WHAT WE DO

What do we do in our meetings? We begin all our meetings with prayer, pleading for the Lord to renew the operation of the blood of Jesus in our lives and in our midst, because we recognize that Jesus’ blood is what gives us access to the throne of God, and is what makes our prayers and worship effective and powerful.

We sing a few songs together, usually a mix of classic hymns (”Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Holy, Holy, Holy,” etc.) and contemporary praise songs (usually Psalms set to music).  Intermingled in this brief time of worship are periods of prayer, where we intercede for needs of the group members, for more of God’s love and revelation in our midst, for outreach efforts, and for needs of foreign missionaries and ministries in the developing world.

Then we spend about 25 or 30 minutes learning from the Bible, focusing on the spiritual meaning beyond the letters on the page, and how to apply the lessons in our lives.  The younger children present take turns reading portions of the Scripture chapter aloud, and then a pastor or leader shares some comments about it. Children actively participate in our meetings; we encourage people to bring their children to the Bible study.

We conclude the meeting at 8 pm (Sunday night is a school night) and then have a time of informal fellowship and food. There is also an opportunity during this time for people with urgent needs or a crisis in their lives to receive prayer privately with the leaders.  Many of the people who attend keep in touch with each other during the week to share prayer requests, to meet for coffee or lunch, and to encourage one another in their daily lives.

We never collect offerings or tithes in our meetings.  We can send a full explanation of this if anyone requests it.  We have never taken an offering or asked for money in all the years of our existence. Our leaders do not need it; they work very hard to supply their own income apart from their ministry.

Why We Never Collect Offerings in Our Meetings

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 – “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.“

The New Testament indicates that we should avoid collecting tithes or offerings in a way that 1) makes people feel pressured; 2) gives an opportunity for wealthier church members to show off; or 3) makes it appear that the church or the pastors are interested mostly in people’s money. It appears from the Bible that the church in the Apostolic Era did not ask for money or take offerings during their public services.

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