Last week we met and talked about session 4, “Is There Only One Style of Worship”. We focused on the House Church model and the Body Life model. Within the House church model we talked about a number of things. There is Apostolic teaching and breaking of bread. We discussed that breaking of bread could refer to communion, but also common meals within the early church model. There was also prayer, fellowship, signs and wonders, community, praise, joy and growth. Out of these it was discussed that breaking of bread, fellowship and community result in praise, joy and growth.
The body life model had apostles, prophets, teachers, healing, miracles, help, administration, tongues and interpretation. In this model it was each individual that brought their gift to a corporate setting. We discussed that it was okay to desire these gifts as long as it was not for yourself and was for the good of the body of Christ. They also need to be exercised.
Within FBC we said that we have a heavy focus on apostle teaching. We also said that we don’t have a consistent breaking of the bread time in reference to communion. We have had signs and wonders as results of prayers being answered. Also, our teaching is strong. Some of the needs were more breaking of bread, signs and wonders, informal fellowship, and the idea that healing is available by telling people that the altar is open and that we can have laying on of hands. However, we need to keep in mind James 5
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is just a short overview of our discussion.
This week we will be discussing Session 5, “Worship Gathers the People”.
