House Church?

[dashadow]

Recently saw a post on Craigslist about a House Church. Never heard much about the concept until I started interacting on CC. Perhaps I just never paid attention before.

Anyway, I've never felt very satisfied in the traditional church setting, pastor reading some scriptures and telling everybody how to live their lives, more or less.

I really wanted to check out this House Church, but it was several hours away in the neighboring state. I did a search for House Churches in my area, but came up empty.

Anybody currently or ever been a member of a House Church? How is or was the experience? Anybody thought about starting one?

 

[kami_no_ko]

our family runs a house church, ours are on sundays and wednesday

 

[BarlyGurl]

wish I could find one in my area... since corporate-style church was never God's intention.

 

[Loveneverfails]

wish I could find one in my area... since corporate-style church was never God's intention.

Would you mind elaborating on that? I don't disagree, I've just never heard that stance before and I'm genuinely intrigued.

To the OP: my boyfriend attends a home church, though it is really a part of a much larger international organization/denomination. I've heard that in other cities where there are more members of this denomination, they have church buildings, known as meeting houses.
I attend his church's young adults meetings once a week, held in a small living room. It's very different from my home church (congregation approx 450), but not in a bad way. It's very intimate and really feels like family. We usually eat dinner and engage in positive and uplifting fellowship, followed by a very informal and intimate time of worship (feels more like Christian youth summer camps, with people calling out songs they want to sing and all singing together in a circle with one guitar). Finally we dig into the Word. EVERYONE takes part in reading at least a portion of the passage(s), and we all engage in fruitful discussion.
I like it.

 

[dashadow]

Would you mind elaborating on that? I don't disagree, I've just never heard that stance before and I'm genuinely intrigued.

To the OP: my boyfriend attends a home church, though it is really a part of a much larger international organization/denomination. I've heard that in other cities where there are more members of this denomination, they have church buildings, known as meeting houses.
I attend his church's young adults meetings once a week, held in a small living room. It's very different from my home church (congregation approx 450), but not in a bad way. It's very intimate and really feels like family. We usually eat dinner and engage in positive and uplifting fellowship, followed by a very informal and intimate time of worship (feels more like Christian youth summer camps, with people calling out songs they want to sing and all singing together in a circle with one guitar). Finally we dig into the Word. EVERYONE takes part in reading at least a portion of the passage(s), and we all engage in fruitful discussion.
I like it.

Wow! I want to be part of a church like that. But I may have to start my own. Anyone game in the suburbs north of D.C.?

 

[piper27]

I was saved in a 'house' church....after many years in a traditional setting, I find myself at 'home' again
Not being in a heirarchal setting has worked very well for ME; its about learning, sharing, letting gifts grow and develop, and nurturing deep meaningful relationships.

I don't know how to 'find' one; they've been born out of circumstance for me.
If I could have my way, I will never go back to traditional church again.

 

[1still_waters]

House churches have their advantages and disadvantages.

For example.
If the house church is located in a place with MANY churches, it may beg a question.
Are these people so disagreeable and doctrinally picky that they couldn't find even ONE to attend?
Which may beg another question
If these people are THAT disagreeable and picky, do I want to be in a small place discussing Bible and fellowshipping with them?

Home churches can be a haven for the disagreeable and doctrinally unorthodox.
They may exist because their doctrine is so crazy no one will take them!
They may be in an isolated setting because they can't get along.

On the other hand, house churches do have some beneficial aspects.
Maybe due to location there isn't a strong Bible church to attend.
So a house church is needed.

House churches can also provide a sense of true community and fellowship.
You can't just show up, sit down and leave without being noticed.

One of the strengths of a house church can also be a weakness.
You don't have to put up with all those denominational strings and issues.
On the other hand, in a house church there may not be a sense of structural accountability to keep track of doctrine and practice.

So choose wisely.

 

[dashadow]

The relationship we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ should be intimate, like family. And I find it very hard to get that at the churches I've been to, even the small ones. They've alway had the power struggles and clicks. I want and I want my children to be part of a real church family just like piper said, "about learning, sharing, letting gifts grow and develop, and nurturing deep meaningful relationships."

I see I missed some prior threads about this matter. Sorry for the repeat. I'm going to go check those out. God Bless!

 

[dashadow]

House churches have their advantages and disadvantages.

