We have already discussed the fact that the five-fold ministry has no authority over the congregations and that they are serving them to help them in their faith.
Paul has confirmed this fact in 2 Corinthians 1:24. He confirmed that they had no authority over the congregations.
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith you stand.
Jesus has also made it obvious that they have no authority over the congregations.
He emphasized the fact that the greatest among them should be the servant who serves others.
Matthew 20:25-28
25 But Jesus called them unto him and said, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.”
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Luke 22:25-27
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth? Is he not the one that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serves.
We know that there usually are a few mature Christians in a house church. These wise, experienced Christians, who can be men or women, have been in house church congregations for a while.
They are commonly known as the elders of the congregation. It is always nice to have such people in a congregation.
Do they make the decisions in a house church congregation? The answer is no. The whole congregation, acting as a united body, makes all decisions in house churches.
To make a decision, everyone attends a meeting that was purposely arranged for decision-making.
The five-fold ministry serves the congregations, and it should not interfere with them when it comes to decision-making.
As long as there are mature members present in a congregation, everything is OK. They will be able to make decisions as they should. When there are no mature Christians in a congregation at all, then there is a problem.
In the past, the five-fold ministry has attempted to solve this problem by “importing” elders from other house churches. This is usually not a beneficial thing to do.
The problem is that the house church congregation has not spent any time with these “imported” people. They are usually strangers, and the house church members did not share their lives with them. They have not learned to respect them and to trust them. So, most of the time, this approach does not work.
A better alternative, but also a dangerous one, is for the five-fold ministry to give them advice, as the senior or mature members would have done.
It is dangerous because the five-fold ministry should not be a member of a congregation, for that could lead to such a person taking authority over the congregation. However, when a fivefold minister advises this, they should under no circumstances be part of the decision-making process, as their involvement could compromise the autonomy of the congregation and lead to an imbalance of power.
They should leave the meeting when the congregation makes the decision. When they provide advice during the process, the danger is that they might stay and help with the decision-making, and that should not be allowed.
It would be a grave mistake for them to do so. It is against the principles that govern house churches, and it usually would be the first step for such a fivefold minister to take over the congregation in a way that is not Biblical, undermining the autonomy of the church community and leading to potential conflicts within the congregation.
This happened in John’s time, and he warned the church against this in 3 John 9-10:
I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and he forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the church.
It is the congregation (the elders and the congregants) who can stop a fivefold minister from attending their gatherings when it is established that such a minister is teaching false doctrines. This issue was not for Diotrephes to decide.
If the five-fold ministry does this right, they can guide the congregation until they have identified two or three people in the congregation who can function as elders. This is OK, but this period should not be longer than necessary. The longer the five-fold ministry stays in a congregation, the worse the situation might become, as prolonged leadership can lead to dependency and hinder the development of local leadership.
God intended for the fivefold ministry to stay with a congregation for planting and equipping purposes and not as a permanent member. Paul usually left the congregations that he planted after about eight to twelve weeks.
In the first session, we saw that the congregation judges the fivefold ministry’s teachings and requests.
They make decisions about whether they should heed such recommendations and suggestions and how they should address them.
The question is, how should they make such decisions? What are the principles that govern decision-making in house churches?
What type of decisions are made by the congregation? Well, as I said, they often discuss the doctrines that the fivefold ministry teaches them, as well as decisions regarding the spiritual growth and accountability of members, ensuring that everyone adheres to the teachings and principles of the faith.
As a congregation of Christ, they must ensure that all members obey God’s will and truth.
House church members teach each other as well. They live together, pray for, help, encourage, and care for each other, and reveal Christ to each other.
So they are involved with each other quite a lot. There will be incidents, behavior, and attitude problems, and even problematic people in house churches. The congregation sometimes even needs to discipline a member or a group of members.
They need to make decisions and solve problems as soon as possible to prevent frustration, escalation, and undesired repercussions.
