Posts

A global status report on house churches 2021

-
Image
 By Wolfgang Simson, author of “The House Church Book” – www.refornation.eu Based on biblical, archaeological and historical evidence, house churches – and flat‐structured regional networks of  house churches ‐ have been the primal, original expression of the ekklesia that Jesus Christ promised to built in the New Testament. During the emergence of sanctuary‐based, hierarchical and denominational church systems from AD 100‐400, house churches have often become sidelined, suppressed and even persecuted by what called itself the mainline church (see the history chapter in: The House Church Book). House churches have, in various forms and under various labels like pietistic groups, cells or base communities, always existed under the radar of both secular and religious observers. A major and historic comeback of house churches has happened in China – curiously after the expulsion of Western missionaries and their religious influence after Mao Zedong in the early 20th century. Some researc
Post a Comment
Read more

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

-
  WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH   Worship is a much-abused word in the church. High octane singing, deafening music, dancing, thrashing on the floor, babbling, and screaming are considered spirit filled worship . Since we cannot find Yeshua or Peter or Paul indulging in this kind of acrobatics, we must draw traction from David who danced (but did not sing) before the Ark of the Covenant. However, David offered an ox and a calf as sacrifice every six paces, before dancing, seven miles from Obededom’s house to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:12-15). In the OT we find worship is nearly always associated with offering blood sacrifices. The first time ‘ worship’ is mentioned in the Scriptures is when Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed (Gen. 22:5-13). From Cain and Abel, to Noah, to the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Solomon, God was always worshipped by offering sacrifices. (Exo. 29:42) There are four types of sacrifices mentioned in the Scriptures – 1. Animal sacrifice for atonement
Post a Comment
Read more

SUSTAINABLE DISCIPLE MAKING MOVEMENT

-
  SUSTAINABLE DISCIPLE MAKING MOVEMENT Victor Choudhrie The beginning - The church age started with 120 Holy Spirit baptised people (Acts 2:1-3) in a house and grew to 3000 people (Acts 2:41) on the same day of the Pentecost. It grew to 5000 people in the next few days (Acts 4:4) and into myriads (tens of thousands) by (Acts 21:20). This was only the Jewish church. We do not know how many churches Paul had planted among the Gentiles but we do know that within three years all Asia (Turkey) had heard the Gospel (Acts 19:8-10). It was an international church as pilgrims from every nation under the sun (Acts 2:5) had gathered in Jerusalem for the season of Feasts of the Lord which lasted from the Passover, the Firstfruits and the Pentecost. The pilgrims returned to their home countries soon and shared what they had witnessed from the crucifixion of Jesus as the Lamb of God (Passover), his resurrection (Firstfruits) and the Pentecost (Harvest of souls) So the church became a global chu
Post a Comment
Read more

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE PANDEMIC SCENARIO

-
  THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE PANDEMIC SCENARIO Victor Choudhrie God has pressed the reset button and changed everything in the way we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Politics, governance, administration, judiciary, media, educational system, the health system, the way we work and spend family time, even our eating and sleeping habits and how we entertain our visitors, all have drastically changed. One does not have to be a prophet or an End time biblical scholar to realize that the end of the “the Church age” as we know it, and God is back in the hearts and homes of the people, where he belongs.   Wars, floods, famines and fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and epidemics have taken in the past also but never before on a global scale with the frequency, rapidity and severity as now.   We know that the Apocalypse is staring at us. Israel is legally back in the Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel) since 1948 after nearly 2000 years of diaspora to the four cor
Post a Comment
Read more

CORONA – GOD’S WEAPON FOR TARGETTED DEMOLITION

-
CORONA – GOD’S WEAPON FOR TARGETTED DEMOLITION THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT were specific and targeted, demolishing all the prominent gods of Egypt. The Serpent god:   The Pharaoh’s gold crown was designed in the shape of a serpent – proving that Satan controlled the king. Moses’ serpent swallowed all the Pharaoh’s magicians’ serpents, thus proving the sovereignty of the God of Moses. The River god (Nile) turning red: The Nile river was revered in Egypt like the Ganges is, in India today. A holy dip at the appropriate time could cleanse you from all sin. One whammy with Aaron’s rod, turned it into an unholy bloody river with stinking dead aquatic creatures. The Sun god: was the all-powerful Egyptian god that famous Tutankhamun worshipped. Three days of total darkness demolished god Ra, making a mockery of his power, in a sun worshipping culture. (Genesis 1:14-19; Exodus 10:21-29) The Ruler as god: Like most rulers, Pharaoh acted like god. He spoke arrogantly to Moses saying
Post a Comment
Read more

TODAY IS PASSOVER

-
Of late there has been a lot of messaging both secular and religious as a result of death and devastation caused by Corona virus. Corona is a harbinger of death, but Jesus came so that you may have life, and have it in abundance . Passover is the story of redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt. For Christians, it is the story of redemption from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The Passover Seder is celebrated in Israel by eating roasted lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herb; Jesus changed it into the Lord’s supper for Christians. This was celebrated in the early church by breaking bread from house to house. The result of shared meal and resources was that no one was hungry or had need for anything because in the house churches, all the needs of the poor were taken care of. (Acts 2:46,47; 4:34,35; 20:35) While many Christians are busy organising  digital churches with the priest preaching to empty benches, it is time for all Christians to demonstrate Kingdom
Post a Comment
Read more

PALM SUNDAY 5th April 2020

-
PALM SUNDAY  Jesus came on the 10th day of Nissan,4 days before the Passover, to Jerusalem. On this day the Jews selected a perfect lamb for the Passover sacrifice. They kept the lamb at home for 4 days and examined it carefully for any defect, to be sure that it was perfect. On the way, Jesus stopped at Bethany, just 2 miles from Jerusalem, at the house of Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Four types of people came to see Him, His disciples, believers, mere spectators and the religious leaders. Seeing the huge crowds that followed Jesus, the religious leaders decided to kill him and Lazarus. (John 12:9-11) Next day, on entering Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to fetch a colt of a donkey, that had never been ridden on before. This was done to fulfill the prophecy of Zachariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you, He is just, and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an donkey, and upon a colt, the foal of
1 comment
Read more