I read the Amazon review of this book by Bob Whitesel and have posted it below. I am not recommending this book. Don’t be fooled by the title.
Although well written, the subject matter is more about hierarchical, programme driven, ‘expert’ led old wineskin churches and their wanderings and self imposed difficulties, rather than the beautiful priesthood of all believers, life through every sinew, flat structure organic churches who are learning and being taught how everyone can hear from Jesus for themselves not having to go through a ‘third party’; whether its a priest or vicar or pastor or ‘expert’ elder group. The title of this book is misleading. If a reader wants to know more about the amazing things God is doing through organic churches try Frank Viola.
I really enjoyed reading Leaving Church Becoming Ekklesia by Tim Kurtz. The author talks in depth about the true meaning of the word “Ekklesia” and how and why the word “church” ended up replacing it in the Bible. Concerning the word church, Tim writes… “We have embraced and perpetuated a culture around a single word. A word never spoken by Jesus.”
The meaty excerpt below is from Chapter 5: Six Characteristics of a Major Transition. It is sprinkled with prophetic seasoning.
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? (1Samuel 9:27; 10:1)
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. (1Samuel 16:13-14)
Israel wanted a king. They wanted to operate and be structured like the nations around them. It was not God’s will for them, but He allowed them to have what they wanted. Their desire for a king was their rejection of God ruling over them (I Samuel 8:5-7).
First, notice that Samuel used a vial of oil to anoint Saul. A vial is essentially a shallow bowl or a flask. In either case, it is a man-made vessel. This typifies the kind of anointing Saul received. It was man-made. He was the people’s choice, not God’s. The people were taken in by Saul’s appearance (I Samuel 16:7).
Second, it is interesting that when Samuel anointed Saul, he said that God had chosen him to be captain, not king over God’s inheritance. Maybe this is just a play on words, but nevertheless, Samuel’s choice of words should be considered.
The Hebrew word nagiyd, translated as captain suggests that Samuel saw Saul as a commander in front of the people, not the king. Captains were usually under the command of the king. They had authority, but their authority was limited to the king or pharaoh’s orders. Isn’t it amazing that the people wanted a king, and Samuel declared Saul to be a captain? I question whether the Israelites would have known the difference.
Saul proved himself to be a dismal failure. He regularly disobeyed God, acquiesced to the whims of the people, and had jealous and irrational temper tantrums. Even in one of his most grievous times of disobedience, his main concern was that Samuel would make him look honorable in front of the elders (I Samuel 15:30).
God rejected Saul; even though he seemingly remained in power, he was rejected by God. Samuel was commissioned by God to anoint a replacement (I Samuel 16:1).
This transition point is critical for you to understand. Samuel anointed David with a horn of oil in the presence of his father and brothers (I Samuel 16:1, 13-14). The horn from a ram or bull represented a sacrificed life necessary to carry the anointing. David’s anointing for king, not captain, was not man-made. That is why what took place in the spirit realm must be understood. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David and simultaneously the same Spirit left Saul.
In the heart of God, Saul was rejected. Yet, he remained in the role of captain/king over the people. God orchestrated the anointing of a new king while Saul was seemingly still in power.
David, God’s choice, was not a ‘ready-made’ king, but rather a young shepherd boy who was not even considered qualified by his own father. This boy would spend several years in preparation for his role as king. Some estimate this process took thirteen years. Don’t lose sight of the fact that during David’s time of preparation, Saul was still in power.
The church to ekklesia is such a transition. God has shifted His attention to His desire to have a fully functioning priesthood of believers (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). The system of church that has contained, constrained and restrained believers is coming to an end. It is the system that was put in place by man and has been allowed to flourish on its own strength for nearly 1,700 years. It is the institutional church. It is a carnal substitute of the ekklesia Jesus said He would build.
The institutional church is man-made and built on systems that use the Name of Jesus to glorify man. It is a system where iconic leaders are followed and where the larger the brick and mortar building is, the more successful they are considered. The institutional church is measured by how many people attend a meeting rather than how effectively they expand the Kingdom.
We are in a world of mega-churches and pop-culture preachers. They won’t be disappearing off the religious landscape soon. They appear to be strong, and their systems (according to worldly standards) appear to be successful. Those of us who are heralding a return to first century values and structure appear out of place. I believe we are like David. We have been anointed but must journey through our season of preparation until the day God fully restores and releases His Ekklesia.
