Being Church

Story of the Day 12/4/08

2008-12-06T02:25:00.000-08:00

Just to share something to you today, 12/04/08

Consumer Christianity

We bought a kilo of fresh bangus fish [our national fish] yesterday. It was caught directly from the nearby pond whereMolong with his wife and 3 year old daughter at the fishing pond. I live with my wife and our 3 year old daughter. The guy who caught the fish got them all within half an hour. So I thought of taking my whole family today to fish in that very pond and enjoy the day. After one whole hour of throwing the fishing hooks, we were able to catch not even one small fish. We changed our places three times around the pond and waited 20 minutes furthermore and yes, we saw some fish splash here and there but caught none.

My daughter was so much looking forward to fish today and I too so badly wanted my daughter to enjoy watching her parents catch fish for her. I felt strange about not catching any, I then asked, “Hmmm…Lord, is there something you want to tell me about this?”

Here are some thoughts that came to mind:

Since fishing symbolizes ‘reaching out’ to others as ‘fishers of men’, I thought about it but in a different way. Many times putting some bait to the hook is meaningless. “They just consume my food! This is useless!” I said. “They have been eating my food for their benefit and yet I could not have even one of them.” Lots of Christianity that is happening in our church meetings today are just like that - consumer Christianity. People go to church with an attitude of ‘Bless me and my family,’ looking for things or persons to please or to be pleased by the pastor’s sermon, eats them, feels the juicy taste of the word, goes home - can’t remember what they’ve heard, therefore can’t put into practice for the rest of the week, hardly act as responsible Christians and go back in again next Sunday. This is an irresponsible attitude for a Christian’s life.

You want others to feed you ‘week-after-week,’ yet you do not know how to feed yourself from ‘day-to-day.’ No wonder, they jump from one church to another if they don’t like the church menu, like in a restaurant - as long as they pay for the food that they eat [tithe] the manager is happy. The underlying principle is, they can just change to any church they want without changing their lives. The N.T. believers know nothing of this kind of practices, even Jesus warned such person to be treated as a ‘heathen and a tax collector’ who has to undergo a process.

One of my friends lives since 1985 a selfless life that has an impact in 150 nations. See, www.housechurch.com This friend’s household-of- faith, says Dr. David Lim is ‘five steps ahead of house church’ as we view it. What I mean with ‘as we view it’ is that having endless meetings in houses where there are no fathers, mothers, and brothers and sisters, like any healthy family would have. We have many Christian neighbors in our house churches instead of family of God in Christ Jesus.

My point is, in ‘Consumer Christianity’ whether it is in a house church or not, we actually ‘disfellowship’ with our brothers and sisters if we are unable to be there for one another, serve one another. When someone wants to live his/her life in isolation from the brethren, consuming the richness of Christ and the hospitality of the brethren for his own benefit, like the fish that consumes the bait but doesn’t serve others with its life, we disfellowship.

What to do: Our life was never meant to isolate ourselves from the brethren. It was meant for ‘one-anothering,’ ‘life-together,’ doing things together, learning and encouraging one another. Serving, helping, like individual members of ONE family. I like what my friend says, “you don’t sponsor a family, you help a family!”

By the way, after another hour of throwing our fishing hooks into the water, we at last caught, one, two, three sBangus fishmall fish. We went back to where we positioned first and there we caught bigger fish. We had more fun catching the big ones. We had to stop fishing because our budget is good enough for just a kilo, which is about $3. It would have been fun to stay and fish longer because almost every other 2 or 3 minutes either my fishing hook or my wife’s caught one, and they were even bigger. We went home and cooked them for dinner.

Anyway, what a wonderful day today.

Molong

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Comments:
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Thanks for sharing this.. it is very inspiring.

tony

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nice fish dude, i just had some snapper for dinner myself.

cheers, Paul

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molongsky,

nice story, kahilak ko lansang ug bara d kabra....hehehe. Wish im also there for fishing may be next time pls let me know...mwah...

regards,
donsky

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nice pics molong, nice lesson as well

good job, good father - better father than me.

by the way, asa mo dapita ana consolacion.....

from

ken

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what a wonderful story and insights! thanks

terry flynn

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GREAT STORY!

Eman

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Molong...

Hey, thanks for the fish story and the pix. Give Lisa and Faith and
the girls my love.
Blessings...
Gary

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Molong!

Nice to see the pictures and read your email. It made me think.

Steve

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fishing lesson

2008-12-04T23:02:00.000-08:00

Just to share something to you today, 12/04/08

We bought a kilo of fresh bangus fish [our national fish] yesterday. It was caught directly from the nearby pond. We thought with my wife to take our baby the next time, which is today, thought it would be fun to take my whole family and enjoy the day.

Funny because yesterday as the guy helped caught a kilo for us it was just about 30 minutes, but today it took us, me and my wife trying to throw our fishing hook, didn't caught anything for an hour! I thought this is ridiculous, not only that we didn't caught even one but also we didn't saw some fish splashing in the waters even we throw a lot of food fish in the air. My wife just gave a laugh and said, "Well, we can do this for fun while we're here." We transferred to three different cottages. Waited for another 20 minutes, saw some fish splashing, yet still didn't caught one.

The experience felt bad for me because I want to see my 3 year old daughter that her mom and Dad caught some fish for her. How wonderful it feels to see your child enjoying watching it. Especially, yesterday she knows that we're going to get some fish and she can't wait to see them.

"This would be an opportunity to hear from God about the situation," I thought while trying our best to caught at least one to start the excitement. I have been telling those friends I have to practice listening from God in situations that prompt us to. So, "Hmnnn...Lord, is there something you want to tell me about this?" I asked.

Here are some thoughts that came to mind:

Consumer Christianity

Since fishing symbolizes 'reaching out' to others as 'fishers of men' I do thought about it but in a different way. Many times putting some bait to the hook seems meaningless. "They just consumed my food! This is useless!" I said. "They have been eating my food for their benefit yet I could not have even one of them." Lots of Christianity that is happening in our church meetings today are just like that - consumer Christianity. People went to church, have an attitude of 'Bless me and my family,' looking for things or person to pleased or be pleased by the pastor's sermon, eats them, feel the juicy taste out of the word, goes home -can't remember what they're hearing, never acted as responsible Christians and goes back in again next Sunday. This attitude is a part of being irresponsible for your [Christian] life. You want others to feed you 'week-after-week,' yet you do not know how to feed yourself from 'day-to-day.' No wonder, they jumped from one church to another if they don't like the menu, like a restaurant - as long as they pay after eating [tithe] it won't matter to the manager. The underlying principle is, they can just transfer to any church they want without changing their lives. The N.T. believers knows nothing about this practices, even Jesus warned such person to be treated as a 'heathen and a tax collector' after undergo a process.

I know a friend who's living Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Cor. 12 Together-life, no clergy, no programs, no calendar attendance since 1985 yet very successful in reaching out people of up to 150 nations. Wanna hear their life-story through books, articles, videos and even listening to an MP3 audio just go to www.housechurch.com.

This man's 'household of faith' was defined by Dr. David Lim [while reading one of their books] as, "Five steps ahead of 'house chruch as we view it.' What I mean for 'as we view it' is having endless meetings in houses without having 'hundreds of fathers, mothers, and brothers and sisters,' in ONE house of God. What happen is that we're having 'many Christian neighbors' instead of one family in Christ. In other words, we are still 'emerging' into something [I wish it's not a 'children's shelter']. To point something in my first observation [Consumer Christianity] is this: They have a scriptural way of 'dis-fellowshiping' a brother or a sister if unable to 'live accordingly together with the brethren' that is I believe, someone wanting to live his life in isolation with the brethren, away from 'one-anothering' to the point that all he does is consume the richness of Christ and the hospitality of the brethren for his own benefit. The heart of serving 'among the brethren' was not present in the first place. Of course, "the really fun part of discussing disFellowship is that we are 'forced' to spend most of our time talking about FELLOWSHIP. The Dance.:)" [A Revolution without Dancing is a Revoltuion not Worth Having, p.4].

I do have some couple of brothers, who are friends yet all I can do for them is be with them. I cannot work something nor build something with them. We talked and have some serious discussions about being a family together, not isolate himself - deceiving himself by transfering from different church to another, submitting to no one, yet when he needs something he would call me up. For a time, will be glad to help but until unchecked attitude will be sorted out he will remain a 'prodigal son' hopping from church to church looking for food.

What to do: Our life was never meant to isolate ourselves from the brethren. It was meant for 'one-anothering,' 'life-together,' doing things together, learning and encouraging one another. Serving, helping, like individual members of ONE family. I like wha this friend says, "you don't sponsor a family, you help a family!"

After an hour throwing our fishing hook in the water, at last we caught, one, two, three small fish. We decided to get back to the first cottage where we positioned first and we caught bigger fishes. After getting some few big ones we decided with my wife to throw two the small fishes back to the water. They're still breathing but dying. Thinking they will live, we finally dump them off. We have more fun getting the big ones, and while enjoying the two fish that we throw in to the water caught our attention, "How pity you are fish," my 3-year old daughter speaks in cebuano language. The two fish didn't survive, they finally died and just floating. I decided to put them back in my bucket and just take them home. It would be cheating to leave them in the water dead after we caught them. I signalled the two girls whom we temporarily adopted to stop fishing because our budget is good only for a kilo, whcih is about $3. We take them to the caretaker, have it scaled and we paid more than our money. I tell the guy to get the last fish that we caught and throw them into the water while still alive so that we can only pay based on how much money we've got. It could have been fun to stay longer and get some because almost every 2-3 minutes either my fishing hooks or my wife's can caught one, and they're a bit bigger too. We went home and cook them for dinner, not yet, just here in the computer typing this to share you, and sooner we will have our dinner.

Anyway, what a wonderful day today.

I've attached pictures for you to see.

Molong

From Seating Capacity to Sending Capacity: Why an Incarnational Kingdom on Mission is Very Attractive, Neil Cole

2008-09-18T04:27:00.001-07:00

If we think that a model of church is our solution to reaching the world we are already in a bad place, whether that model is a mega church or a micro church.

There is a vast difference, however, between an attractional posture and an incarnational/missional understanding of church. The difference is not in the organization, but in the release and flow of God's kingdom. The church is not meant to be sedentary but sent-"one holy, apostolic (sent) church."

Today we expect the lost to come to us. In the Bible, God is always the Seeker going after those who are lost. He pursued Adam in a garden and Moses in a desert. He found Jonah at the bottom of the sea and Peter on top. Jesus found Matthew in an office and Paul out on the road.

God became a man and entered the world through a birth canal just like the rest of us. He chose to come to us on our turf, rather then expecting us to rise to His. Jesus preached everywhere that the kingdom of God has come near. He came to seek and to save the lost, and He now invites us to join Him.

Many ask: "How can we make the church more attractive to the lost?" If we start down this path we unintentionally leave our true path: Letting people see how attractive Jesus is! It's all about Jesus...not us. In a sense, for every step we take toward impressing people with our own strengths we move further from letting them become impressed with His.

God always prefers to reveal Himself in weak things rather strong. It is the simple vessels that often reveal God's glory more then having to find Him in the midst of laser lights and fog machines. The curiosity of a child's question; the embrace of a loving grandmother; the accepting handshake of a good friend; the smile of a proud father; the warmth of a soft shoulder to cry on-these are the things that reveal God's character more than any sermon.

Love for one another is a powerful ingredient in evangelism, but sitting in an auditorium listening to a preacher talk about it is not as powerful as being able to see it and taste it first hand. A "neighbor nudge" for two minutes on Sunday morning is not enough.

Coming into a home with a loving spiritual family-each praying, singing and sharing their inner lives-is amazing for someone who never learned to trust. Sensing the power of Christ working in and through those people can break even the most hardened heart.

More than once, I have seen toughened gangsters and drug dealers, weep in the presence of Christ among His people and pour out confession unsolicited. I have seen a Palestinian Muslim surrender everything to Christ in the midst of a faith community praying together. Four fraternity brothers gave their life to Christ in a meeting at their frat house in front of their peers unreservedly. Christ in us is powerful; it is the hope of glory. Simply being another anonymous person in a pew is not so powerful.

The reality is most people are not even curious about what is happening in church. For the few who are seeking, the last place they want to look is in church. Why? Because church is seen as a passive religious event that demands allegiance but offers very little experience. We ask for volunteers all the time. We offer spiritual-gift assessments to see where people fit best in our program, but we never really offer very challenging experiences for people. Handing out bulletins, directing traffic wearing a bright orange vest, chaperoning a youth function, or changing a diaper in the nursery may be helpful for the church program, but none of it is a task worth giving your life to. Many who struggle to do these things have a nagging unspoken question: "Did Jesus come so I can do this?"

We must transition from seeing church as a once-a-week worship event to an ongoing spiritual family on mission together. Then people will see church as something worth giving your life for. Honestly, people need one another more then they need another inspiring message. You would be surprised what people will do for Jesus, or for a brother or sister, that they will not do for a vision statement and a capital giving campaign.

One side effect of pursuing excellence in production is that common Christians become spectators who can contribute a percentage of their income to keep things going, but little more. We have raised the bar on how church is done so high that few believe they could ever do it themselves. The dark side of this endeavor is that we have lowered the bar of what it means to be a Christian so that simply showing up to the weekly one hour event with some regularity and a check book is all it takes.

My goal in life is to reverse this. I want to lower the bar of how church is done so that anyone can do it, and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple so that they will do it.

I will never forget meeting with an organic church made up of high school students. As we were all singing praises to the Lord I felt His pleasure. I asked the students to share the biggest church they had ever been to. Southern California has many mega-churches. Several were mentioned, ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 attendees.

"I think Satan is more intimidated by this little church of 15 kids than by any of those Godzilla-sized churches," I said. They all snickered and looked around the room at one another with smiles, thinking that the old man had finally lost his mind.

I then showed them why I thought this way. I asked, "How many of you think you could start a church like one of those mega-churches?" No one raised a hand. I then asked, "How many of you think you could start a church like this one?" All raised their hands. The snickering stopped. It was one of those holy moments in life that are hard to forget. I then asked them to look around the room at all the raised hands, and I said, "I assure you, Satan is terrified by this. And he should be!"

campus

2008-07-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Ambruce, will answer you questions below your letter. I am much grateful with your partnership. Know that I am your friend and your brother and will gladly do what I can. Remember, i am just sharing my stories and experiences, you cannot just follow them except God will tell you to do the same. We are learning from each other my friend. This is house church way.

1) Dennis and I started what we call campus church in one of the big university here. Basically, we are applying the HC concept to students in the campus with the hope that as they graduate and actually even now, they can be the ones who can be our person of peace to start housechurches in their own homes and or communities. Just want to ask, have you been partnering with some thing like this? We appreciate if again you can tell us your story.

Yes, we have been partnering with someone who works in campuses like the Living Seas Campus Ministry. It is good to have contacts with the students with the purpose of them being 'person of peace' and start their own house churches where they live. We have the same heart in these. However, there are some dangers if we don't get the right perspective when it comes to doing house church. Here i explain thoroughly.

Do not make up a name or a group in your house churches in campuses like "Living Seas or "Light of Jesus", etc. That if you want your house church ministry as 'pure' one and 'house church is the way we live' not religious meetings. I mean, if house churches is a way of life, how we live like: building healthy relationships [one anothering] with other believers or not, meeting needs, or to picture it is - having meals together, [like a families] and sharing life together with God's Word in our mouth where we live either in our homes or plaza, or beach, or campuses, two or three getting together like 'barkada's' then why need to be registered at SEC? Why make up a name other than we are 'followers of Jesus'?

Calling ourself a Christian means that we have a church name, and a pastor, our identity then is that. In NT, the unbelievers are the ones who called "The Way -followers of Jesus" Christians, not them. Means, 'you little Christ' or 'you like Christ' which is good. In modern way, we THEY say the same words but not the same tune and so not the same meaning: "Ganyan and mga Kristianos" or "Ganyan ang mga Kristianos?" - the second statement has a question mark in it, means our life is questionable as they us.

Problems of having a group names are:
1. Other than you didn't get really what's a house church, you are also 'polling' other people to you. Paul says, 'there are some among you hear who will draw disciples for themselves.' Or, "I am Cephas, I am apollos, I am Christ." Creating a name for it is wanting to fulfill your small vision of ministry. We already have a leader which is Christ as we follow Him and He has vision 'for us', means that we don't have a vision for ourselves 'for God's glory', asking God to cooperate with us instead of joining Him. His vision got us! Let us pray the our small vision will not hinder His big vision.
2. Having a name for it, simply entitled for others to ask another question: Who's the leader? or the founder? the director? the president? It ask a 'clerical' question which is against the patterns of the NT church [priesthood of all believers, no more clergy system]
3. Creating a name is a big temptation to exalt yourself than others. Simply because you are the one who create that name, or you are the one naming the group. If disagreements arises then you just have to push yourself up above others. Why should you be the one who will leave, you make up the name, not them, they better get out the organization and labeled them as rebellious.
4. If you are the founder of that group, then you must have a 'board of trustees' that is made up of respected pastors' in order to be registered as 'legal' organization and can start operate in campuses. And worst, you cannot make your own decision because you have to ask them first if they allow you to do your hearts desire rather than asking God what He wants you to do. [This happens now in Agape here]
5. Having a name is having a 'membership form' to be sign-up.
6. 5-10 years from now, these so-called house church names or groups will soon become institutionalized, like traditional churches having their own denominational names - building their own 'little empires' of churches around the city and around the globe and when they're gone their ministries gone too.

