Mobile Church Model

Mobile church model consisted of Jesus, His disciples and people who came to hear Him at different settings. Jesus set a model of this moving, mobile Koinonia (community, fellowship or church). Jesus by all means intended to break the importance in terms of location and prominence so that these factors including Christian hyped-up celebrities don't rob the essence of the movement, which is present in the church. Today many Churches gain its prominence by means of its grandiose structure, mesmerizing music, and the pastor who most of the time becomes a celebrity in the course of time. 

The movement is not about Location and structure.

Jesus in His conversation with Samaritan lady told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem." John 4:21 CSB . If you notice both these places had a significant importance in history and worthy to become a Shrine. Jesus basically intended to demolish anything that has a potential to gain importance more than God. In Matthew (18:20) it says "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” God's presence exists in the gathering that makes the church or fellowship, not the other way around. In Acts 7:48 it says. "but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:"

The Jerusalem temple became such an important Shrine that it was broken again and again as prophesied by Jesus in Mathew 21:6. "Not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down". God dwells in human heart. Paul understood this model so correctly that he strongly emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you”? You carry the temple of God everywhere and exhibit the Love of Christ.  Today, probably when everything is getting suspended God is probably reminding us to equip our Church members to be a Church in themselves and become the temple in their community.

Coronavirus has emptied the Vatican, the capital of Catholicism, it caused restrictions in Jerusalem Synagogues, Churches of any grandeur and all other religious institutions. Is God telling us something? That He is not in places or buildings but in people! Surely if God was in building or places then these would be the safest places. But, at this very moment these are the most dangerous places. Currently the safest place is your home.

Restoring Church at home model:

Early Church didn’t view Church as a place to go. Neither, did they see their gatherings as “services”. All the gatherings were in houses, basically house Churches, I mean. With the current Challenge that we are encountering, the early Church model seems to be the best model for believers to stay intact and attract Non-Christians to the fold.  Time to help our believers use all their teachings they received in Church and demonstrate Mobile Church Model / House Church model to impact lives at the earliest.

1) Jesus ministered in homes, and much of the gospel narrative takes place in homes. Jesus ate in people’s homes, healed in people’s homes (Matthew 8:14-15; 9:10, 23-25, 28).

2) New Testament Christians primarily met in small groups or home settings. When the apostles went to a town, they often preached in the synagogue. But it usually did not take long before they were thrown out and forced to move on to more intimate home gatherings (Acts 18:4-7). The New testament includes numerous references to Church in someone’s home (Romans 16:5).

It's high time we use every opportunity strategically and creatively to reach out to the Non-Christians.You may check the link for more light on this; God's Audit- Get prepared! And that means, the individuals understand they are the Church, exemplify their obedience to the Great commission and be involved in the Mission work God has entrusted to every individual.

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Is the mission still remains undiluted?

We are all familiar with the great commission and its implication yet the challenges remain to what extent the Churches and the people are ardently obeying to God's demands. How effectively are we demonstrating the gospel and attracting people to Christ? The terms discipleship, great commission, evangelism & mission in many cases are replaced by activities, worships, events and programs. Is the mission of the Church (the good news) still centering around Christ mandate?

Let me draw your attention to some hard facts:

Unreached block         Non-Christian per 
                                       missionary

Tribal/other                   15000

Hindu                            175000

Unreligious                     80000

Muslims                       300000

Buddhist                      170000

Does the above given statistics disturb you? It is seen in most cases that the Churches focus on Christ mandate and the mission work within the four walls of the Church only. Yes, it is definitely agreed, provided it is also equipping the members to be able to demonstrate the gospel in the market places, work areas, schools and colleges? Think about it! The data and research from Joshua’s Project (A research center that provides data) are really intimidating and raises serious questions in our existence as children of God. It is also a matter of grave concern. How are we prepared to mitigate and create an impact among the dying souls in our nation?

Every other thing comes under our radar with high priority, except the mandate. Dustin Benge puts these words so powerfully and challenges us. - “Sunday by Sunday people are told how to embrace “the good life” have happy marriages, and raise nice children, but not how to be right with God. Biblical preaching is hard, Discipleship is hard serving other is hard, Evangelism is hard. Do the hard things!”

After Christ commissioned the disciples and all of us to preach the Gospel and make disciples it is recorded in the book of Mark this way, “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.”. Mark 16:20. Signs and wonders are just an accompaniment while the preaching of the gospel is kept as priority. Today many leaders make the signs and wonders as a priority drawing attention towards them, disregarding the gospel preaching.

Let’s not forget in most cases people who seek God to be free from debt, or expect their materialistic needs to be met, get healing from their physical ailments don’t find the need of God later, they actually abandon and will return only when the next need arises. The biggest miracle and signs and wonder that should happen is the transformation of life. And if you take note of the above verse it says, “while the Lord worked with them”. God works with us to transform lives and help people find eternity, to this extent God joins hands with us and works with us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3: 9, “We are God’s Coworkers.”. God is working with us to help us reach out to the dying soul. Let me end this small article challenging all of us and putting these words of Reinhard Bonke. “So, our main task must be the implementation of Great Commission – the going, the making, and the discipling. The Church is a lifeboat, not a pleasure boat. Entertainers are neither needed nor wanted.".

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