Tim Kurtz, Founder of The Ekklesia Center
In the meantime, has the Spirit of the Lord left the institutional church? I don’t have a Word from the Lord on this. However, I will clearly say that His focus is His people, not their systems. Implicit in this transitional period is that God will allow the man-made systems to fend for themselves.
In this critical time, we must be careful how we respond and interact with those in the institutional church system. Why? Because most of us were saved in that system. Many of us got our spiritual foundations in the institutional church system. Then God granted us the ability to see something fresh from His heart. We have been graced to see His Ekklesia built His way. What we see is a privilege, not a right. Like David, we must handle what God is showing us wisely. David knew he was anointed to be king, but he behaved himself and acted wisely around Saul, who was still in power (I Samuel 18:5,14,30).
This book is meaty, seasoned with the prophetic.
I am at times disheartened by those who attack the people who are in institutional churches. The people in these systems are not the ‘bad guys’. They simply have not seen what God has shown some of us. Those who are attacked often entrench themselves deeper. David never attacked Saul, even though Saul sought to kill him. As far as David knew, God’s anointing was still on Saul and he had no right to attack it, even when he had the opportunity (I Samuel 24:1-7).
I don’t know what God will do with the institutional church system. All I know is that it is His desire to release an army of blood-washed believers into the earth who will turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). In the meantime, don’t lose sight of the fact, that for the time being, the institutional church system will appear strong and intact. Hold fast, God’s time for His Ekklesia is soon (Habbakkuk 2:3; Galatians 4:1-2).
In Western society it’s difficult to do life together, but it does happen, it can be sustained and it can be life-changing. I pray these stories encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching and start gathering. This story is told by Bob Good.
My name is Bob Good. My wife, Ellen, and I have four children, all in their twenties, and one grandson. I have been a mechanical engineer throughout my life and am currently about two-thirds done with my Master’s in Theological Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I received Christ when I was 19 years old through a megachurch located near my home. It was through their ministries that I learned the gospel and gave my life to Christ.
My first experience with small group life occurred back in the 1990s at that same megachurch. Our Sunday school class was enormous, with about 400 people attending. Recognizing the challenge in building deeper relationships in such a large setting, the church began monthly cell groups. It was through these cell groups that I truly experienced meaningful small group life. Although the meetings were only monthly, they had a significant impact on me. I began researching cell groups and eventually discovered house church literature. Reading Steve Atkerson’s book, “Moving Toward a House Church Theology,” ignited a passion within me that continues to this day.
I have been involved in house church ministry for approximately 20 years. After leaving the megachurch, my family and I joined a house church in our area, where we stayed for about 13 years. It was one of the most fulfilling church experiences of my life, characterized by deep involvement in each other’s lives and genuine care. About six years ago, we began efforts to establish our own house church. This journey has been challenging due to various circumstances, including my mother-in-law living with us and her health struggles. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further complicated things, especially since my mother-in-law had lung issues, and we wanted to ensure her safety.
Despite these challenges, the Lord consistently provided spaces for our meetings. We initially met in apartment complex common areas, spent about a year meeting at a retirement home, and even used a library conference room for a summer. Since last summer, we have resumed meeting at our home. Sadly, my mother-in-law passed away, a heartbreaking event that nonetheless opened a new chapter for our church. Currently, we are associated with a few other groups around town. Together with our original house church, we now have four very small groups that occasionally meet as one larger group quarterly.
One unexpected challenge we’ve encountered is that our house church primarily attracts singles, with very few married couples and no families with children remaining long-term. Singles typically have more flexible schedules but tend to move around frequently, making it difficult to establish and maintain a stable group. This differs greatly from my previous house church experience, where five families with children attended consistently.
Authentic Christian community has profoundly impacted me, although I’m still unsure exactly why. Perhaps growing up in a broken home has deepened my desire for meaningful connections. Over time, these groups become like a second family, centered around caring, loving, teaching, and praying for one another-something I feel traditional church environments struggle to achieve. House churches, with their emphasis on open participation and engagement with scripture, foster deeper and more transformative experiences than passive listening typically provides.
Starting a new house church can be incredibly challenging, and I firmly believe it requires a calling from God. Without such a calling, maintaining the necessary passion and persistence becomes very difficult. Since starting our own groups in 2019, we have seen many people come and go due to job changes, health issues, and life circumstances.
