The Biblical Case for Home Fellowship Groups

The rich blessing of fellowship together DIRECTLY reading God’s Word – which is “the apostle’s doctrine” which they received from our LORD (Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). 

What is the true “church”? What does “church” really mean? What is true fellowship and what’s not? What does the Assembling of Yourselves Together Mean?

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Is there anything in the above verse about a physical church building called “church”? No.

As you read this, keep in mind that any physical building is an inanimate structure and therefore not evil or good. It’s what’s going on in what is called “church buildings” that is the great concern. Keep in mind that the same evil leaven can work in unrepentant men who gather in homes.

Looking for the church means simply looking for other true members of Christ’s body! WE are HIS church – called out ones. Amen Jesus. Fellowship, Gatherings

When you are seeking Christ daily, you don’t need a Sunday morning pep rally.

This post is not meant to indicate that all groups who meet in a separate building call “church” are apostate and yet, there’s no doubt that most are. This is consistent with the foretold great falling away (apostasy) foretold of these last days (2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3-4, etc.).

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:40-47

Just after the Day of Pentecost, which was the birth of the New Testament Church, the earliest of believers met in the temple and also began meeting house to house daily. They were consumed with Jesus Christ as He filled them with the Holy Ghost and their lives were given over to Him in true worship. This was before deception had the opportunity to enter in and so the model is set forth in the passage above as to what pleases the LORD when His people gather. The LORD hasn’t changed and there were certain things these earliest of Christians did which stand as monumental in importance to believers today.

Early believers “continued stedfastly in”:

• “the apostles’ doctrine (God’s Word)”
• “fellowship”
• “breaking of bread”
• “in prayers”

These are things true disciples of Jesus Christ today should assure are the order whereby their meetings are governed and as led of the Holy Spirit. Another verse to memorize and meditate upon in this regard is Colossians 3:16.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

Do you spend more time in “church” than in the Bible itself? Wow! Red flags flying!

Are you supporting the WORK of Christ or some mere man’s “church” enterprise?

“That’s why I say that I’m going to the ‘church house’ when I go to the church assembly. We don’t go to church—that’s IMPOSSIBLE, have church—IMPOSSIBLE, for we are the church and have the church —within us!” Stacy Strother

Most churches have done nothing but make Christianity another religion. They’ve ruined what God ordained to be an abiding relationship! (John 15) Sickening! (Matthew 23) Run.

Though deceivers can be found operating anywhere, it seems obvious that a physical church building offers a greater potential of religious bureaucracy to control – to tailor make the so-called “services” to please man, not God. Think clear proof: They’ve removed the central doctrines of the Christian faith – Christology, the blood, the cross, the crucified life, holiness, the attributes of God, hell, judgment to come, and the return of Christ, etc.

By God’s grace, there is an exodus transpiring the world over from the ungodly system of the visible church which is in apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3, 10-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-6; 2 Tim. 3:1-7, 13). This was foretold to happen so we should not be surprised.

Yet in the New Testament Scriptures, we see a plurality of elders as the divinely-ordained structure for a fellowship that brings God glory (Acts 14:23; 15:4; 16:4; Tit. 1:5). Doesn’t the Word of God tell us that in the multitude of counselors there is great safety? (Prov. 11:4; 24:6). The biblical precedence for the plurality (more than one) of elders is intended to include accountability among elders.

It should be understood that the very thought of a home fellowship concerns many pastors because they lose control which is what they are all about – controlling the thinking and money of the people.

In Acts 15 we see the apostles of our LORD gathering to determine, as led of the Spirit, what the truth of authentic Gospel is.

“And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” Acts 15:4-6

In Spirit-inspired effort to walk in exact truth, the apostles and elders of the LORD were led to bring clarity on that which the LORD required for one to be saved. So, they gathered to discuss this matter as is seen in Acts 15. There is safety in the multitude of true men of God who uphold the Word of God as final authority as they live in the Spirit with Him (Jn. 10:35; Rom. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

As deceivers began to enter the churches in the first and subsequent centuries, the core truth of the original Gospel was lost. So it is today and even worse (Amos 8:11; 2 Tim. 3:13). In perfect accordance with prophecy about these final days, the exponential multiplication of wolves in sheep’s clothing has made it virtually impossible for true disciples who love His truth to locate a true New Testament gathering. Regrettably there is scarcely a local fellowship that the genuine truth-seeker can attend where the Person of Jesus Christ is truly exalted and men abased (Ps. 39:5; Jer. 17:9; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 2 Cor. 1:24; 3:5; 4:5; Gal. 2:20; 6:14; Col. 2:4, 8, 18-19). The pride-inspired kingdom building spirit has taken over as it did in the first century with a deceiver named Diotrephes who would not allow the counsel of God to move through other called and ordained elders of Christ’s body (3 Jn. 9-11). Jesus also warned of the reality and presence of Jezebel in the local churches in Revelation 2. The same ancient spirits of devils that possessed Ahab, Jezebel, and Diotrephes, now possess many who have hi-jacked the positions of leadership in the modern church world. Deceivers abound as God’s Word is ignored by enterprising men in leadership who are building their own kingdoms using His holy name for their own personal gain/agenda (Isa. 9:16; 56:10-12; Jer. 23; Ezek. 34; Matt. 23; 2 Thess. 2:3, 10-12; 2 Tim. 3:1-7, 13; 4:2-5, etc.).

