So if you could start from scratch and build your own church, what would it look like? What would the perfect fellowship of believers be? The gang sits down around the round table and hash out our vision.
So fix a drink and sit back, relax and chill out with us in this Free Style Jazz Conversation:
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First – Jill mention (I am pretty sure it was Jill) that she didn’t even need a pastor. There is a reason for a pastor. A pastor is a person who is gifted in shepherding the flock. He is also responsible for casting the vision of the church/group. And the Bible tells us “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18a KJV) Another thing the pastor does is hold the flock accountable to the word of God and he has to answer to God for them. If we decide to make a church without a Pastor, we are basically telling God that we do not want to be held accountable and furthermore, none of us want you (God) to hold us to hold other accountable. Also, God tells us that he appoints some to be Pastors (Eph 4:11 and Jer 3:15) which means that God felt it was important. Yes, this is the office of Pastor in the five-fold ministry and not the title of Pastor, but if you decide to do a home church concept, there needs to be a pastor/leader of the group. I realize that you were discussing the office of Pastor which is really a priest according to the Bible and not one who holds the God given office of a Pastor. However, it was very open ended.
Second, I believe you are describing the Cell/Home church concept that can be very effective tool for the Gospel. However, there are many pitfalls and problems that it can have as well. If you go this route, and it is a good route, keep this illustration in mind about the home group/church concept. Imagine the group standing in a circle and locking arms together. If the group is facing inward (focused on just the four/five/whatever of you) then it is a click and very unhealthy for a church concept. If the group is facing outward (focused on seeing the Gospel spread while covering each others backs) then it is healthy. If you do the home/cell/life church concept, keep the illustration in mind. God does not want us to lock ourselves in our homes and have endless Bible study and not reaching the lost. True, there needs to be a balance, but one of the pitfalls of home church concepts is that it tends to become a click of the core group where visitors will feel left out and not return. Just a caution.
Finally, this was stated on the podcast, “the earlier church was nothing but getting together in people’s homes.” This is incorrect. Acts clearly states that “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from F5 house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Acts 2:46) Later in Acts 20:20, it tells us that they were taught in public and house to house. The earlier church did not ONLY meet from house to house.
Love you guys and enjoyed the podcast, just a couple of things jumped out at me and I wanted to make sure to clarify just in case you were not on the same page as I am because I love you guys and gals 🙂
Love in Christ,
Pat