To summarize, I describe house church as H.O.M.E.:
– *H*: Historical precedence-house churches align with biblical norms.
– *O*: Open participation-actively engaging with the text and each other rather than being passive observers.
– *M*: Meaningful relationships-groups quickly become extended families.
– *E*: Efficient and Economy-house churches avoid the high costs of traditional buildings and salaries, focusing resources directly on ministry and community building.
When combined, these elements make house church a powerful, transformative, and vibrant expression of Christian community.
This is the second excerpt from Let My People Go! by David W. Dyer. This book has become one of my all time favorites and I highly recommend you check it out. You can download the PDF for free (below) and you can find his other books and videos by going to agrainofwheat.com.
There is an interesting verse in Proverbs which speaks to this subject. We read: “The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks” (Pr 30:27). These swarms of insects have no visible leader, but they move together in harmony as if they did. There is some invisible impulse which is guiding them. In the same way, the Leader of the body of Christ is not seen by human eyes today. But, if and when the members of His body move and minister following the leading of His Spirit and they are “tuned in” to His authority, then there is a wonderful harmony seen. There is nothing contradictory or discordant. There is no need for believers to be competing to be seen or heard.
We are taught that each one can “prophesy” or contribute their portion. “But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent” (I Cor 14:30). You see, when the Spirit of God is leading a meeting, then everyone must be sensitive to His every direction. No one can dominate the others, using the time for only their revelation and ministry, but always must be ready to yield to someone else who takes up the thread of the revelation which God is giving and contributes his portion also.
There is no need for human organization. There is no requirement to plan and program everything in advance. There is no necessity for someone or some group of men to try to control the rest. In fact, such efforts will be shown on judgment day to have been a great hindrance to God’s work. Jesus is infinitely capable of leading His church in her meetings. It is only essential for every member to learn to enter into and be led by the Holy Spirit. It is necessary for each one to be moved by God’s eternal Life. When the members are directed by the one Head, then all their movements and ministries are in harmony with each other.
A person who is moved by the Spirit in a gathering of believers should minister or speak “as the oracles of God” (I Pet 4:11). They should be careful, according to their spiritual maturity, not to include any fleshly opinions, ideas, or directions. They should only minister according to the proportion of their faith (Rm 12:6). Further, they should be vigilant not to continue on talking or singing when the Holy Spirit has already moved on.
It is very common for someone, when they feel the attention of the group upon them, to become enamored with a feeling of importance. It is easy for the flesh to be stimulated when we are used by God. Consequently, it is not infrequent for different members of the body to go beyond what God wishes to say and continue rambling on, enjoying the limelight. This is detrimental to all.
On the other hand, sometimes it is hard for a more timid member to say anything. Perhaps he or she is naturally disposed to be reticent or shy. Such members need to be encouraged to contribute what they feel the Lord is giving them. They need to be taught that their part, be it ever so small, is something of value to all.
If and when the stronger members of the body dominate any and all gatherings with their gifts and ministries, it is almost impossible for the weaker ones to grow in sharing their portions. Therefore, the stronger ones should be very sensitive to give the weaker members an opportunity to function in the meetings.
Building Strong Bonds
When we have seen the truth about others and still love them, when the devil has shared with us all his insights about their sins and failures, when we have overcome our own reactions and feelings, then what remains is something which will endure forever.
When we cooperate with Jesus and allow Him to build us together in this way, then the church becomes much less vulnerable and eventually, invincible to the attacks of the enemy. In the Old Testament, the stones for the temple were carefully crafted. They were cut, sawn, and possibly even sanded until they fit perfectly together. When they were put into place in the temple, it has been said that they fit so well that not even the blade of a knife could be inserted between them.
You see, the devil’s attacks are like the blade of a knife. He loves to insert his accusations about another brother in the middle of our relationship. When his words find a little space in our hearts and minds, then he begins to twist this knife to pry us further apart. This is his main technique to destroy the work of God. It is to “reveal” to us the faults and sins of others. Then he uses this information to destroy the love which should hold us together.
But when we succeed in living in love, when the devil’s accusations no longer find a place in our hearts, when he has expended all his efforts but has failed to separate us, then the gates of hell begin to tremble. When we overcome his words which he uses to accuse others, then he has very little power left. It is then that he has exhausted all his ammunition and failed.
