How can we emulate the church meeting in Priscilla and Aquila's home today? Gathering in Their Living Room—Romans 16:5 “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” What We See in Priscilla and Aquila’s Home • An ordinary couple opening an ordinary dwelling to extraordinary kingdom work • A setting small enough for names, stories, and needs to be known • Shared leadership—Paul greets both, showing men and women laboring side by side (Acts 18:24-26) • Gospel risk: they once “risked their lives” for Paul (Romans 16:3-4) • Reproducible simplicity—no special architecture required, just believers and the Word Truth Echoed Elsewhere • Acts 2:46-47 —“Day after day… breaking bread from house to house” • 1 Corinthians 16:19 —“Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly… with the church that meets at their house.” • Colossians 4:15 —Nympha hosts a church; house gatherings were the norm. • Hebrews 13:2 —Hospitality is commanded, not optional. • Ephesians 4:15-16 —Every member supplies what the body needs; small settings make that possible. Timeless Principles to Carry Forward • Hospitality: rooms, meals, and schedules offered to Christ • Word-centered fellowship: Scripture read, taught, and discussed together • Mutual ministry: gifts exercised by many, not consumed from a platform • Evangelistic welcome: friends and neighbors can step into a home more easily than a sanctuary • Prayer and care: burdens shared face-to-face, hands laid on shoulders • Flexibility: living rooms rearranged, couches moved, kids included Practical Steps for Today 1. Clear one night a week; invite a handful of believers and seekers. 2. Keep it simple: coffee, Bibles, maybe soup and bread. 3. Read a passage aloud; ask, “What does it say? What does it show us about God? How will we obey?” 4. Pray in circles—short, earnest prayers so everyone can join. 5. Rotate leadership; let different voices lead Scripture, songs, or testimonies. 6. Watch for needs—meals for the sick, rides for the elderly, tutoring for kids. 7. Multiply: when the group outgrows the couch, bless a new host to start another gathering. Facing Common Obstacles • “My house is too small.” —So was theirs; hospitality is about heart, not square footage. • “I don’t teach well.” —Invite a gifted teacher or use trusted study guides; everyone can read and discuss. • “What about children?” —Include them; they absorb more than we think (2 Timothy 3:15). • “We already attend Sunday service.” —House meetings complement, not replace, corporate worship (Acts 20:7). Living Rooms That Shine Homes become lighthouses when doors stay open, Scripture stays central, and every believer comes ready to give and receive grace. Follow Priscilla and Aquila’s pattern, and watch the gospel travel from your table to the ends of the earth. |
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