The Practice of the Early Church – Session 2 – Participatory Church Meetings

I was able to attend session 2 of a home church conference put on by NTRF. Here are some not I took from session 2 – Participatory Church Meetings.

The Practice of the Early Church

Session 2 – Participatory Church Meetings

(Steve Atkerson)

1 Corinthians 14:26 – What do we learn about the NT church from this verse? Diversified, Spontaneous, …

Change “each one” to “only one” which option is today’s church more like?

Is the church you meet with like this?

Acts 13:14-15 – Should the church meeting reflect what the synagogue in the NT looked like?

Acts 14:1 – They allowed audience input from the synagogue meetings.

Acts 17:1-2 – Paul’s custom – reasoned with them

Acts 17:10-11

Acts 17:17

Acts 18:4

Acts 19:8

There seems to assume that there was some sort of audience input in the synagogue meetings.

Singing – 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19

Teaching – 1 Corinthians 14:26, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:42, Romans 12:6-7, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 1:3; 2:11-15, James 3:1

Preaching – Acts 20:7 – Paul preached to the disciples (greek is dialegomai – discussed)

Never preached in a church meeting.

Preaching is a evangelist – outside the church meeting.

Various Charismatic Gifts – 1 Corinthians 14:26

Other gifts to consider:

Acts 2:42 – Prayer

1 Timothy 4:13 – Public reading of scripture

Acts 14:26-27 – Reporting what God is doing through them

How to consider one another (Hebrews)?
Is there a testimony the Lord would have you bring?
– Could you purpose to begin a time of conversational prayer?

Is there a song you like that would edify the church?

– Is there some subject or passage of Scripture to teach on?

What has the Lord shown you this week in your time with Him?

Does your wife spend more time preparing for the meeting (cooking) than you do (considering how to encourage the church)?

A Worship Service – Romans 12:1-2, John 4:21-24

The NT never refers to a church meeting as a worship service.

Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:26-28

Only a few a week (one at a time), if it is done, it must be with an interpretation.

If there is no interpretation, it must not be done – teaching us that sometimes we can have a legitimate gift from God that he doesn’t want us to use in the meeting.

Prophecy – 1 Corinthians 14:29-33, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Only a few a week (one at a time), if it is done, it has to be tested.

Same teaching about the gifts of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 – Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

The Role of Women – 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35

This passage is controversial… you need to study it and decide for yourself.

But this passage does indicate that their meetings were participatory.

Perhaps this verse is showing us more that the men should be leaders. This could be a dynamic silence that sucks the men into leadership.

Two Questions – 1 Corinthians 14:36 – You have no choice but to contact your church meetings anyway than this.

The Lord’s Command – 1 Corinthians 14:37 – Obey the commands of the bible.

Three Imperatives – 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

Desire earnestly to prophecy.

Don’t forbid to speak in tongues.

All things to be done properly and orderly.

Conclusions that can be drawn from 1 Corinthians 14

Participatory

Fitting and Orderly

Edifying

Lord’s Command