Yes, the elders’ experience will be valuable, but they can’t make decisions on their own.
The whole congregation must make the decisions.
However, the whole congregation will have to display the right attitude when they make decisions, which includes being open to diverse perspectives and valuing the input of all members, regardless of their age or experience.
Despite the fact that some of them may be young in age and even young in Christ, they must step up to the challenge.
They will have to learn rapidly how to make wise decisions in the congregation.
Let’s read a few Scriptures that shed more light on this:
Acts 15:22,25
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.
Notice the attitude in this congregation. Notice “the whole church” and “with one accord”.
Ephesians 4:3
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
This is crucial in house churches.
We should always endeavor to keep unity in peace, and that is especially true when it comes to decision-making.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
This is so important that Paul suggested it here. Do not be negative, have one mind, live in peace, and God will be with you. So it is important to handle the decision-making process right and responsibly. It can prevent many undesired incidents and occurrences in the church.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
How can we all have one judgment and one mind as Paul suggested here? This information is going to be a revelation for many people.
Romans 15:5-6
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this Scripture, we see it again; we need to be like-minded. If we are like-minded, we will think and see things in the same way, which will lead us to speak with one voice.
According to the word of God, this is a reality.
Matthew 18:19
Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:19 emphasizes the fact that good things happen when people are in unity.
1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, who could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
We should be of one heart.
Romans 15:6
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Once more, we should speak with one voice.
Remember, we speak what we think. If we speak with one mouth, it means we think the same. That means that we have one heart. What is in the heart of man will cause him to think and to speak. We cannot say one thing but have something else in our hearts.
1 Chronicles 13:1-4
1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.
2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us.:
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4 And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
How is it possible for a whole congregation to feel the same about something? It has everything to do with an attitude. It has everything to do with the will of a person. We decide to be like-minded or to feel the same about things. It is a decision.
2 Chronicles 30:4
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
My prayer is that every house church congregation will make 2 Chronicles 30:4 their motto. In this case, it pleased King David and the whole congregation. In our case, it should please King Jesus and the whole congregation.
And this is the whole secret. We did mention in the first session that Jesus Christ does nothing but the will of God. He only speaks and acts in accordance with what the Father says and does.
Why is it like this? It is because Jesus Christ has the mind of the Father. He is one with the Father and in unity with the Father. Jesus Christ always agrees with the Father. He never disagrees. He learned the will and ways of the Father, and then He made it his will and his ways. “Not my will but your will, Father,” is a prayer that did come over the lips of Jesus Christ. He became as obedient as can be.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
We should also have this same obedience in our lives. We should strive to have the same mindset as the Father, and we can achieve this because the Bible states that we possess the same mind as Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
This is when 2 Chronicles 30:4 will become our motto. We do have the same mind as Christ, but to fully experience it, we must know God’s will and word.
We have to renew our minds.
How did Jesus receive the mind of the Father? He observed the Father, and He took note of what He saw and heard. He allowed the Father to teach him his will, his ways, and his word. So when Jesus Christ arrived on earth, He was the Word of God. He knew God and His word and His ways, so He became the Word and the will and the ways of God. We need to do the same.
John 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 12:49-50
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father, who sent me, gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Jesus Christ equipped the first congregation, the twelve disciples, with the word and the will, and the ways of God.
Like Jesus, they became God’s word, will, and ways.
So they had the mind of Christ, which is also the mind of the Father. The disciples knew the Father, his word, his will, and his ways because this is what they had seen in Jesus Christ. This knowledge is the foundation on which the church is built. The ministry of the apostles is to lay the right foundation when they plant churches. The right foundation is the word, the will, and the ways of God the Father. The Father taught Jesus, Jesus taught the disciples, and the disciples taught the people they led to Christ; this process was intended to repeat itself throughout history, continuing to the end of time as we know it.
But we must know God’s will, word, and ways to do that.
That is what this training session is all about.
