Practice of the early church
Excerpt from ‘The Practice Of The Early Church’ by Steve Atkerson
Context: Looking at what church practices outlined in the bible are ‘patterns’, and therefore should be followed as exhorted by II Thes 2:15 where Paul tells the church at Thessalonica to hold fast the apostolic traditions.
The Lord’s Supper as a full meal vs. a token ritual
The Lord’s Supper eaten weekly vs. quarterly
The Lord’s Supper as the main reason for meeting each week
Interactive, participatory church meetings vs. a “one man show”
Mutual edification and fellowship as the goal of a church meeting vs. a {modern} “worship service”
Church government by consensus vs. government by command, elder rule or majority rule (churches are to be elder led more than elder-ruled)
The existence of leaders vs. no leaders at all
A plurality of leaders vs. “the” pastor
Locally trained leaders vs. the seminary system (indigenous vs. imported)
Male leadership vs. female leadership. (Church leadership is to be male, plural, non-hierarchical, homegrown, servant leadership)
House churches vs. church houses (smaller congregations vs. larger congregations)
Meeting on Sunday vs. any of the other six days
Meeting weekly vs. monthly or yearly
The baptism of believers only vs. infant baptism
The separation of church and state vs. state controlled or funded churches
A regenerate church body vs. a failure to exercise church discipline
Children present in the church meeting vs. being shunted into Sunday school or children’s church
A community based church (daily fellowship) vs. one that is geographically dispersed (Sunday only fellowship). A community church vs. a commuter church.
Church reproduction through the ministry of itinerant church workers (apostles, evangelists)