Types of Church Services and Gatherings
WHY “HOUSE CHURCHES” COULD CAUSE TROUBLE!
Jayson Pagan
The American church loves “house church”. Getting people to gather in a house is not the hard part. That’s why I am not an advocate of “house church” but BIBLICAL GATHERING (Organic). It can be anywhere! The disciples gathered around Jesus by the sea, on the roadside, in the mountain, on a boat, on a hill, and in a house.
So, it’s not about where but about HOW.
Paul addresses the order of gathering in 1 Corinthians 14, but the context is all three chapters, 12 – 14.
Considering this, to be of any real spiritual value to the actual body gathering the Christian must….
1) 1 Corinthians 12 – Hear from the Lord by fellowshipping and beholding Him.
This takes intentional time with the Lord in his Word and seeking his Face. Living daily by his indwelling Life and obeying every impulse of the Spirit in daily life. This is the deeper walk. Our God speaks. Covet gifts.
2) 1 Corinthians 13 – Live by LOVE. This is a selfless commitment that carries us beyond the humanities of those who gather. If you are alive to Christ then you must pursue to walk in His love. Coming together with real charity and looking for opportunity to give and share in real ways is important and Christian.
3) 1 Corinthians 14 – Gather selflessly to serve and love others, not for yourself. Bring your gift; unite as the body of Christ with the intent to make Jesus the Head. Submit yourselves to one another in the fear of the Lord.
Otherwise, “house church” ends up being a bunch of independent people who don’t want organized or institutionalized church, long for positions of influence, who have bad attitudes, no submission to anyone, and gather for food and a glorified Bible study or a mini-church service. It’s ungodly, insipid, fruitiness, and damaging. That’s what gives “house church” a bad name, and rightly so.
If you are going to gather at anytime outside of a “church building” then follow the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14, don’t just “do your own thing”. And, for goodness sake, don’t rebuke anyone for their church building, pulpit, or other gatherings. Division of the body of Christ is never godly.
https://www.facebook.com/jayson.pagan.
In this FB Post, Bro. Pagan addresses some powerful issues with the House Church movement and rightly so, thankfully few of us have ever encountered this issues spoken of here with the home church meetings in our circle at least not yet!
A lot rides on the purpose, the plan and the leadership as to whether a house church adds to the body of Christ or takes aways from the body of Christ.
The Key – Every Service Must Be
Christ Centred
1) The Community Church Service
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
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Purpose – Edification, Evangelism, and Church Growth
Who is it for? Open to the Public, the Church and the Visitor
Attire: It is more formal
The Goal: Salvation of souls and Church Growth
The parts of the Service:
Pre service prayer – by the church
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Worship
Word
Testimonies of Answered Prayers
A Message
Moving of the Spirit at the Altar – no laying on of hands in the pew – except by the Ministry.
Altar call – expect the laying on of hands by those trained in the ministry.
Dismissal
1 Corinthians 14:26
Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
2) The Bible Study
There are two types of Bible Studies
a) For the Lost – Home Bible Studies taught by the church
b) Pastoral or teaching by the Ministry to the church
For this topic we will deal with the latter.
b) The Weekly Bible Study
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
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Purpose – Training and Discipleship
Who is it for? The Church those who have completed their salvation experience.
For those who are still in the salvation stage- they should still be in a home Bible study.
Attire: It semi-formal
The Goal: Discipleship and Church Growth
The parts of the Bible Study
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Song
Word and study
Application – take home personal applications
Prayer
Dismissal
3) Sunday School
Sunday School is a fairly new concept in the church, but it deals with more life style issues – body, soul and spirit and giving and knowing the Word of God.
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
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Adult Sunday School- Biblical Stories
Graded Sunday School – Bible Stories
Purpose – Biblical Education and Knowledge
Who is it for? Open to the Public, the Church and the Visitor
Attire: It is more formal
The Goal:
Opening Prayer
Song
Testimonies of Answered Prayers
Bible Story-
Scripture Memorization
Application – reaching all 5 senses
Dismissal
4) Special Services
There are again 3 major divisions of Special service
a) Special Church Service – i.e. BOTT
b) Evangelism – for the salvation of souls and the return of the backslider.
c) Communion Services
a) Special Church Service –
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
_______________________________________________
Purpose – Encouragement, Edification, and Direction
Who is it for? The Church
Attire: It semi formal
The Goal: Reset and Renew Commitment
The parts of the Service:
Pre service prayer – by the church
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Worship
Moving of the Spirit
Word
Testimonies of Answered Prayers – More formal
A Message
Power long 2 – 3 hour Altar call, deliverance, spiritual warfare and healings
Followed by Fellowship Meals
Dismissal
b) Evangelism – for the salvation of souls and the return of the backslider.
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
_______________________________________________
Purpose – A Place for the salvation of Souls, Evangelism, Deliverance for the Lost
Who is it for? Open to the Public made especially for the Visitor
Attire: It is more formal
The Goal: Salvation of souls, deliverance, healings
Pre Event
Powerful Months long prayer
Town Wide Evangelism
Home Bible Studies
Spiritual Warfare
The parts of the Service:
One hour Pre service prayer – by the church
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Worship
Moving of the Spirit
Word
Testimonies of Answered Prayers
A Message
Powerful Altar call with deliverance, healings and miracles.
Dismissal
c) Communion Services
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
_______________________________________________
Purpose – Unity of the Body of Christ, Forgiveness and restoration
Who is it for? The Church Only
Attire: It is more formal
The Goal: Restoration and Brotherly Unity and love
The parts of the Service:
Pre service prayer- by the church
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Repentance
Restoration
Moving of the Spirit
The Word with Communion
Healing and restoration prayers.
Dismissal
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23)17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. 18First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
20 Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. 21For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal.b While one remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you;c do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against thed body and blood of the Lord. 28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the bodye eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
5) House Churches
When, Where and What Time is Yours?
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Purpose – Unity of the Body of Christ, Support and Fellowship
Who is it for? The Church Only
Attire: It is more relaxed
The Goal: To Foster Brotherly Unity and Love
The parts of the Service:
Greetings
Opening Prayer
Repentance
Worship and restorative prayers
Moving of the Spirit
The Word
Spiritual Warfare
Healing and restoration prayers.
Lunch or Meal
6) Other Types of Social Gatherings – Not church related
Not associated with the church – Birthdays, Family Celebrations, Holidays etc. Trips to the city, Going out for coffee
Most often involves the unsaved, still can not involve those under church discipline.
1 Corinthians 5:11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
Only events that are for all the church can be announced at the church
Not to be discussed, divisionary, can lead to backsliding, isolation and feeling left out.
This is why membership is so important.
The Church – For more information on the support and love found within the body check out this post.
Looking forward
What is Church Ministry?