This principle makes decision-making in house churches a lot easier. If we know God’s word, will, and way, we can decide what to do in any situation the congregation faces.
If we can’t agree in house churches, it’s because some members don’t know God’s word, will, and ways.
That is why they have to be assisted, helped, and taught. As soon as they have done this, they will be able to make the right decision every time, which will lead to greater unity and effectiveness in the house churches.
The second problem is the fact that people allow the flesh to stand in the way. They allow the flesh, like pride, haughtiness, stubbornness, and ambition, to hinder their ability to make decisions. The only way for such people to overcome this problem is to sacrifice “the flesh” and to die in themselves. They have to lay down their weaknesses and sacrifice their ambitions, will, ways, and preferences.
If they refuse to do this, they will become a major hindrance in the congregation.
They will make everything a lot more difficult and complicated, and by the way, there are one or two such people in about every house church, which can lead to conflicts and disrupt the overall harmony and effectiveness of the congregation.
Such people will have to learn to put the well-being of the congregation before their own motivations and preferences. If they do, they have learned to die in themselves, and they will benefit greatly because of that, and so will the congregation, as their selflessness fosters a stronger sense of community and spiritual growth among all members.
This is nothing but the pursuit of holiness.
So how do house church members make decisions? They arrange for a meeting. They discuss the problem. They arrive at a solution.
They test the solution with the word and the will and the ways of God, and then they make a decision.
Once the congregation unanimously agrees on a solution, they proceed to implement it, completing the process.
This indicates that either everyone agreed from the start, or some initially disagreed but later recognized that maintaining unity by taking this route was the best option.
This means that some of them died in themselves by sacrificing their personal ambitions or preferences. They sacrificed the flesh to benefit the congregation and the work of the ministry. A decision cannot be made or accepted until everybody agrees. If just one person disagrees, the congregation cannot move forward.
In this case, they have reached a stalemate and must restart another day.
There is just one way to overcome a deadlock, and that is to reach a consensus.
It is critical to understand how decisions should be made correctly during such meetings.
What are the most important factors that need to be considered when making and taking decisions? The answer to this question is the following: Three crucial questions need to be asked whenever the congregation gathers to make decisions.
The first question: Is the solution scriptural?
The second question: Is the solution in harmony with the organic structure of house churches?
The third question: Does the solution promote the revelation of Jesus Christ in our midst, or does it promote organizational factors and goals?
Every decision must adhere to all three of these requirements, as most of you have likely already realized.
There will have to be no compromise ever when it comes to these factors.
This means that some members of the congregation will be led by the Spirit of God not to compromise. Such members will rather die than compromise. They will protect the word, the will, and the way of God.
They will not cave under pressure. Now, such members must know the word and the will and the ways of God because if they don’t, they are actually stubborn and they will cause the congregation to break up if they don’t reach a consensus.
When making decisions that threaten God’s word, will, and ways, it is just as important for such people to reach consensus as it is for people not to compromise.
So as you can see, decision-making is simple when people know the word of God, the will of God, and the ways of God.
Decision-making becomes easier when individuals pursue holiness, renew their minds, learn to be obedient and humble, and practice self-denial by sacrificing their fleshly desires.
Decision-making is simple when all members of a congregation have the mind of Christ.
We all have the mind of Christ, but we may act against it for the reasons I stated.
The flesh leads to disunity, dissension, stubbornness, and even to church splits. Yes, people can be so stubborn that they will break up congregations. Such people are problem people. They hinder the work of the ministry, and they prevent the kingdom of God from advancing.
The process of decision-making in house churches is one of the tools that God uses to make us grow. Through this process, he teaches us to be humble, to sacrifice, and to die in ourselves.
God intends for us to resolve our differences through this process until we reach a consensus.
When we do, everybody has won, and the kingdom of God has won. If we fail, the kingdom of darkness has won.
A house church breaking up is like a divorce. God does not want such an event to happen.
He wants us to stick together and to work out our differences until a consensus is reached.
