Over the last few weeks I have been processing the concept of “House Churches, “Simple Churches” and a number of other titles, including “Book of Acts Churches” those that meet in the model of the New Testament Churches.
This is not intended to be anti established denominations. Rather it is a quest to extend the forms and functions available to any church to increase their effectiveness in providing evangelistic and discipleship opportunities, to those who have yet to experience the life change that is experienced and inevitable after an introduction to the Real Jesus the Christ.
I think that this piece really needs some definition of terms and even clarification of intent. A church by one definition is “Christians wherever and however they gather. Gatherings are meant to be living breathing organisms in the body of Christ.”Source:
OIKOS) Home Churches are groups who meet in the living areas of a private home and to do most Church functions in terms of the participant’s life and witness.
There are no minimum numbers for a fellowship of believers, a church was a minimum of two or three according to Matthew 18:21 but in the two verses prior Jesus gives the means of resolving conflict which started with two or three then went to elders and ultimately to the church as a fellowship.
The Early Church in Jerusalem examples run like this;
“Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)
Historically every Church movement, where God did something new with His Church, started with early assembly in a home or other venue. The Methodist Church was founded through assemblies in open fields; The Lutheran Church in Sweden did as well. Today the established churches use the “small group” method to meet away from their fellowship centre during the week, an activity which fits well within the definitions that I used above, these meetings would include such activities as Bible Studies, Prayer meetings, Cell Groups, craft groups and similar fellowship activities
Church groups that have been commenced outsides the auspices of an organized church invariably have a similar pattern. The membership will be different because there is no way to associate with a church, through geographic location or some other factor that is remote to any established church. I remember as a teenager going to a home church and Bible study (mid week) that was hosted by Brethren friends of the family who were 100 Kilometres from their home assembly
I have also heard of study groups that have been mainly non-christian but who met together to read the Bible as God’s authoritative book. Other groups that have been set up have been based on locational factors such as a church group ministering to the street/block where the house is located, others become established, or meet, in places of business or some other venue. I heard of on person/team who went about establishing Bible Studies, then churches, in retirement villages with the blessing, and encouragement of the village administrators,
Organisations such as ISCF, CE, and Navigators, all undertake to reach out to students in schools through Bible studies and open events featuring Christian artists. Others, still, have been tasked to disciple young believers into mature believers
Each of these groups has as a core platform in their vision, the great Great Commission of Jesus to “Go make Disciples and Teach them to believe”. Some do one more than another, but that is a new Testament concept all a part of the one body that works together when we recognize accept and work out that function God has given us (1 Corinthians 12:27). When we can all do this we promote His glory to all those around us. Remember one of Jesus’ last prayers was that “we might be one”.
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