Wednesday Bible Blurb Humble Beginnings 6 4 2025
The early first century church of God consisted of very humble beginnings. Insignificant can be used to tell the history of the church in the first century. It was so small within the Roman Empire that it took decades for Rome to realize it was a new religion and not Judaism. Thematically in the Bible we often see humble beginnings for God’s servants. David was a shepherd boy. Samuel was a child. With God’s grace the church has always survived after its very small start. What was it like in the humble beginnings of fellowship in the early Church of God?
Mustard seed-From the smallest of beginnings.
Matt. 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Size is irrelevant to God; Heart is what is relevant to God.
Luke 13:18-19 “Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” The mustard seed, from small and seemingly insignificant can grow to be thousands of times its original size. Jesus used this to illustrate the potential for His coming kingdom and reign over the entire earth. Acts 1:12-15 After three and half years of ministry, Jesus, God in the flesh only had 120 followers.
Early church gatherings.
In his travels Paul would first go to the Synagogue and then to people’s homes.
Acts 9:32,36 Peter (Lydda, Joppa and Simon the Tanners home) Peter was going from member home to member home. Acts 10:24 (Caesarea) Home of Cornelius the Centurion. Acts 12: Peter is out of prison and goes to the home of Mary, mother of John Mark, sister of Barnabas.
Acts 16:11-15,40 Paul. Lydia, Sabbath at the river. Paul and Silas stayed in the home of Lydia.
Hospitality and house churches were a necessity for the early church.
Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Peter and the rest of the apostles were moving from city to city preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. The new sect of the “Nazarenes” had no facilities, no pre-built churches and sometimes even met outdoors. In most instances, out of the necessity of new beginnings we see them meeting in someone’s home.
Romans 12 is the chapter on Christians (Both members and ministers) being a living sacrifice. Paul outlines the duties of each Christian. “9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” The small early churches needed to fellowship together to worship God and to grow spiritually.
I Tim. 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;”
I Peter 4:9-10 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Paul preaching and teaching the gospel from his own lodging Acts 28:23
Fellowship
Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
I Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Eph. 3:9 “…and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;”
I John 1:6-7 “6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Heb. 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” As we are much closer to the “Day” then Paul was, fellowship becomes more important than ever.
God started His church from the smallest of a seed. A very humble beginning. The first century church of God started small, like a mustard seed. Today we are often a small group but where two or three are gathered together God is with them. God gives us the gift of hospitality and fellowship so we can grow in His grace and knowledge. Let us endeavor to grow together in our humble beginnings of hospitality and fellowship.
