by Jon Zens

Four Tragic Shifts In The Visible Church
180-400 A. D.

Most professing Christians do not realize that the central concepts and practices associated with what we call 'church' are not rooted in the New Testament, but in patterns established in the post-apostolic age. While there are a legion of disagreements among serious students of church history concerning various issues and details during the period of 50 A.D. to 325 A.D., they all speak as one voice in affirming the four undeniable shifts that will be examined in this article. Church historians of all theological and ecclesiastical backgrounds observe in their writings the following four shifts:

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Money in New Testament communities

I should probably write a whole separate book on the use and misuse of money in the church, but due to limited space I will stick to the matter of money amongst a New Testament community.

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

The four pillars of Christian life

Unlike most of the modern church-growth books and seminars, we are not concerned with growing churches or producing replicable formulas, nor fancy programs. Our aim is to uncover biblical principles for every day victory in every believer’s life, thus producing victory and growth in God’s kingdom.

Again, the early church provides a clear heavenly ‘blueprint’, not just because they produced great eternal fruit, but because they were working from the kingdom of heaven modeled by Jesus.

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

The beginning of the fullness of Christ

Once the church’s leadership is restructured according to the New Testament heavenly blueprint, and Jesus has the reins again, we can begin our journey in the fullness of Christ; this journey is a progressive growth rather than an arrived destination.

I am not referring to a season where everyone is perfectly sinless, but one in which Christ reigns, causing consistent growth and maturation in the body, which will produce a “spotless bride”. This season will need a biblical structure to carry the bigness of the fullness of Christ.

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Stages of structure in the church

We will now take a brief account of past structures, from Jesus’ own methods, through church history to now, a time when Jesus is imparting to His church ‘His methods’ again.

Jesus’ seed example

Jesus modeled the perfect way to live in the Kingdom of God while existing on this planet. He was the example and reference point for the early church and He will be likewise for the end-time church. As multitudes pour out of the man-made wineskins, Jesus is restoring His heavenly-wineskin in order to receive the new wine of the Spirit for this hour. We will look at some key elements in the life and ministry of Christ as He walked the earth, seeking to save “that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10)

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Addressing the current imbalance

Even amongst many who have fled the ranks of the extended Dark-Age church, there is quite a bit of confusion and imbalance; this oftentimes proves to be equally as damaging as the failed system they are fleeing from. Many have swung too far on the proverbial pendulum, from Constantine’s courts of control to independent, Lone-Ranger status; which turns out to be equally imbalanced and unfruitful. Many who have left church institutions still lack clear direction and biblical foundation pertaining to the ‘how to’ of Christian connectedness. Without this biblical foundation, all sorts of humanistic mindsets arise, causing all sorts of false, self-justifiable behavior. It is crucial we refrain from straying beyond the boundaries of the Word of God. It seems that more people would be willing to trade their extra-biblical structures for a biblical one if only they were provided an unambiguous operational example which made apparent the biblical prototype.

by David Orton

The Current Realignment of the Church

Part 2 of 2

But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them,
"Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Acts 18:6

Realignment of structure

Returning to the word I received in Canberra, “From now on I am going to the Gentiles!” Dramatically casting out his garments Paul declared this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It was a declaration of the intent of God to move out from the traditional religious boundaries of the synagogue. For our ministry in 2005 this meant some significant realignments of our programme – the cancelling of several events that were focussed on the synagogue leaders – in today’s language the pastors of the institutional church. But why was this? I have had it said to me that I am against pastors and the local church. Unfortunately, I have to plead guilty, but not for the reasons they think!

by Michael Clark

Have you ever thought that the Church is training Christians to be silent?I remember when I was a teen.My dad was a heavy smoker and eventually it killed him.He would be taking a hit off a cigarette and as he exhaled the smoke would say, "Son, I don't want you to smoke!"Well, as many of us have figured from raising our own children, the example speaks louder than words.I was smoking and on my way to a full blown habit before I graduated from high school. I thank God I was able to quit with the help of my loving wife before I got out of the Navy four years later.

by Brett Jacobsen

Blowing ‘our’ trumpet in Zion

A large part of the western church has become a scene of men that desire and perform to be seen of men. Like the flaunting Corinthians and wayward Jews of New Testament times, many ‘Christians’ these days have fallen prey to a public spectacle paradigm that is rooted in “the pride of life”. (1 John 2:16) Jesus sternly warned many to steer clear from a “seen of men” motivation. In the “Sermon on the Mount” He said:

by Frank Viola

The Kingdom of God is the rule of God. And it rests upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of God produces the church . . . the community of the King.  The church, in turn, submits to the sway or rule of the Kingdom. As it does, the church expresses, represents, and advances God’s Kingdom on the earth.

