So we have been in fellowship on a pretty regular basis in a small congregation for the last month.
By small I mean maybe 20 adults on a Sunday, half of that on a Wednesday. Most of the women cover their heads. There is no paid clergy, only a few elders who lead the church but are not exalted in a bogus clergy-laity division. No offering is taken up. Prayer on Wednesday is spontaneous, extemporaneous and offered by any of the men in attendance who feel led to pray. The Lord’s Supper is observed every week, fellowship meals occur every week. I have some minor theological quibbles, but I have not run into anything dogmatic that I cannot live with. Because it is small and there is not a paid staff, all of the men chip in when it comes to praying and preaching and teaching, so I hope I can be useful to the assembly in what God has gifted me in.
The church we had been going to was full of great people and good teaching, but was just too big for what we were looking for. In the assembly we are currently in, which strikes me as more in line with what we see in the New Testament, my oldest daugter mentioned after a service that it seemed like a family. I like that. We are more like good friends and family who meet with one another in worship, less like a group of people only vaguely familiar with one another that gathers together on a schedule. We are very encouraged by where we are. It is small, the programs are pretty informal and not well funded, it is never going to be a huge group. You know what, that is OK.
3 comments:
Hi, your idea of fellowship and gathering together is indeed New Testament style. We did the same for several months, until we realized 'every man inputing during the teaching' was off, simply because not all are aware of true doctrine versus the falsehood of 'today', but still espouse the trends that came out of the mega-church movement. Too bad, really. The older, TESTED men who have been found faithful to Jesus, ought to be trusted for their wisdom and discernment. It is a shame when charisma weighs more than sober teaching. We learned through it though. The younger women ought to also heed the wisdom of the older women, and be willing to hear biblical truth on woman's role. Hope your fellowship grows in these areas.
I am so happy for you all!
Our little meeting does not take a formal offering either. They keep a little locked box in the ladies room and in the kitchen.
Since we meet in one home 3 Sundays, and then in another the next Sunday, we give a certain amount to that family to cover the cost of extra utilities while we are their.
And I echo the "family" sentiment :o)
Paula
How wonderful! Our church is very small too. About 30 total each week, and that includes children. I can totally understand the feeling of "family". There is no ritual or programs and we love that. We do have the Lord's supper once a month and women's prayer eac week and men's prayer, at that time the children have a time of fun fellowsip. Our church is family integrated, It sounds like yours is too?
God bless,
gloria
ps. so different from mormonism, eh? !
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