I stumbled upon another blog today that I wanted to share with all of those who visit my blog. It is the blog of Brent Davis, who in November 2005 preached his final sermon as pastor of Ozark Highlands Church and started hosting a New Testament model church in his home. There are many of us who God has called out of the institutional church and has taken us through the "detox" process to teach us about New Testament Church. I would encourage you to bookmark Brent's blog as I have, it is good for us to connect with one another so that we can encourage one another in our journey, even if we are in different parts of the world.
Here is the link to Brent's blog: http://brentdavis.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
The Last Snack
This article by Steve Atkerson and Eric Svendsen of the New Testament Restoration Foundation (www.ntrf.org) should challenge some basic ideas about what goes on in our meetings!
Suppose my wife and I invited you over to our home for supper. What would you think if the only items we served you were a single shot-glass of juice and a tiny fraction of a soda cracker? Would you really consider that a supper? Would it even qualify as a snack? Might you feel disappointed or even deceived?
"Supper" is generally understood to refer to a full meal - enough food to satisfy the appetite. A portion of food that is less than a meal is typically seen as a snack. Considering the way most churches observe the Lord’s Supper (with a sip of juice and a cracker remnant), why is it called a supper? Would it not be better to name it what it honestly has become? To many believers, the Lord’s Supper is not a “supper” at all. It is the Lord’s Appetizer or perhaps the Lord’s Hors D’oeuvres! Did our Lord really intend to launch a memorial snack?
Read the Article Online
Download the Full Article - [Microsoft Word - DOC]
Suppose my wife and I invited you over to our home for supper. What would you think if the only items we served you were a single shot-glass of juice and a tiny fraction of a soda cracker? Would you really consider that a supper? Would it even qualify as a snack? Might you feel disappointed or even deceived?
"Supper" is generally understood to refer to a full meal - enough food to satisfy the appetite. A portion of food that is less than a meal is typically seen as a snack. Considering the way most churches observe the Lord’s Supper (with a sip of juice and a cracker remnant), why is it called a supper? Would it not be better to name it what it honestly has become? To many believers, the Lord’s Supper is not a “supper” at all. It is the Lord’s Appetizer or perhaps the Lord’s Hors D’oeuvres! Did our Lord really intend to launch a memorial snack?
Read the Article Online
Download the Full Article - [Microsoft Word - DOC]
Friday, March 03, 2006
There's No Pulpit Like Home
Some Evangelicals are abandoning megachurches for minichurches--based in their own living rooms
Read more from the Time magazine article online
Christian Heritage Center (CHC) has proclaimed March as House Church Month
To mark the importance of house churches—which have been a part of Christianity since the earliest days following Pentecost—the Christian Heritage Center (CHC) has proclaimed March as House Church Month.
While many view the house church as a modern day phenomena, in reality it dates back to the days of Peter, Paul, and John.
“The house church was one of the primary meeting places used by the church for the first few centuries,” says Greg Humphries, founder of the CHC. “They were there at the beginning and they’re here now. We believe it is important to honor their contribution to the advancement of the Gospel over the past two thousand years.”
Humphries says the New Testament bears out the existence of early house churches.
“There are four verses in particular that mention the church being in somebody’s home,” according to Humphries. “Solomon’s Porch, the synagogues, and the marketplace were all used for evangelism but the meeting place for the believers was in a home. In fact, the very first meeting of the church took place in a house, in the upper room as told in Acts 1.” The Bible shows that the apostle Paul urged believers to “greet the church that is in (Aquila and Priscilla’s) house” (Romans 16:3-5).
One of the early church fathers, Clement of Alexandria, speaks in his writings of a house being used as a place of worship. Likewise, a private house in Dura-Europos (near Baghdad) was excavated in the 1930’s and was found to be used as a Christian meeting place in AD 232, with one small room serving as the baptistery.
Historical references to house churches over the next sixteen-and-a-half centuries are scarce since the movements that met in homes were generally outlawed, but it is known that the Waldensians—a severely persecuted group of believers in the 12th and 13th centuries—met in homes throughout Europe. Also, some early Anabaptists met in the home of Felix Manz, who was martyred before the age of 30 by followers of Ulrich Zwingli, the Swiss reformer.
Today, it is estimated by the Barna Group that there are up to 30,000 house churches in the United States and possibly a million worldwide. One ministry alone in India has planted more than 3,000 house churches numbering some 50,000 believers. It is believed that about 50 million Christians are fellowshipping in homes in China.
Source: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06020076.htm
Read more from the Time magazine article online
Christian Heritage Center (CHC) has proclaimed March as House Church Month
To mark the importance of house churches—which have been a part of Christianity since the earliest days following Pentecost—the Christian Heritage Center (CHC) has proclaimed March as House Church Month.
While many view the house church as a modern day phenomena, in reality it dates back to the days of Peter, Paul, and John.
“The house church was one of the primary meeting places used by the church for the first few centuries,” says Greg Humphries, founder of the CHC. “They were there at the beginning and they’re here now. We believe it is important to honor their contribution to the advancement of the Gospel over the past two thousand years.”
Humphries says the New Testament bears out the existence of early house churches.
“There are four verses in particular that mention the church being in somebody’s home,” according to Humphries. “Solomon’s Porch, the synagogues, and the marketplace were all used for evangelism but the meeting place for the believers was in a home. In fact, the very first meeting of the church took place in a house, in the upper room as told in Acts 1.” The Bible shows that the apostle Paul urged believers to “greet the church that is in (Aquila and Priscilla’s) house” (Romans 16:3-5).