Again, that if you want your ministry as 'pure' house church 100% then do not do this.

I work with house church 'campuses' ministries but not 'closely.' I focus more on those who want pure house church who have the same heart and mind like me. I have friends in campuses who are not a part of 'Agape Campus House church Ministries' and they do house church with their classmates and friends, being personally and closely trained to start house churches wherever they are. If someone says to me, "God uses those who have names didn't He?" My answer is yes God uses them "but that does mean that He cannot use them if they don't have a name right?"

If i work with these house church with their own names, i know my limitations then. They are still my friends and still love them and ate with them. House Church principles is not a question of saving people, any group names can do just that. But it is a question of how fast you reach them out without the hazel of having rules and regulations and how quick they mature in their Christianity because you let them being accountable to God and in submission to God and not to you. They mature fast because you are more on releasing and empowering like the 5-fold gifts. You can send them out directly to their homes, offices, not just in schools.

What you can however, is teach them how to make friends, build relationships and win their friends heart to the Lord, and then do church life together with their classmates.

Here is what I mean about do church life together. Let their life be the materials, let them ask each other questions about anything and then put God's Word on it. This is 'life' discipleship', not 'curriculum' discipleship. You can never run out of topics about life. Talk about each others opinions, facts and feelings then put God's Word on it. The secret for each of them to share their life and share God's word is let them all read their Bibles daily. In this way, while sharing and talking the Holy Spirit will remind them of what they read. So it is important for them to read their Bibles to remember. How can the Holy Spirit can remind them of something that they don't read in God's Word? We call this 'relevancy of God's Word' meaning the Word of God can be applied to our everyday life and situations.

Make this kind of 'life' meeting valid to them wherever they go. Say it in their faces that this is valid.

Hey, we can use materials of course but be careful it will not become a pattern, specially we Filipinos are easy to become use to it of something, then it will turn to become a tradition, then the tradition will become sacred -you sin if you change it! If this becomes a pattern my challenge to those who use it is: "If you're finished with Class 101 -Maturity subjects you are mature then? If you're done with one curriculum what's next? then you start looking for manuals, etc. Until when will you use this kind of training, until Jesus comes? What a boring Christianity. Jesus gives us life and life to the fullest. he didn't leave us manuals upon manuals, like TV manuals and never have to use the TV. No wonder most Christians never enjoy their Christianity because they don't know how to use their life in Christ. They have been joining Sunday schools for 20 years never graduated! Imagine, you've been trained going to school for 20 years as a doctor but never have an actual surgery? Send them out because God can give them work to do, and that work will teach them how to do it. Now, this is fully trusting the Holy Spirit. I did try crazy things for God, you just have to do and I can witness life being change in a different way -they learn to do ministry on their own.

Be careful to listen to what I say, listen instead to the Holy Spirit in you my friend.

2) Dennis also arranged to do Rice distribution to the poorest of the poor in one of our nearby barangay here. He planned to do dis for 3 months of distributing 3-5 kilos per week per family of about 25 families. I am just wondering, how can we do develop relationship with them that would hopefully result into multiplying housechurches even among the poorest? This is Dennis' obedience to his Bible readings!You must have been doing something like this!

Yes, i do the same though not fully due to financial status. But we do help people in anything they need whatever way we can. Like yesterday we enrolled a 6 year old girl who has a heart problem, we send her to school and paid her bills. Then, we found twin babies who has problem in their heads, wounds that itched, we try to help buy their medicines. Helping the poor is Biblical, it is Jesus heart. The rich man advice to sell his property and give them to the poor. What he did not do, the church did, they sell things and help the poor.

In poor areas, i would suggest one worker or church planter focus on 2-3 families a week visiting and doing Bible Studies. Bible studies, though not real church, but its a good start because Filipino's have been used to it and Roman Catholics received them specially now a days. Make sure that these 3 houses or families were not far from each other -in this way they are easy to gather together in one big house during birthdays or other celebrations. Make sure if there is at least one house that's big enough for the three families to gather. During birthdays encourage them to bring foods, drinks, anything that help the celebrant enjoy his birthday. Mostly i buy a case of drinks as my part. They we ate together, have games, dancing, singing, enjoy, huddle, build relationships -easy because mostly they know each other already as neighbors, then share about house church principles - this is what they did in Jesus times in the house of Matthew, Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisees - a house church meeting. Share some verses as well this time. Then let them all agree to meet together in that house, if its okay for them two times a week mostly. Other kind of meetings.

Mobile meetings -from house to house, transfer to other houses to witness their families as well. or stay in one house. As you keep on gathering you or the church planter can pick up potential someone to be train and do the same. Lots of kinds, some would not allow others to come but help him start his own house church with his household in his house. Much more, model house church then let them do it as they watch you. Until it becomes their lifestyle wherever they go... programs are good, materials are good but don't make it as a rule.

3) With regards to your coming here on September 27-29, we are not sure when will you plan to be home, is it on the 29th or you must be home that day already? I am curious to ask too if its profitable in your experience to do an open Housechurch seminar in town inviting pastors, lay leaders and members in churches here that are already aware about housechurch movement?

It depends on you. It's ok for me if i stay long as long as you need me. We call this kind of seminar 'House Church Awareness Seminar.' Of course we will not be harsh with them, and will not give them heavy teaching, but just an overview of it, then do a workshop, and maybe share some notes. One day awareness is good enough. I may need your assistance here and Dennis. Dennis also can share and you. It's important fro us three to share for them to see the collaboration and networking of each other.

Additional thoughts:
Would it be nice if house churches in the Philippines is one, but plurality of elders in every cities and towns?

By Country: The Church in Jerusalem, The Church in the Gentiles...
House Church, Philippines; House Church, Canada; House Church, India, etc.
[We use the word 'house' church to differentiate with traditional]

By Province: The Church[es] is Galatia...
House Churches, Manila; House Churches, Neuva Viscaya; House Churches, Cebu; House Churches, Cagayan do Oro.

By Cities and Towns: House Church, Ephesus...
House Church, Mandaue; House Church, Talisay City; House Church, Pampanga...

House Church is a way of uniting Christ's Body. One body, One Spirit. Would this be very nice?

In helping others: Paul get offerings in Corinthian Church to help other churches in crises...
We will all collect, lets say 5 peso each believer in all house churches in the Philippines to help those families who loved one who died in Sulpicio Lines sinking ship. Let's say, we have now around 100,000 believers in house churches, that makes 500,000 pesos to help them. The media might not recognize this but I am sure traditional church who are divided by NAMES can notice it, right?

Now, this can only happen if you are a 'pure' house church. This is Christianity.

Glad can help.

Molong

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Molong
Being Church 24/7

Being Church Outline

2008-05-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

BEING THE CHURCH WHERE YOU ARE

Living Christianity in Authentic Way

Matthew 5:24

I. Church is YOU – 1 Cor. 3:16

A. Old Testament Temple – Building

1. ‘Make me a tabernacle that I may dwell with my people.’ Since from the beginning God wants to live with His own people.

a. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden.

b. Enoch walked with God and He was not because God took him.

2. When God chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, through Jacob God named him Israel and all his descendants became God’s own people. And God lives with them through the Tabernacle that Moses built.

3. This covenant makes Israel, the people of God different from other nations of the earth. Covenant includes:

a. The Laws

b. The sacrifice

c. The priest and

d. The temple.

4. Its purpose is one: To make them different.

B. New Testament Temple – Body

1. ‘For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ –John 1:14

a. When God became flesh through Christ and lived among us it means that there’s a problem.

- The Covenant that is the first has no more effect. The Laws only makes man know that he’s a sinner and therefore guilty. According to the Law, ‘It is written, no one is righteous, not even one.’ All have sinned and needs to die. Man cannot save himself. He needs a Savior.

- Christ came in the likeness of a sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. The law requires a sacrifice of sin and a priest to mediate to God. In the Old Covenant, people bring a sacrifice, a lamb, in the temple and the priest would offer it to God to cover the sin of His people. Priest would do this once a year every year.

b. When God became flesh through Christ, He fulfills the requirements of the law by sacrificing Himself on the cross [Matt. 5:17; Rom. 10:4]. He is the sacrifice [Jn. 1:29], He became the sinner therefore He died to pay the wages of sin, He died once and for all, He is the high priest of God by offering Himself [Heb. 8:1,2], He became the mediator between God and man [Heb. 8:6, 2 Tim. 2:5]. He fulfills the law to Himself.

c. He fulfills the law to us by becoming the sinner, the sacrifice and the High Priest.

2. The word ‘dwelt’ in Greek is Tabernacle. John 1:14 read, ‘The Word became flesh and tabernacle among us.’

a. ‘I will write the law in the minds.’

b. ‘You shall be my priest.’ 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5

c. ‘Christ offered His life for me on the cross so I will offer my life as a living sacrifice.’ Rom. 12:1

d. ‘You are the temple of God.’ 1 Cor. 3:16

3. The New Covenant fulfilled the Old Covenant. The New is better than the old. [Heb. 8:6]

FIRST/OLD COVENANT SECOND/NEW COVENANT APPLICATION

Law I will write my laws in their minds Obey Christ’s commands [Jn. 13:35]

Sacrifice /Blood of lamb in temple Christ body/blood offered in heaven Offer our lives as living sacrifice [Rom. 12:1]

Priest Christ became our High Priest We are priest of God [2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5]

Temple Christ’s body/The Church Being church where we live

Flesh Circumcision Heart Circumcision Obedience in the heart

Note: Old and New Covenant has only one goal – to make the people of God different from all the peoples of the earth, to be holy.

Your Church At Home [Cebuano Version]

2008-05-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ang Simbahan Sa Imong Balay

Oras: Alas 6:10 sa gabie

“Hi Sonia, kumusta?”

Samtang giablihan ang pultahan ni Lisa ug gipadayon ang iyang bag-ong naamiga nga silingan nga nag inusarang ginikanan sa iyang duha ka anak nga lalaki.

“ Kumusta naman ug ang imong mga bata?” nangutana si Lisa.

“Bisi gamay ug usahay makalibog ‘sab.” Maoy tubag ni Sonia sa maoloymon nga tingog. “Kining kinamaguwangan,” samtang naghinol sa ulo sa anak “andam na para mueskuwela pero kining usa padayan pa gihapun sa iyang medicina para pampakalma sa iyang ataki.”

Ang bana ni Sonia bag-o lang namatay sa aksidente ug nagbilin ug duha ka anak, ang manghod naay epileptic ug sa dihang si Lisa nakadungog sa nahitabo iya dayong gibisita si Sonia unya giimbita niya sa maong panihapon sa balay.

Domingo nga adlaw kadto ug pipila ka mga kaubanan nga Kristohanun nagsabot-sabot nga makigsandurutay sa balay nila ni Brod Molong para usab manihapon. Nagkasabot usab sila nga dalhon nila ang ilang mga kaila nga silingan ug mga higala. Si Sonia ang unang niabot sa panagsabot. Wala siya’y kabang-gaagan sa maong gisabutan nga panagtigum pero giimbita nalang siya ni Lisa sa dihang nahibaloan ang iyang dinaliang pagpanginahanglan nga madasig dayon.

Gawas pa sa ilaha, aduna usab sila’y kauban nga sila si Sister Nikki ug Wilsa. Sila manag amiga ug nagtrabaho sa usa sa mga dagko nga Kompanya.

Si Brod Darbie naabot ug nagdala’g mga pinutos nga mga pagkaon, kauban niya sila si Richard ug Michael. Miabot usab si Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar nga gikan sa eskuwelahan. Kauban nila ang managtiayon nga mao si Sister Jocelyn ug Brod Ken nga adunay usa ka anak nga lalaki. Misunod pag-abot ang mga ginikanan nga sila si tatay Gamay ug nanay Celia ug duha nila ka anak nga lalaki - si Roel ug Wengweng.

Ug ang katapusan nga miabot mao si Cristine nga nagdala’g mga duwaan sa mga bata ug pagkaun para sa tanan. Nagdala usab siya’g mga senina para ipanghatag.

Silang tanan mga bayente kabuok.

Ug magsugod na sila sa ilang panihapon.

“O, pwede na manglingkod sa lamisa ang tanan.” Samtang si Brod Molong nga mao ang hingtongdan nangagda.

Samtang nanglingkod sila sa hataas nga lamisa nga puno sa pagkaon si Brod Darbie mibarog ug mihangyo nga siya maoy magpasalamat sa pagkaon ug sa kalit lang usab mipasundayag sa tanan nga menyuonon na siya.

“Soon he will become a ‘good’ man.” Matod pa ni Brod Molong.

“Good because the Bible says that, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” Nangatawa ang tanan samtang nagyango-yango sa ilang mga ulo.

Nipadayon si Brod Darbie sa pagpasalamat ug nangaon.

“Congrats bro, nalipay ko ka’yo nimo.” Niingon si Brod Molong nga nilamano sa kamot ni Brod Darbie sa wala pa siya kasugod ug kaon ug nangutana, “Tell me, how old are you?”

“Trayenta anyos na lage ug nindot na g’yung magmenyo.” Nagkanayon si Brod Darbie nga malipayon ang hulagway.

“Bitaw,” mingtubag si Brod Molong, “ Marriage day is the day you’ll going to be with someone you love forever. And how happy it is to marry not only someone you love but also someone that loves you! Di ba?”

“Maayo na da” samtang nikaon sa iyang unang hungit si Brod. Darbie.

“And marriage too is God’s expression of His gift that is given to you through her.” Si Molong nipadayon pagsulti.

“Sultihi kuno ko bro, ikaw man g’yuy unang namenyo nato, what is it like being married?” Nagutana si Darbie.

“We’ll, they said marriage is a mystery and will always be like that.”

“Oy! kahibulungan kana nu,” nagkanayon si Brod Darbie sa iyang taga Surigawnun nga tuno. “Sa ato pa, mura ‘tag nagkauban ug taga laing planita ani, ha ha.”

“Matod nila,” nitubag si Molong. “But I think if communication is open and secrets revealed it’s not anymore a mystery but ecstasy. Let me share to you what an expert in marriage counselor Mr. Harold Sala says about marriage. He said that, ‘Communication is vital in any relationship especially between spouses. It is the most difficult quality to develop and therefore must be given time and space between a husband and a wife.”

“Mura lang diay ‘mog amigo ug amiga?” Matod pang Brod Darbie.

“Yes! Pero mas maayo pa g’yud kung atong tumanun ang gisugo ni San Pablo sa taga Epeso mahitungod sa bana ug asawa, then only we can have a better family in the years to come.”

Ug samtang sila nangaon naminaw pag-ayo si Brod Darbie sa dihang gisaysay ni Brod Molong ang responsibilidad sa bana ug asawa.

Sa atbang nila sa katapusan nga lamisa mao si Sister Wilsa nga nagstorya kang Sister Jocelyn mahitungod sa ilang mga kaagi ug pagbati hilabi na gayud sa sitwasyon ni Sister Jocelyn nga nagsabak karon sa ilang ikaduhang anak ni Ken. Naghisgot-hisgot sila mahitungod ug family planning kung unsaon nga malikayan na nila ang pagmabdos pa pag-usab kay naglisod man sila pagkinabuhi karon. Ug pagkahuman giampuan ni Wilsa si Jocelyn, ug ang bata usab nga naa sa iyang sabakan samtang gitapion ni Wilsa ang iyang tuong kamot.

“Unsa?” Nakurat pag-ayo si Sister Nikki samtang naghisgot si Ken sa iyang mga kaagi. “Tulo na kabuok ang imong napatay sa edad nga sixteen?”

“O,” nagkanayon si Ken. “Ug katulo usab ‘ko napriso.”

Makadaghan na makaapil si Ken sa panagtigom sa balay ni Brod Molong pero hilumon ug hinayon ug tingog kung musulti, murag maulawon. Kasagaran kung imong pangutan-on muyango-yango lang sa iyang ulo. Pero karon, nagpagawas na g’yud sa iyang mga kaagi sa walay kukaulaw.

Nipadayon sila sa paghisgutanay sa iyang kaagi ug nangutana si Nikki sa katapusan.

“Nya, naunsa naman ka ‘ron, unsa may nahitabo nimo nganong wala naka mibuhat anang mga butanga?”

Si Ken mipadayag sa yano nga sa diha nga siya nag-apil apil sa maong pundok o kaunkaun iyang giusab ang iyang mga pamaagi. Bayente dos na siya karon niining higayuna.

