Believers who sold their land and houses

“For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each to the extent that any had need.” (1) What we see here is the principle of mutual aid at work. This principle functioned as follows: (a) Some believers faced financial hardships. Indeed, there were many in need within the Jerusalem church. (b) Knowing this, some believers voluntarily sold their properties and converted them into cash. This was not compulsory. (c) They then entrusted the money to the church, specifically by placing it at the apostles’ feet. (d) The apostles responsibly managed this money and distributed it according to each person’s needs. (2) This kind of service by the apostles was later delegated to others so that the apostles could concentrate on teaching the word. In Acts 6:1-6, seven leaders were chosen to serve daily needs, enabling the apostles to focus more on their spiritual duties.

House church

Before we move on, let’s touch on the concept of house churches. (1) Initially, all early churches were house churches. Faith was freed from a limited sacred place (temple) and relocated to homes, which are universal places of life. This situation persisted for about 200 years. (2) We tend to think that the reason there were only house churches was due to economic reasons, but such thinking highlights the limitations of modern people who can only think of church in terms of buildings. It is more necessary today to open our eyes to the advantages of house churches. (3) The advantages of house churches can be considered as follows: (a) Economic advantage. There is no need to spend money on buildings, allowing offerings to be used for evangelism and the practice of love. (b) Physical advantage. Meetings can be held without the need for a physical building. (c) Evangelistic advantage. In the early church, house churches served as places of worship and fellowship for believers. They evangelized in their daily living spaces and invited those who decided to join to their house churches. Newly saved individuals were welcomed into these house churches where they received discipleship training. (d) Cultural advantage. House churches can adapt to any culture. They feature a casual atmosphere, small gatherings, and interactive meetings. What is a church? The church is a community of people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. The most important aspect is whether Jesus Christ is at the center. Let’s reaffirm this and dedicate ourselves to the growth of the church.