What is a Presence-based church?

​The phrase “presence-based church” describes a group of Christian believers who place an emphasis on:

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• God’s relational presence as a central, biblical metanarrative.

There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. - Exodus 25:22 (NIV)

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. - Leviticus 26:12 (NIV)

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That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. - Ephesians 2:22 (MESSAGE)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)​

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• Personal and corporate prayer to hear from God and stay connected to Him.​

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But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? - Jeremiah 23:18 (NIV)

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His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Ephesians 3:10-11 (NIV)

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Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. - Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)

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• The exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit in the corporate setting and beyond.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. - 2 Samuel 23:2 (NIV)

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And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there. - Matthew 18:20 (MESSAGE)

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Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. - John 14:19-21 (NIV)

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But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. - John 16:13-15

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Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7

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• The ministry of the Five-fold offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.

Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. - Jeremiah 23:1-2 (NIV)

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Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. - Acts 8:5-8 (NIV)

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See also Acts chapter 20.

...if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:7 (NIV)

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According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 3:10 (NIV)

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And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? - 1 Corinthians 12:28-29 (NIV)

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. - 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 (NIV)

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...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. - Ephesians 2:20

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So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up... - Ephesians 4:11-12

How DOES a presence-based Church Function?

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• We allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us and do not despise His gifts.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. - 2 Samuel 23:2 (NIV)

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And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there. - Matthew 18:20 (MESSAGE)

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Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. - John 14:19-21 (NIV)

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But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you. - John 16:13-15

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Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. - 1 Thessalonians 5:20 (MESSAGE)

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Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7

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• We allow specific time in the service for the Holy Spirit to express Himself through His gifts.

In the last days, God says,
   I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
   your young men will see visions,
   your old men will dream dreams. - Acts 2:17 (NIV)

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See also 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 through 14.​

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Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. - 1 Thessalonians 5:20 (MESSAGE)

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• We fan “into flame the gift of God” through worship.

In the last days, God says,
   I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
   your young men will see visions,
   your old men will dream dreams. - Acts 2:17 (NIV)

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
   or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
   a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
   indeed, I cannot. - Jeremiah 20:9

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. - 2 Timothy 1:6

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. - Revelation 5:13

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• We allow specific time in the service for the Holy Spirit to express Himself through His gifts.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  - Acts 2:42 (NIV)

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See also 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 through 14.​

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• We train members on how to exercise the Gifts of the Spirit.

See 1 Samuel, chapter 19.

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Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. - 1 Corinthians 14:29