Sa unang higayon pa ni Richard ang pag-apil ug ingun niani nga panagtigom. Si Brod Darbie maoy muhapit niya kauban si Michael nga iyang amigo. Pareho sila nga latagaw sa dalan, rebelde sa pamilya kay nangluod. Mangayo’-ngayo’ nalang ni silag basig unsa, kung wala g’yud silay makuha usahay mangawat na lamang. Silang duha may mga bisyo usab sa ilang kinabuhi ug tingali nag drugas usab. Susihon nato ang ilang kinabuhi samtang nag-storyahanay sila ni Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar.

“Nganong nagka amigo man mong duha? Asa mo gikan? Naa ba ‘moy mga pamilya?” nangutana si Maricar.

“Naa man,” mingtubag si Richard, “pero ila ming gibiyaan ug gibasol nako ang Ginoo niining hitaboa sa akong kinabuhi. Dili man unta maayo nga basulon ang Ginoo pero mao man g’yud akong pagbati.”

“Unsa man diay nahitabo sa imong pamilya?” Nangutana si Maricar.

“Gibiyaan ko’s akong papa ug ang akong mama nangita ug lain. Namatay akong papa sa dihang otso anyos pay akong edad. Pinangga ko’s akong papa kay ako ra usa nilang anak.” Ug iyang gidayeg iyang papa ug gitunglo iyang mama samtang nagpadayon siya sa pagsaysay sa iyang kaagi.

Naklaro ang ilang gipangbati ug gi-oyun oyunan nila ni Brod Gary ug Sister Maricar.

“Kahibalo ka ba?” nisulti si Gary. “Ang Ginoo naay plano ninyong duha kay kung wala pa wala namu ron, dili ba?”

“Tinuod na bay. To-o gyud ko ana.” Nitubag si Michael.

“Nisulti ang Bibliya,” si Maricar nipuno sa pagsugyot, “’Nga basin pa akong mama ug papa mubiya pero ang Ginoo di gyud mobiya kanako.’ Ug mao nang naa pa ‘mo ron”

“Kung gusto mo’g mga higala, anhia lang gud me diri, magkita-kita ra ta diri samtang hapiton mo di Brod Darbie.” Misugyot si Brod Gary samtang nagdasig kanila.

Nalingaw sila samtang nagpadayon sa pagkaon ug paghisgot-hisgot sa ilang mga kasinatian.

Silang tanan adunay panagsandurutay, nagkailhanay pag-ayo sa usa’g usa. Adunay kalipay ug kasubo sa ilang taliwala samtang sila nag-inambitay sa ilang mga kaagi. Pagkaanindot sa nahitabo – ang kaulaw nawala, ang gipangtago nangabutyag, ang mga kinaiya napakita ug hilabi na ang pagdinawatay sa usa ug usa nahitabo. Ug Kining tanan nahimo sa lamisa samtang nangaon sila.

Samtang sila nagdinasigay sa kalit lang…

Whaaahhhh…”

Nagkaguliyang, na-nyagit ug nanagan ang mga bata sa ilang mga ginikanan nga nakuyawan samtang nangaon ug nagduwa duwa sa ilang tungod gawas sa usa ka bata: Nagbula ang baba ug nisulirat ang mga mata ug naglisod sa pag ginhawa. Ang anak diay ni Sonia nga may epileptic.

Si Brod Molong milompat sa iyang lingkuranan ug miduol sa bata ug misunod ang uban. Ilang ge-hinginlan ang espiritu sa demonyo ug gi-ampuan nila aron mukalma ug sa taud-taud ang bata naulian sa iyang kaugalingon. Namalik sila sa ilang mga lingkuranan ug miipon dayon si Sister Christine sa mga bata ug unya gi-estoryahan niya mahitungod kang Dabid ug ni Golayat.

“Ops, sa dili pa nato ipanghatag ang gipangdala ni Sister Christine nga mga senina,” misulti si Brod Molong sa kadaghanan. “Maminaw sa ‘tag panghitabo sa kinabuhi ni tatay Gamay sa dihang nagsugod na siya’g apil-apil sa ato.

“Sukad nga niapil kog kaon dinhi,” nagkanayon si tatay samtang nangatawa ang tanan. “Daghan nako’g makuha nga mga karton para ipatimbang.”

“Unya ra tay, karton o kaon, he he.” Mibinuang si Weng-weng.

Mihugyaw ang tanan ug namakpak sa ilang mga kamot.

Si tatay Gamay kauban sa iyang asawa nga si Celia manguha ra intawon ug mga karton sa mga tindahan sa Colon para ilang sustento kada adlaw. Niining higayonana gipadawat sila ni Brod Darbie sa Ginoo. Unya pagkahuman nihonghong si Wengweng: “Kuya Molong, pwide mokanta?” Ug samtang si Weng-weng mipaambit sa iyang awit mitulo and luha sa uban samtang naminaw sa kanta. Si Wengweng man gud adunay deperensya sa iyang sinultihan kay biktima man siya sa drogas apan naka-undang siya kay giatiman man siya sa pag-ministeryo sa Teen Chalenge.

Nahimuot ang tanan nga naminaw sa nagkadalip-asay nga awit ni Weng-weng ug sa pagkahuman niya ug kanta mihatag ug pipila ka mga bersikulo nga iyang nasag ulo.

“Mas daghan pa man ug bersikulo si Weng-weng kaysa sa akoa.” Nagkanayon si Brod Darbie ug namakpak ang tanan.

Nahuman kini sa pag-inampuay sa usa’g usa ug unya gipanghatag ang mga senina nga inughatag sa mga nanginahanglan. Ug aduna sa’y minghatag ug kwarta hilabi na gayud sa kang Sonia nga adunay panginahanglan nga medicina sa iyang mga anak. Ug nag-offer si Nikki ug Wilsa nga kung gusto siya motrabaho tabangan siya nila.

Ang tagsa-tagsa kanila nanguli sa dihang gibati na nila nga molakaw. Ug ang sunod nga panagtigum nga may kaon didto sa balay ni Brod Darbie nga anaa lamang sa sunod nga Barangay. Ang oras sa ilang panagtigom kay alas 11:30 sa buntag, paniudto sunod adlaw dayon. Pwede kaapil kung kinsay gusto apan aduna usa’y mga kaubananan didto nga motambong sa maong panagtigom.

Oras nga nahuman: 9:05 p.m.

Ang Simbahan Nga Anaa

Magtiguman Sa Balay

Ako si Brod Molong ug si Lisa ang akong asawa. Ang among balay anaa sa syudad sa Jakosalem, Cebu City, adunay gamay nga kwarto ug kusina apan daku-daku ang sala nga masudlan ug mga bayente [20] ka tawo kung butangan ug lingkuranan palibot sa lamisa.

Mao kining among unang balay ug among gidesisyunan nga magsugod ug house church o balay tigumanan sa mga Kristohanon. Ang among balay wala gihimong simbahan kundili gihimo lang tigumanan ug dalangpanan sa mga tawo nga nanginahanglan ug pagdasig taliwala sa mga pagsulay ug problema nga ilang giatubang matag-adlaw [Acts 28:30]. Ug ang kasagaran namo nga maimbita kadtong ania lang duol sa among panimalay – ang mga tawo nga anaa magpuyo daplin sa dalan ug uban nga silingan.

Ang mga Kristohanon mao ang simbahan o iglesia o templo sa Dios kay ang espiritu ni Kristo nagpuyo man kanila [1 Cor. 3:16]. Ug kining maong mga tawo ingon nga iglesia anaa sa mga balay-balay magtiguman [Acts 5:42]. “Ikumusta usab ako sa iglesia nga anaa magtiguman sa ilang [Prisca ug Aquila] balay.” [Rom 16:3-5]

Ang house church o balay tigumanan, mao ang gagmay’ng pamilya sa Dios nga nagtigum alang sa pagdinasigay [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]. Ug ang house church usab maoy pinaka-epektibo nga pamaagi pagluwas sa tibuok nimong banay [Acts 16:31-34]. Dili ba ang imo man gayong tibuok nga pamilya maoy buot nimong mahakuyog sa gingharian sa langit?

Importante nga mga puntos nga pagahimuon sulod sa panagtigum:

1. Mangaon Buhat 2:42, 46

Ang tagsa-tagsa magdinalhanay sa ilang mga pagkaon sa pamahaw, sa paniudto o sa panihapon ba hinuon. Depende lang sa ilang panagsabot kung kanus-a usab nga adlaw. Ug kining bahina sa ilang pakigkaon maoy pag-celebrar usab sa gitawag nga “The Lord’s Supper”, o paghimumdom sa gibuhat ni Kristo kanato didto sa krus sa kalbaryo. Mangaon sila kauban sa Dios nga espiritu ug buhaton kini hangtod sa bagbalik ni Kristo sa pisikal niyang lawas [1 Cor 11:26]. Mga puntos mahitungod sa pagsinaluhay.

a. Sa kaon mahitabo ang pagdinawatay sa usa’g usa. Ang tawo nga mudawat ug laing tawo gitawag siya ug tawo nga “mahigugmaon sa kalinaw” [Lk 10:6]. Kung ikaw muagda ug kaon sa tawo dili ba niuyon kaman kaniya? Ug kung ikaw usab agdahon sa pagkaon dili ba gidawat kaman niya? [Tan-awa si Hesus sa iyang pagdawat sa mga makasasala ug nakigkaon kanila – Lk 15:2] Ug nahimo dayon nimo silang higala dili ba? [Tan-awa si Hesus nga usa ka higala sa mga makasasala – Lk 7:34-36, ug higala usab sa Kristohanon – Jn 15:15]. Dinhi usab mahitabo ang gitawag nga maabiabihon nga kasing-kasing, ug kining tanan mahitabo dinha sa kaon. Mabati sa usa ka tawo ang gugma ug kini mudangop sa panaghigugmaay sa matag-usa. Dili ba mao man kini ang timailhan nga kita mga tinun-an ni Hesus? [Jn 13:34,35]

b. Si Hesus mianhi aron sa pagkaon ug pag-inom [Lk 7:34]. Ang pagkaon sa ‘panihapon’ diha sa balay tigumanan mao ang paghinumdom ni Hesus, Siya ang hinungdan sa ilang panagtigom, Siya ang sinugdanan, tunga-tunga ug katapusan sa tanan nilang pagahimuon kay Siya man ang “Pangulo sa panimalay” ug kita man ang iyang mga “sakop sa Iyang panimalay.” [Lk 10:25].

2. Magdinasigay 1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25

Ang tumong sa panagtapok mao ang pagdinasigay sa usa’g usa, dili pagsimba. Ang simba mahitabo sa adlaw-adlaw nga kinabuhi nga mao ang “paghalad sa inyong kaugalingon ingon nga buhing halad” [Rom 12:1,2]. Makasimba kitang mag-inusara ra apan dili kita madasig kung kita rang usa. Mahimo ang pagsimba sa Dios sa house church apan dili maoy ilang tumong sa panagtapok. [Mao na nga ang uban morason ug, “Ngano man diay kung dinhi na lang ko sa balay mosimba, dili ba diay pwede?” – naa ra man diay na.] Sa ato pa, kung ang maong tuyo sa maong house church mao and pagdinasigay sa usa’g usa ang tagsa-tagsa diay adunay responsibilidad nga mudasig ug usa. Adunay 58 kabuok nga “usa’g usa” sa Bag-ong Tugon sa Bibliya ug nagpasabot lang kini nga dili kita mabuhi kung wala ang usa ug usa kanato. Wala gigarantiya sa Bibliya nga madasig kita sa pagpaminaw ug wali kay dili ang tanan nakabaton ug pagdasig, kahibalo ang pastor/pari niana ug mga membro usab, apan madasig lamang ang tanan sa pagdinasigay.

Maapil na diri ang ubang importanting pagabuhaton:

a. Pagsobmitaray o magpasakop sa usa’g usa. Ang Bibliya nag-ingon nga “magsobmitaray kamu sa usa’g usa diha ni Kristo” [Eph 5:21]. Ang gipasabot sa maong magsobmitaray o magpasakop mao ang magbinantayay [dili manghimantayay] ug magbinadlongay sa usa’g usa. Kung ang usa’g usa magsinobmitaray o magpasakop mahitabo ang pagdinasigay kay pareho man sila nga may tulobagon.

b. May tulobagon sa usa’g usa. Kung kita magsobmitaray sa usa’g usa aduna usab kitay tulobagon sa usa ug usa. Ang gipasabot mao nga kung unsa ang mahitabo nimo ako ang manubag sa Ginoo. [Gen. 4:9] Mao na nga kung may pagbati kita niini sa usa’g usa nan magbinantayay ug magbinadlongay kita’s atong mga [sayop nga] lihok.

c. Magbuhat ug mga tinun-an. Kining tanan nga pagabuhaton – pag-dinawatay, pag-inampoay, pag-dinasigay, pg-tinudloay, ug pag-sobmitaray o magpsakopay, mao ang magbinuhatay ug mga tinun-an ni Kristo. Sa maong panagtigum, dili ra usa ka tawo ang mohimo niini kundili ang tanan.

3. Mag-Inampoay Santiago 5:16; Buhat 1:14; 2:42

Dili mahitabo ang pagbinuhatay ug mga tinun-an sa matag-usa kung walay pagsobmitaray ug mga tulobagon sa usa sa usa ug labaw na gayod kung walay pag-ampo nga mahitabo. Gawas pa, ang pag-ampo dili lang pag-mentinar sa kinabuhing Kristohanon ug kundili mao ang kinabuhi gayud sa Kristohanon. Maski asa magtigum ang mga disipolo sauna adunay duha nga mahitabo: kaon ug ampo. Kay ang kaon importante para mabuhi ug ang pag-ampo usab importante kung maglisod nasad kita sa atong pagkinabuhi. Walay laing dalangpanan ang tawo sa iyang kalisod kung dili sa Dios ug diha kini mahitabo sa pag-inampuay. Hilabi na diha sa tigum manggawas ang mga kinahanglanon ug pag-ampo. Kung ang usa magsugod na sa pag-ampo sa usa mabati niya ang gibug-aton niini ug kini muhatod kanila sa panagsuoray ingon nga mga igsoon diha ni Kristo.

4. Maghinatagay Buhat 2:44; 4:34

Pinansyal o material man nga bahin walay makaangkon maski usa apan iyaha ang tanan. Kun adunay panginahanglanon ang usa, andam ang usa sa pagtagbo. Busa, “walay nanginahanglan kanila kay ila man ang tanang butang.” [Buhat 4:32] Mao kini ang gihimo sa mga unang Kristohanon kaniadto ug kinahanglan nga mao usab kini karon. Dili na lamang ikapulo sa atong kinabuhi kundili tanan [Duet. 6:4-6] kay sa dihang naluwas kita dili na kita ang tag-iya sa atong kaugalingon kundili ang Dios ug lakip na usab ang atong kabutangan. Ang wala mabuhat sa datung batan-on nga giingnan ni Hesus “ibaligya ang tanan mong kabutangan ug ihatag sa mga kabos” nahimo sa unang mga Kristohanon. Diay dili lang ikapulo. Pagkaalaot kaha sa usa ka asawa nga ang gihatag nga gugma sa iyang bana kaniya dyes pursyento lamang, ug pagkaalaot usab sa syudad nga kung ang sundalo nga ipadala sa gubat dyes pursyento ra usab.

Aduna ako’y maayong ehimplo: Adunay usa ka Kristohanon nga nag-ampo sa paghatag sa iyang kaugalingon. Ug ang Ginoo miingon kaniya:

“Aduna ka bay kwarta karon?”

“Ania Ginoo.” Ang Kristohanon mitubag.

“Akoa na kana.” Miingon ang Ginoo ug mioyun ang Kristohanon.

“Aduna kapa bay laing kwarta?” Nangutana pagbalik ang Ginoo.

“Aduna Ginoo apan atua sa bangko.” Mitubag usab ang Kristohanon.

“Ah, may bangko ka diay? Akoa na usab kadto.” Miingon ang Ginoo.

“Unsa?” mitubag ang Kristohanon nga nagsugod ug pagbagolbol. “Ang tanan gayud? Mag-unsa naman lang ako ug ang akong pamilya?”

“Aw, may pamilya pa diay ka?” nagutanana ang Ginoo nga daw wala masayod. “Akoa na usab sila ha?”

“Maski ang akong gwapang asawa?” Nagkanayon ang Kristohanon nga nagmoro na ang nawong.

“Dili lang ikaw ang akong gihigugma, lakip na usab ang imong mga anak ug hasta gayud ang imong gwapang asawa gihigugma ko usab.” Nagkanayon and Ginoo ug mipadayon pagsaysay, “Dili ba imo naman kahang gihatag ang imong kaugalingon nako ug sa tanan nimong kasing-kasing, huna-huna, kalag ug kusog imo man akong gihigugma, dili ba? Unya imo hinuong itago kanako ang tanan nga anaa kanimo?”

“Na hala sige gud, imoha namang gikuha ang tanan nga akong minahal sa kinabuhi,” Nagkanayon nga nagbagolbol ang Kristohanon ug mi-offer pa nga daw nagpakilooy, “ ug mentras nag-inusara naman lang ‘sab ko kuhaa nalang usab ang tanan nakong mga kabutangan sa akong balay.”

