Building a New Church
John 13:34-35 (ESV) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.”
When Jesus gave this commandment to his disciples he was doing more than just giving them another instruction to follow; he was giving them the foundation of his ministry and the foundation on which to build the church. Now, in these troubled times, it is more important than ever for the church to return to these roots. How can our leaders talk about the importance of the lives of the unborn and in the same time talk about going to war?
Every day people are killing people; kids are starving prisons are overcrowded, churches close and the rich get richer. I read something on Facebook just a couple days ago that kind of put some perspective on the current state of affairs in our nation.
“Imagine it's noon and you start reading a book using only the light of the sun. As it gets later, it naturally gets darker, but somehow your eyes adjust to the darkness without you even noticing. Now imagine when someone else walks into the room, sees the darkness and turns on a light. When this has happened to me, I wonder how did I not notice the darkness, and activate the light. We are living in a world that is growing darker and darker every single day. Someone....ANYONE needs to show this world THE LIGHT.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)” (Getter 2016)
Part 1: The Home Church
So how do we overcome this and strengthen the church? Paul began laying out a plan that would build up the church and can help us today. The Home Church is the key to church growth and strength.
In Acts 20:17-20 (NIV) it says “17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.”
The Foundations of Religious and moral value need to start at home and spread outward. The Lord said where two or three are gathered in His Name, He is present (Matthew 18:20). This home church also enforces that the church is not a building but the people. When we open our homes to the community, we also open our hearts to them. From the home churches, we can build community churches where several home churches come together every once in a while to share and fellowship.
Part 2 Discipleship
Matthew 28: 18-20(NIV) “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The church starts at home but it cannot stay at home if there is to be growth. The best way to grow is through discipleship. It is our commission given down from Christ to make disciples and send them out to build the church.
Paul said to Timothy in 2Timothy 2:1- 2(NIV) “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
One generation must train the next, building them up in Biblical knowledge, passion for the Lord, and Moral fortitude. The home church is not meant to be a replacement to the current churches but an alternative to it for those who feel uncomfortable with the large churches for any reason.
Conclusion
This plan is not another small groups plan. The home churches do not belong to a larger church they are churches. The plan is not for them to grow into bigger churches if a home church starts to get to big then it is not using discipleship correctly.
References
Getter, Melissa. 2016. “Light of Jesus.” Facebook. July 8. https://www.facebook.com/TheGetters?fref=nf&pnref=story.
