K.
Abhishek
Messiah church
Andhra Pradesh
South India
THE GATHERING ENCYCLICAL
The gathering the meeting as the heart of a complex apostolic network
JEFF REED
Founder and President, BILD International
Introduction
The New Testament church paradigm is “The Meal, The Meeting, The
Gathering.” The heart of this paradigm is 1 Corinthians 11:17–14:40. This
passage frames the entire encyclical. Without this full understanding, church
planting movements will have a very hard time building duly constituted
churches (assemblies, gatherings) in a way that sets a foundation for
spontaneous multiplication of these churches as we see in Acts.
In this Encyclical Jeff Reed mention three kinds of Meal paradigm (symposium
paradigm)
1. The Greco-Roman meals paradigm continued from the mid first century
into the fourth and fifth centuries.
2. Jewish synagogues and the meals
3. The early Christian assemblies and the meals
The synagogue gathering
Synagogue is best translated “house of assembly.” The public synagogue was a
small public hall open all of the time, where Rabbis sat and taught, Scripture
was read, prayers were offered, children were taught sort of a small community
center for the Jews of a local area. These were the focus of Jesus’ debates.
There were
only a few in a city or town, only one likely in a village. The other type were
association synagogues, following the Greco-Roman meals paradigm.
The concept of the gathering
Jesus is building His Assembly. His assemblies are the household of God,
and they are to live in a certain way.
Jesus said, “I will build my assembly,” Which Mean
He meant He will build His Assembly through the process of multiplying
assemblies.
He meant multiplying assemblies. (Acts 2:42; 9:31; 16:5)
He meant duly authorized assemblies following His design. (Ephesians
3:10; 1 Timothy 2:14–15)
He meant an assembly of assemblies with an overall grand strategy, a
specific household order, and principles for all His assemblies.
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every assembly (Acts 14:23). Paul
gathered the new believers together, began teaching them and appointing
elders in every assembly. But Christ’s associations functioned more like a
family rather than an institution.
Titus was to appoint elders in every town, which either had or would have
several assemblies Titus 1:5.
The first 300 years of the Early Church, almost all the assemblies met in homes.
So, we can see that the assemblies were not a building.
There are four things held in gathering
The Apostles’ teaching
Fellowship
Breaking of bread Acts 20:7 (gathered together to break bread)
Prayer
Topoi (1 Corinthians 11:17–14:40)
Topoi: Literary frame: 11:17 “when you come together” and 14:26 “when you
come together.”
Paul taking the household and community codes practiced in Greco-Roman
culture and shaping the “family of families” household topoi of the Pastorals.
Paul claims they were both given to him by Christ, as the center of His grand
strategy. The Gathering: In Brief
The Meal—1 Corinthians 11:17–34
Moral Exhortation (Paraenesis)—1 Corinthians 12:1–14:25
Gifts and the gathering—1 Corinthians 12
Love and the gathering—1 Corinthians 13
Gifts in the gathering—1 Corinthians 14:1–25
The Symposium—1 Corinthians 14:26–40
Conclusion
The gathering paradigm of the Early Church and its roots in the Gospels, Acts,
and Paul’s letters, with special attention to 1 Corinthians 11:17–14:40 as the
core framework of The Meal, The Meeting, The Gathering.
when I was pasturing at ECI Essayanoor church I have done this kind of
gathering which is mentioned in the book of Acts that on every Saturday I had
been arranged the gathering in our church believers house this gathering for
singing songs, reading bible portion and the believers are shared what they
understand the passage then I will been give short meditation from that passage
and we will be spend some time in prayer finally that particular family will
providing tea & snacks or Dinner according to their financial possession.
especially in these gathering we were inviting the non-Christians and we pray
for them with concern. This kind of gathering brings many new believers to our
church. So I have started
same gatherings at nine places in my present ministry place the only thing here I
appointed some believers as a Deaconess they are the in charges of their
respective group and conducting the gathering we called it as cell group.