“Oy! Aduna pod diay kay balay ug kabutangan, akoa napod na! Nya tingalig aduna pod kay mga sakyanan ug mga negosyo siguro nu; akoa na usab kadto ha?!” Gipangayo na g’yud hinuon ang tanan sa Ginoo.

“Ikaw gud.” Nagkanayon ang Kristohanon sa mayumo nga tingog nga naguol usab pag-ayo. Apan sa taud-taud miingon ang Dios kaniya sa kaadlawon sa gabie:

“Kay imo man gihatag ang tanan kanako ako usab kini ihatag pagbalik kanimo. Apan adunay kondisyon nga atong sabotan ug kinahanglan nga imo kining tumanon, uyon ka ba?”

“Unsa man kana Lord?” Nangutana ang Kristohanon nga naulian ang pagbati.

Ug ang Ginoo miingon: “Tipigi ug ampingi silang tanan. Pwede?”

Unsa man, dyes pursyento lang gihapon?

Ang duha ka marka sa tinuod nga Kristohanon mao ang mang-gihatagon ug mapasayloon. [giving and forgiving]

Si Kinsa Ang Magdumala

Sa House church?

Anciano o Elder lamang ang magdumala sa panagtigum. [Acts 14:23] Usa ka tigulang na diha sa pag-matoto sa iyang mga anak kay “unsaon man niya pag-atiman sa simbahan kung siya dili kahibalo moatiman sa iyang kaugalingong panimalay?” [1 Tim. 3:5] Hilabi na nga ang maong simbahan nga naa sa usa ra ka pamilya usab [Gal. 6:10], ug kini magtratar sa usa ug usa ingon nga kapamilya [1 Tim. 5:1,2].

Sa maong house church nga panagtigom mahitabo ang pagkahimong ulo ni Kristo sa Iyang simbahan nga mao ang Iyang lawas [Eph 5:23] kay ang panagtigom sa mga Kristohanon diha sa balay dili man pagdumala [lead] ang maong pagdala kundili pag-atiman [fathered] raman sa mga katawhan sa Dios ingon nga mga anak. Mahitabo ra usab kini nga mailhan siya ingon nga nagdumala kung aduna lamay mga problema. Apan kun ang tumong nga pagabuhaton sa mga Kristohanon mao lamang ang pagdinasigay nan dili na makit-an ang problema kay masulbad raman sad dayon sa dihang magdinasigay na.

Unod Sa Panaglambigitay

Ang unod o ang ilang gehisgot-hisgotan sa panagtigum mao ang mga butang sa ilang kasing-kasing. Ang gipasabot mao ang tanan nilang gustong pakigsultihan maoy ilang estoryahan, unya sa katapusan ihatod sa pulong sa Ginoo. Pweding maghisgutanay ug nahitabo, opinion ug ang labaw sa tanan ang walay pagkahurot g’yud nga hisgotan mao ang atong mga pagbati. Mahulagway man siguro nimo nga naghisgot sila ug pulong sa Ginoo taliwala sa ilang adlaw-adlaw nga kasinatian.

Ang mga sulat ni apostol Pablo sa mga kasimbahanan naglambigit gayud ug nagkalain-laing puntos sa kinabuhi: Sa pamilya siya nagahisgot, sa trabaho siya usab nagahisgot, ug mahitungod usab problima sa matag-usa siya nagahisgot, mahitungod sa politika o pang-gobyerno siya usab nagahisgot ug sa mga ubang butang siya usab nagahisgot. Ug kining tanan iyang gisulat sa usa lamang ka sulat sa mga kasimbahanan, ug ang ubang sulat usab pariha ra ug sulod para sa tanang kasimbahanan. Unsa may gipasabot? Ang tanan hisgutan gayud alang sa kausaban sa atong mga panglantaw sa atong kaugalingon ug kalibutan.

Wala silay gipang-andam nga mga tapik o tima sa ilang panagtigom, wala usab silay giandam kung kinsa ang mosulti apan tanan pwede mosulti kay importane kini sa pagdinasigay. Ang trabaho lamang sa anciano o elder mao lamang ang pagdasig usab sa tanan nga makaambit sa ilang pagbati. Dili makita ang iyang pagkalider gawas lamang kung adunay dagkong problema.

Ug Nganong Kining Pagdinasigay Buhaton Sa Sulod Sa Panimalay?

Pwede nga ang pagdinasigay mahitabo sa espesyal nga lugar sama sa mga bilding nga maoy imong kasagaran nga Makita, pwedi usab sa gawas sa imong balay [lawn], pwede sa plaza, pwede sa dagat, pwede sa mga mall, pwede sa hotel ug sa restaurant – basta diin asa pwedi mukaon, hilabi na ang tanan matapok kung na’y kaon. Apan gitawag lang kini ug house church o ang simbahan [nga anaa magtiguman] sa imong balay kay kinahanglan man magsugod sa imong kaugalingong pamilya diha sa imong panimalay. Ngano man? Kay dili kita makahusga sa kinabuhi sa usa ka tawo gawas sa sulod sa iyang panimalay. Ang gipasabot mao nga ang tinud-anay nga kinabuhi anaa mahitabo sulod sa panimalay. Ang pagiging Kristohanon mahitabo sa atong adlaw-adlaw nga pagkinabuhi [labaw na sa atong kaugalingong pamilya] ug dili sa adlaw’ng Domingo lang. Dili na mao ikaw sa imung trabahuan o eskuwelahan apan mao ikaw kung giunsa nimo pag-respito ang imong ginikanan ug mga igsoon ug lakip na imong mga kasilinganan. Daghan karon ang mga pamilya nga sige ug away inig human ug simba sa halayo nga dapit kay ngano man? Pwide nako usbon ang akong mga kinaiya sa imong atobangan, pwide usab nako matonto akong asawa sa imong atubangan apan kon moduaw ikaw sa akong panimalay nan imo na gayong masuta ang tinud-anay kong kinabuhi ug kinaiya. Ambot lang, natural ra ba gyud nato nang mausab kita atobangan sa katawhan, murag aduna kita’y duha ka nawong atobangan ni bisan kinsa.

Busa, labing maayo nga buhaton ta kini sa atong kaugaligong panimalay hilabi na gayod nga ang mga sugo sa Dios diha gayod ipatuman sa atong tag-sa tagsa ka panimalay [Duet. 6:4-6], dili sa gawas sa imong panimalay o maski gani sa templo ni Moises. Ug si Hesus usab nagministro kasagaran sulod sa panimalay o sa ka balay-balayan ug si apostol Pablo usab – sa dihang wala pa siya makabig iyang gipanglutos ang mga Kristohanon nga atua magtiguman sa mga kabalayan [Acts 8:3] – ug sa dihang giluwas siya sa Dios siya mismo nagsugod ug nagdasig nga magbuhat ug mga kasimbahanan sa mga kabalayan. [Acts 20:20]

Ug Ang Labaw Sa Tanan Nga

Ma-angayang Masabtan Sa Usa’g Usa Nga Nalambigit Sa Pagdinasigay

Ang Kristohanon mao ang pamaagi o dalan sa pagkinabuhi ug dili ang pagbuhat ug mga relihiyusong bulohaton o actibidadis. Ang pagiging Kristohanon mao ang pagkinabuhi sa bag-ong kinabuhi nga imong nakaplagan diha ni Kristo. Busa ang imong pamaagi sa pagkinabuhi sauna imo nang usbon pinaagi sa pagsubay sa mga sugo sa Ginoo sa Bibliya. Lahi-lahi kita ug mga gawi sa nagkalainglaing dapit nga atong ngadtuan, apan ang tinuod gayud nato nga kinabuhi makita sa atong mga gawi sa atong panimalay. Ang atong gawi sa atong trabahuan o hilabi na sa atong panagdinasigay sa usa’g usa nagpakita nalang kana kung unsa ang atong gawi sa atong isig ka panimalay.

Mao kini sa Daang Tugon sa Bibliya: kung unsa’y imong nakat-onan sa simbahan nan pagadalhon mo kini sa imong panimalay, ipatoman kini sa Dios sulod sa maong banay [Duet 6:4,6]. Pero sa Bag-ong Tugon mao na kini: Kun unsa ang nakat-onan mo sa imong panimalay nan imo kining ipaambit sa tigumanan, ug kun buhaton kini sa tanang Kristohanon mao na nga ang mahitabo sa maong panagtigom mao ang pagdinasigay o paglig-onay sa usa ug usa. [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]

Isulti ko pag-usab: Dili programa ang buhaton kundili pagkinabuhi bilang usa ka Iglesia atubangan sa usa’g usa.

Gusto ka ba nga mahitabo kini sa imong panimalay?

Samtang naghisgot ako niining mga butanga sa uban, adunay miingon, “Ah, murag si Hesus!” Ug mitubag ako, “O, murag ang gibuhat ni Hesus sa balay ni Mateo [Lk 5:29-39], ni Zacheos [Lk 19:1-27], ug sa Pariseo [Lk 7:36-50].

Dili ba sayon ra?

Si Hesus naghulat nga pasudlon sa mga kasimbahanan [house churches sa Greyego nga pinulongan] sa Laodicia:

“Ania Ako nagatindog sa pultahan, ug kung kinsa kadtong makadungog sa Akong tingog ug moabli, Ako makigsalo kaniya ug siya Kanako.”

Pinadayag 3:20

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Kung gusto ka niini ug nanginahanglan ka ug tabang pagtawag o text lang niini nga mga numero:

Cel. # 0906-8398055 o bisita sa: http://24-7church.blogspot.com/2008/03/being-church.html

HOUSE CHURCHES

2008-04-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

WHY HOUSE CHURCHES?
House churches are natural, simple, inexpensive, reproducible, relational, and afford interactive meetings where everyone can participate and use their skills and spiritual gifts to benefit others. This kind of environment strongly fosters discipleship and leadership development. No one falls through the cracks. It is no wonder then that New Testament believers, the early church of the first three centuries, subsequent renewal/reform/revival movements, and the most rapidly growing church planting efforts around the globe today utilize house-sized churches of 10-30 people.

WHAT ARE HOUSE CHURCHES AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
Traditional Churches Conventional churches can be pictured as cathedral churches where the home prayer or Bible study group is merely an optional appendage. These home groups usually involve only people who are members of the mother congregation and are not outreach focused. There are usually a few of these small groups floating around, but they are not the main program offered by the congregation. The main thing is the large group Sunday morning service. This is like a bicycle wheel hub (Sunday morning large group) with the odd spoke (home group) protruding out. It can be described as a church WITH small groups.

CELL-GROUP CHURCHES
Although there is much in common between them, a house church is not even a cell group, which belongs to a pyramid structure with a senior minister at the top. In cell churches, there is an equal emphasis on home cell group meetings and traditional Sunday morning worship services in a building. This can be pictured as a hub with many spokes jutting outward from it. This arrangement can be described as a church OF small groups.

NEW TESTAMENT-STYLE HOUSE CHURCHES
This clustering of people is different from both traditional congregations and cell-group churches dotting our Western landscape. House churches are an attempt to get back to the basics of apostolic churches. Stated positively, each house church is a fully functioning church in itself, with the freedom to partake of the Lord's Supper as a full-meal, baptize new believers, marry, bury, exercise discipline, and chart its own course. Usually, each house church has between 10 and 30 people involved. Consequently, house churches can be explained using the principle that church IS small groups. No buildings, one-man leadership, expensive programs, or highly polished services are required. They are typically characterized by the following:

Open meetings where everyone can participate (1 Cor 14:26, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Heb 10:25).
Meet primarily in homes (Acts 16:14-15, 29-34, 20:20; Rom 16:3-5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15-16; Philem 1:2)
Networks of house churches (Acts 8:1, 9:31, 11:26, 20:17-20; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1)
Local house churches led by unpaid leaders (Acts 14:23, 20:17,28-30; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14, 1 Pet 5:1-3)
Traveling apostolic leaders who are financially supported when needed (Luke 10:1-11; 1 Cor 9:1-5)

HOUSE CHURCH NETWORKS
House churches should become part of citywide or regional networks for health, stability, growth, leadership training, and accountability, like a spider web of interlocking strands. We, therefore, advocate tightly working house church networks rather than stand alone, isolated, independent groups. The network functions this way: monthly house church leaders/elders meetings, occasional large group events, and circuit riders that flow from house church to house church.

Meetings: Scheduled or Spontaneous?

2008-04-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

Hi Molong,

Some of the people who were going to house church here stopped coming. One family went back to traditional church. I really can't understand why. Another family stopped going anywhere. Steve.

Hi Steve,

Yes, a great temptation lies in those came from traditional set up, because they are bringing their traditional mindset in them, goes back to their traditional church. That's normal specially if they have not forsaken all of their traditional baggages and take on Jesus burden, his simple theologies and practical steps to grow toward maturity without any rules, their wineskin which is their 'way of thinking' is still old.

Unlike unbelievers, their mind is new for the holy spirit to cleanse them and uses them without reservations. They are a bit easy to receive things from God, and in our generation, they are the most conducive people of this movement.

Let believers join in if they wanted to, if not then we have to wait for their hunger for reality, then the first thing to let them know is that they have to die first for their self -by way of how people will think of them, will treat them, and what people are going to say now. Until they say, "I don't care." then he is truly dead. This is the first stage, only. But it's important.

Whenever i talk to someone about house church, i always say. You have to leave or change the way you think now. You cannot think or believe two things such as: "You are the church" and "going to church." This two is diametrically oppose to one another. Even going to a 'house church' can be misleading.

I don't know, for me they have to know the life changing teachings of Jesus and the apostles of Being Church. The test would be for those believers already: let him not go to a church for a year then let's see if he still think and feels and believe that he is a Christian. This is good also to get rid of his religiosity, by not going to church you kill his religiosity. How will he fellowship to the brethren then for him to grow? Stay your relationship with him, as a friend, do the most natural house church meeting with him or two person, eat with him, talk, walk, sit, go camping, vacation, just as Jesus did. Then sooner he will understand that this is Christianity - building relationships without being religious, and meeting needs of others as needed.

For a pastor to get in to the house church? He must kill the 'pastor' inside him first. In order for God to be the King of His people the Israelites, the king must be killed, but people keep on asking human kings. For him to do a 'transition' , no other way but to kill the pastor in him. Let him just a brother, nothing more, nothing less - a brother among brothers.

For unbelievers, easiest. Save him, and directly discipled him wherever, whenever, -you don't even have to ask him to go to church. Instead, keep your communication to him either by email, chat, see sometime, have good fellowship.

Me? i don't use any modules. That won't work. Sorry to say that the way western people disciple someone is putting God and the person in a box by using modules, manuals and whatever they can think, drawing some diagrams. The wrong question that is being ask when it comes to discipling someone: How will i know that he is matured? This question is putting God in a box. The plain answer is, discipleship, church life is a journey. You cannot sew together the manuals and modules and say, 'if you finished this then you are matured.'

Better to disciple him through life experiences. Leave him a bit alone fighting with the devil, being bruise, and see him and teach him how to fight. Leave him alone with his problems of financial and then come to him and teach him that money is just a resources, not his life.

Leave him in the jungles and fight his Goliath but stay with him as a Nathan, keep encouragement with him and love and care.

Having a sort of 'formal house church meeting' will just happen sometimes. Informal works better anyway. No set-up scheduled, but meeting 'spontaneously' is much better. Hebrews 10:25 speaks about spontaneity of our meetings as the day approaching. that is even more we will meet. How? not scheduled but spontaneous.

Re-defining Church

2008-04-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

I’ll tell you straight here: God loves relationship. He loves to have companion. His personality itself express in triune proves genuinely. Relationship was there in His heart from the beginning of time. The longing for fellowship and the feeling to belong to someone became His heartbeat. And that’s the only reason that He made the world and put someone like him, and not only that, He put more of someone like Him: Human.

When I was saved at the age of seventeen at the same time my father living with another woman. As I am praying for my parent reconciliation I began asking God, “Lord, why this is happening to us? Can’t you feel how it breaks my heart?” As I fondle of this God let me show how He feels when man sinned and I began to feel what He feel and cried much in tears. I realize how relationship is important to Him with humanity. Very important that He even sent His only Son to pay man’s debt of death to redeemed and is reconciled back to Him! I’ll tell you, He loves relationship…with whom? Humans not bricks!

So long we have been mislead by this old pagan schemes that God lived in temple made with hands! And I say it’s enough. This generation and the next to come and until Jesus comes shall see Christianity in a new way. The new man, the new creation shall not see through a stained glass window Christianity. The Bride of Christ should see His Coming Groom not as what others wanted her to see but as clearly as His Groom intended Him to see. The Body of Christ, His Church should not listen to any other human’s head but to his own Head, Jesus!

Let us not tolerate anymore to those so-called Christians who call themselves Church and yet at the same time called their buildings “Church Buildings.” That is half-truth. That is a very misleading statement because then we start putting some value on bricks and start pouring our resources on it instead of the true Church, God’s people who need these resources in itself. Check out the early church, they pray and sell their lands and possessions to help the needy in them but today we pray and bought some lands and bring in some possessions to build Cathedrals and use the member’s resources to pay its bills! How pathetic!

