How did the Jesus Revolution begin? What is the Church? What is a Biblical model for the Church?

The best answer is to zoom in on the Exploding Church after Jesus ascends to heaven and returns to the Father.

It all happens on the day of Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and with fire, upon those gathered waiting for the promise Jesus made. We will shortly cover the story in Acts 2:41-47.

The Britannica says that Pentecost, "commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ... it marks the beginning of the Christian church’s mission to the world."

The Church is the visible presence of Christ on earth... The Body of Christ!

Here is the best and most neglected model (or expression) of the Church from Acts chapter 2 onwards.

"Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day. 

They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. 

All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it.

The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. 

They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers."

- Acts 2.43-47

WHAT ABOUT THE JESUS REVOLUTION OR JESUS MOVEMENT (JM) OF THE 60s & 70s?

These were the hippies who changed the world - called Jesus people or Jesus freaks.

As the founder of Stone Fire Community, I was profoundly impacted by this movement of the Holy Spirit, both before and after my conversion on 9 June 1973, when I responded to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him as my Master.

My life changed instantly, with very unexpected results, as God began to work in my life. A long story followed of significant successes and from the late 90s, dismal failures with disillusionment and rebellion. Thank God, He restored me during mid-2019.

Go to this link for the history and impact of the movement in the 60's/70's/80's:
The 60s hippies who changed the world

Thanks for reading my brief story.
With love, Peter W. Guess

WHAT ABOUT THE STONE FIRE COMMUNITY?

What are we about? Apart from how we see the church and its role locally and globally.

We want to keep it REALLY very simple, understandable, Christ-Centric, Biblical and practical...

We promote the following Values and Principles:

• Being REAL (authentic) with ourselves and God
• REVOLUTIONARY in our thinking, theology and action
• Having a REVIVALIST heart
• REACHING out to the lost and needy

This is our view... We hang together... to learn to Love God (with all our heart, soul and strength) and to Love others, as we Love ourselves. As we meet, we find God present with us. We get to know Him deeper and we find ways to make him known.

How do we practice this Biblical Church model on a daily basis?

We apply what we heard earlier. We teach each other and learn from each other. Have fellowship. Share meals and break bread. The term breaking of bread is most commonly used in Acts when referring to the Lord's supper.

We pray. Where possible, we meet together each day (online and or offline), and we learn to share what we have, to meet the needs of others.

We meet in homes (home churches) or via online platforms, break bread together and share meals. We worship and praise God together. And as we do, seek to and pray for goodwill with neighbours and people around us.

We expect miracles, signs and wonders that will confirm God s with us, confirming the word we teach and share. The signs and wonders are the natural consequence of God showing up and inviting us to his banqueting table – and can be our daily experience.

We expect to see the Kingdom of God advancing as we reach out with love and the Good News that God has reconciled man to himself by the death and resurrection of Christ.

Does this Biblical model scare you just a little bit?

It should! This type of community is not just very radical, it is desperately needed in the world. People are hungry for genuine connections. Hungry for authentic caring. This is a spontaneous, Spirit-created community and an alternative response to capitalism, rugged individualism, socialism, communism, poverty and related crime.

This Church model is also an alternative to our individualistic society and the greedy pursuit of fame, power and wealth, which is the food and motivation of dictators and many capitalists.

Is this all we need to know?

Everything else the Holy Spirit will teach us (personally, privately & as we meet), out of hunger for God's will and His Kingdom.

Here are a few extra nuts and bolts to wrap up.

No membership! - we are already the Body of Christ at re-birth. The word member is “banned” as it mostly conveys the wrong concept of what the church is and what we are here for. We are not members of a club of “do-gooders” - we are disciples of Christ! God adds people to the church as he sees fit in his design.

No credit cards! - it's all free!

No orientation or indoctrination! - we will get what we need when we need it, as we ask for Holy Spirit guidance, and through conversations in the community and shared guidance and teaching.

No waiting! – a new believer can be baptised on the day they are saved. Yes, we can pray for the new believer immediately to get baptised in the Holy Spirit. That's all on day one! If at all possible.

No law! - we are in the age of grace, saved by grace. Christ's love and sacrifice fulfil all the requirements of the law.

You are the Church, the Body of Christ.

We are the Church, the Body of Christ.

It makes no difference if we meet in a “temple”, a coffee shop, on the sidewalk or anywhere in the sky, we remain the Body of Christ.

Nor does it make any difference if we come from different local, national or global churches.

When we meet anywhere we remain the Body of Christ! The church is where we are and is also manifests instantly when we meet.

"Where two or three meet in my name, there I am in the midst". – Jesus. (Matthew 18 verse 20). That's it! Simple.

So, welcome to the Stone Fire Community, part of the Body of Christ. We would love to hear from you and help you in mind, body and spirit.

Click here if you want to know more about God (Next page)

Please WhatsApp or call +27 65 229 3040

By Peter Winston Guess

Pastor-in-Training

Lakeside, Cape Town, South Africa.