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- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · House Church
Conclusion — Returning to the Biblical Pattern of Church, Leadership, and LifeAs we bring together all the questions we have explored—from what we do in church, to its purpose, to who is actually doing the work—one final layer must be clearly understood:What did the Church look like when it was first established… and why does it matter today?Because structure shapes outcome.And when structure drifts, purpose is often diluted.The Simplicity of New Testament LeadershipIn the New Testament, local churches were not governed by complex hierarchies or centralized authority systems.Instead, we consistently see two primary roles:EldersDeaconsAs outlined in:First Epistle to Timothy 3Epistle to Titus
- · Dan Beaty
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- · Jesus Christ
During the pandemic, I dreamed of a fresh musical arrangement for The Lord's Prayer. Since then, another popular version has been released by Matt Maher. I hope you will be inspired by this recording from my home studio.https://livingtruth.com/new-musical-arrangement-our-father/
- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · Jesus Christ
There is a striking passage in Book of Leviticus 13:18–28 that, at first glance, seems purely clinical—an examination of boils and burns that have healed but left visible marks. But beneath that surface lies a sobering truth: something can look healed and still carry a deeper problem.“If there be… a boil, and it be healed, and in the place of the boil there be a white rising… it shall be shewed to the priest.”— Leviticus 13:18–19The instruction is simple—don’t assume healing. Examine it.Because sometimes what looks like recovery is only closure at the surface, while something deeper continues to grow quietly.This is not just about the body. It is about the human soul.The Difference Between a
- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · House Church
What Is the Expected Outcome of Church?From Gathering… to Obedience… to TransformationAfter seeing:The pattern of the early ChurchThe purpose of the ChurchThe historical shifts that shaped today’s modelWe now come to the question that brings everything together:What should actually happen in a believer’s life because of church?The Biblical StandardIn Epistle to the Ephesians 4:11–13, God gives leaders to the Church:ApostlesProphetsEvangelistsPastorsTeachersBut the purpose is clear:“To equip the saints for the work of ministry…”Not Attendance—ActivationChurch was never designed to produce:SpectatorsAttendeesListenersIt was designed to produce:Active, equipped, and obedient disciples.This mean
- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · House Church
Why 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:
- · Dan Beaty
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- · Church History
https://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
- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · House Church
What 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 Bigg
Summary: Elohim has a plan to make humanity in His own likeness and image. For this purpose, He placed humans in the Garden of Eden to be processed through two trees: the Tree of Life, which symbolizes the Life of Christ, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which symbolizes the kind of “death” life ruled by the devil. Through a long process, humanity will ultimately become like Elohim in His likeness and image.Call to Action: As believers, let us live the Life of Christ day by day so that we may grow to become like Him in His likeness and image.Many Christians assume that when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, they were already in His likeness and im
- · Onesmas Riungu
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- · House Church
What 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? Inf
Summary: 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 abov
Summary: 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 y
Summary: 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 c