The church is arousing from centuries of sleepy irrelevance, secret abuse, and cleric arrogance. A new recovery group of disciples is awakening—dressed in humility, marching in unity, and wielding weapons of spiritual power against a pervasive kingdom of darkness.
These pilgrims are recovering what James Rutz calls the three freedoms that empowered early believers as they met in open meetings. There was open worship (praising and adoring God), open sharing (building up one another), and open ministry (serving other people in the church and in the world). Rather than a re-action against closed-program church meetings, one-way religious lectures, or man-at-the-front ministries, a new spirit of pro-action is invading religious gatherings—prompted and directed by none other than the living LORD Himself. These Spirit-led open meetings are an oasis for family restoration, personal renewal, and spiritual nourishment.
Open Meetings in Ancient Israel
The pattern of open meetings began in a Garden some time ago. One's imagination turns to discussions God surely had with Adam and Eve. Even after they broke away from Divine intimacy, God called them for their daily walk to discuss their disobedience. "Adam, where are you?" echoed through the Garden.
What began in a Garden was repeated throughout biblical history. The God of creation longed to communicate with His people through open discussions reflected in walking with Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and Moses, to name a few.
Open discussions or meetings can be traced to the Torah and instructions given in the law courts. Deuteronomy 17:9 states: "Go to the priests, who are Levites, and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict." "Inquire" is the Hebrew word darash (Strong's Concordance #1875) which means "to question or search." Such inquiry was later developed in the synagogue as a Beit Midrash or house of study. Midrash conveys the idea of investigation by research and discussion. It encompasses open, interactive meetings.
Open Meetings in the New Testament
The Hebraic style of open meetings found full expression in the life and ministry of Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus Held Open Meetings
During His ministry, Jesus used three open meeting tools to effectively communicate the Good News and to draw people into dialogue and Kingdom living.
- Questions and Answers
- "Who do people say I am?" (Matthew 16:13-19.)
Discussion point: Jesus is the Messiah (v. 20). - "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1-6.)
Discussion point: Importance of humble, simple faith (v. 4). - Where did John's baptism come from?" (Matthew 21:23-27.)
Discussion point: The authority of Jesus (v. 27).
- "Who do people say I am?" (Matthew 16:13-19.)
- Stories (Parables) and Word Pictures
- The sower (Matthew 13:1-23).
Discussion point: Four reactions to God's Word (vs. 19-23). - Lazareth and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).
Discussion point: Two different lives, deaths, and eternities. - Lost sheep, lost coin, lost son (Luke 15).
Discussion point: Eight references to man's lostness and God's solution.
- The sower (Matthew 13:1-23).
- Circumstances and Everyday Happenings
- Fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22).
Discussion point: Power of faith (v. 22). - Demon manifestation in a synagogue (Mark 1:21-28).
Discussion point: Authority over demons (vs. 25-26). - Paralyzed man lowered through a roof (Mark 2:1-12).
Discussion point: Power over sin and disease and God's will to forgive and heal (vs. 5, 11).
- Fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22).
Paul and the Apostles had Open Meetings
Early church meetings—whether in small home group settings or large celebrations—were open and interactive.
"What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all" (I Corinthians 14:26, The Amplified Bible)
The Greek word for "discussion" (Strong's Concordance reference #350) is anakrino, and is widely used in the New Testament, but—perhaps because of Greek influence—seldom translated "discussion." For example, upon hearing Paul and Silas, the Bereans received the Messianic message and "examined" the Scriptures (Old Testament) to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:10-11). "Examine" is the Greek word (350) for "discuss" that implies group discussion rather than only individual research. Eli Hefley said, "It is open discussion that fills in the blanks of our personal study and keeps us balanced in our applications."
Preaching was Paul's normal way of sharing the Gospel. However, rather than using the Greco-Roman pulpit-spectator method, Paul preached the Gospel in true Hebraic form using open meetings. "As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead" (Acts 17:2-3, emphasis mine). "Reason" is the Greek word dialegomai (Strong's #1256) that means dialogue. This preaching method by open dialogue is repeated in other places such as Acts 17:17; 20:7, 9; Hebrews 12:5; and Mark 9:34. Even Peter's Acts 2 sermon was in the context of an open meeting where people could ask, "What must we do to be saved?" More discussion followed that brought repentance and changed lives.
Why Not Return to the Biblical Pattern?
If Jesus and Paul held open meetings so effectively, why are they not used widely in churches today—as they are in the business world? The answer lies in church history.
The early church was patterned after the synagogue as a house of study and open discussion (Acts 2:42). However, when Gentile converts brought their one-man-in-charge customs and lecterns, their meetings became closed to real participation. Only authorized clergy taught to guard against heresies. Thus, with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70, and the expulsion of all Jewish people from the city, Hebraic-style open meetings gave way to Greek and Roman intellectual reasoning through lecture and one-way oratory preaching by the clergy class.
Today, as the church emerges from centuries of anti-Hebraic beliefs and practices, new life forms are taking shape in once barren ecclesiastical lecture halls called churches. Here are a few open-meeting primers patterned after Jesus' method.
- Questions
- What did you bring to the meeting?
- How has your walk with God been this past week?
- Does anyone have a praise report to give?
- Who brought a song today?
- Who has a Scripture to share?
- Has the Lord shown you anything this week?
- Did something happen to you recently that taught you something?
- What did you bring to the meeting?
- Stories that paint word pictures (2 Samuel 12:1-12)
- Respond to a question with a story.
- Make up a story during the week that has a spiritual truth.
- Tell one of the stories in the Bible and how it relates to you.
- Respond to a question with a story.
- Daily events
- Since every event has a purpose, ask the Lord, "What are you trying to teach me?"
- Use a specific circumstance to speak a blessing into someone's life.
- Share personal experiences that illustrate your walk with God.
- Since every event has a purpose, ask the Lord, "What are you trying to teach me?"
Why Open Meetings Are So Effective
The Hebraic method of open meetings affords everyone the opportunity to participate rather than spectate. As the Holy Spirit directs open meetings—perhaps through a facilitating pastor or elder—worship, sharing, and ministry moves in a Divine flow. In this flow, people are free and encouraged to participate. Self-worth and personal ministry develop in an atmosphere of love and acceptance where:
- Everyone can use spiritual gifts.
" Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (I Peter 4:10). Several other passages admonish us to exercise our spiritual gifts in open meetings as well as in personal ministry, such as Romans 12:4-8; I Corinthians 12:4-7; 14:12, 26; Colossians 3:16; and Hebrews 10:24-25.
- Everyone can minister with authority and freedom as part of the royal priesthood.
Peter declared, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (I Peter 2:9). As part of God's royal priesthood, everyone is a king/queen and priest (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Open meetings instill worth in individuals in a climate of acceptance.
- Everyone can evaluate teachings and prophecies given in open meetings.
When prophecies come forth in a meeting, Paul gives specific instructions about group evaluation. Note the open meeting format: "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged" (I Corinthians 14:29-31).
Once your eyes are opened to the biblical pattern of vibrant open meetings, you'll want to try meeting like this yourself. You'll begin to see
- hidden inner potential tapped
- new release in your ministry
- major roadblocks removed in record time
- seemingly impossible situations turned around.
Open meetings are not for spiritual nodders or the faint-of-heart. They require absolute trust in the Holy Spirit to direct meetings, change lives, and build the Church His way.
