Top Posts RSSFri, 10 Apr 2026 18:57:02 GMTWhy Do We Do What We Do?Temple ≠ Synagogue ≠ ChurchFrom Temple… to Synagogue… to Church — Where Did We Shift?To understand how we got here, we must clearly separate three things that are often confused:The Temple, the Synagogue, and the Church are not the same.Yet much of what we call “church” today borrows heavily from the first two—instead of the model given byJesus Christ and the early believers.1. The Temple — A Place God ReplacedThe Temple in Jerusalem was:A sacred buildingA place of sacrifice and priesthoodA centralized location where people came to meet GodBut when Jesus Christ died and rose again:The veil was tornAccess to God was openedThe sacrificial system was fulfilledThis means:God no longer dwells in a physical temple—His people became the temple.So the Christian faith was never meant to return to a building-centered system.2. The Synagogue — A Tool, Not a TemplateThe synagogue was:A gathering place for teachingA place where Scripture was read and discussedA structured environment led by a fewNow here is where many misunderstand:Yes—Jesus Christ went into synagogues.Yes—Paul the Apostle preached in synagogues.But why?Because that is where the people were.Jesus’ Real Ministry PatternWhile He occasionally entered synagogues, Jesus primarily ministered:In homesAround tablesIn fields and marketplacesAlong roads and villagesHe did not establish a synagogue-style system.He did not say:“Build a place and gather people weekly.”He said:“Follow Me.”Paul’s Strategy — Not His ModelWhen Paul the Apostle entered a city:He went to the synagogue firstHe reasoned with the JewsHe used it as an evangelism entry pointBut after people believed:The Church did not continue as a synagogueBelievers formed new communitiesWhere?In homesIn daily lifeIn relational gatherings3. The Church — A Living Body, Not a LocationIn Acts of the Apostles, the Church is revealed as:A people, not a placeA body, not a buildingA movement, not a meetingThey met:House to houseDailyEverywhereEveryone... Read more

]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:57:02 GMThttps://livingtruth.com/movie-review-a-great-awakening/We recently saw this movie in the theatre and would highly recommend it to everyone. It is a dramatization of an important part of our American history that is not very well-known.  I fully appreciate the fact that there is just too much history to cover in this period. Instead, the creators chose to skillfully weave stories and events together to capture the energy, the impact and the essence of the characters and their times.The story begins with the meetings of the original Continental Congress in the early formation the United States. The tension in the air and the difficult issues the young country was facing are clearly seen. Then the scene changes to a weary Benjamin Franklin with his grandson, recalling the previous decades in the 13 colonies.As he begins recalling his relationship with his old friend and preacher, George Whitefield, those early days are shown to us on the screen. Whitefield’s story begins in England, and his desire to enter the profession of stage acting. Ultimately his goals change as he later experiences the true grace of God in Christ. Now, most of all his passion is to share the Gospel to others. His transformation alone is worth the price of admission.After that we quickly get a glimpse of the great crowds of people who gathered to hear the preaching of the wonderful grace of God, calling all people unto Himself. I like that they included John and Charles Wesley in the story as they were important in the revivals of that day. Jonathan Edwards was briefly mentioned. I would point out that his part and others in previous revivals leading up to this were also very important. Finally, my hope is that this movie will expose more people to the wonderful things that God was doing in the days before and after the American Revolution, and that this would lead to further research into that rich history.Go see it. You might even get a revival fire in your heart as well!... Read more