As was the case with Diotrephes blocking out the very apostle John, we must realize that people who control a certain organization or physical building are not to be considered in the right for those reasons. Never forget that in God’s economy, the truth is not determined by who has the pulpit, but rather by the Word of God itself and who has and is walking in divine truth which is final authority (Jn. 3:34; 4:23-24; 8:47; 18:36-37; Rom. 3:4).

A search in the King James Bible for all the references to the word “synagogue” will yield a fascinating revelatory study. Here’s a telling text from Acts 18:

“And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” Acts 18:4-11

Note that the apostle Paul and the other believers “departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house.” (Acts 18:7) He was then able to freely function in “teaching the word of God among them.” (Acts 18:11)

The LORD confirmed this separation to be His leading and that His approval and blessing was upon those who loved Him and His truth. – “Then (after the church split where they left the deceivers who had control over the physical building) spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee.” (Acts 18:9-10)

Then as it is now, it seems that the LORD has to separate those who truly love Him from those who don’t. It is an observable pattern in Holy Scripture that the LORD moves His true disciples outside of the camp of those who have merely a form of godliness, worshipping Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:8; 2 Tim. 3:5).

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:8-12

Note here that Paul was “disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God” which grates against those who have a personal agenda as they build their own kingdom in lieu of being used to build Christ’s true Church (His people). The true biblical revelation of Jesus and miracles followed.

Paul had to take the true brethren out of the visible church of his day. They had to leave the church building and the deceivers who controlled it, in order to be free to obey and follow the LORD in preaching the original Gospel. As Jesus promised, He then confirmed His Word with signs following (Mk. 16:15-20) – “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Cor. 3:17)

The truth is always the occasion for division in that some will buy it and some won’t. Didn’t our LORD promise division? – “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34) Jesus told us to rejoice and be exceeding glad when these things happen!

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Our Savior promised that His true disciples would be put out of the synagogues for adhering to His truth.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.” John 16:1-4

It is obvious that from the very earliest of years, the New Testament believers had to be separated from the “evil workers” who held the positions and power in the local churches (Phil. 3:1-3; 17-21). The truth is always resisted, especially by those wolves who have refused to lay down their lives and consequently possess a self-serving personal agenda (Acts 7:51-60). Those false teachers and false prophets Scripture so often warns us about, will always seek to kill the true disciples from whose mouths and lives the truth flow. Jesus is coming and is going to reward every man according to His own works (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 20:13). A man’s works reveal his true heart (Prov. 20:11).

Twisted Accusations

“…and Ahab (Israel’s king and Jezebel’s husband) went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” 1 Kings 18:16-18

Wow! Did you catch that twist? “Ahab (evil king) said unto him (the true prophet Elijah), Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” When Ahab accused Elijah of being in the wrong, Elijah replied: “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” As is usually the case, it was the one who had the office, power, position, and money that was not true to the LORD. King Ahab worked evil in the LORD’s sight as he forsook the Word. He then smoke screened his deceit by blaming the true prophet Elijah. This sound familiar?  Incredibly, Ahab the deceiver who had ignored God’s Word and yet maintained his position of leadership over the people, accused a true disciple (Elijah) of being false by saying he was the one “that troubleth Israel.” The same is true today and O what brazen audacity deceivers possess! Remember Romans 2:1-2.

Unless there is the rare case where a God-fearing man who honors God’s Word as final authority is in leadership, there will inevitably be a stronghold of Satan. Jesus spoke of “the synagogue of Satan” which defines much of what we see in the modern church world where men rule while falsely claiming to be Christ’s representatives. They have usurped the place of Christ, the only “Head” of the true body and have intercepted the affections of men’s hearts, displacing them from Jesus onto themselves (Eph. 5:23; Col. 2:18-19; 3:1-3; Rev. 3:9-13).

This message from Holy Writ is sure to be confirming to what God is calling many to do – come out from among the rebels who now control the visible leadership positions in the local church buildings.

The LORD will be glorified to connect His special people in true fellowship with Him and one another as He ordained, so the Enemy has purposely corrupted the fellowship in the modern church houses to steal His glory (Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9).

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