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New Testament Church Dynamics: Help for Bi-Vocational, House Church, and Small-Church Pastors Drawn from Early Church Practice
Every New Testament church letter was written to an illegal congregation that met secretly in someone’s home, often under bi-vocational leadership. The ecclesiology presented in the epistles was thus designed for effective shepherding in smaller churches. The result? God’s kingdom spread like yeast throughout the Roman Empire.
I’ve served as a bi-vocational, small-church leader for over thirty years, and am well aware of its challenges. Over that time, the effectiveness of my ministry has been greatly increased by shepherding in the context of early church practice. The church has thrived both spiritually and relationally in amazing ways. Today’s small church leaders can have a big disciple-making impact in the context of first-century ecclesiology.
Jesus “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” His point was simply that some actions are inappropriate. Borrowing Jesus’ illustration, if we were to compare the new wine to pastoral ministry, then the wineskins might be likened to ecclesiology. Arguably, the best wineskin for shepherding is found in the dynamic small-church practices of the New Testament. Who knew better than Jesus the best church-practice wineskins for training people to obey all that He commanded?
Small churches that have adopted these New Testament strategies have abandoned the business model of church. They are more organic than organized, more family-like than corporate, smaller rather than larger, more relational than programmed, informal more than formal, focus more on one another than on one leader, and prefer authenticity over expertise. Additionally, first-century ecclesiology was designed to get far more people involved, making every member a minister. This spread-out ministry loads also took undue pressure off the bi-vocational leadership. Because genuine, close, solid relationships are developed through these practices, disciple making can be personalized—tailored to strengthen each person’s weakness.
The leader of one of the first mega-churches frankly admitted that although his church attracted over 20,000 attendees weekly, they were not making disciples.[6] It’s impossible to play baseball in a forest. You could play it on a football field, but it is much better to play it on an actual baseball field. So too with making disciples—the right small-church practices make an ideal playing field for effective shepherding.
In his book on God’s will, Kevin DeYoung wrote, “Is there a better way to walk in the will of God? The answer is a resounding yes! There is most certainly a better way. It’s an old way. It’s a biblical way. It’s Jesus’ way.” Similarly, we ask, is there a better way to organize our churches? The answer is a resounding yes! There is most certainly a better way. It’s an old way. It’s a biblical way. It’s Jesus’ way.
I’ve served as a bi-vocational, small-church leader for over thirty years, and am well aware of its challenges. Over that time, the effectiveness of my ministry has been greatly increased by shepherding in the context of early church practice. The church has thrived both spiritually and relationally in amazing ways. Today’s small church leaders can have a big disciple-making impact in the context of first-century ecclesiology.
Jesus “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” His point was simply that some actions are inappropriate. Borrowing Jesus’ illustration, if we were to compare the new wine to pastoral ministry, then the wineskins might be likened to ecclesiology. Arguably, the best wineskin for shepherding is found in the dynamic small-church practices of the New Testament. Who knew better than Jesus the best church-practice wineskins for training people to obey all that He commanded?
Small churches that have adopted these New Testament strategies have abandoned the business model of church. They are more organic than organized, more family-like than corporate, smaller rather than larger, more relational than programmed, informal more than formal, focus more on one another than on one leader, and prefer authenticity over expertise. Additionally, first-century ecclesiology was designed to get far more people involved, making every member a minister. This spread-out ministry loads also took undue pressure off the bi-vocational leadership. Because genuine, close, solid relationships are developed through these practices, disciple making can be personalized—tailored to strengthen each person’s weakness.
The leader of one of the first mega-churches frankly admitted that although his church attracted over 20,000 attendees weekly, they were not making disciples.[6] It’s impossible to play baseball in a forest. You could play it on a football field, but it is much better to play it on an actual baseball field. So too with making disciples—the right small-church practices make an ideal playing field for effective shepherding.
In his book on God’s will, Kevin DeYoung wrote, “Is there a better way to walk in the will of God? The answer is a resounding yes! There is most certainly a better way. It’s an old way. It’s a biblical way. It’s Jesus’ way.” Similarly, we ask, is there a better way to organize our churches? The answer is a resounding yes! There is most certainly a better way. It’s an old way. It’s a biblical way. It’s Jesus’ way.
- GenresEcclesiology
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2021
About the author
Stephen E. Atkerson
7 books3 followersAlso known as Steve Atkerson, specially in older editions.
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March 7, 2022
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.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review