Making decisions through consensus is wonderful and the best method that exists.
It is even better than democracy. That is why God has implemented this type of decision-making in the church. With democracy, the majority is happy, and the minority is unhappy.
The majority won, and the minority lost. It is possible for the majority to be incorrect and the minority to be correct, leading to incorrect decisions.
This type of behavior can cause a lot of problems in the church.
This phenomenon is exactly why the organized church has made so many wrong decisions throughout history.
Consensus promotes unity, but it also emphasizes that everybody is equal in the sight of God. This idea is wonderful. Let us read a few Scriptures about this subject:
Romans 12:3-5
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone is a member of one another.
1 Corinthians 12:23-25
23 And those members of the body that we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need, but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Significantly, this Scripture emphasizes the fact that each member must have the same care for others. This makes us all equal in Christ. Ephesians 14 says the same thing. It says that every member provides support.
Every member plays his or her part to support and benefit the whole body of Christ. We are all essential. We are all important in the eyes of God, but also in the congregation and in the global church. We are all connected, no matter who or where we are, and we all have an important task.
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
In our decision-making, we all need to demonstrate the mind of Christ, the obedience of Christ, and the attitude of Christ.
When we do, when we sacrifice our own preferences, ambitions, and flesh, we will be a successful and spiritually mature congregation, and we will advance the kingdom of God.
Just take a look at what we will achieve in the kingdom of God and in the congregation when we make decisions the right way:
We will reach consensus every time without compromising the word, the will, and the ways of God.
The congregation will grow spiritually, and it will be stronger because of that.
The congregation will be a closer-knit unit because of that.
There will be a feeling of fulfillment among the members of the congregation because they did seek the mind of Christ together, and they did attain it together as a unit.
Despite some initial disagreements, the decision will bring happiness to all.
Some will be happier than others, but at least no one will be unhappy with the decision since they all agreed.
This process is not like a democracy, where some never agreed to the decision that was made.
Because everybody agreed to the decision as a corporate unit, they all accept ownership and accountability, which results in positive actions and advantageous results.
The consensus process is not always easy. It does cost us, but it is the right and biblical way of decision-making, and it does teach us a lot about God, and it does cause tremendous spiritual growth in the body of Christ.
It emphasizes the fact that accountability is on all of us. Nobody can run away or hide from responsibility and accountability in the body of Christ. We all need to seek and find Christ’s mind in all situations.
When we acquire the mind of Christ, we will make the right decisions.
We all have to learn to wrestle with each other patiently and in love until we reach a consensus. How do we wrestle in love? Softly but firmly, and we do not hurt each other.
The consensus process builds the congregation.
It cultivates patience.
It cultivates mutual love and respect among the church members.
It limits the flesh and self-retribution.
It promotes the taking up of the cross of Christ daily.
It encourages the members of the congregation to let go of their own desires and to sacrifice their personal will and agendas.
It promotes the pursuit of holiness.
The consensus process is worth all the trouble because it does allow God to work in our hearts.
The consensus process is a crucial tool in the sense that it prevents wrong decisions.
One of the reasons for its importance is the fact that decisions cannot be taken until a consensus is reached.
The status quo is maintained until a consensus is reached. There is no way to navigate around this principle.
It ensures unity, and it ensures that the right decisions are made every time.
Consensus does require strong personalities.
It does require mutual love and respect.
It requires commitment more than a desire to persuade or derail others.
Consensus recognizes that love, unity, relationships, communication, and partaking are more important than quick decisions.
Consensus cultivates an attitude of unity.
It promotes a sense of community and adhesion.
When a congregation struggles significantly to make a decision, they may involve the five-fold ministry; however, this should only occur in very serious cases, when disruption is caused, or when it seems that reaching a consensus is hopeless.
Such behavior is actually a sign of spiritual immaturity, but the fivefold ministry will help when necessary.
They won’t make the decision, but they will help when it is really necessary.
