4. Community

christ. comm. part 4.pdf

Jesus heart’s desire that Christians are one worldwide.
NKJV (John 17: 20-23) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
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In the previous article we have discussed Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15: 36-18: 22) and his stay of 1.5 years as tentmaker and gospel preacher in Corinth.
Also some parts of Paul’s later letter to the communities in Corinth were discussed.
How did it go on with the missionary journeys of Paul?
During the third missionary journey (Acts 18: 23-21: 17), the apostle Paul traveled from Antioch in Syria to Cilicia, Galatia and Phrygia and spent about 2 years and 3 months in Ephesus. (Acts 19: 8-10)

Later on, Paul stayed in Rome for about 2 years, in house arrest. (Acts 28:30)

The theme of this article is the Christian behavior of women, the humiliation in the house communities, the persecution and what kind of distinction can be made in unbelievers.

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3. Community

christ. comm. part 3.pdf

Jesus heart’s desire that Christians are one worldwide.
NKJV (John 17: 20-23) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
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In the previous article we talked about the origins of the first communities, the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas and how the first Christians experienced the faith in Christ and strengthened their love for each other.
In those exciting days the good news was spread and the Christian house communities spread like an oil slick over the civilized world:

NKJV (Romans 16: 5) 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
NKJV (1 Corinthians 16:19) 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
NKJV (Colossians 4:15) 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
NKJV (Philemon 1: 2) 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

These house communities were the meeting places where education, knowledge, chants, prayer and meals were shared. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Jesus said the following about meetings:

NKJV (Matthew 18:20) 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Sometimes there were special circumstances, such as speeches and healings by the apostles, or the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, whereby the various house communities gathered together:

NKJV (Acts 5:12) 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
NKJV (Acts 20: 7-8) 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.

These were also meetings where the individual Christian house communities could speak to each other, encourage each other and where new disciples were presented to each other.

The book of Acts mainly describes the Christian (missionary) work of the apostles Peter and Paul and the building of the Christian communities.
It is generally assumed – by the remarkable use of words and described healings – that the physician Luke has written the gospel according to Luke and also the Acts of the apostles:

NKJV (Colossians 4:14) 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

The theme of this article is the missionary work and the establishment of the house communities, the points of attention that there were and the run-up to the two witnesses prophecy.

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2. Community

christ. comm. part 2.pdf

Jesus heart’s desire that Christians are one worldwide.
NKJV (John 17: 20-23) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
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In the previous article we talked about the beginning of the Christian communities and how those exciting and spectacular days of joy and enthusiasm were experienced by the first Christians. As we saw, about 3,000 people were baptized on a single day. (Acts 2:41)
The warm love and joy of brothers and sisters among themselves, everything they had was in common.
The community in Jerusalem definitely represented a foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem on the New Earth, where the saints will be direct supporters of Jesus. (Rev. 20: 4.6)
In the later communities we do not see back this collective sharing, but we do see the support of poor Christians.
Encouragement for the community in Jerusalem increased, when the Samaritans and ultimately the heathens, such as the Ethiopian eunuch and Cornelius and his family were baptized and the latter were even sanctified.
After Pentecost, after the first sanctification, the saints preached in Jerusalem against Jews from all parts of the world in their own language, and the good news was thereby spread to all parts of the world. (Acts 2: 4-11)
As we will see in this article, the good news was also brought by Paul and Barnabas (the first missionary journey) to the inhabitants of Cyprus and to cities that are in present-day Turkey.

Anyone who now complacent thinks, that everything is in order for him or her will be shaken up awake.
This article contains vehement recommendations and we believe that these are badly needed.
The Christian way of life has to be experienced in a completely different way, preferably away from the institutes.
To the home group as with the first Christians, as independent groups.
Christians need to learn to think for themselves about how Scripture is meant.
We will come back to this in detail and how separate Christian communities can visit and encourage each other.

The theme of this article is the organization of the first communities, the problems that arose and how they experienced and strengthened the faith as a community.

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1. Community

christ. comm. part 1.pdf

Jesus heart’s desire that Christians are one worldwide.                  
NKJV (John 17: 20-23) 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
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What Jesus wants for His disciples is, that all are together in unity in a worldwide Christian community, just as Jesus himself wants to be one with all His disciples.
Why are Christians worldwide no unity and is there so much diversity?
How is it that Christians around the world experience the Christian faith so differently and want to spread it that way? Is Christianity meant for so many different explanations?
For the answers to these, let’s first read a part in the book of Revelation.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus gives messages to 7 Christian communities.
During the inspection of the 7 communities, 5 communities had serious problems.
Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea were severely corrected by Jesus:

Rev. 2: 1 the church of Ephesus… 4 …that you have left your first love.
Rev. 2: 8 the church in Smyrna… 9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)
Rev. 2:12 the church in Pergamos … 13 I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is…. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev. 2:18 the church in Thyatira … 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants…..
Rev. 3: 1 the church in Sardis, … I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev. 3: 7 the church in Philadelphia, … 8 See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;…
Rev. 3:14 the church of the Laodiceans…. 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 … I will vomit you out of My mouth.

There were all sorts of reasons why the 5 Christian communities were not doing well, such as lukewarmness in the faith or being spiritually dead. But there was another reason that exceeded all others.

The theme of this article is why Christian knowledge is needed, what the meaning is of freedom and truth and how the first Christians experienced their faith.

Continue reading “1. Community”