| As many are aware, I'm quite an advocate for | | | | relationship with me. I remember thinking He |
| the growing house church "movement" and love | | | | was mad at me and, when I REALLY messed up, I |
| helping others to establish churches in their | | | | was that much farther away from Him than I |
| homes, coffee shops, office breakrooms, etc. | | | | had been. Regardless, I still worshipped Him, |
| I'm having a ball doing this and it's VERY | | | | too scared to do otherwise.Sadly, there are |
| rewarding. I was recently looking at Luke | | | | millions like that! The harvest is abundant, |
| Chapter 10 verses 1-9 and there are some | | | | as Jesus said. Multitudes need to know that |
| principles found there that will not only | | | | God is not "out there" but wants to live |
| prove beneficial to the "house churchers" | | | | large "IN THEM," for WE are the temple of the |
| among us, but ANY Christian whose heart is | | | | Holy Spirit, that same Spirit that raised |
| set on advancing the Kingdom of God.Let's | | | | Jesus from the dead.Verses 7 and 8: They were |
| take a look at the Amplified version. Here it | | | | told to "...stay on in the same house, eating |
| is:1...the Lord chose and appointed seventy | | | | and drinking what they provide, for the |
| others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by | | | | laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep |
| two, into every town and place where He | | | | moving from house to house. Whenever you go |
| Himself was about to come (visit).2And He | | | | into a town and they receive and accept and |
| [Jesus] said to them, The harvest indeed is | | | | welcome you, eat what is set before you..." |
| abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the | | | | Stay with them? Imagine it's Tom's first day |
| farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of | | | | at work and a fellow named Jerry comes by and |
| the harvest to send out laborers into His | | | | invites him to join the gang at the local bar |
| harvest.3Go your way; behold, I send you out | | | | to have a TGIF celebration. A Christian, Tom |
| like lambs into the midst of wolves.4Carry no | | | | hardens his brow and says to Jerry, "No, |
| purse, no provisions bag, no [change of] | | | | thank you, I'm a Christian and I don't go to |
| sandals; refrain from [retarding your journey | | | | places like that." What happened? Tom hasn't |
| by] saluting and wishing anyone well along | | | | merely turned down Jerry's invitation; he's |
| the way.5Whatever house you enter, first say, | | | | turned Jerry down, turned him off and turned |
| Peace be to this household! [Freedom from all | | | | him away in the process.How much more |
| the distresses that result from sin be with | | | | effective would it have been had Tom RECEIVED |
| this family].6And if anyone [worthy] of peace | | | | Jerry's hospitality - the only kind he knew |
| and blessedness is there, the peace and | | | | how to offer, by the way. He was being KIND |
| blessedness you wish shall come upon him; but | | | | to Tom - a godly quality - and may well be a |
| if not, it shall come back to you.7And stay | | | | worshipper of God, the best he knew how at |
| on in the same house, eating and drinking | | | | any rate. He was extending his hand of |
| what they provide, for the laborer is worthy | | | | friendship and inviting Tom into his world to |
| of his wages. Do not keep moving from house | | | | meet his friends, maybe even family at some |
| to house.8Whenever you go into a town and | | | | point. "Come and eat and drink with us, TOM!" |
| they receive and accept and welcome you, eat | | | | was what he was saying. But Tom said, "No!" A |
| what is set before you;9And heal the sick in | | | | door had been shut by Tom's reaction, when |
| it and say to them, The kingdom of God has | | | | Jerry had graciously opened his culture to |
| come close to you.Known for his ministry as a | | | | him.Remember verse one? JESUS is planning to |
| House Church planter, author and speaker Tony | | | | show up but He's sending out His team |
| Dale emphasizes the fact that House Church is | | | | FIRST.Guys like Tom.Guys like us.He allowed |
| NOT merely a gathering or even a location; | | | | Tom to have that job, not merely so he could |
| it's a way of life. As he says, there must | | | | eat or pay bills, but as a means for |
| surely be something more to this than | | | | advancing the Kingdom of God. Jesus WILL show |
| exchanging pews for couches. How can it be | | | | up, but not if Christians go springing |
| anything else for Christianity is not merely | | | | religion and self-righteousness on everyone |
| another of the world's great religions; it's | | | | and squelching those Divine opportunities. |