Properly conceived, the church is the community of believers who possess Divine life. This community joyfully enthrones Jesus Christ, expresses His sovereign rule in the world, and as a result, enjoys the blessings of the future age here-and-now (Rom. 14:17; Heb. 6:5).

by Brett Jacobsen

This is an 'audio teaching' from Brett Jacobsen on true New Testament leadership and its imminent return.

Some topics briefly covered are:

Prophetic proof that the church is going underground.

How Jesus is taking back the reins of His church.

The function of true leaders, in contrast to hierarchical error.

True apostles and their function amongst the saints.

No more retarding the saints for the work of the monastry.

(This audio file is mp3 and is around 13mb, just click on the link below to download) 

Underground Leadershift

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Reformation to true New Testament leadership, for ongoing revival

Pt 5 of 5

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament leadership is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Equippers of the saints

Every Christian who is sent, or set in place, functioning as a leader, is also qualified as an elder. It is these ones who are called and gifted to equip and mature the saints so they will do the work of the ministry. We will now take a brief look in Ephesians at their role in readying the believers:

Reformation to true New Testament leadership, for ongoing revival

Pt 4 of 5

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament leadership is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Plural Eldership – the key to hierarchy-free local authority

Reformation to true New Testament leadership, for ongoing revival

Pt 3 of 5

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament leadership is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Scenario of apostolic function

I will now put forth a picture of an apostle to give us a general idea before we ground it in the word.

Apostles are called and commissioned by God but sent from the local community of believers, usually into un-chartered waters. Sometimes this is geographically, other times it is culturally, racially or even religiously. They are often the first on the scene, either laying the foundation of Christ beneath a pre-Christian community, or re-laying it under a straying Christian one. They are both teachers of the Christ foundation and examples of it themselves.

Reformation to true New Testament leadership, for ongoing revival

Pt 2 of 5

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament leadership is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Apostolic naming

If it is not an official position, then why would the apostles call themselves apostles?

I’m glad you asked.

For starters, you may have noticed that when I write the word apostle, except when referring to false hierarchy heads, I do not use a capital A. This is because that would make it the title of a person rather than their simple job description. To call someone Apostle Paul is to don them with a false official title, whereas to say Paul the apostle is biblically correct.

Reformation to true New Testament leadership, for ongoing revival

Pt 1 of 5

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament leadership is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Underground examples of abandoning self

Before we delve into the largely untouched and untapped realm of true Biblical leadership, in contrast to the widely accepted and embraced traditional leadership, we must look to the foundation and heart of Christian usefulness.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)

 
A Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:1-14

by John White

A critical element in the development of the house church movement in the United States will be a change in our financial paradigm. In traditional church, money is given by church members to pay for such things as the building, salaries for the church staff, various programs, missions, etc. The house church movement offers an opportunity to reexamine Biblical values regarding the use of money for ministry.

Probably the most important single passage dealing with this topic is 1 Cor. 9:1-18. The following is a commentary on these verses with a view to discerning principles for financing ministry. This article would be best read with your Bible open to the passage under examination. (Note: Gordon Fee's commentary, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, has been particularly helpful in this study.)

-Embracing True Biblical Unity

by Brett Jacobsen

This article is an excerpt from the authors book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

by Brett Jacobsen

Defining spirituality

Many people think that in order to be spiritual you need to be somewhat fruity, having a strange eerie manner about you. Others believe in a more relaxed down to earth lifestyle which sometimes leans towards carnal worldly living.

Jesus was the most highly spiritual being the planet has ever seen. He regularly defied natural laws by the supernatural power He had flowing from His life. Although He was a very spiritual individual, often spending whole nights in prayer and working many miracles, in a lot of respects He was a fairly normal guy. He wasn’t born into royalty or a revered religious family, He didn’t have political persuasion, and to those close to His life He didn’t seem to look too different.

by John White

(Note: this was written to introduce two men who are leading house churches in different parts of the country.)

It has been on my mind for a while now to introduce the two of you to each other. The reason is that each of you are in similar situations (one in NJ and the other in Florida). Both of you have thriving house churches that need to multiply. Both of you have families and are working in the world full time and so are probably stretched to (beyond?) the limit. As God is raising up house churches in this country, I suspect that your situation will be played out in hundreds of places in the months/years to come. What is needed is a multitude of prototypes that each reflect Biblical values.