When we no longer agree with the thoughts which he puts in our minds, when we stop reacting in natural, human ways to his assaults, when we continue to love our brothers and sisters in the middle of his attacks on their character, then the devil’s kingdom is in trouble. It is then that Christian men and women are winning the victory. They are overcoming God’s enemy. God’s house is being built up.
As we have seen, love is the only glue that holds the true body of Christ together. Without some artificial doctrine, leader, practice, method, etc. to keep believers together, only God’s love will work. So the devil does his best to attack this unique, precious connection.
When we, acting in our flesh, cooperate with him and criticize, defame, gossip, and speak ill of our brothers and sisters, we tear apart the only thing which joins us together. This kind of speaking is sin and must be avoided at all costs. If and when we find ourselves involved in it, a deep and thorough repentance is the only solution. It is only when we overcome in this sphere that we will see the house of God being built up in love.
Check out David’s website agrainofwheat.com. If you would like to receive my bi-monthly newsletter you can sign up below. Make sure to check your spam.
One word to describe Let My People Go! by David W. Dyer is complete. This book has become one of my all time favorites and I highly recommend you check it out. You can download the PDF for free (below) and you can find his other books and videos by going to agrainofwheat.com. I decided to post two excerpts from his book, this being the first one, under the title Jesus Can Lead Our Meetings.
One important key to enjoying spiritual meetings when we gather with a group of Christians is that Jesus can lead our meetings. He can actually conduct our corporate activities just as a conductor might direct a symphony orchestra. This experience is not meant to be something which happens once in a while, but something which should be a normal and constant part of our church experience.
When we and others with whom we are meeting are in the presence of God, we can sense His directions. In the Spirit, we discern when He wishes us to speak, sing, pray, or even to be quiet. In our spirit we realize what it is that Jesus is doing and saying at any particular time. In this way, we can flow along with what He is wanting, harmonizing with the will of God moment by moment.
Such direction by Jesus in our Christian gatherings is essential. Without it, we are only left with human guidance. When we fail to enter into the spiritual dimension and discern the authority and leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can only employ natural techniques to conduct our meetings. Although we might seem to approximate the spiritual reality, such church experiences are ultimately unsatisfying and useless. Truly, “the flesh profits nothing” (Jn 6:63).
Today, Jesus is invisible yet He is very real. Although He is intangible in the natural, physical realm, He is abundantly perceptible when we enter into the Spirit. When He does come to our Christian gatherings, He does not come to watch or to be entertained. Neither is He intending to sit in the “back pew” to make sure we are doing things correctly. Instead, He comes into our midst as our Leader and King. He comes not to watch but to lead. His role is not to observe, but to guide and direct everything.
When we succeed in entering into His presence and thus allow Him to fulfill His role in our midst, these meetings will be extremely satisfying. He knows the need of every member. He understands how to minister to every heart. So, when He is the leader, He can inspire someone or other to speak, pray, prophecy, or even sing to minister to these needs. Probably He has prepared these people beforehand to fulfill this very task
Only God knows what is in every soul. Only He understands the aches, the needs, or even the joys which are there. Therefore, when He is orchestrating all that is said and done, true spiritual ministry is effected. Human needs of every variety are truly being met. This truth applies to our worshipping and/or singing as well as to any preaching, teaching, or other ministry which occurs. For example, each one can have a psalm, hymn, or song. When a person is inspired by the Spirit to suggest a song or to begin singing, then singing it will be an anointed, spiritual experience. It will be a blessing to all. It will be something which Jesus has chosen, with words which will meet some needs and an anointing which will uplift every spirit.
We read: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (I Cor 14:26).
If, on the other hand, people merely call out their favorite tune or someone selects everything in advance, the opportunity for Jesus to lead is diminished. Consequently, the blessing also becomes less or even nonexistent. The more we can succeed in allowing Jesus to lead us when we meet, the more blessed and uplifted our experience will be.
The same thing is true concerning any preaching or teaching. No one should be dominating every meeting with their eloquence and gift. There must be room for all to have a chance to contribute. We read: “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (I Cor 14:31). The word “prophesy” here means “to speak for God,” which can include preaching and teaching as well as ministering “prophetically.”