| a moment-to-moment relationship with the | | | | Granted, there are times when we MUST |
| Creator. Bearing this in mind, it's more | | | | graciously bow out. Time constraints might |
| easily conceivable that wherever we | | | | cause us to say, "Sounds like fun, but can I |
| Christians find ourselves at any moment, that | | | | take a raincheck?" Leave the door open. Now, |
| may well be the spot where we can begin to | | | | if Jerry's gang had been going to a topless |
| influence people for the Kingdom and see | | | | club, by all means, use discernment. "Jerry, |
| lives transformed.Verse 1: We see that Jesus | | | | I'd love to hang out with you guys but I'm |
| "sent them out ahead of Him." That means they | | | | not comfortable in places like that...can we |
| went FIRST but He would soon be coming onto | | | | go somewhere else? How 'bout lunch |
| the scene. As disciples ourselves, have you | | | | tomorrow...my treat?" He would probably |
| found that to be the case today as well? All | | | | respect that and, at the very least, invite |
| we have to be is available!Verse 2: Despite | | | | you to something more to your liking another |
| having assembled an outreach team of 72 (some | | | | time.Verse 8 essentially encourages us to |
| say even more), Jesus laments that there's so | | | | move into THEIR environment. Jesus is our |
| much work to do and 72 is simply not enough. | | | | example of that. Didn't He leave HIS culture |
| We need more of us!Verse 3: The team is | | | | for the sake of planet Earth?A lady asked me |
| reminded that they are vulnerable and are | | | | if I'd speak at her Brisket, Beer and Bible |
| about to engage in Spiritual Warfare. Yet, | | | | Study. I didn't hesitate to commit myself. |
| they were trained. The call to serve is | | | | The people she said she'll be inviting are |
| really a call to prepare. Have you been | | | | kids who've done drugs, been in jail, people |
| preparing?Verse 4: They're instructed not to | | | | who don't feel accepted in churches. If |
| bring anything with them because they won't | | | | like-minded Christians would join forces in a |
| be staying. They are also told, essentially, | | | | similar manner, we could have an incredible |
| not to dilly-dally. There was to be no | | | | impact on our community. (Anybody care to |
| chit-chatting with others they meet along the | | | | throw a party?)When you get there - to that |
| way; they were on a mission, after all. | | | | place outside your element - love those you |
| Instead, they were to keep a look out for | | | | find there. Let the expression of Christ flow |
| someone VERY important. Who? Read on.Verse 5: | | | | through you. I once officiated a wedding that |
| Jesus told them something very interesting. | | | | was held in a bar. Everyone, including the |
| He said, "Whatever house you enter, first | | | | groom, was sipping beer before the wedding |
| say, Peace be to this household!" Today, He | | | | even began. That was the most enjoyable |
| might have said, "When you go to the office, | | | | wedding I can remember. I mingled and "worked |
| the plant, Starbuck's, class, a Chamber of | | | | the crowd." Afterward, I sat down and ate |
| Commerce mixer, BE to them the expression of | | | | with an Hispanic man about my age, with a |
| God that you are and let them experience the | | | | shaved head and a 2-foot braided pony tail |
| Peace of Christ through you. If you feel that | | | | hanging down his back. We enjoyed each |
| same peace returned to you by another, THIS | | | | other's company, laughed quite a bit as I |
| is the person you can build a church with | | | | recall. I told him how to reach me and made |
| (minister to, pray for, etc.)!" Here's a tip: | | | | myself available. Another man asked me if I |
| Instead of inviting these people to church - | | | | made a pretty good living doing weddings. |
| asking them to abandon THEIR culture in | | | | When I told him that I don't charge, he |
| exchange for YOUR church's friendly confines | | | | grabbed a $50 bill from his wallet and said, |
| - why not get to know THEM in THEIR world? | | | | "Here ya go, I need a blessing and I believe |
| Chances are, they'll gladly invite family and | | | | in reapin' and sowin'." The next day, the |
| friends to meet you and... POOF...instant | | | | bride came by my office and gleefully said |
| Church! I heard about an East Indian | | | | "everyone just loved you at the |
| Christian woman who was walking around a | | | | wedding."Verse 9: Jesus says, "heal the sick |
| village, praying. When someone asked what she | | | | in it and say to them, the Kingdom of God has |
| was doing, she said she was looking for | | | | come close to you..." Be discerning and see |
