The Cooperation Between Early Churches:
An interesting phenomenon happened in the early church. There were many local congregations and yet they shared a common mission and identity. They knew and had kinship with one another. (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:19) They often sent workers and greetings with one another.
The plural word “churches” appears over 25 times in the New Testament. They were united and not segmented. Local congregations had their own autonomous structure and leadership, but they were intimately connected as the broader body of Christ. This was before cell phones and texting and yet they were more connected and engaged with one another than the modern church.
They labored together for the spread of the gospel, supporting mission workers and church planters, taking collections for disaster relief and sheltering refugees who lost everything from persecution. They loved and took care of one another.
Richer congregations contributed material support for poorer churches and congregations. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:8-10) There was an agape love bond between the early churches that became part of their identity as those belonging to Christ.
These joint endeavors provided huge stability and momentum toward the rapid spread of the gospel. As Jesus said in John 13:34-35 and John 15:12-13; their genuine agape love became the what distinguished them from the secular world and other religions. Christians, as the world soon started calling them, became known by their love for Jesus and one another.
This cooperation and love bond is a major difference between the early church and our modern divided and competing churches. By contrast, the modern Christian kingdom is introverted, cold, calloused, divided and self absorbed.
I encounter godly pastors and poor congregations around the world who love Jesus, devote themselves to the spread of the gospel but live in abject poverty. Many suffer terrible persecution and trials. They cannot even afford to compensate their pastor or provide a basic meeting place.
What’s more tragic, within Islam there is a policy to build a bigger and better mosque next to every Christian church. In many places, the contrast is embarrassing for the Christians. They are abandoned by the body of Christ and alone. They suffer much for Jesus.
I believe every western church should adopt several 3rd world congregation. It is so inexpensive, most individual western Christians or small home churches could adopt a poor 3rd world pastor and congregation. In the process you will discover the agape love that ran knee deep in the early church.
This is where the early church excelled. This is where the modern western church has tragically failed.
Yet, it is the poor third world congregations that are experiencing an explosion with the spread of the gospel. Step out of your comfort zone and become a world changer. Get involved where God is working. We would be happy to help connect you with such a congregation and need.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
An interesting phenomenon happened in the early church. There were many local congregations and yet they shared a common mission and identity. They knew and had kinship with one another. (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:19) They often sent workers and greetings with one another.
The plural word “churches” appears over 25 times in the New Testament. They were united and not segmented. Local congregations had their own autonomous structure and leadership, but they were intimately connected as the broader body of Christ. This was before cell phones and texting and yet they were more connected and engaged with one another than the modern church.
They labored together for the spread of the gospel, supporting mission workers and church planters, taking collections for disaster relief and sheltering refugees who lost everything from persecution. They loved and took care of one another.
Richer congregations contributed material support for poorer churches and congregations. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:8-10) There was an agape love bond between the early churches that became part of their identity as those belonging to Christ.
These joint endeavors provided huge stability and momentum toward the rapid spread of the gospel. As Jesus said in John 13:34-35 and John 15:12-13; their genuine agape love became the what distinguished them from the secular world and other religions. Christians, as the world soon started calling them, became known by their love for Jesus and one another.
This cooperation and love bond is a major difference between the early church and our modern divided and competing churches. By contrast, the modern Christian kingdom is introverted, cold, calloused, divided and self absorbed.
I encounter godly pastors and poor congregations around the world who love Jesus, devote themselves to the spread of the gospel but live in abject poverty. Many suffer terrible persecution and trials. They cannot even afford to compensate their pastor or provide a basic meeting place.
What’s more tragic, within Islam there is a policy to build a bigger and better mosque next to every Christian church. In many places, the contrast is embarrassing for the Christians. They are abandoned by the body of Christ and alone. They suffer much for Jesus.
I believe every western church should adopt several 3rd world congregation. It is so inexpensive, most individual western Christians or small home churches could adopt a poor 3rd world pastor and congregation. In the process you will discover the agape love that ran knee deep in the early church.
This is where the early church excelled. This is where the modern western church has tragically failed.
Yet, it is the poor third world congregations that are experiencing an explosion with the spread of the gospel. Step out of your comfort zone and become a world changer. Get involved where God is working. We would be happy to help connect you with such a congregation and need.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
