Our Form is defined by. . .

Ÿ Relationships - for purpose of accomplishing the function 

Ÿ Divine Order

Ÿ Connectedness/Community

Ÿ Intergenerational

Ÿ Widows, Orphans

Ÿ Instruction

Ÿ Prayer

Ÿ Discipline

Ÿ Leadership

Life in the church is centered around Christ our Lord as the head. Life with Him is simple. From the pastoral letters (1,2 Timothy, Titus), we have guidance as to how we ought to conduct ourselves in the household of God. Relationships, instruction, prayer, discipline, and leadership are terms that defined the form of church life for the first century Christians.

Relationships

Form is to be defined by relationships, motivated out of accomplishing the function of the church. Any other motive is man-made religion and man becomes the center, not Christ. Terms such as body, building, household, temple are given to us to let us know of the connectedness and unity the church is to have.

Divine Order. The Divine order is God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19). This order is pictured in Scripture when God the Son is described as being eternally subject to God the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 5:19,20,30; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:22:28; Philippines 2:5-8). Christ is the head of every man (1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23), and the man is the head of woman (Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:22,23; Colossians 3:18,19; 1 Timothy 2:11-14). Where children are present, they are subject to their parents (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Proverbs 6:20; 23:22; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20).

Connectedness. Terms used in the New Testament such as household, body, building, temple indicate there is to be a togetherness, a connectedness between the members of the church. Look at the statements found in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 2. Our work is to connect every individual to the body of Christ through Him and through a small group of Christians who are caring for each other. We are to be concerned for the growth of each individual (Colossians 1:28,29).

The form of the church may be viewed from the smallest unit, where two or three are gather in the name of our Lord (Matthew 18:20), to a large gathering of Christians numbering in the thousands (Acts 2:37; 4:4). Our Lord Himself modeled the form when He discipled twelve with an inner circle of three. Then He discipled seventy (Luke 10:1) The number of followers at His ascension was about 120. He illustrated the pattern from the small group to the large group.

These small groups may be for Bible study and for works of service. The most important small group, however, is the family. The church is to always support, encourage, and promote the development of family life. Any form of church life that works against the development of family life as given in Scripture is working against the Divine order for family and church life. In other words, disciples are to be made in and through the families of the church.

The smallest unit (two or three) in the church may be viewed as the family where there is the picture of God as head of Christ, Christ the head of the man, and the man the head of the woman. The husband/father loves his wife as Christ does the church. The wife/mother is subject to the husband as the church is to Christ. The father and mother, especially the father, is to bring up the children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. In other words, the family is the center of worship of our God. The husband/father gathers the family for worship. This unit is the smallest view of church life.

The next view of the church life pictured in Scripture is when two or three families are gathered together in the name of our Lord, in His honor, in remembrance of Him. The church in Philippi is an example of this arrangement. "They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed." (Acts 16:40) These families may meet anywhere together, but a logical meeting place is where they live called house churches (Acts 2:26; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2). They gather to accomplish the function of the church by

1. devoting themselves to the study of Holy Scriptures and prayer (Acts 2:42);

2. remembering our Lord’s death, taking a meal together (Acts 2:42);

3. sharing one another’s burdens, admonishing and teaching one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16);

4. expressing spiritual gifts in service to one another (1 Peter 4:10);

5. confessing sins to one another (Acts 2:42,46; Galatians 6:1,2; Colossians 3:16);

6. serving Christ together in meeting the needs of all people, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:9,10).

Disciples of our Lord are made through the family and the gathering of families.

The form of church life may also be pictured as a gathering of house churches. Here is the opportunity to see the work of Christ in other members that a person would not meet with on a regular basis. Here is the opportunity to be encouraged by the abiding faith of other brothers and sisters you can’t spend much time with. This gathering is for the same purpose as the other two gatherings (Acts 2:46; 1 Corinthians 14:23.26).