]]>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:23:47 GMTWhat Is the Actual Purpose of the Church?Matthew 24:14 — The Mission That Defines the ChurchAfter seeing the pattern of the early Church in Acts of the Apostles 2:42–47, a deeper question rises:Why does the Church exist at all?Is it:To gather believers?To create community?To worship together?Yes… but those are not the ultimate purpose.To understand the true purpose, we must listen to the words ofJesus Christ Himself.The Defining StatementIn Gospel of Matthew 24:14, Jesus makes a powerful declaration:“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”This is not just a prophecy.It is a mission statement.A Purpose Bigger Than GatheringNotice what Jesus did not say:He did not say, “When churches are built…”He did not say, “When believers gather every week…”He did not say, “When sermons are preached in buildings…”He said:“This gospel will be preached… to all nations.”The focus is not inward.It is radically outward.Understanding “All Nations”The word “nations” here is not about political countries.It refers to ethne—people groups, tribes, cultures.This means:Every languageEvery tribeEvery unreached communitymust hear the Gospel.This aligns perfectly with the command inGospel of Matthew 28:18–20:“Go and make disciples of all nations…”The Church Exists for a MissionThis changes everything.The Church is not an end in itself.It is a means to an end.It exists to:Proclaim the GospelMake disciplesMultiply into every people groupIf we misunderstand this purpose, we risk:Building systems that maintain believersinstead ofMovements that multiply disciplesA Sobering ReflectionIf Jesus tied His return to this mission:“…and then the end will come”Then we must ask:How much of our time is spent on this mission?How much of our resources are invested in reaching the unreached?How many disciples are we actually making?Not just converts.Not just attendees.But disciple-makers.Where Does Most Church Energy Go Today?In... Read more

]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:21:34 GMTWhat Do You Do at Church?Before we define what a house church is… before we defend it… before we even describe it—let’s slow down and ask some honest, uncomfortable, and deeply revealing questions.Not to criticize.Not to condemn.But to awaken.Because sometimes the greatest barrier to truth is not ignorance…it is assumption.Thought-Provoking QuestionsTake a moment. Don’t rush. Reflect deeply.What do you actually do when you go to church? Is it participation… or observation?What is the true purpose of the Church? Is it gathering… or going?Why do you do what you do when you go to church? Is it Scripture-based… or tradition-shaped?What do you expect to happen as a result of attending church? Information… or transformation?What percentage of your church is fully engaged in serving the Lord? Is it a body… or an audience?Who does most of the work in your church? The many… or the few?How do you attract people to your church? Programs… or power?What is your vision for your church? Growth in numbers… or multiplication of disciples?How do you train leaders—and what happens after they are trained? Do they sit… or are they sent?How is leadership structured in your church? Is it hierarchical… or servant-based?If someone fully funded a new church for you, what would you need? A building? Equipment? Staff? Or something else?A Different Kind of LearningThese questions are not meant to be answered quickly.They are meant to unsettle you—in the best way possible.The early Church did not begin with buildings, budgets, or branding.It began with people who encountered Jesus and were transformed.In Acts of the Apostles, we see something radically different from what many experience today:People were devoted, not just presentThey were participating, not spectatingThey were sharing life, not attending eventsThey were multiplying, not maintainingAnd perhaps the most challenging truth of all:They did not need most of what we think is essential today.Why Start with Questions?Because questions e... Read more

]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:24:09 GMTSummary: The fall of humanity caused the glory of Elohim to diminish or be lost.Call to action: As believers, let us do everything for His glory.Our theme at this time is the glory of Elohim. This is an important theme found throughout the entire Bible, from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation. The Hebrew term ‘kabod’, meaning ‘glory’, appears about 200 times in the Old Testament. The translators of the Old Testament (Hebrew) into the New Testament (Greek) chose the term ‘doxa’ to translate ‘kabod’.In Greek culture, the term ‘doxa’ originally referred to the ‘opinion’ others held regarding a person’s actions and achievements. A high opinion or high regard would elevate someone above others, and this became the goal of many Greeks—to be glorified and praised by others. However, the meaning of ‘doxa’ changed when it was used to translate ‘kabod’. It no longer referred merely to human opinion but came to signify glory related to the personal revelation of Elohim. The term ‘doxa’ appears 166 times in the New Testament.Let us begin by exploring the meaning of ‘kabod’ in the Old Testament. We will use the ‘first mention principle’, which holds that the first occurrence of a concept in the Bible carries a foundational meaning that remains consistent throughout Scripture. Although the term ‘kabod’ first appears in Genesis 31:1, its ‘demonstration’ appears much earlier.Consider Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (‘doxa’) of Elohim” (ILT). Therefore, to understand ‘kabod’, we must examine the ‘demonstration’ of humanity’s first fall in the Garden of Eden. By understanding this, we will grasp the meaning of ‘kabod’. According to the first mention principle, this meaning becomes the foundational meaning, while later occurrences only expand or complete it.Now let us look at Genesis 2:25: “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Meanwhile, Philippians 1:20 states: “My eager expectation and hope is that I will not... Read more