No one man has all revelation. No one besides Jesus Christ has all the gifts and ministries. God has designed the body so that members are dependent upon each other. The portion of every member is required so that the whole can be edified. Therefore, when two or three or even more are together in the presence of the Lord, there should be opportunity for each one, guided by the Holy Spirit, to minister their portion of Jesus to the rest.
As the Spirit of Jesus moves among the members of His body, He will lead one or the other to minister according to his or her gift, ministry, or revelation. Following the direction of the Holy Spirit, each “joint” of supply (Eph 4:16) can be used to edify the others.
Here there should be no confusion. Everything should occur “decently and in order” (I Cor 14:40). Since there is one Head which is directing the activities of the various members, a divine harmony is seen. When Jesus is the author, then there is a supernatural synchronization of everything which occurs. Although the Director is invisible, when all the members enter into the spiritual realm where He is, then everything is done in an orderly manner.
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I love Acts 2:42. Most of the relational fellowships I visit go heavy on the “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” and not so much on the “breaking of bread”. When brothers and sisters sit at the same table, eat and fellowship, something supernatural happens. Relational fellowships work best when all four elements are well balanced. A recent (2022) book, simpler church by Roger Shenk, explores the four devotions found in Acts 2:42 and the two loves. An excerpt from his book, discussing the importance of breaking bread, is below. I have also linked four videos where Roger discusses the four devotions.
Two of my favorite words are “Let’s eat!” Eating together is one of the most meaningful human activities. It’s physical, but it’s also relational and spiritual. It’s fuel, but it’s also fellowship and fun. It conveys acceptance, commonality, and interdependence.
We feast together to celebrate. We share a meal together to connect. We sometimes even withhold a meal, as an act of self-discipline or sometimes to discipline others. Eating together is one of the most significant things we can do.
And especially for those of us who are following Jesus as Lord, and devoting ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, it just makes sense that we would also devote ourselves to breaking bread together.
It’s where faith and fellowship feast.
It’s good for eating to be part of meeting.
As we read the gospels, we see Jesus eating with his disciples in various situations, sometimes around a fire, or at someone’s house, or at feasts and banquets, and even a couple times having a picnic on a hillside with thousands-each time fueling his body to keep it alive, but also enjoying fellowship with others doing the same thing.
When Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God, he told parables about banquets and wedding feasts and guests, and described redemption as having the right to eat and drink at his table. The Pharisees complained that Jesus was eating and drinking with sinners, as if that was a bad thing, and Jesus said it was a good thing.
At the end of his life Jesus ate Passover again with his disciples and told them to keep doing it as a remembrance of him after his death.
Then, after he was resurrected, he ate a piece of fish in front of his disciples to prove he wasn’t a ghost.
Another time they didn’t recognize him until he broke bread, and then their eyes were opened.
And yet another time he made breakfast for them and spent time eating with them, and then went for an after-breakfast walk with Peter.
In fact, Luke started out his book of Acts with the resurrected Jesus eating with the disciples and telling them about the coming Holy Spirit.
And later, when giving testimony about his resurrection, the disciples don’t just say they saw him, they said specifically that they ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Eating together was a significant part of the disciples’ relationship with Jesus, and then, after he returned to heaven they kept on meeting to eat together as a part of their own fellowship.
We already read Acts 2:42 that “they devoted themselves to…the breaking of bread” and then, in verse 46, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”
We should renew our devotion to that. We should practice that as part of our faith expression. We should eat together in each other’s homes more often, and do so with glad and sincere hearts as an expression of our faith and acceptance.
When we eat together we commend each other as worthy of fellowship. To eat with someone is to accept them, to approve of them.
I mean that socially to an extent, but I also mean it with regard to faith. In fact, it’s so significant that when Paul wrote about not tolerating wickedness in the church, he said we shouldn’t even eat with people who claim to be in the faith but live in wickedness. You can read it for yourself in 1 Corinthians 5. We won’t take time to study it here. I just mention it to note that refusing to eat with someone is such a powerful demonstration of disapproval because choosing to eat with someone is such a powerful demonstration of approval!
I believe we need to restore the practice of eating together as a devotion of our faith. When we meet, let’s take time to eat.
The majority of books on House Church were published 25-35 years ago so it’s delightful to find a recently published book. It’s even more delightful when the book is worth reading and full of wisdom. Rex Whitman’s book House Church Now was published in 2023 and I highly recommend it. The excerpt below is about the importance of communication.
