John Koe was unable to travel in person because of U.S. Visa and travel issues. It was unclear if this was another oppressive tyrannical move by the government or whether it might have been an innocent reason.
We need to recover the principles of the decentralized church and apply them to our context today:
With our decentralized church network (‘DCN’), we seek to replicate the lives of the early church.For the first 300 years, the church was a street movement that covered rich/poor, slave/free, palace/ghetto.Meetings occurred in many homes.The gathering itself was not the focus. The service was not the focus. The focus was the practice, the lifestyle, submission to God, obedience, love of God, love for neighbors.
DCN compared to the church now:
DCN: Meetings were in homes. Today: Meetings are often at high cost locations, buildings.DCN: Met daily and often. Today: At set times, mainly Sunday.DCN: Gathering was akin to family / natural. Today: Scripted and formal.DCN: Every believer is a minister. Today: Operated by a few professionals, and paid staff.DCN: Healing and miracles common. Today: Largely devoid of miracles.DCN: Lifestyles demonstrate gospel/evangelism. Today: Focus is on the pulpit’s responsibility for evangelism.DCN: Focus was centrifugal; going out. Today: Focus is more centripetal; bring people in.DCN: Growth despite persecution. Today: The church struggles despite affluence.
Today we must focus on DISCIPLESHIP:
Teaching faithful people who will be able to disciple others also.
He showed a picture of a man, and his 14 disciples. Over the last three years, they have shared the gospel and seen 110,000 people become followers of Christ.
That is church growth: multiplying disciples.
Six key reasons for decentralizing the church:
DCN is the biblical model, as well as a viable model, especially for the last daysDCN is resilient against persecutionDCN is not vulnerable to terrorismDCN cannot be stopped by pandemicsDCN is cheap to operateDCN is scalable for exponential growth (as the flock increases, the churches increase); it is infinitely scalable
Related Biblical principles to consider:
I Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Romans 16:5; Philemon 1:2; Acts 5:42 (Met in homes)Matthew 28:20 (Discipleship is critical)2 Timothy 2:2 (Entrust truth in the hands of faithful men)Proverbs 21:23 (Whoever keeps his mouth and tongue keeps out of trouble)Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (Let your words be few, and not rash)Luke 8:17 (What you say in secret is known by God, and will become known to others)Colossians 4:6 (Let your words be full of grace and seasoned with salt)Colossians 4:7 (Use trusted sources to communicate with others)2 Timothy 4:13 (Entrust plans only with those you trust to carry them out)