For example.
If the house church is located in a place with MANY churches, it may beg a question.
Are these people so disagreeable and doctrinally picky that they couldn't find even ONE to attend?
Which may beg another question
If these people are THAT disagreeable and picky, do I want to be in a small place discussing Bible and fellowshipping with them?

Home churches can be a haven for the disagreeable and doctrinally unorthodox.
They may exist because their doctrine is so crazy no one will take them!
They may be in an isolated setting because they can't get along.

On the other hand, house churches do have some beneficial aspects.
Maybe due to location there isn't a strong Bible church to attend.
So a house church is needed.

House churches can also provide a sense of true community and fellowship.
You can't just show up, sit down and leave without being noticed.

One of the strengths of a house church can also be a weakness.
You don't have to put up with all those denominational strings and issues.
On the other hand, in a house church there may not be a sense of structural accountability to keep track of doctrine and practice.

So choose wisely.

Great points! Thanks for the input!

 

[Markum1972]

I had never heard about home churches before. A couple of years ago I decided to offer up my home for the purpose of gathering one night a week. About 6 months later, I found out about a "home church" practically across my street. They have been emerging everywhere throughout the city.
I enjoy going to them. In a large setting it is really hard to get to know people personally. In the home churches it is more like a family setting. I have met a lot of new interesting people and have a complete new network of friends.
Once in a while, they have a big gathering where members of many different home churches can all come together to worship, testify, and fellowship. It is awesome.

 

[kami_no_ko]

ok like i said before, we do house church and my knowledge of it is that the early church never had a church building where 1 man rules every thing and only a hand full take part in the activities and the majority just clap and warm benches, but they met in homes where every one took part, every one gifts and talents being utilised, if there's some thing you dont understand you can ask on the spot, you can even make contributions or correct if something is wrong. the house church system is also more relaxed, you dont need to dress up in a fancy suit but dressed normally as if you're going out, if you get a phone it cool to take it quick and also we share meals, you know how they always say "no eating in church" lol. whats going on in most churches is the people is just chasing down money. tithe and offerings, if you want healing or a break through you have to $ow a $€€d & its all kind of things to get money out of the people and while the "pastor" is chilling in his big mansion, driving his benz and bugati the members of the congregation living in poverty. with the house church system if a member has a need the others will put together to meet that need. we all watch each others backs, iron sharpeneth iron. thats what the house church is about.

 

[kami_no_ko]

i apologise for straying but as i was to say jesus met in homes, the apostles met in homes, for the first 300 or 400 years (dont remember which one but it's still a long time) they met in homes. then a roman emperor name constantine who claimed to get saved saw a vision of the cross and engraved in it was the words "in the name of this cross conquer" or something along that line. from there he fused christianity with their religion

 

[kami_no_ko]

they banned the house churches and forced everyone to garther in one massive building their temple (church building) they sat in rows of benches facing one direction (pews) giving the priest (pastor) their undivided attention. those who refused to comply to this new form of christianity were killed so no one dared chalenge the words of the priest so what he says goes, which is y we say "no talking in church" they removed the meals cause they didnt wanted to defile or dirty the temple of their gods. there are many things we do in the legacy church that arent scriptural. some i know, some i dont know. but 1 thing i do know is that the building we know as a church is not the church. the church is the people. when God says he'll be coming back for his church do you think we'll be on the ground watching the building go up and were waving bye bye to it? no its us who'd be going up. Jesus died for us humans not bricks and mortar. i am the church, you are the church, WE ARE THE CHURCH! never forget that.

 

[iwant2serve]

Well every church should have a Pastor (overseer leader). I ave never been to a house church but what would be the difference in being in a small congregation. I have however found that many people don't like the mega church as well as the other way around. However it does not matter as long as the bible is being taught.

 

[kami_no_ko]

every church needs a pastor? not exactly, you see in the early church there was never had one man called the pastor rulling every thing but there were elders who supervise. take note elders with an "s" (plural or more than one) and they supervise, not to control, rule or dictate the members. the only one that rules is the holy spirit & once we allow the spirit to have his way everything runs smooth as glass.

 

[BishopSEH]

House Churches is how what we call Christianity began. They are also known as Common Area Churches. As a Bishop in a very large House Church organization I am biased in favor of House Churches. I don't have a problem per se with modern churches as most of them are very good with excellent leaders and staff that truly and deeply love the Lord.

