Chain Church

Written by Jessica Sanford, a Sun Ministries missionary.

Think about the Church like a chain.

One single link is still technically chain, but it cannot accomplish its intended purpose.

A bucket of unjoined links is useless.

Multiple links held together by one link doesn’t do what a chain is supposed to do. It makes the links easier to find and maintain, but it doesn’t do what it was made to do.

When you join multiple links together in the shape it was made for? That’s when you have purpose.

Homothumodon is a Greek word used in the New Testament to describe the community of the early Church. If you break it down, it literally means “to rush along in unison.” The Church has a purpose, and it achieves that purpose by way of homothumodon.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

Community (homothumodon) is built on the unity of shared purpose.

Without homothumodon:
-Accountability from leadership can feel like legalism.
-Our version of community will serve only our own pleasures.
-The Church is not mobilized in Her true purpose.

Homothumodon in the Church is built by responsibilities being fulfilled. The corporate responsibility is braced and bolstered by the individual responsibilities.

Corporate Responsibilities
Prayer (Matthew 18:19-20)
Meeting needs (Acts 2:45)
Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Devotion to apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)

Individual Responsibilities
Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)
Love (John 13:34-35)
Patience (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Confession (James 5:16)

When we all fulfill our own responsibilities, the Church is able to rush along in unison as God intended.