For genuine community to exist, communication is also necessary, and in fact, a community without communication is a contradiction in terms. Communication, by its very nature, is the clear exchange of information that serves to deepen and enrich the experience of community. In the basic process of communication theory an idea formed in the mind is transmitted through words and received by another person who then offers a response to the original idea. This process is repeated over and over until both parties reach a state of clarity, but whenever the process is short-circuited, communication dies and community decays. As I have stated elsewhere, this process of communication occurred naturally in the informal setting of an early house church where believers could comfortably discuss and interact over the scriptures to seek clarity on the will of God for their community.
But communication is more than simply a symbolic exchange of information or ideas; it also serves a vital social function. As proof of this fact, we are all fully aware that a meal without conversation can actually feel cold and uncomfortable. In addition, we also instinctively know that there are times when far more may be communicated by a hug or a simple act of caring than could ever be communicated in words. Communication may sometimes even seem confusing, but whether by means of symbolic communication with words or the social communication of actions, both of these aspects are necessary for healthy, genuine community to occur.
In addition to this, good communication is necessary for the healing of relationships within a community, and serves to prevent potential misunderstandings or divisions that might arise. This communication must be open, honest, and tempered by grace for genuine community to exist. Disingenuous surface communication is powerless to create actual community, and over time, the pretense becomes burdensome and even exhausting as it becomes more difficult to maintain the façade.
In genuine community, however, real people wrestle with real life and real truth to find real answers to real problems, and if you have anything other than these four elements, you probably don’t have community. Salt may look very similar to sugar, but you should never mistake one for the other, or your final product will be disappointing, at best. A few years ago, rushing to make a pitcher of Kool-Aid for a group of children in my backyard, I added salt rather than sugar to the mixture. Bad mistake! It tasted horrible and no one was impressed with my new recipe. So, if you think you can create genuine community without the right ingredients, know this, you can’t! And whatever your best intentions, you will impress no one, and as a result, be left with a very bad taste in your mouth. But as we consider the elements of genuine community, it is also important we examine the process.
Community is built upon relationships, and churches that desire a healthy, genuine, and relational community need to consider the process leading toward this goal. This process usually begins with casual contact, a friendly hello, an exchange of niceties, and some basic information on your job, your children, and where you live. But these are only the seeds of genuine community, and sadly, many churches fail to water these seeds to grow relationships beyond the level of casual contact. In many cases, people do not possess even this basic information about the people sitting right next to them on a Sunday morning. In a house church, however, the very size, structure, and informality of this small body of believers invites a deeper understanding of the people who gather there. This deeper understanding phase of community collects further information about hobbies, interests, life experiences, and a host of other details not covered in the casual contact phase of relational community. After a period, this additional information serves to strengthen relational connections as individuals discover that there are other people with whom they have much in common. As this growing identification with other individuals becomes evident, invitations are given for further discussion over a cup of coffee or a shared meal. This people-to-people phase begins to move a house church in the direction of a genuine community. As trust builds in these relationships, members expand their understanding of community, accepting other members into their circle of trust until, somewhere along the way, they begin to perceive themselves as a gathering of fellow travelers walking together on the same journey to the same destination. At this phase, group identity and group loyalty become more evident, and members begin to rejoice in the experience of their common journey, perceiving that they are far more than a conglomeration of individual travelers. Discovering that they have now become a unified body, they begin to experience the reality of genuine community, realizing that they possess a common nature in Christ, a common truth in his word, and a common mission entrusted to each of them. To briefly review, here are the five phases leading toward a genuine community:
Phase #1 – The Casual Contact Phase
Phase #2 – The Deeper Understanding Phase
Phase #3 – The People-to-People Connection Phase
Phase #4 – The Fellow Traveler Phase
Phase #5 – The Unified Body Phase
Rex Whitman
In all of this, we recognize the need to be intentional about creating a genuine community. And while knowing the limitations of artificial community, we are also fully aware of the essence, the elements, and the process leading to genuine community. The modern church has often failed to understand the importance of a healthy community that glorifies the God who dwells in our midst. May God renew our desire for community. May He remind us again of its importance; and may we rediscover its joys.
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Many years ago, I was on a missions trip to the Philippines. I traveled to a remote island where our small boat landed on a shore covered with shells. There were so many that I couldn’t see any sand, just beautiful shells. In my excitement, I reached down and grabbed a handful, not realizing children were watching me. When it was time to leave, the children lined up and each excitedly handed me a shell. Each shell was beautiful; then one little girl handed me a broken shell. My first reaction was disappointment and I thought about discarding it once I left the shore.