I challenged three pastors asking them a very practical question regarding who pays their church monthly average. One was quick to answer saying, “That’s not our worry because we don’t shoulder them ourselves. We let our members pay its bills!” But isn’t that using people? We tried our best to convince them to give to God and give they did indeed. But where does that money really go? Of course, to the owner of the building. And who is he really? Bluntly, he’s an unbeliever. Think about it, taking some monies from God’s people and put them in unbeliever’s bank account! You be the judge.

If God really lives in our Church Buildings then why we just stayed there two hours on Sundays? Ophs, sorry its three hours plus Midweek Services and some prayer meetings. Don’t be fooled God’s children, God lives in you 24 hours a day, every minute of the day, seven days a week! You’re not a full time minister just because you received your monthly salary or work as a volunteer daily, nor a part-time worker because you just received an allowance and much more you’re not a Sunday-goers Christian just because you have no inside job on the four walls of your church, you just sit in a pew, stand a bit, jump a bit high and sing up to your throat and give then bye.

There was never a holy place in Jesus time. When He was transfigured in the mountain the three mountain climbers Peter, James and John thought the place was instantly holy so they plan to build some Cathedrals. And directly they want it done in Jesus Name! There was never a holy place in Jesus time, how much more today!

Jesus only hallowed man and nothing else. The pulpit was never holy as well as the instruments. If it be hallowed then already there’s a lot of Christians had already died for quite a millennia! Remember Abinadab…………… who just touched the ark of the covenant and died? I stayed enough inside Church buildings and have seen a lot of abominable people doing abominable things, mostly are people in church leadership. The feeling guilty toward things and not toward God has been wasted.

Being Church: Redefining Church

2008-04-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

CHURCH: Christ In You

Church is where He lives not where we meet. It is Christ empowered people, a kingdom of priests for a purpose of winning against the works of the devil and establishes God’s Kingdom [1 Cor. 3:17; Matt. 18:19; Ex. 19:6]. But somehow Churches today have not shown faithfulness and perseverance of her mandate and have missed its power to live an authentic life. Here is a need of a revolution in Christianity and Churches. We must be given a clear definition and meaning of it for how you understand Christianity is how you definitely express them in your daily life. Christianity is not about doing church but being one. And church is not some place to go to participate in to experience one but it is about being who you are in Christ and so experience His real life in you. Your Christianity was never defined ‘attending’ a particular church. But it is ‘Christ in you.’ In other words, you are a Christian 24/7 not because you participate in a 2-hour Worship Service but because Christ lives in you every minute of the day. The real test of a each believers is that let him not go to church for six months and see if he still believes he is one. And the real test of a church is let the pastor leave for three months and see then if his church will still be there when he comes back. It is here then Christ can say, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [church]” if you’re still standing on the Rock and solid ground!

Shallow Christianity

If we define Christianity today by what we see in our churches then not only it is dangerous to its member’s lives but also we will be the most pitiful people in this planet! Dangerous because it only produces churchgoers instead of disciple makers and its pitiful because if we will literally stop everything we do as church then nothing is left with Christianity! Jesus never goes to church and never tell anyone to do so, so what are you doing during Sunday’s then? Do you know that it can add your life two more months a year or 7 years in your whole lifetime if you stop going to church and start living with Christ? Christ is living in you twenty-four hours a day, 7 days week; can’t you live with that? Being a Christian is not going to a 2-hour Church Service [service to who?] and a 2-hour mid-week service or what we call a ‘Sunday-goer,’ a ‘part-time,’ and a ‘full-time’ Christian [I wonder where we get these interesting Christian themes?].

The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus about church doesn’t demean other religions today including our Christianity. She is not questioning the object of our worship that is God, [reminding you here of other religious groups saying, “We serve the same God, we just serve Him differently. We still see each other up there.”] But questioning not only ‘where is the valid place’ but also ‘who are doing it right’ in terms of worshipping God. The woman then got a blunt answer, “Nobodies getting the point. It is not that we do church differently, it is how we live life differently.” Jesus gets in to the woman’s inner life situation. Living with five husbands and attends church makes no difference.

Think about this: Do you know how many years it would take for us to become like Jesus 12 disciples compared with just a 12-hour that He spend with them in three years to our 4-hour-a-week Christianity? Thirty-six! Imagine spending 4-hour a week in Church and calls it ‘Christianity’ over 168 hours in a week? [Coz what you basically do in church is spiritual [sacred] and other than that are natural [secular]. No wonder your pastor would make you guilty saying, “Hey, you’re out of your priority.” Just because you are working on Sundays!].

You’re a backslider? No Way!

What I will share to you in this series of BEING CHURCH articles is those life [‘methamorpha’ -transformed into His image] principles of living Christ life in your daily life. That if you get it, even if you try your best shot to backslide it can’t! Start morphing now.

You can be like Shadrach, Meshach; and Abed-Nego, that ‘even if God would not save them we will still serve Him’ [I wonder how could they say such daring words of trust!],
You can be like David saying, “Even in the depths of hell I will praise You, Oh Lord.” Or, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” Surely he’s not singing all the time!
Or be like Job in his tribulation saying, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” [Job 13:15] [Do you know a God who would kill a person who trusts Him?] And he said, “even if you send me to hell I will believe in you.” [Wonder what kind of God would send someone to hell who believes in Him?]
Or be like the discples who got beheaded, stoned to death like Stephen, like Paul who received scorges and other martyrs.

This is not something religious. This is something about the life they received from Jesus, a ‘way of life’ – ‘the old life passed away, the new has come.’ [2Cpr.5:17]. “Religiosity will prevent you to get the real thing,” as Billy Graham said. It reduces Christ life into ‘set of rules’ and become legalistic. It produces self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and ultimate immaturity or stagnation. But Christ life is about the freedom that entangles us from the yoke of slavery.

By What Name Are You called?

So much we see in our churches today that are out of touch. If they are running on straight paths there could be no divisions in the body. Christ’s only builds one church, His body on earth. He didn’t even name it and registered to get some license. We are called by His Name and not by any names [By what name [denomination] are you called?]. We must rethink and scrutinize every areas we call ‘church’ to see that maybe we have received ‘another’ gospel that Paul was talking about in Galatians. We might say we received them from an ‘angel of light’ or from an ‘apostle’ whose name was Paul too yet why there is so much undeniable facts of wickedness [even inside the church] that we hear and even saw it with our own eyes?! The church indeed is not perfect but does the apostle Paul can present us ‘perfect’ in God? [Col. 1:28; 4:12]

Different Kind of Churches?

Have you heard about different kinds of churches? I don’t know if its Jesus Church, all I know is that it’s a church somewhere down the road. Let’s start with the most common one, a Confused Church, Church must not be confused you know, coz they know the truth! But this church doesn’t know what to do after years of operation. First, the pastor who believes he is ‘called by God’ [take note] start a Bible study in couple of houses in the neighborhood and finally rented a building for ‘Worship Services’ meetings. Trusting other collegues in the ministry he simply followed their advice on how to run them like a business. An ‘Order of Worship’ was made and found trusted members as his ‘Board of Trustees.’ Soon problems starting to arise so he appointed a secretary, a music director and an appointed youth leader – just like other church’s systems and structure. After 3 months the church splits in two coz the youth leader that was appointed by the pastor feels that he’s called by God to pastor! So to solve the dilemma the pastor decided to let the youth leader became his assistant pastor and he became now a Senior Pastor. Of course, someone takes the place of the youth leader and no church splits happen. Five years passed, the church grows from 18 people to 35 [which is the average church attendance in the Philippine Evangelical Churches!] and real so-called Scriptural church growth happens, the church split in a half! The Bread of Life Church has now become ‘Sliced Bread Christian Fellowship’ [ I am making up this name to laugh at but it was truly torn in two]. The pastor now was forced to rethink his structure. He said, “Now what? I just followed this pattern from my friend who has a mega-church, why is this happening to my little church?” Not a week he found out that the church where he copied his structure have experience church split a year ago. Now, doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different result is called insanity. Either that big church has good structure [that is why they’re big] or a small church has bad structure [that is why they’re small] both experience the same fate. For Church to be strong and healthy is not about making or developing structures because Jesus has already built it with His Holy Spirit’s gifted priests. Who am I, am I better than the Holy Spirit? How pathetic! The church is Christ’s body; simply put it this way, our body alone already has a structure. The moment we are born, we are born with a bone structure, you didn’t create that nor your obygyne. “The body builds itself up…” [Eph. 4:16].

The young energetic ‘called by God’ pastor now was still very persistent. He starts back all over again without thinking that he’s like a wheel rolling and rolling and rolling bumping on rough roads of worrinies! For him it is not, “Come unto Me all you who have heavy burden,…and I will you rest,” but “Come unto Me,…and I will give you stress!” But at least this time he changed a bit of his scheme. He now reads a book on The Purpose Driven Church, and this is just what he’s been waiting for. After a year of intense study and application – nothing happens, very expensive programs. The members must go through Classes? Until when? Then what, are they mature then after taking Class 201? Brilliant but never happened! And where have all these subjects gone? The book is not complete. Do I have to make my own teachings? I have never been to a Bible School, only a one-year training! Then comes the Cell Concepts. “Brilliant!” The young blood pastor blurt out. “This is what I have been waiting for!” Following Christ pattern of making disciples and then the disciples will make up the church is not something to wait on but it is simply obeying what He commands! The model was there already, why do something else?

Again, the once ‘called by God to get in to ministry’ minister now after seven long years believes he’s ‘called by God to get out’ in the ministry! [There are many indeed who are cold by God but few are frozen!]

The pastor was confused and so his church! He doesn’t know what to do and so does the others. Actually, that pastor was I, seven years ago!

Monster Church

And here is the scariest church, A Monster Church! Have you ever seen one? Actually, you’ve already seen a lot of them out there and frankly you maybe even been there for years! [Sorry…]

In Mega Shift book, the man who has been in the house church movement for 50 years, James Rutz wrote an event ‘that leave no basis for debate’ about a beautiful girl named Esther. Quoting the entire chapter please read this documented happenings.

On the night of September 1, 1999, in the remote tribal village of Sukropath, Madhya Pradesh, a Christian woman of 25 named Sukhwari Bai gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband was Dashru, and the delivery was assisted by three local woman: Nanhi, Dashri, and Sumatra.

It was not a happy event. It was a tragedy.

The baby had two heads. It was not even a Siamese-twin type of problem, but a case where a second head was growing out of the top of the first. Also, it had only one real eye; the other three places that ought to have been eyes were just lumps of flesh.

Sukhwari, Dashru, and the midwives were of course horrified. The said the baby looked like “the devil incarnate,” and they felt they should just put the thing in a clay pot and throw it out into the jungle for the animals to eat.

But finally they decided, No, we’re Christians now, so we shouldn’t do that. We should pray for this baby.

In pure faith they went ahead.

At that time there were just 15 or 16 Christians in Sukropath. Four men – Dashru, Adru, Shadru, and Labhu – joined the women to pray. They prayed fervently for healing, unaware of the standard Western postulate that God just doesn’t do such things.

As they poured their hearts out in intercessory prayer, the Lord was moved, and the girl’s face began to change. They prayed all night, and by morning, she was a very beautiful infant girl, normal in every way, with oen head and two normal eyes! A new day dawned in Sukropath – and the rest of the world.

Two evangelists came into the house including James Rutz and named the baby Esther. [In Jewish tradition, Queen Esther was the most beautiful woman in the Hebrew Scriptures. She appeared at a crucial moment in Israel’s history, and by her bravery was able to save the nation from annihilation. To encourage her, her uncle spoke the now-famous words of advice, “Who knows but you were born for such a time as this?”]

Word of Esther’s healing quickly reached Erich Reber, perhaps the most respected prophet in Switzerland. Even before he received the final poof of the case, he said, “God spoke to me very clearly” about it.

What God told Reber reveals that Esther’s healing is the most significant healing event of our time, an object lesson that no Christian can afford to ignore. In brief:

For too long the church has been a two-headed monster. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only rightful head, but men have set themselves up as heads above Christ, “No, we will run the church.”

This is quite confusing to the world. People look at the church and say, “Sure, we understand the system. The guy on tops calls the shots. It’s just like our governments.” The world will not see Christ clearly in the church until we restore Him as the supreme and only head. [Mega Shift, James Rutz, p.108-109]

Many kinds of churches to name. If you’re like one of whom I know he’s been to the “We will build our church,” a church where they can just do what is right in their own eyes. Or the, “We will build His church,” a church that thinks they are the only one’s who are called by God solely to plant churches, and others are cults! And the “He will build our church,” one’s that believes that they are the only church that Christ builds and none other. We are right and those who will not want to be a part of our church are wrong! And not only that, imagine that there are now already 33,099 denominations in the whole world and know what? They despised one another!

But Christ alone builds His Church and is already been built a long time. He didn’t give that job to any man. Our job is to make disciples and the disciples will build up the church. And actually, the job of building is already done. He said on the cross, “It is finished.” He didn’t say, “To be continued.”

How pathetic am I to build churches. He didn’t hand me that job and say, “Finish it Molong.” He owns that job. Am I better than Jesus Christ who is the Master Builder? My job however is to plant the tree or water it but God only makes them grow and build it strong [1 Co.3:6]

Church is About Relationship

Christianity is about relationship. First, Jesus came to restore relationship between God and us and the result of that is a restoration of relationship to our brethren [Lk. 10:27]. That is ‘loving God’ and ‘loving one another.’ But sad to say what we did is start some ‘meetings’ and make ‘programs’ and say, “Let us love one another.” Are having ‘Christian Worship Services’ really can fulfill the ‘loving one another’ commands? Is it not Jesus clearly shows the practical way of doing it? [Matt.25:40; Lk 10:33-37; 18:22] Jesus never asked His disciples to start a church and do some ‘specialized’ ministries to the poor, widows, children, women and so on and on different kinds of ministry projections. Being a church is building relationships that last until Jesus comes. Not start some groups and make some rules to play and tell others to play together and if they cannot play by their games and play by their rules anymore then you are out of the game! Do you know that there are a lot of Christians around this planet that have lost some good and healthy relationships with their brethren just because they’re not going to their church anymore? Their friends are saying to them, “Sorry, you’re not going to our church anymore so I better quit being a friend with you.” You know what, I’ll tell all my friends I have that even if my ministry will be gone our friendship will remain forever. Even if they transferred to any church denominations or house church, be it a Christian or even if a cult group my friendship with them will remain wherever they go. Why? My friendship to them is the only reason that I can meet up with them, encourage and witness Christ through my life. You might go and worked in someone else denomination or church but that does not guarantee that you will never be discourage there. Time will come that no one will ever talk with you there, but you can always count on a friend that is outside your church denomination. The proof of this is the ‘church hopping’ of members from church to church.

There are a lot of Christians and even leaders today in churches that they value their ministry or position more than relationship. But know this, you can never have a ministry without relationship. You can never disciple someone unless you’re being a friend with him. Jesus values relationship than ministry. And this is one of the reasons that everything He touches is ministry! One time as Jesus and His disciples continues preaching and teaching around, the beloved John noticed that there are others beside them that do the same thing like they did but was not with their team. Does Jesus rebuke them saying, “Hey, you’re not a part of ‘my ministry,’ stop it!” But John got the rebuked instead! [Mk 9:40; Lk 9:50].

Just put it simply this way: Our ministries just come and go without even a noticed! Thirteen people felt God calls them in the ministry, after a year all of them felt they are called by God to get out in their ministry! You might be in the sort of ‘healing ministry’ this year and in the second year you’ll be in the ‘children’s ministry.’ But has your relationship to other people change then? Maybe not on you but to others only ‘regrets’ can tell. I’ll encourage you to stop ‘specializing’ ministries, but instead start ‘specializing’ relationships. It can win you a lot of souls for Christ by focusing on the person’s need than creating some magical programs that only attracts them to your show but hardly touch their hearts. We’re not in a Hi-technology when it comes to winning people using digital stuffs but we’re in Hi-touch ministry like in the days of old serving the poor, the orphans and the widows with our own hands. Use a hand to touch lives; it is still the best tool to prepare their hearts for God.

If Jesus…

If Jesus would only build His church building He would have:

· the holiest place [Matt 17:1, mountain of transfiguration],

· nicest Cathedral [Mark 6:3, a carpenter],

· certainly the best pastor [Jn 10],

· probably the largest church in town [He gathers multitudes and feeds them],

· the best and the only right theology ever made!

Or if Jesus would apply for church credentials in our denominations He would probably be rejected and possibly be gossip about in town for…

· he doesn’t have a father

· his brothers and sisters doesn’t believe in Him

· he’s a friend of sinners and tax collectors

· he’s been with the prostitute women

· he drinks wine… and worst

· he makes wine!

Would the chairman of your board would like having this kind of pastor?

We say that Church is not an organization but an organism, yet we build organizations. We say that Church is not about meetings but that’s what we do. Then we are setting up a rotten trail to follow for the next generations to come. Think about your children and your children’s children, they are the front liners after you. If you want to see Christianity change in 5 years then it must start with you. Do you want to see a difference? Then be different!

