The New Testament Church

1. Yeshua is the builder : Lord Yeshua said “I will build My church”. He handed over the keys of the Kingdom to His church and set the agenda, “demolish the gates of Hell, release the captives and establish His kingdom.” (Gen. 22:17,18; Matt. 16:18-19; Luke 4:18; 1 John 3:8)

2. Mini but gifted church : The Lord Yeshua said that when even two or three, assemble in His name, He is there in their midst. In this small gathering all the charismata (gifts) are in operation for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body having diversities of gifts and operations. (Matt. 18:19-20; 1 Cor. 12:4-13)

3. The Church is the Light and Salt of the earth : The church is now the symbol of the Holy Place in the temple which contained the candles (light), the salted bread which is to be broken from house to house and incense (prayer), so that every house becomes a house of intercession for the nations. (Rev. 1:20; Lev. 2:13; Mark 9:49;50; 11:17)

4. The church is the outpost of heaven on earth: Yet in expression, she maintains Yeshua shaped theological coherence, biblical integrity and missional application of reaching all over her God given domain to gather “other sheep”, who are not yet in the fold. She declares His glory to the lost earth so that there will be one Shepherd and one flock. (Luke 2:30-32; John 10:16; 1John 5:18,19)

5. We are the church: Fancy buildings, loud music and attractive programs may make an “attractional church” but not necessarily a productive “missional church” of God that goes out to fulfill God’s mission by reconciling the lost world. (2 Cor. 5:18; 6:16; Lev. 26:11,12)

6. The church exists to prepare the earth for the return of the King of kings. No one is going up to heaven but heaven will come down to earth and the tabernacle of God will be with men. (Matt. 6:10; John 14:2,3; Rev. 21:1,2)

7. The church is where the Gentiles are made heirs of the kingdom : On the Day of the Pentecost, the mystery was revealed: that through the gospel, the Gentiles can become heirs and partakers of the Kingdom. Here unbelievers come fall down prostrate, confessing that God is truly amongst you and become followers of Christ. Here every meeting is a commissioning service. (Eph. 3:4-6; Col. 1:26-28; 1Cor. 14:23-26)

8. The Church is a Gathering of Saints : “Gather My saints who have covenanted with Me with a sacrifice” (Psa 50:5).  We are not strangers or aliens but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God; built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ himself as the Corner Stone. Saints are the dwelling place of God. (1Tim.3:15; Eph. 2:19-22)

9. The church is an altar for offering sacrifice : God called Jerusalem temple “a place of sacrifice”. Yeshua called it, “A house of prayer for ‘all nations.” Jews prayed in the outer court only after offering a sacrifice. Paul, a priest offered up sanctified Gentiles as a mincha, a bloodless tribute, well pleasing and acceptable to God. (2 Chron. 7:12; Mark 11:17; Rom. 15:16; 1Pet. 2:5)

10. The Church is the Bride of Christ : She must not be barren but stretch forth her tent to the north, south, east and west, reproduce prolifically and fill the earth. Yet she must be without spot and wrinkle. (Isa. 54:1-5; Eph.5:27)

11. The church is a Fellowship of royal priests. It is small, simple and organic with no ‘specials’: no special person, no special place, no special day and no special budget. The only thing that is special about it is that it has DNA of rapid multiplication. (1Peter 2:9; Acts 6:7; 16:5)

12. It has plurality of leadership, led by Holy Spirit gifted fivefold ministry elders (Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers). It is a prophetic church as God will not do anything without first telling His prophets. Everyone has a Psalm, a teaching, a revelation or a prophecy, etc. (Amos3:7; 1Cor. 14:3, 26-31)

13. The function of gifted elders is to perfect the saints (consecrated people) for ministry leading to growth and geographical expansion of the kingdom. (Eph.4:11-13)

14.The church is a seeker friendly ‘altar’ for offering lost souls. Her mandate is to close the yawing gap between the lost and the found. Church growth by transfer is no growth. Inclusive growth must come from the lost being found and added to the church. (1Cor.14:24,25; 21:19)

15. The NT church is a “Household of God with a mission” to prepare the earth for the home coming of the Lord. It meets in the intimacy of homes with no race, class, age or gender bias. It is interactive, relational and productive. They go 2x2, find a Person of Peace and birth another household of God. (Eph. 2:19,20; Luke 10:1-9)

16. The church is focused on the lost that resonates with His will. They break bread and share wisdom from house to house and give generously to send kingdom expanders. (Acts 4:34; 20:20,27; Rom. 10:13-15)