Wednesday, October 8, 2014

House Church Values & Practices: Proposal One

I'm going to begin posting my 10 foundational proposals for house church core values and practices. This is ancient ecclesiology for those pilgrims walking in The Way that are considering the starting of a home fellowship (i.e. house church or organic church or simple church). Please feel free to use them and amend them as you wish.  Like I say though, these are just proposals or possibilities.  I wrote them up a couple of years ago and I'm still firmly convinced of their biblical faithfulness.  I hope they help spur on Scripture study and prayer!

Opening Declaration
We profess, first and foremost, that the triune God – Father, Son, and Spirit – is the foundation for all things created, and that Jesus is the fount from which all wisdom and knowledge comes for all our works, words and lives. Upon that basis we – as an independent, unique, local congregation in the Body of Christ – are committed to these core values, and the practice of them by the strength of the Holy Spirit, understanding that they are vital and important for us in particular as disciples of Jesus assembled in XYZ, USA. 

Holy Scripture is our Foundational Standard
We believe the Word of YHWH God is authoritative on everything of which it speaks and that it speaks of everything.  It alone is the one, foundational, normative standard that shapes and directs what we do, say, and think in our congregation, families, individual lives, and with the world.
        We deeply desire to be a sacred fellowship that strains earnestly to exist by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Scripture References: John 17.17 – Ecclesiastes 12.13 – Psalm 119 – II Timothy 3.15-17 – Colossians 3.16 – Matthew 4.4
ResourcesThe Shape of Sola Scriptura by Mathison – The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by Frame – Through New Eyes by Jordan – By This Standard by Bahnsen                                

Link to Proposal 2 

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