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How to Start a House Church
Five ideas to keep in mind when you're planting something new
| posted 11/03/2008
House churches are not organizations that require people with administrative skills or immense giftedness to coordinate and direct a group—they simply call for ordinary people who are in love with Jesus. Neil Cole, in Cultivating a Life for God, believes that simplicity is the key to fulfilling the Great Commission. He says, "The more complex the process, the greater the giftedness needed to keep it going.'"
The really good news is that, to start a house church, you can lay down the burdens ...
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i have thought of the concept of HC many times. The Accountability and qualification factor has often come to mind. I was wondering how it would work if the HC plugged in to the IC once a month (maybe for communion). This would not only introduce the HC members to a greater body of believers but it might also infuse the IC with a new sense of vibracy and life to see the real reason to be a believer (winning others to Christ).
Hello my brother this is ownderful thought you have given it will work many people harts.i parsanally this the holy spirit thought givien to you god bless sir plz make many meseges and help many people life chenge. plz mail so that i can get more infarmetion my id is bnprasad777@yahoomail.com
god bless you all
I hear immediate warning bells go off whenever someone starts insisting "this is the biblical model." Not only is that usually a sign of a group emphasising one aspect of the faith over others, it is also a sign of rigid leadership - people unable to consider other points of view.
I came to Christ in the Jesus Freak days and have been part of many church models. I agree that the house church model avoids many distractions other models entail. We have been part of a single small group for 30 years. We have also been part of institutional churches.
It pays to remember that all those "distractions" in the institutional churches started for a reason: the need to teach the young, or the need to serve in poorer places, the need to go deeper in worship. These can come to clutter up a church, with all the active members on two or three committees, taking turns being in charge. In escaping those, the house church often neglects them.
I have just started a house church and I find your information on the house church to be very helpful. I was a cell group leader with a group of 12-15 persons. My mandate from God is to "turn people from darkness to light and from the power of satin unto God. I am familiar with the EATING, MEETING, PRAYING amd the MEETING after the meeting. Thanks
Actually the church is not just a place of discipleship. Jesus stated that it should be a house of prayer for all nations. Prayer is often the most neglected aspect of church. People start churches for all different types of reason and not all of them spiritual.
Accountability is important to keep the integrity of the people meeting. I agree that the church is made of people but also we are commanded not to stop coming together as the "manner of some." The five fold gifts of Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet Pastor and Teacher is to equip the people so that they would do the work of the ministry.
We are to reach the lost whether in a tradition church building or someone's home there are all important. One is not more relevant or necessary than the other. The Apostles met in both the temple and homes.
I see the word church or churches applied during comments. The truth is there is only one Church and that is Jesus Christ. Where ever I go to minister if it is street or building, I am the church. I don't go to church. We are the church. I think small groups are better because everybody knowns one another. I pray we all come to known the truth about the great commission. Do not make the church a business or a fashion show or entertainment. It a place of dicipleship.
Are these house churches property tax, and tax exempt? I also wonder if it is good to incorporate? Thanks for any help. Take care!
We started a house church but were spiritually attacked. It was wonderful as food was provided directly from our Lord. Worship music and leadership came from distances. Especially during the holidays it is good to establish a safe environment.
I don't really have any wisdom to share, but I am amazed by this idea. I'm starting a college-age ministry in partnership with my church and hopefully a network of others. This idea is so cool for lack of space (a building), building co-ed relationships, and building a greater community of believers who live like disciples. Very Cool!
Great starter article. More people who love the church and who love unreached people need to grab hold of this philosophy in their neighborhoods. There is no need to fracture what local churches are doing in the area but neither are we called to sit back and watch our unsaved neighbors perish. How about a neighborhood partnership with local churches. One exciting story I heard of, was a family who (with permission of their local church) began a house church Sunday mornings to gather their neighborhood who were sitting at home every Sunday morning. They made some fresh pancakes, invited their neighbors over and began a study of the Bible and prayed for their neighbors concerns (no strings attached). Within six months, they were discipling their neighbors and had a house church! Praise God for this article- now let's read the book.
Hear, hear! Larry and Floyd know what they are talking about. My husband and I have been leading a house church for almost two years, after leading a small group in a traditional church for over five years. Our house church is one congregation in a network that is elder-led and part of an established denomination. We are finally able to focus on reaching unbelievers. We believe that this model of church is closer to the biblical ideal. More articles from these authors please!
I served and worked with house churches in the US. I beliee that the dangers mentioned by John are reasonable. I also had a conversation with an associate of Neil Cole. I am for a house church conception; however, not the way it is being practiced here. For instance, the biggest problem I faced was the relativism penetrated to the church (i.e. "everybody's opinion was valid and there was no such thing as a wrong answer."). The second one being they don't properly equipping leaders and inadequate leaders leading house churches.
My another problem with the house church model presented by many is that they look at it as the "Biblical" model. I am not quite sure if it can be supported the way they described. So, instead of looking at the model as a tool, but as the identity and the philosophy of the group (i.e. I ended up arguing about the house church model more than about God and the godly life with bunch of elders and other leadersbecause they only cared about the house church).
I do believe that house churches were only made in response to the persecution a church goes AKA underground. so I find little need for house churches in semi "tolerant" nations (the world still hates us)
(although, China and Japan could use some, thousands.)
A very important part of church attendance for single Christians is to meet eligible Christians. How does it help this aspect of the young Christian? The hc as described (6-12 people) seems to best suited for young marrieds without kids, empty/near empty nesters or singles with other avenues for Christian social interaction. But then, maybe the hc focused on the unsaved and pre-Christians would not be the single Christian's cup of tea.
I have worked both with large cell churches in Asia and house churches in the USA. Actually the dangers mentioned by John are minimal at best.
As for the qualifications of a pastor, what are the Biblical qualifications? In additions where does the article state a "Not happy" start your own agenda? Its been my observation that people who warn against home churches have never really been a part of one. I would have to disagree with his chicken little attitude.
God is multiplying His church and using house churches to do so, the very NT Biblical model we see in the pages of scripture. I challenge anyone to see an IC in the pages of the New Testament. Its just not there. No, what we do see is small groups of believers meeting in homes. Its organic, less hierarchical, and very scriptural. My personal take as a pastor of an IC is we ned to get back to this very real Biblical model of Church.
I appreciate and agree with both Mario and John. I was inspired by the vision this article provided. Perhaps it is an issue of semantics. What is the difference between a small group Bible study and a house church as described in this article? There is no mention of financial support or non-profit tax status. As a pastor of an "ic", I would be thrilled if the members of this church would open up their homes to pre-Christians for fellowship and ministry. I will begin praying that the Lord would show me how to do the same.
Several aspects of this article concern me. They include:
Accountability
The qualifications of the leader to 'pastor'
The further splintering of the Body of Christ
The 'if you are not happy start your own' mentality
Lack of unity
The potential of members to be hurt
... please please think carefully before starting a micro 'church' - consider starting a small group within a Bible based established church.
I am in the process of starting a house church. I am continually being asked by churched Christians to join the hc. I have been relunctant because I am afraid of bringing into the hc the same culture of the ic (institutionalized church). That is why I left the ic.
June 01, 2009 9:09 AM
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