]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:17:22 GMTSummary: God’s arrangement speaks of His sovereignty in determining all things. Although human beings possess will, thoughts, and feelings as persons, they cannot determine the course of their own lives; everything has already been arranged by God for them.Call to Action: We must use our thoughts, feelings, and will to learn to cooperate with God so that His will may be fulfilled in us.Our title this time is the ordinance of God. What is meant by ‘ordinance’ is that everything has been arranged beforehand. There is no event that can be called ‘coincidental’. Whether great or important events, or small events that even escape human attention—such as a bird falling to the ground—all of these have been arranged beforehand. The ordinance of God means that everything that happens is arranged by God. Both great and small matters, both important and trivial matters in this universe, are all arranged by God. The Bible says that not a single bird falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. The Bible even says that the hairs on our heads are all numbered by Him. This proves that God’s ordinance is extraordinary and extremely detailed.Why is the matter of God’s ordinance important for us to discuss? This is because there is a concept that has generally prevailed in the Christian world, namely the view that bad events do not come from God; bad events come from the Devil. For example, the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or other bad events that befall the children of God, such as accidents, disasters, being fired from work, and so on. Through this understanding, it is as if there are two forces governing events in the universe. If something evil happens, it comes from the power of the Devil. If something good happens, it comes from the power of God.This concept or understanding is known as ‘dualism’. According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (second edition), page 357, dualism means an interpretation or understanding of certain events as a strugg... Read more

]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:10:00 GMTSummary: The seven feasts of Israel are only a shadow, and their fulfillment takes place within the inner being of believers in the context of the New Testament. In Revelation 2–3, there is a reward for the overcomers in the church in the form of a spiritual experience with Christ. Indeed, this spiritual experience is the fulfillment of the seven feasts of Israel.Call to Action: The Lord calls His overcomers in every age of the church. May we hear the Lord’s call to rise up and experience a spiritual life together with Christ.Today we will discuss the feasts of Israel and their fulfillment. There are seven feasts of Israel, three of which are commonly called the major feasts. Three times a year the Israelites had to come to Jerusalem to celebrate them. Deuteronomy 16:16 affirms: “Three times a year every male among you shall appear before YAHWEH your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Sukkot…” (ILT).Let us look directly at these feasts. First, the Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:4–5). Second, the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6–8). Third, the Feast of the Sheaf of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9–14). Fourth, the Feast of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15–22). Fifth, the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23–25). Sixth, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26–32). Seventh, the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–44). The Feast of Passover occurs in the first month, the Feast of Pentecost in the third month, and the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month.Thus, briefly, these are the feasts of Israel. Before we proceed, we must first establish the interpretive principle we will use to understand the fulfillment of these feasts. Some interpreters understand the fulfillment of the feasts of Israel as an ‘external event’ that the church will experience. For example, based on this principle of interpretation, the church will experience the “rapture” at the fulfillment of a ... Read more