One of the early church fathers, Clement of Alexandria, speaks in his writings of a house being used as a place of worship. Likewise, a private house in Dura-Europos (near Baghdad) was excavated in the 1930’s and was found to be used as a Christian meeting place in AD 232, with one small room serving as the baptistery.
Historical references to house churches over the next sixteen-and-a-half centuries are scarce since the movements that met in homes were generally outlawed, but it is known that the Waldensians—a severely persecuted group of believers in the 12th and 13th centuries—met in homes throughout Europe. Also, some early Anabaptists met in the home of Felix Manz, who was martyred before the age of 30 by followers of Ulrich Zwingli, the Swiss reformer.
Today, it is estimated by the Barna Group that there are up to 30,000 house churches in the United States and possibly a million worldwide. One ministry alone in India has planted more than 3,000 house churches numbering some 50,000 believers. It is believed that about 50 million Christians are fellowshipping in homes in China.
Source: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06020076.htm
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Two New Essays from David Alan Black
David Alan Black has posted two great new essays on his Web site, "Reformation, Revival, or Restoration?" and "Church as Meetinghouse". I would encourage everyone to not only read these two essays, but to bookmark one of my favorite sections of his Web site, Unleashing the Church.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Dr. Michael Green's Messages About the Church
On February 8th and 9th Dr. Michael Green spoke at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel services. On Feb. 8th he shares a message about "The Church God Uses" from Acts 11, and on Feb. 9th he shares a great message about "The Leaders God Uses" from Acts 20. You can find these messages online here:
http://www.sebts.edu/chapel/chapelMessages.cfm
Whatever you call it (house church, home church, simple church, family church, relational church, organic church, micro church, biblical church, etc.), the idea is to be faithful to the intent of the original Apostles in our church life. This can be done with any size congregation, meeting at any location as long as the New Testament model is followed instead of the modern day church model. There are many great resources available online to help us learn more about being the Church like God intended.
http://www.unleashingthechurch.com/
http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/
http://www.homediscipleship.org/
http://www.house2house.com/
http://www.lifestream.org/
http://www.ntrf.org/
http://www.visionforumministries.org/sections/ncfic/default.asp
http://www.sebts.edu/chapel/chapelMessages.cfm
Whatever you call it (house church, home church, simple church, family church, relational church, organic church, micro church, biblical church, etc.), the idea is to be faithful to the intent of the original Apostles in our church life. This can be done with any size congregation, meeting at any location as long as the New Testament model is followed instead of the modern day church model. There are many great resources available online to help us learn more about being the Church like God intended.
http://www.unleashingthechurch.com/
http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/
http://www.homediscipleship.org/
http://www.house2house.com/
http://www.lifestream.org/
http://www.ntrf.org/
http://www.visionforumministries.org/sections/ncfic/default.asp
The Theology of Everything
"He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
These seven words found in John 3:30 contain the entire mystery of God’s dealings with man from ages past to eternity future. "He [Christ] must increase." All of God’s works are towards this end of increasing Christ. In other words, everything God has done, is doing, and will do is related towards revealing His Son and bringing us into the full-knowledge (epignosis) of Him. The goal is for Christ to have the preeminence in all things, beginning with us individually as disciples, then with the Church, and finally with all creation, "that He may be All in All."
This online workshop is an intensive study that will get you focused on the preeminence of Jesus and help you understand God's Ultimate Purpose for the individual disciple, the Church, and all creation.
The cost is FREE. Each lesson will take 10-15 minutes to complete online, but you may study at your own pace.
Click here to register online!
These seven words found in John 3:30 contain the entire mystery of God’s dealings with man from ages past to eternity future. "He [Christ] must increase." All of God’s works are towards this end of increasing Christ. In other words, everything God has done, is doing, and will do is related towards revealing His Son and bringing us into the full-knowledge (epignosis) of Him. The goal is for Christ to have the preeminence in all things, beginning with us individually as disciples, then with the Church, and finally with all creation, "that He may be All in All."
This online workshop is an intensive study that will get you focused on the preeminence of Jesus and help you understand God's Ultimate Purpose for the individual disciple, the Church, and all creation.
The cost is FREE. Each lesson will take 10-15 minutes to complete online, but you may study at your own pace.
Click here to register online!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFF
The Redskins have qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1999. As a Wild Card participant and the sixth seed in the NFC, the Redskins will travel to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 7.
Game time is 4:30 p.m. ET. I will be there in section 334 thanks to my loving wife who got me the tickets!
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Back where they belong
For the first time since 1999 and just the second time since 1992, the Redskins are headed to the playoffs. Clinton Portis ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday as Washington (10-6) closed the regular season with its fifth straight win. The Redskins trailed 17-10 at halftime but rallied with three second-half TDs, including both of Portis' scores, to pull out the cliniching victory. Washington will visit Tampa Bay to open the postseason on Saturday, Jan 7.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Monday, December 19, 2005
Redskins 35, Cowboys 7
Energized by a raucous FedExField crowd, the Redskins dominated the Dallas Cowboys in every facet of Sunday's game, winning 35-7 and enhancing their playoff hopes in the process.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Keep the Black's in your Prayers
Dave and BeckyLynn Black are leaving for their trip to Ethiopia this afternoon. Be sure to keep them in your prayers as the make another missionary trip. They have posted an Itinerary and Prayer Guide for the trip on their site, you can click here to print of the page as a reminder to lift them up in your prayers daily as they allow God to use them as His servants in Ethiopia over the next month.
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