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Vision for the Home Fellowship

2. The Jesus' Pattern of Home Fellowships

During Jesus' ministry on earth He ministered to multitudes of people. Yet He always had those who followed Him closely and watched Him work. The Twelve disciples were His family. He ate with them, worked, traveled, slept and laughed with them. He poured Himself into them. After Jesus' death and resurrection He commissioned the disciples to do what He did. It was up to them to preach the Gospel and establish the church. The disciples were the first small group in Church's history.

Jesus Christ is our example in everything. We must learn and practice His teachings. The main part of Jesus' plan for spreading the Gospel and making disciples was a small group.

When the Holy Spirit came to continue the work of Jesus on earth, He followed the same pattern. In Acts 2:42-46 we see that the early church met in the Temple and in house fellowships or house churches. The small groups of believers met in homes for fellowship, shared meals and prayer. Encourage and edify one another through the use of spiritual gifts.

The early church faced strong opposition. In spite of that it grew very fast. In house fellowships people were instructed, encouraged and cared for. The reality of God's power was demonstrated there as they worshiped prayed.

In our days again the home fellowships are playing an important role in spreading the Gospel and making disciples of Christ. The congregation of the Full Gospel Central Church in Seoul, Korea now is getting close to 1,000,000 members. Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, the pastor of that church, says that their church is the largest and smallest in the world, because it is built on the system of cell groups. The whole city of Seoul is being evangelized through their small groups. Home fellowships are not a passing fad. It is a pattern of Jesus Christ that we should follow.

Jesus started the first small group.
The early church met in home fellowships.

1. What was happening in the early church? (Acts 2:42-47.) List here some of the things that you want to happen in your group.

2. In whose houses did the early church meet? (Acts 16:40, Rom 16:3-5, Philemon 2.)

3. Where did the early church gather to pray for Peter? What was the result of their prayer? (Acts 12:1-19.)

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