That said the modern church has some huge issues. One of the big ones is fellowship. Modern Churches sometimes have a fellowship hall but in practice they are church sanctioned gossip sessions. Fellowship is supposed to be an ongoing activity of believers not something you do over donuts after the service. We all need strengthening and fellowship is designed to do that. The Modern Church is failing. Europe is almost completely secular these days and America is fast moving in that direction. Christian is returning to the cuss word it was when we were first labeled with it.

The other is evangelism. The Modern Church has become largely and invitational institution. We invite them in but less and less do we go out. Interesting point is that every single Church today stems from a house church that God blessed with growth. So much so that they felt the need to have a formalized structure complete with a building. When this happens evangelism goes into a steady decline. They become more interested in rules than in service. Worse is the loss of an established pastor will often divide the church. House Churches can also have that issue but it is a lot less common as there are usually several pastors in a single House Church. When the body become big enough, generally we vote to split into 2 House churches and expand our area of influence. At this point a Bishop is usually appointed or the House Churches join an already established network.

Both traditions are generally strong on Biblical Instruction and both have the same risk of going astray. The difference is when a Modern Church goes astray in their doctrine no one has the intestinal fortitude to stand up and call out the leadership. House Churches, being much less formal are more likely to be corrected before irreversible damage has been done.

Worship is also strong in both traditions though sometimes in House Churches Worship can eat up a lot of time and sometimes, though not often this can cause the message to be shortened or for people to leave before hearing the message do to obligations in the world. Modern Churches generally do not go too long in the worship portion because the service is time controlled.

Prayer in one place the House Church leads hands down. Prayer makes up a large part of House Church. There has been many a time a person in the congregation has been driven to their knees in prayer during a sermon. In these cases it is not uncommon for us to put a hold on the sermon and join the brother or sister in prayer. Intercessory Prayer is a cornerstone of House Churches. All coming together to lead of faith to the one in need. Generally speaking we do not have prayer groups or prayer chains we just have prayer. When it has passed we take up where we left off or continue the sermon the next time we meet if the need is great.

In modern Churches the staff are generally the ones that keep the Pastor from straying. They hold him to account as he holds them to account. In House Churches it is expected that we all hold each other to account. In Modern Churches the Pastor spend his life in the "fishbowl", him and his family. In a House Church we are all in the "fishbowl" together and the ones looking in is the world trying for the life of them to figure out why we are so different.

What way you decide to do church is up to you. God loves both ways and forbids neither. If the Modern church works for you, great. If you are being fed and matured in your walk of faith, awesome. If not, there is another option. Not a lesser option just different. If you can't find a house church in your area, pray. It may be that God is calling out the leader in you. Unlike what still waters said earlier, being in a House Church when there are a lot of other churches near by is fine. It does not mean your so difficult or so picky that you can't do church their way. Most often, its the lack of spiritual intimacy that causes a House Church to form in a heavily churched area. Most the go to Modern Churches simply blend in, that is not an option in a House Church. Its all hands on deck with us.

Ok so I have gone a bit long but I have a passion for the Church that was in the beginning. I believe a time is coming when it will no longer be safe to gather as the Modern Church does today. In fact, I truly believe that day is coming very soon. My best guess is in about 30 years. I believe it will happen at the same point we tip the worker to retiree ratio on its head. Its a guess based on research done by myself and by men and women a whole lot smarter than me chief among these, the late Chuck Colson and Dr. James Dobson.

In Christ,

Bishop SEH

 

[Lucy68]

I've attended a large church, a middle sized church, and a tiny church, and also a home church ("Church Without Walls"). I've had very good experiences in all settings (except one...the tiny church-there was a reason why it was tiny!). The Holy Spirit can work anywhere. Suffice it to say that there is no perfect method or place of worship. The main thing happens in individual hearts. Contrary to popular thought, I think a variety of church experiences is good. Sometimes we just get in a mental rut....learning how to be a Christian in different settings isn't necessarily a bad thing .

 

[MrsAsghar]

I don't think it matters as long as Gods biblical truth is being preached.