Revolutionaries faith and expression will substantially altered. They will not have an institution such as the local church to use as a crutch or excuse for wimpy faith. Each revolutionary consents to be personally responsible for his or her spiritual state - whether that's growth or stagnation. Complaints about the pastor, church staff, programs, or other obstacles disappear from the conversation: the onus is now on the believer to put up or shut up. The failure to develop a robust spiritual life becomes the responsibility of the person God intends: YOU

This shifting of responsibility will affect all dimensions of spirituality. Besides personal growth, believers will bear the obligation for performing acts of community service, promoting the gospel, growing their family in faith maturity,worshiping God regularly, developing intimacy with God, understanding and applying contents of the Scriptures, representing the Kingdom in all walks of life, investing every resource they manage for holy outcomes, and being connected to a community of God-loving people. No more waiting for others to do the job; every revolutionary must handle the duty to BE the church with dedication and excellence.

- George Barna [Revolution]

If I don't go to church anymore, how do i fulfill Hebrews 10:25/

2008-04-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

You write: "kun dili na mu attend church..." [If i don't go to church anymore...]

When we believe and say, "We are the church" [1 Cor. 3:16], then where should we go to? They are diametrically oppose to each other. Church is not some place to go to, neither a program to attend to and thus fulfill your 'Christian duty?' Church is where He lives, not where we meet.

Your question: "Unsaon nalang pag fellowship sa mga people?" [How can I fulfill Hebrews 10:25]

How did the New Testament Believers fulfilled Hebrews 10:25, where it said, "Do not forsake the assembling of the saints..." in their day when they have never established a 'church building' to meet? The answer is Acts 4:31-38, they meet from "house to house."

Several reasons on house-to-house principles:

1. They understand that they are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. God transfered His residence from temple building to temple body which is His church on earth. They are now the living stones being built up.
2. Judaism has temple [the one whom David built]. Pagans around them has temple. If they built one, is Christianity has any difference from other religions around them? Stephen dies for one reason: He speak against the temple of David saying, "Thus says the Lord, 'Heaven is throne the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me. For God does not live in temple made with hands." Then he was stoned to death! God wants to live in a temple made by divine hands [people], not with human hands [temple building]. Church is a people, not a building.
3. The ultimate expression or definition of a church is a family. We are His children and He is our Father, we are to a 'household of faith,' we need to treat each other as 'brothers and sisters.' And God saves households in the New Testament. Remember the demon-possessed man who was healed and was sent by Jesus directly to his household to witness. And normal family lives in a house, that is why it is better to have church meetings in the house. We are more natural in the house than anywhere else in this world. I can fool my wife outside my house and in front of you but inside my house i fool no one.
4. Revival must begin in the house where sin begins. Adam and Eve started it, we inherited it. We sin more in the house than anywhere else in this world. If we have revival in our church [buildings] with unrevived homes then it is merely sheer hypocrisy.

Give me the best shoot or valid reasons why we must build building to house the church:
Fellowship? Can't we not do it anywhere? God is everywhere and He lives in us 24/7. If we need a place to fellowship then we have every place we need on this earth:homes, restaurants, offices, plaza, coffee shops, cafes, schools, name it and you can use it.

Of course, that depends upon how you 'program' your fellowship time. If it is a religious sect the what you just do is do some rituals to appease yourself with God once a week, right? Simply because you feel you are not holy during mid-weeks [that's why we have mid-week services too, huh]. Tell me what's the difference between Christianity and other religions of the world in terms of 'way of worshiping God,' Temple? they have it and its better than ours. If that is what saves a person more i would become a Mormons! Preaching? they have it, they even use the same Bible as ours. Singing? we almost sang the same song every week! We speak in tongues? they too speak in tongues [look at the charismatics], Crying? oh they cry too, louder. Screaming? they climb on walls! Healing? they heal more than ever.

One thing that God choose us is to be holy. That is being different from all peoples of the earth. That is not doing church differently, but how we live our lives different from the world. That they cannot follow because only Jesus transforms lives. So in order for them to follow how we live a new life is not to copy what we do, but to come to Jesus.

Now, but if your understanding of the word 'fellowship' is having an intimate conversation with someone then you don't have to be in the church service sitting and let someone at your back stare behind your neck! Church fellowship in the New Testament is is not a one-man preaching to everyone, but one-another to encourage everyone. To let them function in their gifting. [There are 58 one another in the New Testament. Preaching is greek is 'diagolozimai', meaning dialogue, not monologue. And we are to function together in church meetings simply because God has gifted everyone, not one person, to serve every ligaments of the His body, the church.]

If your view of church is a program, then you have to 'attend', then you go home doing nothing with one another and of course fulfilling nothing. But if your view of fellowship is sharing one another's lives then a venue does not matter, nor any program you must follow. All you value is building relationship with your brothers and sisters and meeting needs. This is what church is all about: relationship and meeting needs. Search out how Jesus lived: reconciling relationships with His Father and to Him, and meetings needs. Are we not told by Him to follow what His footsteps?

I believe it is much better for someone to go the neighbor, having coffee or breakfast on Sunday morning, talk about his life and family, his work, his problems and struggles, and encourage him, pray for him, let him know that the Lord Jesus cares for him, letting him accept Christ - on Sunday morning than go 'attend' a church, sit, clap, shout, lift your hands, listen to sermons, give, say a prayer and go home.

It is much better for someone to go to the the street help the needy with your money intended for the church tithe, feed the children with your money intended for the church rent, speak your word of encouragement intended for a song of praise, say your prayer for the unbelievers intended for you to keep quite while the pastor is doing all the praying...

Isn't all these things valid as church as far as Jesus concerns? Clothe the naked, visit the poor, help the widow and the orphans, feed the poor? Jesus even ask the rich man to give his wealth to the poor and not to the temple? huh!

Arbie, me? enough is enough. I don't wanna waste my time. I don't go to church anymore but i love the Lord Jesus so much and His Word.

Imagine: Going to church week after week, month after month, year after year, both now and forever, amen! Is this church? Is this Christianity? I think Christianity is more than that, it is a way of life and not a series of religious meeting.

Lastly, to answer plainly your question. Fellowship must be spontaneous not scheduled. Hebrews 10:25 says, that 'all the more' we will do fellowship with one another as the day approaching. What is 'all the more' mean? Once a week? The New Testament Believers even do it 'daily', how much more in our days. Scary ha.

Hope you take the time reading...

Kuya M

Balancing Life in a Mayonaise Box

2008-03-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.” The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.” “Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and empty the bin. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.”

Seven Years of Journey

2008-03-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

As a Church where Jesus lives, our lives were never meant then even to do 'right things' [for we make others fell guilty by doing the wrong things] but to obey what He called us to do. Offering our lives, as living sacrifices, or loving Jesus and others are our goal while living on this earth. We cannot fulfill these loving commandments by just attending meetings but by doing it practically: clothed the unclothe, feed the hungry, help the needy, visit orphans and attend widows, coz by doing these we do it likewise unto Jesus.

Evaluating our lives for 7 years after getting in to the house church ministry [this is our first family Christmas report for you] we say that the freedom that we feel by not attending [traditional] church for that long is awesome. Though we learn to do simple church the hard way [try and error for 3 years coz we know no one is doing it], but it is worthwhile doing it anyhow. We gave [me and my wife Lisa] our lives to the Lord, wherever He leads us we will follow, whatever He feeds us we will swallow. There are times that we're worried but then we look up to Him knowing He knows our needs and will never leave us. We have tasted His goodness to the fullest.

In a short summary of our long journey, after starting house churches and leave them as soon as I can [let the church grow with Jesus by showing them what to do during meetings, 1 Cor.14:26, and let Jesus and His Word are the main foundations of their faith, not meh, huh!] and now still starting simple churches but more on coaching others to do the same and serve as Regional Coordinator to the House Church Movement in the Philippines is a privilege to be able to serve the brethren who needs my assistance. And Jesus must be glorified in everything that I do, that is as much as I am this young [32 yr. old] I must learn now to humble myself. If there is a need to spank my butt coz you think I am proud enough, please do so without any delay!

For four years we have been married I can say that I am enjoying my marriage life. Even before being single I already prepared to go for it, Hmnn….not maybe financially, not worried about that so much, but mentally and spiritually prepared. That is I don't believe in adage, "Well, now I am married everything will just come as it goes!" That's a principle of disaster. Getting in to marriage life is a like jumping from a plane with a parachute, it's final, no testing. If you don't know how to use your parachute because you missed the sessions then you're dead pretty soon!

Me and my wife while in our early stage of friendship, actually classmate in a one-year Bible school training [Asia For Jesus Training School], we, including other 30 students studied love, courtship and marriage sort of seminar. It was a big blessing for us that for four years now too I teach what I learned doing 'Love and Courtship' seminar for young people and planning to continue doing it 'til I'm 40. I believe my next generation must learn it as much as I do.

After 8 months of our marriage life together we bore our first son named ZOE, that means, 'life of God.' And yes it is His. After 9mon and 2 weeks, He was taken already by the giver 17hours before he got out. "The Lord giveth away and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord." This is what comes out in my mouth knowing that he's dead already inside. I have prayed every night, laying hands on our baby that God will use him. He is sovereign and I am glad for that. Then another 8 months comes our second baby girl named Shirley Faith was born. She gives us a lot of joy [every parent can tell that], though she's now 2 years and 2 months she's still doing breastfeeding! Well, our doctor says, "What's bad for that?" Okey, better listen. But she eats hard food now so don't worry. Anyway, we have the same birthday with my baby, which gives me double happiness!

She is very healthy, thought not chubby. She crawls in my back or my wife's back when we just sit around the room and cuddles us calling our names. So sweet. Hearing your name from your child's mouth is very sweet. Especially when she looks into your eyes.

In The Eye of The Storm

Our cloudy day has come last July 25, our house along with other 300 houses in our community were destroyed by fire. We live in one of the slum areas in Cebu. Where we live is about 2 million people and 1.6 lived below poverty line. Lots of dreamed in that community was gone after the fire but gratefully we are able to continue helping the widows there as well as some of the poor neighbors we know. This is part of my own family's ministry: to attend widows in their distress. [In the end part I will share what our vision is for them].

When the fire hit my community at around 8 in the morning I remember the first fire that destroyed in the same community last 1991. That's when I get saved a year later. So this is the second fire. What comes out as a disaster became a blessing in disguise to us [hate to say that not to a lot of my neighbors]. All I can say is that, it's time for my family to find nest somewhere, but not leaving our ministry there. Thanks for all the friends who helped financially. After the fire we join together with my sister's house in another town and now it's been two months that reside here in Downtown area that is the in the main city. A friend of mine asks me to partner with his restaurant for the student business and built a room for us. This is now the means of our living. At the same time keep on saving money to hopefully purchase a land for my family.

I continue traveling around the Philippines, the Lord is sending more and more church planters in the network, almost every week I received emails that they wanted to join the network in which of course we have no president, nor a chairman and even the title 'pastor' that we put on has been put away. All there is is friendship from the heart. No credentials to be given away. Starting next year there will be a lot of things that will happen. Several House Church Awareness Seminar will be held in different parts of the country as preparation of the coming first Regional House Church Congress and then comes after that is the 2^nd National House Church Conference which will be held in my province and then the 3rd Asian House Church Conference in Indonesia.

[Please join me in prayers that these Congresses and Conferences or Seminars on House Churches will become simple as it is as families of Jesus fellowshipping together. It is not so much about House churches but community in itself as God intended it to be. Our goal is not meetings but discipling the nations.]

On Christmas, Let's Remember Jesus and Others

A friend named Jon from New Zealand gave me an encouraging words this Christmas that changed our focus. That instead we thought of ourselves with other relatives it switches to other needy brethren. So this Christmas my family will share blessings to the needy. Some clothing's, toys for kids, and a bag of groceries will be given as gifts to them. Of course, some of these people are a part of Jesus family now but need constant material blessings and because we have invited others to do the same with us we can help more and minister to more people.

Future Plans

Our heart is for the widows. Every time I get invited to preach at churches I always find widows and ask one question: "Did you get any help from your church?" And for the dozens of churches I go to there's only one who received an amount of money every week [well, that's when I encourage the pastor on my first visit to his church]. For years my family continually helping 3 widows, 2 poor families, 2 children getting enrolled at school and helping one 6 year old girl who has a hole in her heart, maintaining her health through providing vitamins, medicines if needed, food and buying her new dress sometime [anyway, pray that doctor's who check her test results this week would accept her case for surgery]. It's time to start praying and planning and invite others to do the same either by themselves or with us here.

Prayerfully considering next year to start building a house for widows to stay in and then get volunteer friends to serve them like cleaning the house, washing their clothes, cooking their meals and other house chores. Either will build one or rent one, whichever. We know that it is much better to pour our resources in these kind of things than give them to church where your money just goes to owners of church buildings who are rich already and mostly unbelievers! There is a much much greater cause than these and this is it.

In my restaurant I don't sell old foods, as much as I can we sell good stuff and so we feed the hungry around the neighborhood. Sometimes there's a fool that would get in and we feed him. Oftentimes, one or two children and we feed them. And just tonight, a whole street family people, that is people living in the street, pass by and gave them food to eat. It's around close to 12 midnight when they passed and I politely ask them to pass by every night! Anyway, my restaurant opens at 6am and close at 12midnight includes cleaning around.

So, this is my tent-making business as what Paul does. We have been wishing and praying a lot of this to happen and it's finally come. This is to set as an example for my co-workers in the Philippines to work with their own hands. We are a victim of two myths here. One is, if you are called by God to pastor a church then don't work or do business. Second is, God is coming soon so we better serve Him fully, that is leave school or work and then be a full-time servant in the church even without a salary! All their churches promise is: We'll, you said God called you so let Him provide what you need. So a lot of us now in the house church movement reluctantly have faith in, "living by faith. We believe that we're applying it wrongly. Proverbs said, 'diligent hands succeed.' 'He who loves sleep ends poor.' The Bible says, 'everything we do, do it for the glory of God." This says that no 'part-time,' or 'full-time' here, but double time!

We will look forward for your Christmas message. We want to know what's going on after 365 days that passed in your family. If you sent one to us already just ignore this end note.

Merry Christmas,

Molong, Lisa and Baby Faith

Starting A House Church

2008-03-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

I am Romulos Nacua, they call me Brother Molong and Lisa is my wife. Our house is in the city of Cebu, Jakosalem Street; we have a small room for us but have a big receiving area to welcome 20 people in a large dining table.

This is our first home and we decided to start a house church or a meeting place for Christians in our area. We didn’t make our house a place to hold a series of religious meetings but only a place to welcome those in need of encouragement in the midst of their problems they encounter everyday. [Acts 28:30]. And most of our invited visitors are only those in our neighborhoods.

We Are God’s Church

Christians are the temple of God because God’s spirit lives in them. [1 Cor. 3:16]. And these people of God as a church meet “from house to house.” [Acts 5:42]. “Greet the church that meets in their [Prisca and Aquila’s] house.” [Rom 16:3-5]

What Is a House church?

A house church is an extended family of God that meets for mutual edification. [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]. It is a reflection of God’s family on earth as it is in heaven. A house church also is God’s natural design to save the whole household. [Acts 16:31-34]. Is it not your hearts desire to be with your own loved ones in heaven?

Christians in a house church meets any time of the day, everyday and it limits only to 15-20 people. And if it reaches more than that it should be divided.

What They Do In a House church?

For every person who wants to live Christianity in an authentic way, five important things must happen in their meatings:

1. Meating [Acts 2:42, 46]

That means they eat as they meet. Every participant brings their own food either for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even [midnight] snacks. It depends upon the time agreed since their meeting is flexible. Oftentimes, when God wants to deliver His Word and be understood, He will liken it with our physical food. [Matt. 4:4; Ez. 3:1-3; Rev. 10:9-10] That is why whenever He teaches and preaches it is almost always accompanied with something to eat. Feeding the five thousand is one of the examples.

And this ‘meating’ also is a time to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Since our Lord introduces it in the context of a meal. [“after supper” – Lk. 22:20] Throughout the New Testament period the Lord’s Supper was an actual meal shared in the homes of Christians. They do it until Christ’s return physically to those who are His. [1 Cor 11:26].

Essential qualities that will develop as they eat together:

a. In eating the command to “accept” or “receive” one another develops. A person who accepts another person is called a “Man of Peace.” [Lk 10:6]. If you ask a visitor in your house to eat with you is it not you agree [or accept him] with him? [See Jesus who receive sinners and eats with them – Lk 15:2] And make him your friends? [See Jesus who is a friend of sinners – Lk 7:34-36, and friend of His own people. – Jn 15:15]. In this context also develops the attitude of hospitality. “Given to hospitality” was one of the characteristics of the early Christians, and still marks out authentic Christianity. Our home is not meant to be enjoyed in lonely isolation: it is there to be shared. And the most important quality that will be developed in a person in this kind of environment is love and this will end up fulfilling the command of Jesus to “love one another.” Is this not how people will know us that we are His? [Jn 13:34,35]

b. Jesus came eating and drinking. [Lk 7:34]. Eating the Lord’s Supper in the house church meeting is a reminder of Jesus. He is the first, the center as well as the last to be honored in the meeting. In other words, they meet because of Jesus. Meating in the house church invites Jesus Himself. He’ll say something like; “I will surely come and dine with them.” [Rev. 3:20] Because He is the “Master of the house” and we are “His household.” [Lk 10:25].

