The exaltation of Jesus Christ and the mutual edification of the Body of Christ should be the purpose and focus of very House mystical teachings of jesus gathering.
When we come together, we are essentially practicing how to experience Jesus in our midst. This experience, however, does not take place over night.
It takes time for a House church to discover how to be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul spent many years writing letters to the church instructing them in the things of God.
The church in Corinth in particular was one in which Paul gave instructions in how to experience and share Christ in a decent and orderly way so that everyone could be mutually edified, encouraged, and strengthened in the faith.
The early churches gathered regularly to worship and share the life of Christ with one another. For a little over 300 years, believers primarily gathered in homes all across the city to pray, sing, worship, and share the life of Christ together.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Lk. 2:46).
The word steadfastly suggests an ongoing and deliberate effort of devotion on the part of the early church to observe certain basic disciplines of the newly established Christian faith community. These disciplines became the lifestyle of the early church, and the four pillars of community upon which early church life was centered.
So, what happens when modern believers come together? Well, pretty much the same things that early believers experienced, except some things are practiced to a greater or lesser degree.
Unlike the institutional church, House churches celebrate Christ through the open meeting. I would like to offer some open meeting guidelines to help believers maintain order, direction, and focus when they come together each week to discover and practice the presence of Jesus in their midst.
The house church is and should be a house of prayer. This is the most important business of the church. In between House church gatherings:
Believers should pray through out the week for the mind of Christ in anticipation of the next gathering of the House church family.
Prayer should be made for each member of the House church, any visitors who have frequented the House church, as well as any other needs as the Holy Spirit leads. Every House church meeting should include time for both corporate and private prayer. Each member should be encouraged to participate in the open prayer meeting.
There is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer may be offered individually with each taking a turn as they feel led, offered corporately with everyone each taking a turn, or everyone praying aloud at the same time.
It is not as important how we pray, but, that we pray. Praying together is one way in which the Holy Spirit brings power and unity to the Body of Christ and frustrates Satan’s plans to hinder the House church from progress. Consider what Luke records in the book of Acts.
