The church.
The beginning of the church was an event that changed the course of man. It’s origin traces back to the Old Testament. God told Jacob that he would make his twelve sons a worshipping community of nations (Ge28:3). The word community in the Hebrew is qahal which means ekklēsia in the Greek. The children of Israel in the Old Testament were a type for church. Jesus picked his 12 apostles who were supposed to further the church after his passing. He sent his disciples to preach the kingdom of God and heal all kinds of sicknesses (Mk6:12-13). He told Peter that the not even the gates of hell would overcome the church (Mt16:18). Jesus taught his disciples that they needed to be in prayer so that whatever they would ask the Father in his name he would give it to them (Jh16:23-24). These teachings were in preparation for what was to come, the church. The church is
Acts 2:44-47
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Now the church is composed of family members such as, fathers, mothers and children and without them it cannot be. The functions of the family go from fathers who allow the teachings in the home to mothers who find way to enforce and deliver them to the children. Fathers are the gate keepers of the home. They are the shepherds of their homes who watch for predators that come to steal, kill and destroy the home (Jh10:10). And when a father allows the gospel to enter into his home, there is a change that occurs to that home. The early church, the scriptures says that they continued daily in the teachings of the Apostles in prayer in the temple and breaking bread from house to house sharing the gospel. What this did it put the family in favor with their neighbors and friends. People wanted to be a part of that church, because of the new form the family took.
Genesis 28:3
3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
Mark 6:12-13
12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Matthew 16:18
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
John 16:23-24
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.