Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, churches began to emerge everywhere. They were small, but they were not called small groups. Overstated, yes. Incorrect, not at all. The network of small groups, as we culturally call them, in a given city were called churches, not small groups. This isn’t just semantics. Words convey meanings. Meanings matter. Isn’t it interesting that we call buildings churches, but we call assembled believers in Jesus small groups?

The churches were communities of diverse social segments who were learning to identify themselves not by economics, culture, or ethnicity, as important as they are, but by faith in the Messiah. This speaks profoundly to the power of the resurrection and the coming of the Spirit, because of which, Christ can now have physical representatives who wear his face in the world.

The church in the West can learn a lot from the church of first century Jerusalem, which met corporately in the temple AND as smaller gatherings in homes. Notice, they didn’t call them Temple churches because they met in the Temple nor House churches because they met in homes. It was simply, church. Regardless of the setting, they were the church. Every community shared a DNA as indicated by Acts 2:36-47. They routinely met on the Lord’s Day AND throughout the week. Both were treasured. Every day was special because these people became the new temple, God’s house. These new creations were interconnected and interdependent. Although they had their share of problems, their Community life was a process that equipped believers in such a way that when persecution arose (Acts 8), ordinary believers took the gospel to new places and started new churches while the professionals, so to speak, remained in Jerusalem. I’m curious, what could we learn from them?

There is a natural resistance within systems toward change, often subconsciously. It is called, homeostasis, the fight for status quo maintenance. When old patterns are lingering and new habits are yet to be solidified, we can find ourselves abandoning the new for the old even when the old couldn’t produce the desired outcome. Jesus said, “no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘the old is better.’” But what if we wanted the new?

What if we gathered remembering that we are the new temple where God lives, would we approach Sundays with new vigor? What if Sundays reaffirmed our identity as the church Monday–Saturday? What if ordinary believers embraced their church identity in homes as seriously as they do in corporate settings? What are the possibilities for Acts 2:36-47 becoming a framework for innovation? What if?

Acts 2:36-47 [ESV]

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 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.