House Church Talk - House church or simply church wherever people are

[Dan Beaty]

Dan G.

Although I have been gone for the weekend, and have not followed the whole
discussion, I hope it will not be rude to comment on this statement of
yours:

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DanG" <dan.dgordon at gmail.com>

> On this note, another thing to realize is that since the traditional
church
> is our common background, we probably all slip into being either the
> parishoner as is being mentioned here and just sit and listen, or we slip
> into being the teacher/pastor.

Over the past 8 years that we have been doing HC, I have been acutely
conscious about avoiding this slipping back that you point out. But lately I
have been wondering if in doing this I am being conformed to the image of
Christ, or someone's image of House Church.

If Christ's gift to the church in someone is that of pastor/teacher, then
all will be built up when that gift is exercised.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of
the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by
that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love.

While restraint must be exercised so that no one individual dominates the
gatherings, the censoring of pastor/teachers or any gift from Christ would
be a denial of the very Christ Who lives within each of us.

In fact, Paul exhorted his young son in the faith, Timothy to "stir up the
gift of God that was within him." He knew that God's power was resident
within Timothy to such an extent that others in the body would grow to their
full potential through his gift.

This is the church that Jesus is building, where everyone is free to live
and move in the power the Holy Spirit that has filled them. Including the
pastor/teachers.

Dan Beaty
www.livingtruth.com