The episode features a conversation with Dr. Tom Wadsworth on the historical understanding of early Christian gatherings and worship practices. The discussion explores how the Lord's Supper evolved from the representation of Jesus' sacrifice to being viewed as a sacrifice offered by Christians to God, reflecting broader cultural influences from Judaism and paganism. The podcast delves into the structure of early assemblies, the significance of household gatherings, and the development of church liturgy and leadership over the centuries. It also tackles contentious issues such as the descriptive versus prescriptive debate in interpreting New Testament practices and the challenges of transitioning from structured worship services to more informal, participatory gatherings in homes.

In this episode, we talk about:

0:00 Intro

2:44 Why is Early Church Gathering Such a Controversial Topic?

04:39 Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Debate

07:14 Exploring Early Christian Assemblies

10:22 The Evolution of Christian Liturgy

21:22 1st Century House Churches and Informal Gatherings

29:15 Is Modern Worship Too Professional?

33:08 What Were They Actually Doing in 1st Century Church Gatherings?

36:26 Prophecy and Edification in Early Gatherings

39:02 Leadership and Order in Early Churches

42:27 Understanding 'Ecclesia' and Church Dynamics

44:38 Family and Household Impact on the Early Church

48:05 Head Coverings and Women's Roles in Church

Resources:

tomwadsworth.com

Tom Wadsworth on Youtube

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Hi, welcome to the 1000 Houses Podcast! Our goal here is to help you spread the Gospel, build a community, and multiply disciplines...in and through your home. Your host is Jeremy Pryor. Make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Youtube so you don't miss out on future episodes!

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