I haven't had good experiences in churches, at least in my area anyway. Too many are focused on pleasing man rather than pleasing God. Too many allow women and homosexuals in as preachers and both are not of God for the church. No one wants to preach the truth anymore. Church has become more of a place of social interaction rather than a place to worship God. And if you don't fit in, you are not very welcomed and cast aside as an outsider.

I feel if Jesus walked on earth today and walked into some of the churches, I believe He would be so disappointed and angry that He would do more than tip over tables as He did in His time with the money changers. Church today isn't anything like it used to be or what it should be. It is very sad.

So I think no matter where the church is held, whether in a "church" building, outside or in someones home, as long as the word is being preached and the truth of Christ is being taught, then I see nothing wrong with it. I think it is more important to have God in your heart, worship Him always and have fellow Christians to fellowship with, rather than a specific building to call a "church".

God bless

 

[Nancyer]

I attend a smaller church, about 125 people on Sunday mornings. But it is a real family. Everyone is welcome and everyone genuinely cares for one another. Our pastor doesn't tell people how to live their lives but his sermons are based on scripture, the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and puts it in perspective for today. My son, 18, has't quite figured out what he believes and what he doesn't but he attends every Sunday, participates in discussions and Bible Study, and is far more knowledgeable at his age then I was at that time, so I feel there is a solid basis there for him to grow on spiritually. I'm grateful for this church beyond measure.

One member has opened her home to a bible study lunch once a month. If there is more interest it will meet more often. I'm hoping to go this Wed., if my work schedule permits.

Praises be to God for putting this church in my life when He did.

 

[BishopSEH]

I don't think it matters as long as Gods biblical truth is being preached.

I haven't had good experiences in churches, at least in my area anyway. Too many are focused on pleasing man rather than pleasing God. Too many allow women and homosexuals in as preachers and both are not of God for the church. No one wants to preach the truth anymore. Church has become more of a place of social interaction rather than a place to worship God. And if you don't fit in, you are not very welcomed and cast aside as an outsider.

I feel if Jesus walked on earth today and walked into some of the churches, I believe He would be so disappointed and angry that He would do more than tip over tables as He did in His time with the money changers. Church today isn't anything like it used to be or what it should be. It is very sad.

So I think no matter where the church is held, whether in a "church" building, outside or in someones home, as long as the word is being preached and the truth of Christ is being taught, then I see nothing wrong with it. I think it is more important to have God in your heart, worship Him always and have fellow Christians to fellowship with, rather than a specific building to call a "church".

God bless

I agree with everything you posted, except that you place a limit or rather importance on just one of the five core values laid out in the Word. Biblical Instruction is vital but so are Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship and Service/Ministry.

One of the issue I have noted in all churches is the prioritization of certain core values over the other or even to the exclusion of others. In truth, House Churches are in a better position to uphold all five core values because we don't have the overhead. Because we commonly meet in homes that are supported by the homeowner, instead of a modern style church that is supported by a congregation, House Churches may take up an offering to ease the burden of the home owner but the primary way that the home is maintained is by the homeowner themselves.

Believe me or not, but overhead is a major stress point for the leadership on modern churches. Its a lot easier to heed the command not to worry when that worry is never an issue in the first place. It is one thing to have faith that God will make way for your church to grow its another thing to have to continually pray that your church will not fail. Yes, I said "your" church. All if the Church belongs to Christ but lets be clear, if the church fails not one of going to be quick to lay the blame on God. Give Him credit yes but blame, not so much. No if the Church fails first and foremost the Pastor will be blamed. Perhaps the Elders and Deacons too but certainly the Pastor.

That aside, the tighter the Church the greater the accountability. The greater the accountability the stronger the Church. That doesn't mean that a Church can not go the wrong direction but it greatly reduces the likelihood that some bad doctrine will derail a Church and turn it from God.

I can not stress enough that seminary is NOT a requirement to lead a church. Jesus is. The Bible is. Faith is. Seminary can increase your knowledge but it will never prepare one to lead. For that you need God, not a group of professors. If the Modern Church leaves your soul thirsty and you have made the effort to find an existing church then a House Church may be the way to go.

Starting one is not easy but if God is with you then only you can stop you. Find a local house church that can guide you or seek out someone like me that loves the House Church that can guide you. Also, going to a good solid Christian bookstore will provide you with a wealth of pastoral guides.

In Christ,

Bishop SEH