Who are other people? They take on three different shapes: Enemies, neighbors, and family. What is our duty to them? Love. Love may take a different form with each group, but our duty is summed up as love. We love enemies by surprising them with our service toward them. We love neighbors by treating them like our family. And we love the body of Christ – our true brothers and sisters – in such a way that the world and spiritual powers are stunned by our oneness.
Edward Welch

What can a Home Church be like?

What can a Home Church be like?

by Glen on 2002-12-09 22:38:39

For the past five months, I’ve been part of a church group that migrated from meeting in a traditional church building, to meeting in homes. I want to share some of the questions I had before making the decision to do this, and what my answers to those questions are, at this stage of time.

Q1. Compared to a traditional church, what kind of place is a home church for new Christians – or people who feel they need the care/vision/leadership of a pastor?

A1. I can’t answer the first half of the question yet, but can say that our original group split over the issue of retaining no singular pastor. If God provides the gift of pastoral care to member(s) of the group, the loss may be tolerable to those who feel the need for it.

Q2. What kind of place is a home church for kids? Are they more or less bored than in traditional church?

A2. My kids are 10 mo., 10, and 12. Our expectations of them are no different in either setting. When we worship, they worship. When we listen, they listen. As for the baby, now crawling, he sometimes needs to be taken out to a bedroom. The older kids involvement in teaching times is higher than in a large group, obviously. And yes, a college-level lecture that drags on for 30 minutes WILL still lose them (-;

Q3. Do you believe that people in home churches more frequently find their place in God and with others in His church? Do you see richer relationships with God?

A3. My answer is yes, and yes. The size of the group does not matter to God – he’ll show up for 2 or even 1. My personal growth has boomed more in 5 months than in some 5 year periods of my life. And good friendships have developed.

Q4. How do home churches led by a plurality of elders (vs a single pastor) do?

A4. God gives us all giftings, and He has a plan for groups like this to form. If it’s His will, He will provide people for the group to function effectively. Sharing the workload, and respecting the good intentions of all in the group is critical. So is driving forward and following God’s will for the group.

Q5. Are home churches prone to “close up shop”?

A5. I cannot answer this question from experience. I think the group should shut down if it is unable to follow God’s plan. If a member feels their growth can be better stimulated elsewhere, they should leave.

Q6. Do most home churches aspire to become Big Churches?

A6. I think this can be a debilitating and distracting trap laid by Satan. Two people meeting together for growth, worship, and encouragement can accomplish more of God’s plan than an entire congregation lured away by the pride of building and property ownership, building programs, and facility maintenance. If size and numbers in a single building is our vision, we have lost our understanding of our commission. In any situation, every christian should always be able to know they are in God’s perfect will for their life, right now.

Q7. Is there any reading material or authors who can enlighten me on the home church subject?

A7. Frank Viola has written several very good books, and the bible is an excellent example of house church life.

Q8. What can/do home churches offer the traditional church? We are all Christ’s Bride, so how do we work together?

A8. It’s perfectly acceptable to attend a large church for teaching and big events, and a home church to know and be known by others. Sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd of a large church. Smaller groups provide a balance. The home church I attend keeps local pastors and congregations in our prayers.

Q9. What bad home church experiences have you had?

A9. The worst feelings I have had so far were when our original church group “halved” as we each followed our perception of what was right for each of us. Fortunately, that pain was lessened by the excitement of moving forward with others who wanted to be a home church.

Q10. How do you think a home church should be organized? How would God want it?

A10. God already gave us skills and giftings before we came together as a group – and He gave us new gifts when we formed. I see no need for “offices”. It’s absurd to take on titles. We’re just God’s people getting together to follow Him. When specific needs come up for certain gifts, someone will step forward and do their part.

Q11. Are home churches outcasts in the eyes of many other Christians? Aren’t home churches like cults?

A11. That’s the first reaction of some people I’ve met. To paraphrase Keith Green, meeting in a home church makes us a cult no more than eating at McDonalds makes you a hamburger. The New Testament church started as home churches, and survived that way.

Q12. Do home churches ever get together?

A12. I hope so. I would want this so we can develop more friendships and enrich each other. I also would like to see home churches gather the unsaved into themselves and grow and multiply that way.

Q13. How do you sense that God might use home churches?

A13. The home is less threatening than a big building full of strangers. I would hope this environment could draw more unsaved people to God. Also, the unused gifts of people who are outclassed by the giftings of others in big churches can be drawn out and grown by God in the smaller setting. This has been my personal experience.

Q14. Does someone who starts a home church lead it, or just set it up and leave?

A14. If the person has the gift of an apostle/pastor, I would hope that they train others to care for the group, and then move on and do it again with another group. That is exactly what Paul and several of the disciples did.