2. Edifying [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]

The goal of their ‘meating’ is for the edification of every one – the body of Christ. Worship can be a part of it but not the reason because worship can happen when our lives are offered daily as a living sacrifice [Rom. 12:1]. We can worship when we’re alone anytime and everywhere but we cannot receive encouragement if we put ourselves in isolation. So if the reason of our meeting is for edification that means each one has a responsibility to encourage one. “How is it then brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, and has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” [1 Cor. 14:26]

There are 58 “one another” in the New Testament and that will mean that we cannot just live without one another. Our Christian experiences affects people everyday. That is why each one of us is important to be a part of especially in the meetings. The Bible does not guarantee that listening to a sermon even for hours will encourage everyone. Any preacher and member knows that fact. But as we encourage one another it certainly lead to the edification of the whole members of the body of Christ who are present in the meeting.

Environment like these in any church gathering promotes a couple of essential qualities:

a. They learn to submit to one another. The Bible clearly commands us to “submit one another in the fear of God.” [Eph 5:21]. What that means is that we need to be watchful in our actions and behavior and if our brother or sister corrects or rebukes us we should be willing to accept it. Submitting to one another does not exempt any members of God’s family. It is a two-way submission not a one-way. So if each one submits to another, the whole body is edified because both are responsible for each other.

b. They are accountable to one another. If we submit to one another then we are accountable to one another as well. That is why whatever happens to our brethren God will hold us accountable. [Gen. 4:9] This is one of the reasons why He gave us this “one another’s” command. Christians in a house church must have a feeling of accountability for if not many unhealthy attitudes and habits will develop in the meetings and most in our everyday lives.

c. They disciple each other. Everything we do in a house church meeting – accepting one another, pray for each other, encourage one another, exhorting one another, as well as submitting one another and all the “one another” in the Bible are the essential principles of making disciples for Christ. And these should be integrated with accountability for without it discipleship will never happen. Christ sent the twelve, not one, to do the making of disciples. One person could not just do that task to all nations. Modeling to someone is for everyone to learn. Not one man demonstrating or performing in front of everybody. It is “one another” not one man.

3. Teaching [Matthew 28:20]

In Hebrew culture, the traditional teacher was the father teaching his family in his house, usually at meal-times, says Wolfgang Simson in his book, Houses That Change the World. Teaching in Bible times even in the Old Testament is geared to show somebody how to do something, and to explain why things are the way they are. Its goal is not to acquire more knowledge but helping to obey and serve God and His purposes [Duet. 6:4-6; Rom. 1:5].

In a house church setting where everyone feels at home while eating, each can have each part of sharing what he thinks and feels of any certain matters concerning everything. This is followed by a question-and-answer time which is interactive and dynamic, and allows everyone to participate and get the explanation he or she needs. ‘Questions often what a person is thinking and can help to remove mental blocks if we deal with them rightly, and therefore encourage spiritual growth’, says Met Castillo.

Often the Greek word ‘preaching’ in the New Testament is translated dialogizomai, which means to have a dialogue between people [Acts 20:7]. We see this every time in Jesus’ preachings, there is always someone in the crowd that will interrupt by asking questions and oftentimes His teachings are a respond to someone’s curiosity. This teaching style is geared to help people become ‘doers of the word’, teaching them to obey everything He has taught us [Matt. 28:20].

4. Praying [Acts 1:14; 2:42]

Whenever and wherever the early believers meet there are two things that will happen: eating and praying. In a house church meeting prayer is a must by everyone. They prayed for anything and everything that concerns them. As interaction happens in their meeting each need automatically arise [by asking the right questions] and will be known by God through prayer. If one starts to pray for the other he will feel the burden and this leads to intimacy between each other.

Their prayer time happens anytime as they eat, before, during or after the meal. No set of programs to be followed in times of communicating God to man. No prayer lists to be made too. They can pray two by two or by group but make sure that everyone is involved. In an atmosphere like this everyone can easily adopt the habit and attitude of prayer. They learn it not by paper and ink nor in mind [knowledge about prayer] but in deed. Not one person mediating in prayer for everyone but everyone prays for one another.

5. Sharing [Acts 2:44; 4:34]

Spiritual, material and even financial needs and support are shared to everybody. If someone has a need someone is prepared to meet. This is what the early church did and our churches should follow it today. “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” [Acts 4:32].

If you want your blessing to be counted on men expect something in return when you give. But if you want your blessing to be counted on God, expect nothing in return when you give. Boeing Paras, who’s a dear friend of mine who liberally gives, sent me a message on my cell that has some truth in it. It says that, “If you feel the love of God in your heart you are blessed by God. But if you share the love of God in your heart then you are a blessing from God.” Writer John Bunyan maintained, “You have not lived today successfully unless you’ve done something for someone who can never repay you.”

How About Tithing?

Tithing was not mentioned in the time of the early church. We cannot find even one verse that proves that they practice it in their meetings. God requires 100% of our lives and everything we have. When He saved us we are not on our own but His. What the rich young ruler to whom Jesus said, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor…and come, follow Me.” [Lk. 18:22] did not do, the church did it, as what Wolfgang Simpson rightly said. Not 10% but all! How pity a wife who only receives 10 percent of her husbands love. And how pity a nation who only sends 10 percent of its soldiers into battle. How pity a Christian who only allows the Lord to control only 10 percent of his life. I have a very good illustration about this truth:

A newly committed Christian brother prayed to God and as he pray the Lord interrupted:

“Do you have any money today?”

“Yes. I have Lord.” The man answered.

“Give it to Me.” God said. This might be the 10 percent of his income.

“Do you still have any money left?” The Lord asked him again.

“Yes Lord but it’s in the bank.” The man replied.

“Oh, you have a bank account? [As if the Lord is unaware of it] Wow! Can I have that too?” The Lord said.

“What?” the man started to murmur. “Everything? What will happen to my family then? How can I sustain them?” He complained.

“Huh! You have a family too? The Lord asked. “Alright, give them to Me also.”

The man kept silent for a moment, took a deep sigh and asked in a meek voice, “Even my beautiful wife?”

“Son,” The Lord explained, “you know that it’s not only you that I love and wanted to be mine. Your children also and yes your dear wife. Can I have them?”

Before the man uttered a word, The Lord continued, “Did you not surrender your whole life to Me as I had surrendered mine to you? And with all your heart, mind, soul and strength have you not loved Me? How come you are holding back everything you own?”

“Alright, it’s all yours.” The man said. “And since you’re taking all what is dear to me, so what am I here for? Everything that’s left is useless now so you might as well take my house too. That if you like.” The man tried acting for self-pity hoping God will change His mind.

“Wow, you have a house too? How many? How about cars and maybe businesses, can I have them all? The Lord was glad to hear the man’s offer.

“Go ahead, whatever, you can have it all.” The man replied with grumpy face.

A moment of silence occurs and God smiles while watching him sitting lonely.

And God said:

“Son, because you gave everything you had, all that is yours have become Mine and now I’m giving it all back to you in one condition.”

“What Lord?” The man replied as if heaven fell down on him. And the Lord said:

“Take good care of them, will you?”

Remember, God can only keep what you have committed to Him. [2 Tim. 1:12]

Two marks of a Christian: giving and forgiving. In a house church Christians give with a cheerful heart.

Who Leads a House church?

An elder leads the house church. [Acts 14:23] Simply older than anyone around the group not necessarily being the oldest. Elders do not have to be skilled Masters of Ceremony and learned teachers, but having modest and authentic fathers and mothers with obedient children will be great to start with. They should be mature in serving in God not freshlings from a seminary. Mature in family life experiences for, “how will he take care of the church of God if he does not know how to rule his own house?” [1 Tim. 3:5]

If Jesus had said it in the Mount of Beatitudes it would have been that, “Whoever can take care of his marriage and his family can take care of the church.” Specially, we as a church are just one in the house of faith [Gal. 6:10], and each one treats every one as his/her own part of family [1 Tim. 5:1, 2].

Christ became the head of His body which is the church because the meeting of its members is not led by one professional clergy man but fathered by an elder who cares and nurtures as his own “Dear Children” in the Lord. [1st, 2nd, 3rd John’s] The elders’ leadership can only be known and recognized if problems arise. But if the goal of such gathering is to encourage one another, the, leadership will be less needed because everyone commits to help, support and pray for one another.

WHY DO IT IN THE HOUSE?

The concept of this kind of meeting is most suitable in the most natural place in the world called home, where we are at home. The early disciples did it “from house to house” and when they wanted to have a big gathering or a celebration, they would do it outside the temple – temple court. But they can do it best in a small group with their family and in their own homes. What matters most in church meetings is intimacy and the bonding that happens with just a few people namely, your family, your friends and surrounding neighbors.

Why in a natural setting such as in a house? Because we all act more natural to ourselves than anywhere else on this earth. If I want to know you better then I’ll have to go to your home and watch how you treats your spouse and your children. Someone aptly said, “You cannot judge a person based on Sunday’s.” The most hypocrite person today can be found in our beautiful buildings with surrounding greenery scenes we called “Church.” Some people pretend to be somebody else on Sundays’. I can fool anyone outside my home but inside I fool no one.

Loving and believing God must be taught in the context of a family [Duet. 6:4-6]; In Jesus time He preferred to teach and minister in private than in public. There was a time when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man and when the man was healed He commanded him to go home to his family and tell them what the Lord has done for him. [Mk. 5:19].

Christianity Is A Way of Life

Christianity is not a mask you use to hide a sad life; Christianity should be a reflection of Christ’s image in you. It is neither a costume you wear on “holy days” but it is the righteous character of Christ clothed in you. Christianity should become a lifestyle – and this kind of lifestyle should be consistently practiced daily until it becomes a habit. In other words, Christianity is twenty four hours a day, one hundred percent, full time! We know that Christianity is not a religion, and I would say that it is not a scheduled service as well. Thus, Christianity in the time of Jesus became a life to live; it is being the church than merely doing or going to church. It’s not that we do church differently but it’s how we live life differently.

Religion is following a set of church system but Christianity is following a set of life system – the life of Christ. He said, “I am the … life… [Jn. 14:6]. And, “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly” [Jn. 10:10]. In Greek word, that life that Christ gave us is the life of God. And Jesus wants us to live that life. You may ask, how? Well, He said, “Follow Me!” It is to live the new life that God gave us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” [2 Cor. 5:17]

This is how is it was in the Old Testament: What you learn in the temple teach it in your homes. But in the New Testament, what you learn at home share it in the church meetings. If everybody’s doing this, we will all end up edifying and encouraging one another, which fulfill the main reason of our gathering [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25].

When I shared this to two Christian ladies at Mc Donald the other one said with excitement, “Oh, just like what Jesus did!”

“Yes,” I reply. “It was how He ministered in the house of Matthew [Lk 5:29-39], Zaccheus [Lk 19:1-27], and in Simon the Pharisee. [Lk 7:36-50]. And in fact it is what we’re doing now, eating, encouraging, praying, teaching and sharing as in the days of the early, early church. And this is how Jesus defined church too: ‘Two or three gathered together in my Name I am in the midst of them.’ And we should be doing it as well following His steps.”

Isn’t it easy? Jesus is waiting right outside your home for you to invite Him in. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” [Rev 3:20]

May your house be used as an informal gathering of Christians in your community, your church at home.

Your Church At Home

2008-03-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

Time is 7:21 p.m.

“Hi Sonia, please come in.”

As Lisa opened the door and greeted her new friend who’s a single mother of two children.

“How are you and your kids?” asked Lisa.

“A bit busy and fussy.” Sonia answered with a meek voice. “This older one,” [scratching her son’s head] “is ready to go to school but my other boy will continue his medication to minimize convulsion.”

Sonia’s husband has just died in an accident, they have two children, the younger had an epilepsy so when Lisa heard what had happened she began to be friend her and invited her for dinner.

It was Sunday when a couple of Christian friends decided to bring their own food and have dinner in the house of Brother Molong. They agreed also to bring some of their colleagues and neighbors and friends. First who showed up in the meeting was Sonia, she is uninformed about the said eating but was invited by Lisa after knowing her urgent need of comfort.

Beside them, a sister in the Lord named Nikki came with her Christian friend Sister Wilsa. They worked in one of the big companies in the city of Lapu-lapu.

A friend Brother Darbie soon arrived with a bag of food in his hand; with him were two street people, Richard and Michael. He will pass them by when there is meeting in any house. They have these kinds of meeting everyday, anywhere at anytime with different people and from house to house.

Seconds passed, Brother Gary came with Sister Maricar. With them is a street couple, Jocelyn and Ken with their baby. Along with their families – Tatay Gamay and Nanay Celia, Jocelyn’s parents and her two brothers, Roel and Weng-weng.

And lastly, came Sister Christine straight from her work. She brought with her toys and foods for kids, and clothing’s to be given away.

All in all the people having a sort of a party is 20. Three couples, eleven singles - men and women, one widow, and three children. And by the way, there’s one more, a 6-month old baby inside Jocelyn’s womb.

“Okay, everyone can take their seats in the table now.” As Brother Molong the host announces.

As they all sat, Brother Darbie presented himself to give thanks for the food and later on announces that he is already engaged. They all rejoiced and congratulate him.

“Soon he will become a ‘good’ man.” Molong said.

“Good because the Bible says that, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” Everyone laughed as they nodded their heads hearing Molong’s words.

“Marriage day is the day you’ll going to be with someone you love forever. And how happy it is to marry someone you love” Molong shared and continue. “And marriage too is God’s expression of His gift that is given to you through her.”

“Tell me Brother, how is it like being married?” Brother Darbie asks Molong.

“We’ll, they say marriage is a mystery and will always be like that.”

“That’s weird, that means I’ll be living with someone who’s completely strange?” Brother Darbie laughs as he comments.

“Maybe,” Molong says, “but I think if communication lines are open and secrets revealed it’s not anymore a mystery but ecstasy. Let me share to you what Mr. Harold Sala, an expert in marriage said, ‘Communication is vital in any relationship especially between spouses. It is the most difficult quality to develop and therefore must be given time and space between husband and wife.”

“But most,” he continued “If we follow the rules of a Christian home in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and Colossians we will have a better family in the coming years.”

Brother Darbie listened intently as Brother Molong shared some verses with him from the Bible.

In the opposite end of the table was Sister Wilsa ministering to Sister Jocelyn and Sonia. They talked and shared each other’s feelings especially their present situation and then prayed for both of them.

“What?” Nikki’s eyes opened wide while conversing with Ken. “You just killed three people at the age of sixteen?”

“Yes,” answered Ken. “And I just spent three years in prison.”

Ken is a silent type of person. He just nods his head whatsoever you share with him but now he talks. They continued discussing about what happened to Ken those years.

“So, how did you changed?” Nikki asked.

Ken replied that ever since he joined in gatherings such as this, his life was changed.

In the middle of the conversation of Brother Gary, Richard and Michael, Sister Maricar interrupted and asked, “How did you guys met?” Where do you come from? Do you have families?”

“Yes, we have families,” Richard replied in anger, “but they’ve abandoned us! And I always blamed God for it!”

“Is that good?” Gary questioned.

“Well, I know it’s not good but I always will.” He said.

“Why, what has happened to your family?” Maricar asked Richard.

“My mom and dad left me. My Dad died when I was eight, I am 25 now, and my Mom left me to find another man to be with. I am their only child.” And he began cursing his Mom and praised his Dad’s goodness in the past.

“You know what? God has a planned for you because despite everything that happened, you’re still here and alive.”

“Yah, that’s true.” Michael agrees.

“The Bible says,” Maricar added, ‘Though my father and my mother forsake me the Lord will receive me.’”

“Why don’t you guys consider us as your new friends? Come and join us here in Brother Molong’s house. Brother Darbie will also be happy to have you.” Gary excitingly said.

They all enjoyed eating and sharing, and getting to know each other. Some laughed on jokes, some cried while they get prayed and some expressed their hatred and anger as they shared their burdens with their parents, brothers and friends. What a fellowship there was, shame was gone, transparency was present, behavior exposed and intimacy was shared. And suddenly…

“Whaaahhhh…”

Screaming and shouting from the kids. They ran to their mothers except one. A boy struggling to breathe and bubbles came out from his mouth. It’s Sonia’s epileptic child.

Brother Molong and some of the brethren got up rebuke and prayed for the boy while others are praying in their seats. And after a few seconds the boy got back to normal. They returned to their seats and Sister Christine brought some toys and began to distribute it to the children. She joined with them too in sharing stories.

“Before we go to the distribution of gifts,” As Brother Molong announced, “let us have Tatay Gamay share to us what he noticed in our fellowship.”

