Blog : what was the early church like?

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2/1/2008 5:49 am

what was the early church like?

A. Worship services in the early church had a mark of simplicity and informality.

1. They met in homes.

Romans 16:5

1 Corinthians 16:19

Colossians 4:15

Philemon 2

Acts 12:12

2. Teaching was given "from house to house."

Acts 20:20

3. Communion was taken "from house to house."

Acts 2:46

4. Although the temple was used as a place for public testimony and teaching, it was not
the center of spiritual growth and worship.

Acts 5:20, 21, 25; 9:20

B. In the early church, each person was a necessary and important
member of the Body -- not an observer of one leader (minister or
priest) performing, but a participant.
1 Corinthians 12 and 14; Romans 12; Ephesians 4

C. Church attendance was not compulsory, under "obligation of sin."
Colossians 2:16; Romans 14:5, 14; Mark 2:23-28; Deuteronomy 10:12, 13

God wants our hearts, not our rituals.

What is true worship?

- from the heart; in the spirit.

John 4:23, 24
Philippians 3:3
Romans 1:9

- not "vain repetition" in memorized prayer.

Matthew 6

Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2
Isaiah 28:13
Isaiah 29:13 (Matthew 15:8, 9; Mark 7)
1 Kings 18:26
Acts 19:34

God is not impressed with the formality of religious services (i.e., processions, etc.) Consider the following Scriptures:

1 Samuel 16

Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2

Isaiah 1;11-15

Isaiah 5:12

Isaiah 29:13 (Matthew 15:8, 9)

Isaiah 66:1, 2

Jeremiah 12:2

Amos 5:21-24

Amos 6:5, 8

Matthew 23:14

Mark 7:6, 7

Mark 12:38, 39

Mark 15

-9

John 5:41

John 4:23, 24

Acts 2:46

2 Timothy 3:5

2 Corinthians 3:17

1 Samuel 15:22

Psalms 50:8-15

Psalms 51:16, 17

See also:

Psalms 69:30, 31

Jeremiah 6:20

Jeremiah 14:12

Hosea 6:6

Micah 6:6, 7

Malachi 1:6-14

Matthew 9:13

Matthew 12

Luke 13:24-27

Romans 2:17-29

1 Corinthians 7:19

Philippians 3:4-7

Diane Dew