Episode 132: Houses of Fire - an Ancient Strategy for a New Season (Part 1 - Acts 1-9 - AD30-40)

JOEL 2 GENERATION PODCAST

The Church Began in Houses

“When Christianity first started after the ascension of Jesus [i.e. Pentecost], Christians did not gather in church buildings but in people’s homes. These were known as "house churches." One reason Christians…met in homes was monetary: the money collected went to help poorer Christians and to support missionaries and perhaps even clergy. As Christianity grew larger, the Roman Empire began persecuting Christians. Therefore, Christians were not able to build churches because that would be like putting on a big target and saying, “Here we are.” So, Christians gathered and held their meetings secretly in people’s homes.”
Part 1 - Acts 1-9 – AD 30-AD 40

BOOK OF ACTS TIMELINE/EVENTS - AD 30 (33) PENTECOST
How am I currently reading/studying ACTS? Personal ’House Church Movement’ Disclaimer

ACTS 1:13 - 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying

ACTS 2:1-4 - 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and restedon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Where did Stage 1 of Pentecost begin?

ACTS 2:6 - 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together (?)

ACTS 2:46-47 - 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Saved? Revival. 3000 on Pentecost.

ACTS 4:4 – 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5000+ - including women and children (10,000+???)

ACTS 4:23 - 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

ACTS 4:31 - 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Pentecost 2.0! Where does it happen?

BOOK OF ACTS TIMELINE/EVENTS - AD 34-35

By AD 34, possibly 15,000-20,000 new believers in the Jerusalem church. 400+ House Churches would have been needed! Leadership issues?

What about bigger gatherings? – Temple (2:6?, 2:46, 3:1), Solomon’s Colonnade next to Temple (3:11, 5:12)

ACTS 4:1-2 - 1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead

What doctrines will “greatly annoy” the authorities today? Where?

ACTS 5:17-18 - 17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

ACTS 5:20-21 - 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this

Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

ACTS 5:42 - 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

What are our “temples” today? Restaurants? Malls? Stores? Parks?

ACTS 8:3 - 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Does the “house” guarantee no persecution?

ACTS 9:17-18 - 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

ACTS 9:19b-20 – 19 …For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.

What are our “synagogues”? Same as our “temples”.

BOOK OF ACTS TIMELINE/EVENTS - AD 39-40

ACTS 9:32-34 - 32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.”

ACTS 9:37, 39-42 - 37 In those days she [Tabitha] became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room…39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

What is the result of what happens in the house?
Source: The Book of Acts – The Timeline, History & the Writings of the New Testament Letters, Bob Emery
FINAL OBSERVATIONS/THOUGHTS

+ The Church BEGAN in a house

+ No Church ‘buildings’ (earliest in the 200s, converted house)

+ Revival needed houses – evangelism/teaching/discipling

+ Public Meetings (i.e. Temple) often led to problems

+ First 10-year period involved ONLY Jews (2:5 - “devout Jews”, 2:11 - “both Jews and converts to Judaism”)

+ House-sized churches are still the norm in many places

+ Fearful (masked) people won’t go to big meetings, but homes?

+ House meetings necessitate relational evangelism (vs. contact)