“Since I joined eating here,” Tatay says while every one laughs, “I collected more cartoons to be sold.”

Selling cartoons is their way of living. At this time he accepts that he needs to change. Brother Gary leads him in a sinner’s prayer at the corner. After that, Wengweng asked if he could sing the song that he just made. It’s a Tagalog song, and while he sang everyone listens. Brother Molong and Sister Nikki were crying while listening. If you knew him, you would have cried also for he is a drug addict and got overdose. The experience made him unable to speak clearly. But now despite of this, he sings with all confidence in front of them.

These all happened in the table while enjoying their meal. They ended up praying for each other and distributing some clothing’s especially for those who are in need. And they encourage financial offerings to be made and gave some to Sonia to help her buy some food and medicines for her child since she’s still recovering from her husband’s death.

And one by one as they felt the need to go home said ‘goodbyes and goodnights.’

The next meeting will be in the house of Brother Gary just right in the next Barangay. And the time of their ‘meating’, that means they meet to eat is at lunch time, the next day.

Time is 9:46 p.m.

Who Am I?

2008-03-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

The "Wanderer"— Unplanned House Church Planting

by Molong Nacua

Molong Nacua is a house church planter in the Philippines. He also travels extensively training Christians in saturation house church planting as a strategy to reach his nation for Christ. He has ministered in the context of both traditional churches and house churches for many years.

INTRODUCTION

Over 90% of people in the Philippines are affiliated at least in name with some form of Christianity. Great strides by evangelicals have also been made in the 1980's and 1990's in terms of numerical growth and unity. However, the challenges the country faces include shallow discipleship at the grassroots, second-generation nominalism, and poverty. A strategy of house church planting can be a viable alternative to meet these challenges. In this article, I hope to give a brief but adequate account of my own story as a "wandering" house church planter.

A SOLID BUT TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND

I have been in the traditional church ever since I became a Christian. For over 10 years, I served the church with my whole heart. I had been literally joining Bible studies every night with my pastor, being a part of a worship team, and doing evangelism myself or with a group. I have also been a church stage decorator, a church painter, a church electrician, a church caretaker, a church round-the-clock security guard, and a church janitor. It was the best place I ever found on Earth to offer my ability, talents, gifts, time, and energy. I did this all as a volunteer. And for all those years, I never missed a single Sunday church service.

I got saved at a camp, and that very day I knew the Lord was calling me to pastor a church. At the same time, I was aware that it would be a process. It was not until 9 years later that I finally started a traditional church in our house. For the first couple of months, I was involved with 21 Bible studies each week, 12 of which I led. I was also engaged in prayer meetings, youth night, Sunday night services, a twice weekly crusade that stretched out for 6 months, weekly discipleship training, overnight prayer meetings, and other special events.

However, it was all draining my strength. I began to feel bored and confused and finally asked God "Why?" I believed that when God called someone to pastor, He would tell them what kind of church it should be. And I began questioning myself too. I told God in my prayers, "Be it a traditional church or a cell church, as long as it comes from You, I will do it." The house church concept, though, at that time never came to my mind. This was simply because, in my view, it was merely an immature way of doing church. The phrase "house church" here in the Philippines is often seen as a "not yet" full-grown church, a "baby church," a "phase one" church that someday may become a "real" church once it has enough members to warrant a larger meeting place, like a hall or building.

"HOMES" AND "HOUSES" EVERYWHERE!

To deal with my confusion, I began seeking the Lord and searching the Bible for a way of doing church for me. I did find books on church planting, but they did not fit what I was called to do. As I continued reading, especially the Gospels, Acts, and the letters of Paul, my mind always stuck on the word "homes" and "house." Jesus ministered in the house, preached and taught in the house, healed in the house, ate in the house, and trained his disciples to find a house of peace. There were also households of faith, the household of Stephanas and others, the church in the house, and just "houses" everywhere! And then I also began reading phrases like, "they have turned the world upside-down," and "they have filled Jerusalem with their teaching." I concluded, then, that if I wanted to see their results in evangelizing my world, then I had to follow their principles!

TRIAL AND ERROR CAN START HOUSE CHURCHES

In the year 2000, a few of us began the adventure of starting house churches, with only the Word of God as our training resource. It was simply quite exciting. We decided not to rent nor build any church buildings and started thinking of our gatherings in homes, not as Bible Study ministries, but as church in a revolutionary way. We started 13 house churches in our first year! We gathered our groups together to meet in one place, and we numbered around 180 people in 3 cities. This was quite a large gathering, especially since traditional church membership here in the Philippines is from 50-120 people.

"If you mix the rabbits with the elephants," as someone said in the house church movement, "the rabbits will die eventually." We indeed mixed the traditional church concept with the house churches we had started. We did get rid of the building, but traditional mentality prevailed. We had a program with a master of ceremonies, a Sunday school teacher, a worship team, a testimony time, a preaching time, a tithe, an altar call, and a benediction. In other words, we became a traditional church that was meeting in houses!

We did all of that for 3 long years from year 2000 to 2003. While doing this "trial and error" church planting, I continually visited Christian Bookstores in search of books on house churches, but failed to find even one book. I really thought I was alone in this journey, but I held on to what I felt to be the right thing. Then, one day, a friend handed me a copy of Acts Magazine. It was an old 1995 issue. The article was entitled "The Church in the House", by Robert Fitts, Sr. Then and there, I found myself floating in the air reading his article from cover to cover! Then I reached the end of the article where Robert said, "I predict that in the year 2000, house churches will spring up all over the earth…" And, indeed, we were part of this in the year 2,000 without realizing it. Later, I found Wolfgang Simson's book Houses that Change the World in one of the bookstores, Rad Zdero's book The Global House Church Movement and also Steve Atkerson's Ekklesia-to the roots of Biblical House Church life. Since then, we have been in constant communication with these people.

THE VISAYAS HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK

Since that time, I have become part of an apostolic team that meets monthly for the purpose of discussing our vision of starting house churches around the Visayas area, a major region in my country. We have started 20-plus house churches, and we are looking forward to doubling them yearly as we continue training house church planters. We have developed the H.O.U.S.E.C.H.U.R.C.H strategy for our network of house churches.

H—House of Peace. We encourage our house church planters to find people in the community that "offer a meal" as an initial sign from Luke 10 that they are open to the Gospel. Eating is still a mark of hospitality to most Filipinos and, thus, speaks a message of acceptance.

O—Ongoing Follow-up. At least they can visit those families twice-a-week with a lot of listening to their needs.

U—Unsaved People. Experience has taught us that is it much easier to start a house church with non-believing people, rather than those who already have a background of religious affiliation. The exceptions are those Christians who are truly hungry for ministry.

S—Someone Needs to Go with You. Jesus sent the disciples 2 by 2. We want to make sure that people have the chance to learn from each other and support each other while house church planting.

E—Establish Your Relationship with the Family. Most of those we train are young people, so we implore them to respect their elders by addressing them in culturally appropriate ways, such as "Nanay" and "Tatay", "Mam" and "Sir."

C—Congregate. After a month or two of visits with an interested family—which involves eating, sharing, praying, and listening—we encourage them to invite their neighbors to these get-togethers or other more special events like birthdays.

H—Huddle. Some sort of singing or games are used to make the host family and any newcomers feel at ease. We try to create a celebratory environment when we start house churches.

U—Unify. After the host family has become friends with their neighbors and a critical mass has been reached, we would encourage a regular get-together in that house. We might say something like this: "Since we know each other already and we live in the same community, why don't we gather together in this house once or twice each week?"

R—Represent the House Church Concept. This is the time when we introduce the idea of having a simple church in the host home. We share basic concepts of what the church is and how they can meet in someone's home as a Christian church. Sharing some verses from the Bible helps them understand more.

C—Create Your Own Time Management. Flexibility is the key to cater to all kinds of people, especially those who have different schedules and lifestyles that may not be mainstream, like street people, taxi drivers, inmates, the hospitalized, the elderly, etc.

H—House Church Established! And finally, after getting to know each other's needs and availability, a house church can be established.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

My calling is to start house churches, train others to do so, and link with other house church planters wherever the Lord leads me in the Philippines.

A church in Toledo City, for instance, where I have been invited to speak many times, eventually asked me about house churches. We held some seminars on house churches and, at the same time, modelled house church meetings during dinner. This traditional church has had a heart for reaching the mountain people, but has failed to bring these people to their church building and has faced financial challenges in funding another building in the area. But now, they plan to start planting house churches among the mountain people.

Similarly, in Pagadian City, the church struggles because their church building will be reclaimed by the owner, and they have to vacate soon. After my speaking engagement there, they called the leadership and had a short meeting regarding what their next move was. The pastor called me and asked me to share about house churches. The night before, he and I had a little discussion about house churches, but I did not know that they were facing a building problem. What happened as a result was a rapid planting of 5 house churches in 5 different neighbourhoods with 5 of the church's leaders leading them. Later, the pastor asked me about what he should do now. I suggested that he start a house church in his own house, gather all the house churches in a big place once a month, and have weekly church planter training and progress reports.

From time to time, I have also had the privilege of teaching house church principles to 15 to 25 students in one of the Bible schools. They have decided that, during their year-long studies, they will start planting house churches in their community until they graduate. This has become a sort of practical ministry workshop for the students. The dean of the school and the small band of student church planters has allowed me to coach them as they continue in these endeavours.

Though I work closely with my team and travel often, I also work with other house church leaders in the Philippines for greater impact. Some networks have focused on college students. Some leaders are in particular cities or towns, such as ones that have started 100 house churches all over Visayas. Another dear partner works in the mountain area. We have different assignments, yet work together for a greater purpose—saturation house church planting. Our next move will be to have a corporate gathering of house church leaders and have the Lord's Supper together to speak for unity in the body of Christ. This will hopefully lead to city-wide gatherings of Christians in each city, so that we can speak as one voice to the world that we love one another.

Source: The World House Church Movement by Rad Zdero (expected publication date: April, 2007)

Being Church

2008-03-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Jesus never intended for Christianity to become a religious sect. He did however want His followers to follow His footsteps in how He lived life, as designed by God, on this earth. Watching what His Father does and hearing what His Father says is what He does. That's how He's obedient to His Father's will. It's not a matter of rules or of even choosing between right and wrong but of just being obedient to His Father. In like manner, the same Father calls us. He wants us, as His children, to each become an obey-er, just like Jesus.

Being church is living Christianity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And every child of God can do just that because the Holy Spirit is not just here to stay in a believer's life on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings but every minute of the day, even if one is just sitting down or lying in bed. We are the temple of God, and wherever we go, we stay the same-the church of Jesus Christ.

Being church is neither going to church nor doing church activities. It is not a full-time or part-time Christian, and most of all; it is not a Sunday-going believer. It is not defining worship as attending worship services in church buildings. Also, it is not having a specialized ministry (a person who specializes in specific ministry in the church or someone who is a part of an elite group that does a specific task in the church or outside the church but is overseen by someone higher in authority like a pastor).

Wherever I go, I meet tens if not hundreds of Christians who don't care about going to church anymore. It's not that they have lost their faith, but rather that they have kept it until now. And they're afraid of losing it if they were to join a church! Most of these folks are not just pew sitters but have ministries in their local churches. Amazingly, I've also learned some have backslidden not because they were made to stumble by someone outside church, but by someone inside it!

"Eastern disciplines became popular in the 1970s; some Christians have searched their own tradition for an inner path to the divine, hoping to balance or even supplant the sometimes-dry diet of Sunday churchgoing."

- Bart Ehrman

Millions of Christians around the world are aware of this kind of Christian Modernization. They are not ignorant anymore of the two-faced mask of hypocrisy and its effect on divisions in the body.

Let us hear from author, David Barrett, and see if the message is the same here and everywhere. He said, "World Christian Encyclopedia, estimates there are already 112 million 'out-of-church Christians' globally." He expects this number to double by 2025.

New Zealand pastor Alan Jamieson, author of the book A Churchless Faith, has been studying this phenomenon for years and says it is not the "normal churchgoers" who are leaving the church for reasons of faith:

· 94% of the Christians he has interviewed, who are currently without a church, were in positions of leadership or responsibility, such as deacons, elders and Sunday school teachers.

· 40% of them were once in full-time ministry.

· Many of them said they left the church not because they had lost their faith, but exactly because they did not want to lose it."

This may be weird, but it's real. (See also Barna Research Group and Andrew Strom's book, Out of Church Christians.)

Are these people looking for a different kind of Christianity? Are they tired of being religious? Could it be attending church -- Sunday after Sunday, week after week, month after month, and year after year, both now and forever, amen –- doesn't make you a good Christian? Maybe that's why Justin Kuek, a church planter of 20 years, comments that good Christians don't go to church! He even wanted to write a book about that. Check out the label my friend. See if you've called by His Name. Otherwise, you might end up as just another brand of Christianity on the sidewalk.

"There's a lot of interest in early Christian diversity because people who have left church, and some who are still in it, are looking for another way of being a Christian."

- Marcus Borg

Structured Christianity?

If you really want to check on Jesus life and ministry in the gospels you will find out Jesus never did the same thing twice in the same way. In other words, He wasn't into techniques but was unpredictable. In our human strength (or perhaps more accurately weaknesses), we try to systematize everything Jesus did. For example, Peter who, after seeing heavenly glory, wanted to build Tabernacles in the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. And not only one, but three!

There's also the time when Jesus spat on the ground and made clay and put it on a blind man's eyes and commanded him to wash it in the pool. May I ask those who have a Healing of the Blind Ministry, did Jesus use a clockwise or a counterclockwise motion? Or maybe I will specialize with a Spitting Ministry. Do you want me to spit on you?

Jesus' life was never structured; He simply obeyed His Father. Singing for 30 minutes may not be worship at all. Worship is obedience to what He called us to be. That is the highest form of worship. It is the expression of our redeemed lives, our way of life. We cannot just put our Lord or His ways into a system.

Churches today are like spiritual machines. Programs are their survival kits. People love to pour their money into the machine to keep it running. But in reality, church life is like a wind: you don't know where it goes. It is a journey, a daily journey. It cannot be sewn up in the intellect; it must be uncovered during the journey.

Be Led By The Spirit And Walk In The Spirit

Have you wondered why we are to be led by and walk in the Spirit? Because a disciple is a follower, a follower of Jesus' footsteps, we are on a journey. No wonder the measurement of our maturity is to be like Christ and the end of it is when we see Him face to face (1 John 3:2). So it's not joining Discipleship Class 101 or working our way through a curriculum but it is a lifelong day-to-day commitment. A "take up your cross daily and follow Me" subject. The fruit of the Spirit are not there as proof of maturity but is part of the progress of your journey toward Christ. It is not the sign of your qualification as a mature person but a quality of the life you live before everybody. It is not the end of your journey; it is your endless journey until you meet met Him.

We are not only not religious, but we're not legalists either. We are not guided by rules, but we are guarded by our freedom in Christ. Paul rightly claimed, "Everything is permissible to me but not everything is beneficial." What a freedom we have in Christ!

You Can Be Natural And At The Same Time Spiritual

Jesus was the most spiritual person on earth and He was also the most natural person on earth. Our religious assumption is that we're trying to separate our natural life from our spiritual life. When we have devotions, we think we are more holy and closer to God. We feel spiritual. But how about afterwards? When we "minister" we feel spiritual. But when we're done ministering what are we?

The only valid answer is: You are religious, not spiritual -- making Sunday a holy day just because you've gone to church, then considering Monday through Saturday unholy because you go to work. You are separating the sacred from the secular. You are not righteous, you are religious! And the danger of being religious is that it prevents you from obtaining the real thing.

The best word we have for this is "hypocrite." One man entered a church on Sunday morning and wondered why the people there ignored and avoided him. "Ah, I see," he realized. "They don't like smoking.Church people don't like smoking." So he threw away his cigarette butts. People started to welcome him, believing he was touched by God's presence in church. After church he went home, opened the cabinet and lit a piece of cigar. Next Sunday members thought he stopped smoking because of a touch from God's presence. No. It was their legalism and their religiosity. What did this man learn? He learned to play the game of hypocrisy. Where? In the church. And often pastors are the biggest hypocrites there.

I Am The Church Where Should I Go?

God in heaven transferred His residence from a temple building to a temple body, which is Christ's church on earth. Even from the beginning, God's original intention was to stay in a Tent, which is mobile, not in a Tabernacle, which is stable. But even then God granted David's desire, but not for long. "God became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled in Greek] among us." He wants to have a movement of people, not a monument of bricks. He wants called out ones, a community, and a nation of priests. And only God can move people into such a movement of ekklesia.

Movement of ekklesia. Who can make a difference? God's only purpose for giving His people the Laws, priests, sacrifices, the Temple and circumcision was for them to be different from all peoples of the earth. But a short time later they intermarried with other nations. The pagans' gods became their gods. They became friends with the world and developed enmity toward God. Is there any difference? Instead of these nations following them, God's people became their followers. The important thing is not that we do church differently. What counts is how we live life differently.

“The Lord simply said, "I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in one generation.”

- Mike Bickle