The church today is struggling to understand its identity apart from buildings and religious structures, just as it possibly did in the first century - the Jews accustomed to the temple in Jerusalem and the pagans who had temples of their own built to honor various gods. The followers of our Lord in the first century did not ask to be dislodged from these structures, whether Jew or Gentile. They were led out of the religious systems because they followed Christ’s teachings and the teachings of the apostles.

Intergenerational grouping. The form of the church is also defined by relationships where older men are teaching younger men, and older women are teaching younger women. It is not as important that the same ages meet together as it is wisdom and experience teaches the inexperienced. Much instruction in the early churches centered around family life (1 Timothy 5:1,2; Titus 2:4-8).

Widows. In the first century churches, form was defined by relationships where those who could not help themselves were given special attention. These relationships are no less important today. Those who do not have family are to be given a family through relationships in the church (1 Timothy 5:3-16; James 1:27).

Instruction

"Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching..."Acts 2:42

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." (Colossians 1:28,29)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 timothy 3:16,17)

The primary activity describing form of the church is to instruct persons in personal salvation and growth in Christ (Ephesians 4:13-16; Colossians 2:16-19), regardless the size of the group. The smaller the group, the more effective the learning. Children are to be primarily taught by their parents. In the pastoral letters, Paul mentions the goal of instruction as being love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5). Warnings are given about teaching strange doctrines, fruitless discussions, worldly and empty chatter, wrangling about words, ignorant and foolish speculations, strife and disputes about the Law (1 Timothy 1:3,4,6,7; 4:7; 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:14;16;23; Titus 3:9). God’s word is to be entrusted to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

Prayer

Prayer is also an essential component in the form that defines life in Christ and His church. Prayer connects us with our God through Christ and with each other. Men are to lead the church in praying in their homes and in the public meetings of families (2 Timothy 2:8).

Discipline

Discipline is another term that defines the form of church life. Discipline is for the purpose of godliness because godliness holds promise both for the present life and for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8). Human examples of the disciplined life are the soldier (2 Timothy 2:3,4), the athlete (2 Timothy 2:5), the farmer (2 Timothy 2:6), and the workman (2 Timothy 2:15). The disciplined life involves: fleeing youthful lusts and pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22), watching for and reproving rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, and rejecting factious men after warning them (Titus 1:10,11,13,14; 3:10,11).

Outside the letters to the church, our Lord taught us to discipine ourselves as His children. We are to follow His commands in this matter of correcting each other. Discipline of disobedient people in the church is for restoration and reconciliation (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5).

Leadership

The form of the church is defined by leaders with certain characteristics. No one is to lead without these qualities. Leadership is developed in the home. An elder is a man who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) (1 Timothy 3:4,5). Leaders for the church must also be "able to teach" 1 Timothy 3:3.

Leaders of the church are to give support, enhancement, and promotion to the chain of command ordained by our God. If leaders are not careful, the authority of Christ in the chain of command may be replace by other authorities. When the leader of the home is not taught to be subject to Christ, he will neglect his role in the family, and other authorities will take his place.

This is the work we are attempting to do - without the use of traditional church methods and practices (facilities-oriented, program-centered approaches). I am not saying that these methods are not bringing people to Christ and growing them in Christ, in other words, making disciples. Our God has virtually dumped in our laps the situation we find ourselves, where limited financial resources have almost forced us to develop another approach to making disciples. And, what has been learned since 1994 has given us evidence that this approach to making disciples is workable, very effective, and productive, yet more demanding, very rewarding, but very costly - in time, talent, treasure. We are learning that this form focuses on the individual responsibility each member has to make disciples, and that it...

Ÿ supports the chain of command given by our God;

Ÿ focuses attention on nurturing family life continuously - not just in certain seasons of life but in all seasons;

Ÿ provides an excellent form for the development and operation of spiritual gifts; creates a means for the healing of soul and body;

Ÿ provides the opportunity to experience the fullness of Christ who fills all in all; promotes the goal of presenting every person complete in Christ.