring those with us when we 'gather together' as we are instructed to do, so that they can be 'edified' and 'built up' in the faith also. Also baptized, taught, and encouraged to do good works.

I have been blessed with such congregations since becoming a Christian.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000

Nelta,

You are right, Jesus did say "GO".

Let me speak personally of my local congregation. I see people all the time going...they speak of their faith to their neighbors, co- workers, friends, and family. Do they still invite?? Yes. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. I agree with you, we teach by our examples.

I think the point here, may be more of one seeking out another for the purpose of bringing them the good news. Whether inviting them into our homes, going to theirs, or meeting at another place to do this is not important. What is important is speaking to the lost the words of life.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000

Scott, I have a suggestion. Perhaps where you live, house churches are not the answer. But there is a time-honored tradition in the South that might serve your purpose even better: the Tent-meeting. Perhaps you can lease (or find someone to donate) a vacant lot and put up a big tent periodically and invite the neighborhood to come.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2000