Reciprocity – the key to release God’s presence in the world

NORSK
More than 20 years ago, I wrote a Master dissertation on “Church growth”. 

The subject still interests me, and I believe that the principles will work if they are driven by love for God and our fellow men.

It is hard to find a book on the subject of Church growth that does not quote the following verse:

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42 NKJV

From this way of living the new life in Christ, the first believers had found the receipt for growth – a nucleus of believers coming together the mutual exchange of life in fellowship with one another and the Holy Spirit.

It happened in the homes, and the four key ingredients are to continue steadfastly in:

1) The apostles’ teaching (the gospel)
2) Fellowship (the support)
3) Breaking of bread (the fellowship-meal)
4) Prayer (the strength)

In this fellowship, all are both givers and receivers including God himself. The Father loves to see his children giving themselves to Him, and as He already gave himself to us in Christ, He continues to give himself to us through the Holy Spirit. In this way there will be an abundance of life that will start to flow to others. I like Eugene H. Peterson’s definition of discipleship in an instant society as: “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” – it started 2000 years ago!

‘Manna’ for today:

“A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”

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