Things needed today, what do you think?

1) House-Fellowships

As I’ve been reading a biography of Jonathan Edwards, it led me to his book entitled ‘Narrative of Surprising Conversions’. I came across or maybe stumbled upon this sentences of which I had been meditating since our last quarterly church meeting; sentences that relate on matters of fellowships & acquaintances. Consider the following from Edwards and my notes at the end.

a) “In the fall of the year I proposed it to the young people, that they should agree among themselves to spend the evenings after lectures in social religion, and to that end divide themselves into several companies to meet in various parts of the town; which was accordingly done, and those meetings have been since continued, and the example imitated by elder people.”

b) “…All would eagerly lay hold of opportunities for their souls; and were wont very often to meet together in private houses, for religious purposes: and such meetings when appointed were greatly thronged.”

c) “…In former stirrings of this nature, the bulk of the young people have been greatly affected; but old men and little children have been so now. Many of the last have, of their own accord, formed themselves into religious societies, in different parts of the town.”

Three things are worth observing from these in relation to house-fellowships. First, Edwards called house-fellowships at his time social religion, private houses, or religious societies. Given the historical fact that Edwards was one of the staunchest practitioner of ‘the means of grace’ such as word & sacraments, prayer & discipline, he also saw to it that ‘a practical outworking’ of the means be met in various parts of the town. He proposed that gathering be at every age level, preferably at a house or any place conducive for such fellowships. Secondly, how to maximize spiritual inquiry, fellowships, etc, is to divide themselves into several companies. Since the number of people interested in religion have multiplied due to revivals, the need to meet for religious purposes had become fruitful and helpful. Its interesting also to note that this example of young people was imitated by elder people! And Edwards didn’t stay passive to wait for more revivals but encourage the flock to spend opportunity for their souls .