“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go in the house of the Lord.”  (Psalm 122:1

There are many blessings to pastoring a small house church and there are some responsibilities if one is to be faithful to God and to God’s flock.  One of the responsibilities in speaking to a smaller fellowship is that we are speaking to only a few persons and when an elephant enters the room we cannot overlook it by a pretence of speaking in general term for the betterment of all. Everyone knows what I’m talking about and to whom I am speaking to. On the other hand I need not be concerned with losing a job or members, which the Bible knows nothing of.

Another perk is being able to write a blog without fear of repercussion. No one is paying me and I need not fear offending anyone or fear any negative feedback when I do. So hear are some things, i would suspect many pastors would like to say but are reluctant.

1. The church attender is not doing the pastor a favour when they attend church. God has and is showing favour by calling anyone to church services. I remember when I taught in a church, persons would say, “You never know when I might pop in,” or   “Maybe I’ll see you soon.”  They were acting as though I was the one benefitting by their attending services.  Christ-ian, you are the one who benefits by attending service. You are not doing anyone but yourself a favour by showing up.
2. One cannot take a passage of Scripture and apply it or to interpret it however one feels like. There is no private interpretation of Holy Writ. One is to take it as the Holy Spirit and the inspired writer intended.  One cannot take a set of directions to a destination and say, “I interpret this right turn to mean a left turn and expect to arrive at the destination anytime soon and the same is true with inspired Scripture, the passage means what it means and not what one wants it to mean.
   I remember preaching on election and using Noah’s Ark as an example. My point was, there was only room for (8) eights persons and no more.  One dear woman said to be afterwards, ” What I got from you message was that anyone could be saved at anytime.”  That was the opposite of my message!!!
3. Hears one that will shock.  Your preacher does not live up to his high standard of preaching nor does this writer. The same thoughts go through our heads as the ones that go through yours.  A minister or writer cannot preach according to his level of living, if he did there would be no point to preach. As Hercule Poirot said on the Orient Express, “We must hold the law up higher…”  In the case of this writer and your minister, we must hold the bar of our preaching way up here and not at the level of our state. If we preached according to our state there would be no point. You are not to be like your preacher. You are to be like Christ.  No preacher should be telling his flock, “Be like me,”  instead he should be saying, “Be like Christ.”
4. Christ-ian, You should spend more time preparing your spirit for the church service than your hair, makeup, which tie should be worn, which cologne or perfume should be spritzed, etc. Church is for the worshipping of God in spirit and for the feeding of that spirit. Church is not a contest nor is it a runway or catwalk. God and the pastor are interested in the beauty of your soul and not the beauty that is to fade.  I’m not saying one should not show up to church in their best, they should for they are entering the house of God. Would you wear shorts and a tank top or jeans and a t-shirt to the White House or Buckingham Palace?  I think not….well then what should one adorn themselves in when entering God’s House?  One should spend time preparing their appearance as a sign of respect to God and the household of God but do not forget to prepare the inner temple as well.
   One must not simply get up, get dressed and drive to church…no, no, no. One should prepare their spirit by reading Scripture, thinking on God if you haven’t been God-Conscious like you should be, you should seek God in prayer and ask Him to quicken your mind and spirit to receive what He has for you. You must pray for your pastor and ask God to speak to him and through him. Ask God for the spirit of worship so you might praise Him properly….People, you are entering the House that the Apostles built with Christ as the Architect, Designer, Chief Cornerstone and Foundation !!!  “Prepare to meet thy Maker” each time you enter His doors.  Persons, for years, have criticized my dress habits. I normally dress in a white shirt or other color button up oxford, a pair of pants and a tie, sometimes my tie matches my socks, that’s on purpose, as i have said before gentle men, The belt should match the shoes and the tie should match the socks. My attire really was and is a sticking point for many persons and don’t ask me why because, Know not I (in Yoda voice). The reason I dress this way is, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  My Attire = My Rejoicing.  It is a personal choice and I do not expect others to follow suit…follow suit, get it?  follow suit…we’re talking about dressing and i wrote follow suit.
5. “That’s not how or what I was taught,” is a statement each and every minister has heard or will hear.  Christ-ian, The Bible is the Sole Authority on doctrine, on conduct becoming a Christ-ian and what is appropriate and what is not.  If what you have been taught does not line up with Scripture then you must bow to Scripture and not the teachings of men or traditions, we aren’t Catholic,  are we?
6. It’s okay to say,   “Amen” and to raise hands in worship to God.
7. Seven is the Biblical number of completion therefore we will rest after (7) Seven and number seven is a big one.
   Christ-ians,
   God, your pastor (whom ever he may be), and this writer want and expect you to read and study the Bible on your own. Spending time in God’s Word is spending time with God, especially if you read the Word and study the Word in a spirit of prayer. To study in a spirit of prayer is to notice an attribute, that you are lacking, Hannah’s faith (Mother of Samuel) for an example, ask God to increase the measure of your faith, it’s good to ask for that, the disciples did. Maybe you come a cross a negative trait in someone that you have as well, you might ask God to help you curb it or to help you manage that trait, Paul had a temper and I’m certain he sought grace so that he could be, “slow[er] to wrath” because he said, “The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
   The true end or purpose of our salvation is to become Christ-like, so as you read the Gospels or you read an epistle that speaks to an attribute of Christ or even the fruit of the Spirit, ask God to release a measure of that specific trait or fruit in you. Prayerful Bible study is like the doctrines of justification and sanctification, they go together. One must prepare to prayerfully read and study the Word just like one must prepare to enter God’s house.

Godspeed.