However, before I left, I felt the Lord asking me what would I do with broken people. Would I just toss them away like the broken shell? That shell became more meaningful than all the perfect ones. After telling this story to my good friend Fernando Souza, he responded;
In that small broken shell, there is a story. Your story made me reflect on the perfection of the church. The church is perfect, but its members are not flawless beings, but individuals in a constant process of transformation. And it is precisely this imperfection that makes the church so precious. It is a perfect family of imperfect children who are nurtured, strengthened, and perfected day by day by God, through the Holy Spirit and life together with each other.
The church is the most precious place on Earth for us, the children of God. It is here that we find a home, a family, a flock of sheep guided by the true Shepherd. It is here that we surrender to the Lord and His people, strengthening each other in our walk of faith. “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” Song of Solomon 4:7. In God’s eyes, the church is perfect because it is formed by imperfect people seeking the perfection of Jesus. The church reminds us that true beauty lies in accepting our flaws and in the process of constant transformation.
Fernando Souza and family.
The truth is, if you’ve been involved in relational gatherings for more than one or two hours you’ve most likely run into broken people. Honestly, we all are broken to some extent, but what do we do when we encounter someone in need of help? For many who come, a loving and open environment will bring healing and growth. It may take a while and it might be messy, but people willing to change can and do, and watching someone grow and mature in Christ is glorious.
However, there are others.
The gift of discernment is crucial in this area. I’ve heard so many horror stories and have experienced some myself. Dysfunctional people come to the group: you see the red flags but you have a desire to help them so the flags are overlooked. You continue to meet but they never change. They have the potential to destroy the group all in one fell swoop, and they usually do.
After fifteen years of doing relational gatherings, I have gotten better at discerning people who have the potential of setting off bombs. It usually doesn’t happen right away; it seems it happens once they are fully integrated in the group and the timing of the blast is often opportune.
If you are unsure if a person will integrate well in the group, it is better you meet one on one or in a small separate group and honestly reflect on any issues that you see. If confronted in a loving manner with no positive outcome, the person may likely disconnect on their own. On the other hand, if a person is humble and willing to discuss issues, there is hope that they can and will change. People changing over time is a good indication that the Lord is working in their lives and that they can be a healthy part of the gathering.
Perhaps you would like to share your wisdom on this issue; we all can learn. You can comment below.
Perhaps I was a bit young to have watched the Wizard of Oz. I remember being terrified as the tornado wrought a path of destruction, picked the house up and took Dorothy and Toto away. The nightmare of that tornado was replayed in my dreams for many years. It was only after moving to Tulsa and seeing one for myself that the nightmares ended.
Tornadoes are beautiful, powerful and horribly destructive at the same time. One becomes mesmerized watching earth and sky lose their natural boundaries and become a singular element that we’ve labeled a tornado. For me it reminds me of something supernatural.
A couple of weeks ago, at our relational gathering, my friend Rachel described a supernatural event that happened to her. It encouraged us all and her testimony is shared below.
Craig and Rachel
I was hospitalized in September 2021 with pneumonia due to complicated underlying health issues that I was not aware of at the time. It was during the Covid lockdowns, and my husband could not be with me nor visit me. I felt scared and alone.
On my second night there, one of the nurses came in at 11pm and told me that my oxygen levels were not looking good. He said that I had one more machine to try before needing a respirator. This was devastating news for me as I did everything I could to not be on a respirator. After he left, I texted my three best friends and my husband. They got down on their knees and prayed for me immediately. I set down my phone, closed my eyes and prayed like I never had prayed before. I had never relied more on God than I had in that moment. Being alone for me is one of the worst feelings. As I begged God to spare my life, I also begged to feel his presence. I knew He was there with me, but I still felt so alone. It was at that moment, with my eyes closed, that I felt a hand rest upon my right arm above my elbow. It was a gentle touch but firm. It startled me so much that I quickly opened my eyes. I fully expected it to be a nurse at my side, but there was nobody. It had to be Jesus. I sobbed. I knew it was the hand of God comforting me and getting me through.
