House Meetings what should we expect?

Acts 20:20 has two parts:

²⁰ how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house Acts 20:20

Let us look at the second topic first: House to House

Breaking free from the religious meeting the 1^st year

When I first broke free from the religious meeting IT WAS HARD! I had no idea how much religion was in me.

– The first thing I did was set up a (501 ©3) Nonprofit corporation and opened a business checking account. What was I thinking?

– Next I rented a building for Sundays and took up an offering to pay for it. What was I thinking?

– Next I moved the meeting to my house on Sunday, set up chairs in a row and had a children’s program in the basement. Again, what was I thinking?

– Finally we rotated the Sunday meeting between four homes, started about 10am with conversation, prayer, songs, encouraging words then had a potluck. Most would hang out for a few more hours, kids played in the yard, and it truly had the feel of a nice family reunion.

Part One: What does the meeting not look like?

No: building, platform, pulpit, sound system, spotlights, color coded choir costumes, this is not a Bible Study in itself, no 30-minute “Ted Talk” with a person in robes and a funny hat, tithe, chairs in a row, no programs, ushers, no special Holy Days. The first look that we have of a meeting under Paul’s Gospel is in his first letter to the Thessalonians. Remember they didn’t have the New Testament to study, it wasn’t written yet.

What does the meeting look like?

Many have asked me what are the minimum requirements for a House Meeting?

Well if you need a criteria, I suppose it would be this:

– two or more people, which will “feel” more like one-on-one discipleship.

– that would be a husband and wife or two friends in Christ that:

– meet at least one day a week for at least one hour & possibly share a simple meal.

That’s it. That is the smallest form; Two people who:

– pray for each other throughout the week

– write encouraging notes to each other

– share a scripture that God has put on your heart

– pray in agreement for others that you are witnessing to

– plan a blessing campaign for the widow lady in your neighborhood

– go through the discipleship workbooks together.

We are so familiar with the hoopla of modern religion or the steeped in tradition of incense, robes and funny hats that this type of meeting may seem a little anticlimactic.

Here is the key: religion only has a “form” of Godliness meaning “fake” show or pretend, plus it actually denies the Power of God. The first time the two of you pray in agreement for something and it comes to pass as only God can answer, you will know that your meeting is on the perfect path.

More than two people in a meeting?

I will cover this later and in detail because it does take a little more planning and organization.

Part Two: Public Teaching

There will be some teaching anytime you get together as someone is going to ask: What does that mean. Then comes a word of instruction. Now that we are privileged to have the whole Bible we are expected to read and understand it. Paul told us in this New Testament Time this New Covenant Time that Jesus would provide gifts called Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers to help equip the Body of Christ to mature and do the work of the ministry. Careful here…he also told us that many false gifts would come in like wolves in sheep’s clothing and to choose wisely whom you would take instruction from.

That being said, there are a few and I mean a few who are publicly speaking in a teaching format just like I am doing now to train The Body of Christ on a large public level. Digest these teachings individually and share what you have learned in YOUR meetings.

Again what you are reading and listening to right now is public teaching. Father God we are asking for discernment as we war against deception.