The house church movement is gathering momentum across the world and many Churches are beginning to understand that the most prolific growth comes for starting house churches as an independent extension of their church.
Glenn Cunningham is a prolific soul winning disciple maker and house church planter from India who has personally ministered to an estimated 7 million people through healing crusades, training’s in house church multiplication and various meetings in the country and around the world. God has given Glenn a vision to reach people with the love of Christ and has miraculous testimonies of what the Lord has done through him.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”Acts 2:42-47
For the first three centuries of the Church, there was neither a central church nor a central individual in the Church. The true faith was not centered on Rome and there was no pope.
Churches and bishops were all more or less viewed as equals. If the church in Jerusalem possessed somewhat more prestige, that was only because it was the first to be established. It had no more authority than any other church, nor did any bishop have more authority than another”.
Recommended Reading……..
Eusebius: History of the Church
From Christ to Constantine
- FELLOWSHIP
Acts of the Apostles 2
42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
Heb. 10:24-25, 1 John 1:3,7, Heb 3:13, Phil 2:1, Acts 1:14, Gal. 2:9, (1 Cor. 1:9 with God)
- PRAYER AND FASTING
Acts of the Apostles 1
14 All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 2:42, Acts 12:5, Acts 13:2, Phil. 1:5, Romans 1:9-10, Romans 12:12, 2 Tim 1:3, James 5:14-15, 1 Tim. 2:1-3
- BIBLE STUDY (TEACHING & PREACHING)
Acts of the Apostles 5
42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.
Acts 6:4, Acts 11:26, (Acts 17:11 – searched the scriptures daily), 2 Tim. 4:2, 2 Tim 3:16, Col. 1:28
- BREAK OF BREAD ( COMMUNION) AGAPE MEAL
20 When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, 21 for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22 Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and make those who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I do not praise you. 23
1 Cor 11:20-34, Acts 2:46, Matt 26:26, 1 Cor. 1:23-24, Acts 2:42, Acts: 20:7, 1 Cor. 11:28-29
- OFFERINGS – GIVING – SHARING, SERVING
4 they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones,
- WASHING OF FEET
1Timothy 5
10 with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work.
- ANOINTING OF OIL
14 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord,
- HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON THEM, BAPTISM, FILLING OF THE SPIRIT
Acts of the Apostles 11
16 and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.’
1 Cor. 1:13, Acts 10:47-48, Eph. 5:18, Luke 1:67, Acts 1:8, John 1:33, Luke 13:6, Gal 3:27,Gal. 4:6
- BAPTISMS
Acts of the Apostles 10
47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”
Acts 10:47,48, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, Acts 18:8, Acts 19:5, Acts 22:16, 1 Cor. 1:16
- PROPHESYING
Acts of the Apostles 19
6 And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 21:9, 1 Cor. 14:31,39, 1 Thess. 5:20, 1 Cor. 14:5
- GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (FOR THE COMMON GOOD, DISTRIBUTED AS HE WILLS /TONGUES
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
1 Cor 12:4-11, Romans 12:3-8, Eph. 4:11-12, Acts 19:6, 1 Cor 14:2-4, 1 Cor 14:26, 39
- LAYING ON OF HANDS (FOR ANOINTING OF SERVICE, FOR HEALING OF SICKNESS)
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.
Mark 5:23, Heb 6:2, Acts 6:6, 19:6, 28:8
- DAILY HOUSE CHURCH MEETINGS (WEEK DAYS)
Acts of the Apostles 2
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
Acts 5:42, Acts 20:20, 16:5
- LARGER COMMUNITY MEETINGS (SUNDAYS)
Acts of the Apostles 20
7 On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them because he was going to leave on the next day, and he kept on speaking until midnight.
- ADDING SAINTS TO CHURCH DAILY
Acts of the Apostles 5
14 Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
- DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO NEEDS.
Acts of the Apostles 2
45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Acts 4:35, 2 Cor. 8:3-4, 1 Cor. 16:2
- SINGING
Acts of the Apostles 16
25 About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
Col 3:16, Eph 5: 19 & 20, James 5:13
- ORDINATION OF ELDERS IN CHURCHES
Acts of the Apostles 14
23 They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.
Acts 15: 6, 22, 20:17, Titus 1:5
- GREETINGS WITH HOLY KISS / HUGS and HANDSHAKES
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
1Cor 16:20, 2Cor 13:12, 1Theso 5:26, 1 Pet 5:14
- LIFTING OF HANDS
8 It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
- SIGNS / WONDERS / MIRACLES
Acts of the Apostles 2
43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Acts 5:12, 6:8, 8:6,13, 14:3, 19:11, Rom 15:19, 1Cor 12:10, 2 Cor 12:12, Gal 3:5, Heb 2:4
- THE APOSTOLIC GIFTS / OFFICERS
8 Therefore, it says:
“He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;
he gave gifts to men.”
Eph 4:8-11, 1Cor 12:28, 14:12