How do house church congregations deal with disciplinary matters?
Just as in the corporate world, the purpose of disciplinary action in the church is to help people find their way back and be obedient to God, his will, and his ways.
We can’t let people do as they please and hurt the body of Christ.
We have to protect what is holy. If we don’t do this, then the whole congregation will suffer, and the body of Christ will suffer. Irresponsible and undisciplined people can cause a lot of damage in the church. The congregation cannot allow this to happen. They must take action as soon as possible when they see people acting in a way that is not acceptable among Christians and in the church, such as addressing disruptive behavior, providing guidance, or implementing disciplinary measures to maintain a positive environment.
Fortunately for us, Paul discussed this subject in detail.
He left no gray areas in this regard. Let’s look at what the Bible says about discipline in the church and in the congregation:
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust and not before the saints?
So in verse one already, we can see that Christians are not allowed to take each other to court. Why not? Because there is a Biblical way of solving such matters. We cannot allow the world to preside over God’s children. We cannot allow the support systems of the world to be utilized in the kingdom of God. Let’s read further, verse 2…
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How many more things pertain to this life?
4 If, then, ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong and defraud your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Even when Christians violate the laws of their country against one another, they must address these matters according to the principles that God established in the church.
Matthew 18:15-17 gives us a very good idea of how we need to deal with those issues:
15 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Verse 17 suggests that people should listen to and accept the advice and verdict given by the congregation.
If they don’t, they’ll be seen as unsaved and expelled.
The consensus process guides these steps and actions.
Once the congregation reaches consensus on the actions that need to be taken, they call such a person in to attend the meeting, and they notify him or her of the outcome. This phase is when the person should react to the outcome.
If he is willing to repent and to adhere to the requirements that the congregation has laid down, such a person will be allowed to carry on as a member of the congregation. No privileges will be withheld from such a person. If the person refuses to accept the outcome and to adhere to the requirements, the person will be cast out of the congregation, with the assurance that if he repents and decides to accept the requirements, he will be accepted as a member of the congregation again.
God does not want any division in the congregation. We have discussed 1 Corinthians 1:10 already in this session, but we have to take another look at this regarding this aspect of decision-making in the church.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
The right way of making decisions in the congregation is a powerful tool to prevent division in the church.
If we don’t take action as a congregation, people will feel vulnerable and unhappy, which can lead to division within the church.
We should not refrain from doing what we are supposed to do. We must always take action promptly after we become aware of unacceptable behavior.
This tool should also be used to get rid of people. This is what Paul suggested in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one, do not eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God, judge. Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Yes, I do understand that this is harsh, but it is necessary. We cannot allow people to be one with us, but, at the same time, do bad things and act unacceptably.
Such people will ruin the reputation of the congregation, and they will destroy any credibility that a congregation has. If we remain silent and allow such behavior among the members, the congregation will self-destruct.
We have to do what Paul suggested in 1 Corinthians 5:5-7
5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
The congregation needs to take the same actions when people are teaching and promoting wrong or false doctrines in the congregation or in the community. The congregation arranges for a meeting to make a decision (this person or persons should not be part of this meeting for obvious reasons), the congregation calls such a person or persons in, and the congregation informs them of the following: You can believe what you want, but the congregation disagrees with these doctrines.
The congregation feels that it is unbiblical, so the congregation expects you to refrain from teaching or promoting such doctrines in the community.
Members must agree to this request to remain in the congregation; those who do not will be expelled.
So in this session, we discussed the procedure that the members of a congregation should follow when they act in a way that they are not supposed to.
We also discussed the principles that govern decision-making in house churches. The consensus process of decision-making is the God-given method of decision-making, but that does not mean that it is an effortless process.
It is sometimes difficult to make decisions, but we will have to follow this method if we want to make the right decisions and if we want to allow God to use this process to ensure spiritual growth and development.
The Practical House Church Manual was written by ASR Martins