| people to pray for. She was invited in by | | | | if there's a need where God could step in. As |
| many. Eventually, she established 50 house | | | | I minister in nursing homes and when I've |
| churches, that in a nation with millions of | | | | gone to jails and hospitals, I've NEVER had a |
| gods (note the lower case "g").Verse 6: Jesus | | | | single person say they did NOT want me to |
| added, "And if anyone of peace and | | | | pray for them. What I HAVE heard is people |
| blessedness is there, the peace and | | | | who say, "I don't know how to pray." I've |
| blessedness you wish shall come upon him..." | | | | even seen people cry while I prayed and |
| In other words, if that person is someone you | | | | afterward admit to me that NO ONE has EVER |
| can work with, you'll know it by the Spirit! | | | | prayed for them.Imagine!Sure, we could offer |
| In Acts 16:14, Paul was preaching by the | | | | to literally pray for the sick as we enter |
| river and one who was listening was a woman | | | | into these strange cultures, but how about |
| named Lydia. The verse says, "She was | | | | those with sick marriages or sick finances, |
| [already] a worshiper of God, and the Lord | | | | sick emotions, a sick spirit, sick of being |
| opened her heart to pay attention to what was | | | | unemployed, or just sick of being addicted |
| said by Paul." No, she wasn't a Christian - | | | | and failing all the time? The verse says to |
| and she may have not yet even heard the story | | | | tell them about the Kingdom of God. It |
| of Jesus and His Kingdom message. Yet, she | | | | doesn't tell us to tell them they're sinners. |
| was referred to as "a worshipper of God." She | | | | They already know that, I assure you. Tell |
| could have been a Muslim, a Satanist, a New | | | | them there's a King who loves them and cares |
| Age guru, a Buddhist...she was probably not a | | | | about them. The woman at the well is a grand |
| Jew because it was the Sabbath and she was | | | | example of that. Jesus said to her, "Does |
| not in the temple AND she was working | | | | anyone condemn you? Neither do I." He's been |
| besides. Scripture clearly says, however, | | | | called a Friend of Sinners, more comfortable |
| says she was a worshipper of God and a Church | | | | with the down and outers than with the |
| was started at her house.I'm convinced that | | | | religious crowd. He loved them and they loved |
| the Lord's primary method of evangelism was | | | | Him; the self righteous got His |
| probably not open-air crusades. Yes, we have | | | | indignation.We can always find a way to bless |
| a few examples of that, but I think there | | | | and give hope. People are too often being |
| were far more one-on-one situations - the | | | | cursed by the Church, condemned and reminded |
| kind of opportunities constantly available to | | | | of how bad they are. "You're a sinner, bud." |
| you and me today as well. ALL Christians can | | | | We forget that, if not for God's grace, so |
| penetrate pockets of darkness by crossing | | | | are we. Just as God said to Adam, "Who told |
| over to where we are no longer "culturally | | | | you that you were naked?", I can hear Him |
| comfortable." We have to get out of our | | | | asking the Church today, "Who told you that |
| Christian ghetto and rub shoulders with | | | | you were divorced, illegitimate, a |
| others in order to find those "worshippers of | | | | fornicator, a drunkard...who told you - a |
| God." They're out there, trust me.Personally, | | | | child that I love - one I sent My Son to die |
| there was a time in my life when I was quite | | | | for...that you were the scum of the Earth? I |
| a devout "worshipper of God." Christian girls | | | | call you My friend, My child, My warrior, my |
| often mistook me for one of "them." Sadly, | | | | priest, my chosen one. Who told you all those |
| the "god" to whom I paid my homage was named | | | | lies about yourself?"Let us remember to |
| "Mike." It was ME all along. I KNEW there was | | | | DEMONSTRATE the presence of God before our |
| a GOD "out there" but all I saw around me was | | | | preaching will ever be received. Spurgeon |
| Religion - not relationship - and | | | | said, "Before you give a man a tract, wrap it |
| condemnation. Trying to "be good" seemed | | | | in a sandwich." The same principle applies. |
| impossible for me to do no matter how hard I | | | | It's called "Relationship before Function." |
| tried. Sure, I heard the old Bible stories, | | | | They want to know how much you care before |
| but I wasn't meeting anyone who testified of | | | | they care how much you know. As God |
| what He was doing NOW, at this moment in | | | | intervenes, your testimony, your ministry |
| time, and that He wanted an intimate | | | | will be more than welcome. |