]]>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:22:40 GMTSummary: Church history shows that every new movement from Elohim eventually becomes dry and rigid, so Elohim begins a new movement again. And this new movement is like “new wine that cannot be received by old wineskins.” That is why the new and fresh movement of Elohim is always found “outside the camp” of the old movement.Call to action: May we receive His grace to serve Him within the new and fresh movement of Elohim.Our theme this time is ministry outside the camp. Many Christians, including those who are called “full-time” ministers within the Christian world, do not realize that there is a ministry outside the Christian religious system in this age. There is “new wine” that cannot be contained in “old wineskins.” There is new revelation that cannot be received by the Christian religious world. This happens in every age, because God continually moves and works to give new revelation. This does not mean that God is not working and pouring out His blessings into the “old wineskins.” It is hoped that through the principles and examples found in the Bible, we will understand this theme. In fact, from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, the Bible speaks about ministry outside the camp. We will discuss this through this brief writing.Let us begin with the ministry of the Lord Jesus and also the ministry of John the Baptist. In the time of Jesus, there was already a ministry in the Temple in Jerusalem. The ministry in the Jerusalem Temple was not a random ministry without clear regulations, because it was based on the covenant of Moses. Likewise, the ministry in the Temple had its own magnificence. Here the scribes and the Pharisees established a religious court called the Sanhedrin, whose high priest at that time was Caiaphas, with seventy members. Within the Sanhedrin were people such as Gamaliel, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other figures who were respected by the people. They also had their own rabbinical schools. The Temple in Jerusalem was also... Read more

]]>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:50:15 GMTSummary: The essence of this book explains that all members of the early church were fully led directly by the Holy Spirit. There were no religious regulations whatsoever, except being completely guided by the Holy Spirit.Call to Action: As believers, may we receive His grace to continually learn to be led by the Holy Spirit day by day.We now enter the Book of Acts and observe how the apostles carried out their works in spreading the gospel of the Kingdom. As we already know, there is only one gospel proclaimed in the books of the New Testament, namely the gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus and John the Baptist cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And we will see that the proclamation of the apostles in this book is focused on the kingdom of heaven.The Book of Acts was written by Luke to Theophilus as a continuation of his Gospel. In his Gospel, Luke recounts all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:51). Before being taken up into heaven, for forty days Jesus repeatedly appeared and spoke to His disciples about the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of Elohim (Acts 1:3). Jesus spoke of nothing else except the kingdom of heaven, which indeed would later become the main theme or central focus of the apostles’ proclamation.The Book of Acts consists of 28 chapters, which we can divide into two parts. Chapters 1–12 record the ministry of Peter and his team, primarily to the Jewish people. Then the second part, chapters 13–28, records the ministry of Paul and his team, who brought the gospel to the Gentiles, even as far as Rome, which at that time was the center of the Roman Empire.Luke mentions that Paul taught about the Lord Jesus and the kingdom of heaven for two years in Rome while under house arrest, and then the book ends abruptly (Acts 28:31). There are many views as to why Luke ended the book so suddenly. However, in our view, there is an important truth hidden in this. Both Peter and Paul were martyr... Read more

]]>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:37:03 GMTThirty years ago, my wife and I, along with some dear believing friends were drawn together by the Lord to find a simpler way of walking together in Him. At the time I believed that this would be the beginning of a great change for many of God's people around the world. We met and made friends from all over the world who were also excited about the freedom that meeting in homes instead of dedicated buildings could allow. It was a very exciting time.For us it was not just about the building but the need for every member of the body of Christ to serve God and others in the capacity that He had in mind for them. The majority of traditional church practices did not seem to encourage this at the time.The movement did not take off as I had expected. Many house churches did not continue for very long. Our fellowship continued for about 15 years. We made many mistakes, but basically the people in our area could not see the point. In fact, the mega church model actually exploded in this same time period.It was a helpful time in that we "got the church system out of our system." Now we know that we can honor Christ where ever we are. We must simply remember that we are called to serve one another in love. Jesus set the example in word and deed. I am encouraged to see that a new generation of Christians are being challenged to meet in a more biblical setting. I am eager to encourage them as I have the opportunity to do so.At the same time, I hope to continue to show that following Jesus is still the primary goal.

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