Prophets in my living room

Some have asked what happens when you have spiritual conversation and communion at your house. Pretty much, we do some of the stuff you see in 1 Corinthians 11-14.

For example, today we had bread and grape juice out on a table, in addition to coffee and donuts, some fruit, etc.  When people came in and it was time to start, everyone got some of that and we sat in the living room and "had communion".

What did that look like? We just talked briefly about what God has done for us in/through Jesus and that we need to remember what he's done and how he's made us his family.  And we prayed and had the bread and juice.  That's it.  No attempt to make someone feel something.  Just acknowledging the reality of where are with God together.

And then we had some scripture that I'd picked out as a starting place for us to talk.  People took turn reading some from Ephesians 1 and 2 and a little from Colossians 3 - all about what God has done for us and encouragements about good things to do for and with each other.

We then opened it up for discussion and sharing.  Since some people get stuck when asked if they have anything they'd like to talk about and take a minute or two to warm up/remember things, I had a short list of things we've talked about in previous gatherings as reminders to look at for a bit.

And then we spent the next while sharing questions, experiences, things we've seen God share with us, challenges we've faced and ways we see God has worked in and with us.  As we wrapped up and were gathering stuff up to put away, a couple of people prayed with/over a person who'd shared an upcoming challenge, while the rest of us continued talking about random things.

Nothing flashy. No dramatic segue from one "thing" to another.  No formality. Just people who love God, acknowledge that we are all at different places and coming from different backgrounds, aren't afraid to ask hard questions, express doubts and concerns, etc.

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In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul was writing to the believers who gathered together and was specifically answering their questions about what their get togethers should be like.  Something important he said was verses 1-3:

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Basically, the most important thing you can share with each other is "prophecy".  Not the "telling the future" kind of fortune telling stuff that people often think about, but prophecy in the sense of just saying things you've learned or know to be true about God and what he's said.  

So, this morning, we had prophets in my living room. People sharing what they've learned from God in life.  Sharing some scripture.  Sharing their own experiences - some deep and profound things.  

People were strengthened, encouraged, and comforted.  And not in some kind of cheesy, "it's all gonna be fine if you'll just put on a smile" kind of way.  People facing some real stuff and looking for how to have hope, understanding, and wisdom as they're facing it.

We didn't take up a collection because there was no need for it. We didn't push anyone to invite someone next time.  We didn't even formalize a next time yet.  

We enjoyed each other's presence and knowing that God was and is with us.  

We probably didn't even answer all the questions we all had, but enough was shared for the time we had.  We know there will be time for more again soon and even if there wasn't a next time, it's gonna be okay.

And the door and/or avenues of communication are open between us so anyone can communicate between times we gather.

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You've possibly seen the meme that's gone around that says something like "200 years from now, if an archaeologist were to get an old phone to turn on and read through our messages, they probably wouldn't be able to distinguish between "butt dial" and "booty call" because language has so much nuance."

I think that's probably true with how we read some of the things that the early gatherings of believers were doing in Paul's writings.  We make them a little more mysterious, more "spiritual", and such than they potentially were.  

We project our assumptions back into scripture and, having reinterpreted it through our assumptions, use it to create "church" in the image of what we saw or heard growing up that told us what church was supposed to be --- people sitting in pews, singing songs they may or may not understand, giving money that they're not sure where it's going to, listening to someone else pray about things that sometimes seems relevant and sometimes seems like a speech, and then listening to one person give a long talk about what they think that God thinks you ought to think. Or do.  And announcements.  Lots of'm.

There's absolutely nothing "wrong" with doing that and if that's what blesses others, I'm glad for them.

It's just not what we're doing.  

We have prophets in the living room.

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Anyway, some of you asked and that's what we're doing now.  Not locked into that.  

We'll see what God surprises us with next.  

God's always got something up his sleeve that usually surprises at least some of us.  

We'll see.  

We live in anticipation, not with false expectations.

Enjoy.

Peace and goodwill to you all.