It was a long eight days in the hospital and after lots of healing, I am almost totally healthy! I thank God for never leaving or forsaking me. He’s always been there. I was just blessed enough to feel it.
Rachel and her praying friends
Whether it’s a dream, vision, physical touch or a spoken word, God regularly injects Himself supernaturally into our lives. When He does, it changes us forever. I believe these “spiritual tornadoes” occur more often than many of us think. Over and over again, I’ve heard testimonies of Heaven and Earth intersecting on behalf of His children. Personally, some of these experiences have changed the course of my life.
Have you ever taken a bite of a piece of cake or brownie and it was so rich you couldn’t eat the whole thing at one sitting? Victor Choudhrie’s book Greet The Ekklesia In Your House was like that for me. I read the PDF version of the book which was 206 pages. The book was originally published in 1999. The current version was expanded and updated to 368 pages in 2012. You’ll get a sense of the density of this work by reading the excerpt below entitled Persons of Peace.
IDENTIFYING THE “SON OF PEACE” IS KEY TO EKKLESIA PLANTING: The Lord taught His disciples, when you go to preach, look for “a person of peace.” Stay there and eat with them, heal the sick and cast out demons and preach the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:1,2; 10:5-9). The Greek words “huios eirenes” mean “son of peace.” The word “son” also means “descendent” and can be used for male or female. In the New Testament there are many examples of persons of peace, such as Cornelius (Acts 10:24), Lydia (Acts 16:14), Mary, the mother of Mark (Acts 12:12), Dorcas (Acts 9:36), Priscilla (1Cor. 16:19), Tyrannus (Acts 19:9,10), Jason (Acts 17:5-9), Justus, Crispus (Acts 18:7,8) and many others, whose names are mentioned in the 16th chapter of Romans. Many of them are women.
EAT WITH THE PERSON OF PEACE: Persons of peace are facilitators who facilitate Ekklesia planting. All the people mentioned above were persons of peace who had Ekklesias established in their homes. Christianity spread throughout the world through the efforts of persons of peace, not just through the work of the apostles or the institutional church. Generally, persons of peace are influential, like Cornelius and Lydia. The Lord has blessed them so that when the time comes, they can take care of the boarding and lodging and security needs of the saints and the new converts. This is why the Lord gave instructions to go and stay with them and “eat whatever is laid before you. A laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.” (Luke 10:5-8). The influence of such a person helps in gathering his own household as well as his neighbors to hear the word of God (Acts 10:24). In virulent disregard to these clear instructions, the modern evangelistic teams go to a village, set up their loud speaker system, sing and preach. They do not mentor a local leader and leave without planting a church. This unscriptural method can cause many problems, both for the preacher and the preached. Persons of peace are the latter day saints who plant Ekklesias in their homes.
BREAK THIS RULE AND PAY FOR BOARD AND LODGING: The failure by missionaries in finding persons of peace and dealing directly with the poor, resulted in having to open “mission compounds” for those who were thrown out from their communities. Even today, this mistake is being repeated, and new believers have to suffer persecution and ostracism. It also sends wrong signals to the educated and the influential that Christianity is meant only for the poor and low caste people.
THE GENTILES ARE GROANING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD: In His economy, God has already planted persons of peace in every human habitation, be it a city, a village or a neighborhood (Acts 15:14; 17:26,27; Rom. 11:5). The Bible says that, “the whole of creation is in travail for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). Finding the person of peace is the key to starting a house Ekklesia in any locality. He is easily identifiable because he is generally a person of good reputation and hospitable. He will invite you into his house and take care of your food, accommodation and other needs (Luke 10:5-9). These should not be refused, because they are arranged by the Lord Himself in order for His Ekklesia to be established (Mark 16:20). Even though at this stage he belongs to another faith and may be even hostile to Christianity, by constantly praying for him, breaking his bondages and blessing him, you will release him for God’s intended purpose.
FINDING THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PEACE IS THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE EKKLESIA: God has already visited all the lost people on the face of the earth and their locations (Acts 15:14; 17:26). Jesus came to rebuild the fallen tent of David. Now it is for us, the children of “shalom” to go and find the Gentile children of “peace.” It is our responsibility to prayer walk the area and bless all the families living there. We need to bind the strongman, identify and release the children of God (the persons of peace), and plant multiplying Assemblies in their homes. Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9). The only diploma we need is B.A.B. (Be A Blessing). (Gen. 12:3)
