Letter received:

Yes it is several things that are not what I consider a Bible gathering. We rarely open the word. Prayer is scarce. Worship is lame at best. Mostly, in my opinion, it is a social time. I can find better things to do with 3.5 hours of my time. The men told me God showed them they are to do body ministry and God leads via the consensus. I told them God leads me by His word (logos), His rhema (spoken), and His Spirit, but the body only confirms. Maybe they are right, but I don't think God wants me in a gathering that rarely consults His word, and almost never spends the hour praying. Worship is more horizontal chit-chat than vertical adoration of the living God. They tell me that everything they do is worship. Yes, but I want to spend time ministering to the Lord. I want to hear directly from Him. I want to open His word and study and learn of His awesome character. I need to be changed by Him and not by the group saying God wants us to play games and paint pictures. I have told them all of this, but they still feel led to do things their way, so i excused myself. 

Peace,

In reply:

at Sarasota, were you being prompted by the Word & Spirit to be leading to help in some of things? If a group is loitering with “chit-chat”, Father may be providing you or me just then an ideal opportunity to be gently guiding the conversation toward His thoughts and His words. When & where the Scriptures best be referred, are you enabled in Christ today to be handling the written Word such as to encourage, to admonish, to instruct by way of reminder? I'm quite convinced with you on the “adoration of the living God” and to be speaking well of Him. And in this, with understanding for how ideal it becomes to be learning to glorify God by way of example. With whomever you may gather, wherever you sojourn, may you have many excellent opportunities to voice adoration of the Living God, and consequently be reminding the others in this way.

Since we do anticipate together the one accord, one mind of Christ, I encourage you to humbly grant opportunity for other members to recognize the work of God in you as a fellow member of Christ within consensus. As to say, if/where the Spirit of God is truly urging in the hour not to be playing a game together (or painting, or whatever thing), then do find love & courage to let them know what you are hearing in the Spirit, by the Scriptures, or both. It may well be that Father is to moving us toward even greater things for the children. Yet-also, where He is not objecting, then so neither would we. In all things, being led by God our Father.

After receiving your letters, I was moved to be putting to words a little regarding how different these home fellowships may function. writing...

If you are familiar with traditional churches, you may be wondering how “simple” or “organic” assembly will function. If there's no “Sunday School”, no “worship leader” or pulpit pastor, what then?

ekklesia is transliterated from a New Testament word meaning “those called out, coming together”. Being called out by Christ, coming together as His children and in His Spirit. He calls us “out” from our former lives and away from the empty things of the world. So then, why might He be calling us together?

With a traditional church, you can “come to church” and openly present yourself as a worshiping Christian on a certain day & time of the week. To the ekklesia, rather than gathering together for “worship”, we are each and together actively worshiping God day & night; every hour. “worship” meaning to bow before Him in humble submission & service (to God). So then, if not for worship, why do we assembling together? We are assembled from time-to-time as the counsel of God on earth, the ambassadors and presence of the Anointed One who is called “Christ”, and curiously in this we are as His beloved “little children” and together as His Bride betrothed.

While many have been made accustomed to having humans teach them in an arranged fashion, the goal of our instruction has now become Love. In Christ, we each anticipate learning (rather than teaching) as by our becoming His disciples/followers. This is why you may experience less overt “teaching” in ekklesia: our Teacher, the Spirit of God in Christ, helping us to be learning more of Him thru moment-by-moment relationship with Him. Learning together of Him is very much included, and so we will see one another and/or hear from one another on any day; as the Family of God, we love to often be coming alongside one another; to be caring and learning together; helping and in prayer; reading and comprehending the Scriptures, etc.

As when we next assemble, there will be much to be sharing with all because we have been walking together with Christ throughout the previous week-or-so. The good things of God that we have experienced should be fresh in our thoughts (though I admit to sometimes writing things down as a backup to my feeble memory), including all of what speaks well of our Father; revelation, parables and accounts of His goodness, grace, power, patience, mercy... challenges and questions; of where there may be need; of where there may be abundance; reports from near & far; words of wisdom; words of knowledge, and all such as is mentioned at I Corinthians 14:26, and many other things for which the Kingdom of God concerns.

As members of Christ's body, each one has received various gifts/graces from God. There is anticipation both for diversity of expression and for how Christ is making & keeping us in one accord; one mind. Despite wonderful graces from God, there are no specialists among us; no experts, as we have each received a portion in the same Spirit. Because of Christ, we anticipate both young & old to be sharing good things. In ekklesia, we gladly wait for one another; without fear of silence; confident in God to be guiding and directing us --- we are His possession.

The Scriptures (Bible) have deep value, and are much as “love letters” to us written with more depth than any human lover has ever rallied. Rather than using the Bible to building a group theology, the writings add to our affection for Christ and as they speak to remind of Him. After all, we live and move and have our being by His word, even as Christ is the Living Word.

In ekklesia, there may at times become need for administrative determinations/actions regarding the city or region, extending the ministry of reconciliation, assisting with ekklesia in other places, various communications, etc. The meeting is continuously open to the direct of the Spirit, and so may re-convene at any time or place(s). Each member being bestowed with the authority of Christ (there is no greater authority than His).

ekklesia is not a passive/social experience; not about getting your weekly “batteries recharged”; not about attending a seminar or hearing an inspirational speaker. Participating well among the ekklesia requires preparation of knowing Christ, being known by Him; Christ as your all-in-all. Visitors (and all) are encouraged to realize Him; to be knowing Him and known by Him.