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We are all brothers
“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.9. “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.10. “And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
Matthew 23:8-10
We are all ministers
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:8. for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,9. to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,10. to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.11. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16. from whom the whole body, joined and knit together BY WHAT EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES, according to THE EFFECTIVE WORKING BY WHICH EVERY PART DOES ITS SHARE, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16
We all have the anointing that teaches us all
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things……..
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
1 John 2:20 &27
Evangelism
We must all learn to evangelize by the Spirit. This is done in our normal living and working (studying) environment (oikos in Greek). Pray about all the people in your oikos and learn to speak to ones the Spirit leads you to speak to.
Power to Witness
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Find the Sons of peace in every environment
“But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’6. “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
Luke 10:5-6
Evangelism is tricky work
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:2. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;4. and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.5. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Avoid foolish arguments
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.24. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,25. in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,26. and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:23-26
Discipling the saints in group meetings
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,2. as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,5. you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:1-5
As often as the new believers are willing to do so, we should bring them to the group meetings. We disciple the saints in the group meetings by spontaneously introducing them to the ministry of the Spirit, which flows through each member by life, sharing, praying, asking life giving questions and prophesying.
Share highlights and lowlights of the week
In the group meetings, we need to reach out to one another so that we know what is going on in each one’s life spiritually, and personally. (Heb. 10:24-25). When someone shares about his week, and we listen and care and respond by the Spirit it is real love, concern, compassion. We can obviously also now pray for one another.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,23. having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
1 Peter 1:22-23
Mutual questions and mutual answers
Rejoice always,17. pray without ceasing,18. in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19. Do not quench the Spirit.20. Do not despise prophecies.21. Test all things; hold fast what is good.22. Abstain from every form of evil.23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.25. Brethren, pray for us.26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
After greeting one another with a holy kiss we read the epistles. Before we read the epistles or any other book of the New Testament. We all pray softly in the Spirit and wait for the Spirit. We only start speaking when we sense the unction of the Holy Spirit to do so.
Typically we read a few paragraphs together while asking the Spirit to show us and to glorify Christ out of the passage. We now share our enjoyment of Christ with one another or ask questions. The group meetings should have mutual questions and mutual answers to facilitate the working of the Holy Spirit though each members for the mutual edification of one another (Eph. 4:12). We have no assigned teacher or leader. Christ present by the Holy Spirit and He is the leader and teacher, we are all brothers. Practically by the Spirit, everyone can teach, and everyone learns. Everyone can ask, and everyone can answer by the Spirit.
Facilitator
For practical reasons we will need a facilitator for each meeting which must be a mature brother. This brother must encourage everybody to speak and encourage those who speak a lot to keep quiet and wait for the others. The facilitator should speak as little as possible. The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate the speaking of the Holy Spirit through each member (Eph 4 :11-17). The more mature the group is the less the facilitator wil speak.
Twos and Threes
We must also meet with one or two brothers in the normal course of the week for coffee. These meeting can be informal but must still be by the Spirit, in the Spirit and for building up. Follow the same pattern as the home meeting by asking three questions:
- What was the highlight and the lowlight of your week?
- What was your enjoyment of Christ when you ate His Word this week?
- How did the Spirit energize your spirit in the inner man?
Doctrine and Systematic Theology
We must grow in our knowledge of scripture and learn the truth as it is in Christ. There is a recommended books page covering critical matters of the faith.
see Recommended Reading
We will typically have teachings sessions in Bible Study format on Thursday at 13h00 in the Neelsie. These sessions will be practical and also useful for inviting visitors and friends.
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Colossians 1:10–12, NKJV)
We must learn from these in order to grow in the Knowledge of God.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.16. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
.. from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
All the members should carry out this kind of learning and sharing as part of our discipling. After meeting in this way for a semester or two, all the newly discipled members will also be able to speak for the Lord in the church meetings.
Prophesying for the building up of the church as the organic body of Christ
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.2. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.3. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.4. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1-4
Clearly all of us should desire to prophesy in the church meetings for the building up of the church. This is critically part of the edification and equipping so that the organic Body of Christ might be built up universally for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose (1 Cor. 14:1, 3-5, 12, 23, 24, 26, 31; Eph. 4:12, 16; 3:8-10). The prophesying in 1 Corinthians 14 is defined in verse 3: “But he who prophesies speaks to men building up and encouragement and consolation.” The prophesying that builds up the Body of Christ is either to build others up or to render encouragement or consolation.
Prophesying
As we mature in the Lord and in the Holy Spirit more of us will begin to prophesy. Prophesying is the spontaneous speaking of the Holy Spirit through a saint without any pre-meditation. This is precious and we should all desire to prophesy as we see in 1 Cor 12-14. More on this later.
In order to prophesy for the building up of the church, we must learn much. When Mary, the Lord’s mother, visited Elizabeth, they prophesied one to another (Luke 1:42-45, 46-55). Mary’s prophecy consisted almost entirely of quotations from the Old Testament. This indicates that Mary was very well acquainted with the scriptures. Today it is difficult to find effective ministry by the Spirit that is also rooted strongly in the scriptures. Growing into meetings were all the saints share and some prophesy is essential for the building up of the Body of Christ.
see Desire to Prophesy
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22:20-21
