New Testament Church Dynamics: Help for Bi-Vocational, House Church, and Small-Church Pastors Drawn from Early Church Practice

by Stephen E. Atkerson

* The Lord s Fellowship Feast-- The early church celebrated the Lord's Supper in conjunction with the Love Feast (Agapé). This relaxed fellowship meal with God s family is a significant means of edifying the Church, building community and cementing ties of love. * Participatory Unleashing The Laity-- Ordinary believers regularly and significantly contributed to the corporate worship of the first century church. Those prompted by the Spirit were free to offer testimony, share a spiritual experience, give an exhortation, lead out in prayer, testify, sing, give praises, etc. Congregational interest is heightened since the worship service can be contributed to and impacted in a truly meaningful way. * Elder Rule & Congregational Partners-- An essential role of first century church leaders was to build congregational consensus. The mind of Christ is more likely found when leaders guide the whole congregation to wrestle corporately with major decisions. Church members are encouraged and fulfilled as they realize that everyone s thoughts and inputs are respectfully weighed in accordance with the Scriptures. Unity is strengthened. * Small Divine Design-- Everything in the New Testament was written to churches that met in someone s home. The types of relationships taught in the New Testament work best in situations where everyone knows each other. A loving, family-like atmosphere is more easily developed. Church discipline takes on genuine significance. Participatory worship fits smaller settings better and the things shared are much more meaningful. Celebrating the Lord s Supper as an actual family meal is more natural in a smaller setting. Achieving congregational consensus is easier when everyone knows everyone else and open lines of communication genuinely exist with one another.

Genres: Ecclesiology

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2017

About the author

Also known as Steve Atkerson, specially in older editions.

Reviews

[Brooks Lemmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is proof that there are so many authors and leaders who receive little recognition. This book needs to be read by so many more people. The author lays out what early church gatherings looked like and the need for us ti follow the model Jesus laid out for us in our churches today.