In the New Testament, you can’t find – by command, precept, or example – the institutional structures that many wrongly call “church” these days.

Nope, not, nada …

Just ain’t there.

Instead, you see smaller, relational, participatory fellowships which gather in their own home towns as part of the local Body of Christ, with throughout-the-week community.

In those fellowships, people regularly assemble together in homes – and other places where life naturally happens – to motivate and encourage each other towards love and good works.

As they gather, they openly participate in ministering one to another out of the many diverse gifts that God distributes among His people, for the mutual edification and building up of each other.

More than simply a limited “home group” extension of some overarching, unbiblical institutional structure, each fellowship exercises the full duties and responsibilities God has ordained for His Church and all believers, which include:

  • Sharing the Lord’s Supper together as a common meal;
  • Making disciples and teaching obedience to all that Christ commands through the authority of Scripture as God’s written Word;
  • Baptizing new believers;
  • Equipping and building up each other to serve God in whatever diverse way or sphere of life He might call us;
  • Encouraging and holding each other accountable; and
  • Exercising congregational discipline if needed.

Together, each local gathering and those in them take seriously their role as Christ’s “ekklesia,” and cooperate together as His local assembly to advance His Kingdom in their own home town.

The also have a flat leadership structure where all can minister and contribute as the Holy Spirit directs …

Including elders (plural) who emerge among us to serve beside us by watching over, guiding, protecting and equipping Gods people through example and persuasion rather than top-down control.

You know …

Not only like the New Testament shows, but actually commands.

Because when it comes to “church,” you can’t learn to become the multi-gifted, multi-functional and multi-part Body of Christ …

By continuing to hold onto your contrary, post-Biblical human traditions and trans-Biblical institutional presumptions.