Meeting in Homes

I. The divine life within us giving us a consciousness of the Body

“For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body… and were all given to drink one Spirit…. But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body…” –1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 18

II. The gathering of the believers

“And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of their food with exultation and simplicity of heart, praising God and having grace with all the people. And the Lord added together day by day those who were being saved.” –Acts 2:46-47

A. A called out assembly

“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church…” –Matt. 18:17

B. Into the Lord’s name

“For where there are two or three gathered into My name, there am I in their midst.” –Matt. 18:20

C. Characterized by mutuality

“What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” –1 Cor. 14:26

D. Two types

1. By the whole church coming together

“If therefore the whole church comes together in one place…” –1 Cor. 14:23

2. From house to house

“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and announcing the gospel of Jesus as the Christ.” –Acts 5:42

E. The homes as the foundation

“And let us consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works, not abandoning our own assembling together, as the custom with some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing near.” –Heb. 10:24-25

1. To consider one another

2. To incite one another

3. To exhort one another

4. For mutual fellowship, intercession, care, shepherding and teaching