The Left Hand –
“Handy Guide” for the Person of Peace
There are five questions that must be answered in the mind of the person of peace as they begin hosting a new church:
- Who?
- When?
- Where?
- Why?
- What?
These are 5 key questions of new church starts and we can use the simple tool of our left hand, assigning a question to each finger:
Question 1: Who is the church?
This is a question that can be revisited with each contact with the person of peace, as the answer encompasses the many word pictures given in scripture: the body of Christ; the bride of Christ; the people of God; God’s household; a royal priesthood.
To answer this question for the first time, however, Acts 2:37-41 provides a great entry point for the formation of the first New Testament churches.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Question: Who are those that are considered to be included within the Church, according to this passage?
Discuss this question together as a group and then click on this box and read the answer below.
We can learn three things from these verses:
First, when the message was presented, those the Lord called, accepted his message. By faith these were added to the family of God through the sacrifice of Jesus.
This truth creates a second teaching point for us in this verse. Those who believed the message were baptized. Baptism immediately follows belief. Here the point of emphasis is on both the immediate inclusion of some who in Acts 2:37-41 are said to have murdered Jesus, and the clear precedent of baptism after repentance and belief. This would seem to strike down any argument concerning the need to live up to any standard as a prerequisite to baptism, as no more gross sin can be imagined than literally killing the author of salvation. It also answers potential false teaching concerning baptism prior to a personal confession of Christ.
Finally those who were baptized were “added to their number.” This means they had a recognizable membership. They knew who was in, and included in the body of Christ, and who was not. The church is open to minister to all but exclusively formed around those who have followed the Lord in obedience, the first steps of which are repentance, belief, and baptism.
Question 2: When do we meet?
We don’t believe that we can find a concrete answer based on the scripture. The precedent of the first church points to daily meetings, which we can see in Acts 2:46.
What can be stated, however, is the need for a regular plan for meeting.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says,
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Many cultures not known as “time oriented” have struggled with this question. The question for us should be: should a schedule be imposed? The answer here should err on the side of freedom. Timing and length of service is not mandated in scripture.
Consistency, however, is a must among new believers from belief systems that promote private worship. The goal is to establish the habit of meeting and seems to be the command of Hebrews 10.
Each new church should set a time and day for a regular meeting at least once per week. As a new family is created, our lives together should be set apart and considered as holy unto the Lord.
Question 3: Where do churches meet?
While there is not a direct commandment from the scriptures where churches must meet, we can learn an answer by studying the precedent set within the New Testament.
Read the following scriptures from the book of Acts and Paul’s letters to answer the question:
- Acts 2:46
- Acts 5:42
- Acts 16:40
- Acts 17:5-7
- Acts 18:7
- Acts 19:9
- Acts 20:20
- Romans 16:1-5
- 1 Corinthians 16:19
- Colossians 4:15
- Philemon 1:1-2
Question: Where do the churches meet in each of the scriptures above?
Discuss this question together as a group and then click on this box and read the answer below.
The churches met in homes as well as in public spaces, including the temple courts and the public halls.
Question 4: Why do we gather as a church?
Our primary motivation to gather as the church can be found in 1 Corinthians 10:31. It says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”
This is a simple instruction for the church. Every activity the church participates in should pass the 1 Corinthians 10:31 test. Anything not committed to glorifying God is outside the realm of healthy church activity. This simple instruction is the charge of every believer. Mutual accountability to this command must be the DNA of our churches. This is the only pure motive. Anything less is an impure offering.
The scripture also offers mutual accountability and encouragement as a motive for the habit of meeting together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Question: Why should we gather as a church?
Discuss this question together as a group and then click on this box and read the answer below.
The church regularly gathers for worship, teaching, fellowship, prayer, breaking of bread together, and other activities that we will cover in the next question.
In addition, vision, accountability and encouragement are resources that must be regularly renewed. Like food for the body, or fuel for a machine, each of these benefits keep us moving in the right direction. We should not forsake the assembly of the believers.
Question 5: What does a church do?
Read Acts 2:36-47 and make a list of the activities of the first church.
Question: What did this first church do?
Discuss this question together as a group and then click on this box and read the answer below.
We can see that the church did these things:
- Repented
- Baptized
- Received the Holy Spirit and performed signs and wonders by the Holy Spirit
- Had leaders
- Taught the Word of God
- Time in fellowship
- Prayer
- Breaking of bread (Lord’s Supper)
- Gave money to those in need
- Demonstrated love to one another
- Worshiped God
- Made disciples
This list represents a set of minimum requirements for the new church to become healthy. Beyond this, the group must recognize themselves as a church.
The functions of the church proceed maturity. In other words, the activities of the church, in obedience to the commands of Jesus, represent how well the church is maturing.
We can also anticipate additional needs for leadership in the church and church discipline as the believers stray away from healthy function, but these elements will follow later and bring order to the Lord’s commands.