I'm just wondering why you gather in houses. It doesn't make much sense to me, the church I attend is very beautiful, its my favorite place.
Is it a confusion about the denominations that keep you away? Or do you think that the Apostles wouldn't gather in churches?
I'm just wondering why you gather in houses. It doesn't make much sense to me, the church I attend is very beautiful, its my favorite place.
Is it a confusion about the denominations that keep you away? Or do you think that the Apostles wouldn't gather in churches?
God bless,
Anthony
I think the idea is to make christianity simple, where the Bible is the only authority.
__________________ 1 Pet. 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
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We got along for three centuries without special buildings. I am not opposed to churches as such, but associated with them are many accretions gathered over the centuries that may not have that much to do with actually contributing to our relationship with God, through Jesus.
We wanted to have a group where each person belongs and contributes meaningfully - no clergy/laity barrier. It is working well for us after more than ten years.
I think this guiding principle will make a house fellowship succesful.
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials freedom, in all things love.”
__________________ 1 Pet. 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
The Scriptures (John 20:17;Revelation 3:12) refer to the Father as "the God" of Jesus Christ. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
There definitely seems to be benefits from both, and I think God blesses both. And, I personally am involved in both, presently. But our 'homechurch' is not under the authority of the 'structured' church we all attend...although that 'church' does have a big emphasis on home 'lifegroups' (their moniker preference).
A big part of what we believe, concerning the 'true' and 'biblical' definition of a 'church' gathering, is spelled out scripturally in Corinthians.
1CO 14:26 What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
In your church, if you have been unctioned with a hymn in your heart, is the choir going to sit down and let you lead it out in the Spirit? Or, if you have a lesson, is the pastor going to sit down and not preach 'his lesson' instead? If you have a revelation while your pastor is preaching his lesson, are you allowed to stand up and share it? Does your church even believe in 'tongues' 'interpretation' as valid today...and if they do, are you allowed to just stand up and speak out? I hope you get my point. We personally feel like the 'homechurch' setting fits scripture better than what goes on in the 'organized church' settings of today.
I'm just wondering why you gather in houses. It doesn't make much sense to me, the church I attend is very beautiful, its my favorite place.
Is it a confusion about the denominations that keep you away? Or do you think that the Apostles wouldn't gather in churches?
God bless,
Anthony
Paul's letter to Philemon begins with these words:
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home (TNIV)
Romans 16:5 states:
Greet also the church in their house.
From the beginning, the church met in houses. Cathedrals and church buildings were not part of Christianity when the church began. The house or cell church is getting back to the functioning of primitive Christianity.
There are biblical reasons for this as one person has already pointed out. How can the church properly function in an auditorium. How are we to practice I Cor. 14:26?
When you come together, each one has a humn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up (ESV).
When the church gathers it is not supposed to be dominated by only a few people, including the preacher. Each of us is gifted by God to minister when we gather as the ecclesia. Most believers are closed down in ministry today because of the very nature of the building-oriented church.
There are practical reasons for the church in the house, especially in times of persecution. The early church endured considerable persecution. Take the church in China today as an example. The Three Self Church is the one that is recognised by the Chinese Communist government. Can you imagine a vibrant Christianity being promoted by having to adhere to Communist ideology? That's why the church in China went underground, meeting in houses, and has grown to about 100 million believers in that nation. Praise God for the house church in China!
There are excellent biblical and practical reasons for the church abandoning "church" buildings and getting back into the house. This is what house church leader, Ralph Neighbour, calls the cell church. I'd recommend a read of his book, Where Do We Go from Here?
I am not speaking of a church meeting on Sunday in a building with cells that meet during the week, but a cell church that meets in the houses. There are times of celebration when Ralph Neighbour recommends hiring a hall to celebrate once a month. But the church gathering is based in the house. It also provides small groups for edification and for evangelism.
You know I used to ask the same question and attended church for 13 years. I was very involved with the church, but still there was always something missing. I wanted something more, maybe it was the fact that my son who has Aspergers' Syndrome and Bipolar disorder needed a special setting. Maybe I too needed a place that understood that although I too had a condition called Bipolar that God could use this vessel.
Let me just say that it was a difficult transition moving from a building church where everything basically is well established and has a traditional routine. That was it a routine. I didn't see growth. Was I growing? Absolutely not? Was my family growing? No!
I have to admit when my friend who is a missionary asked me if I would be willing to hold meetings in my home I was leary. I figured it was not church and that somehow we would be missing the mark. I have to tell you that it is the best thing that has ever happened.
We launched the home fellowship in May 2009. We are small we are only 6, however, from time to time others attend. In these few months each one of us has had the opportunity to teach the word, share their revelations, raise up funds for missions and send. We are discovering our gifts and talents. We are incorporating special needs in our ministry and learning that the traditional church was not equipped to teach our population, but that God could.
I am so excited about going to another level in Christ.
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Originally Posted by Glorthac
I'm just wondering why you gather in houses. It doesn't make much sense to me, the church I attend is very beautiful, its my favorite place.
Is it a confusion about the denominations that keep you away? Or do you think that the Apostles wouldn't gather in churches?
Anthony
Dear Anthony,
Any place would do to gather, and where two or more are gathered in the name of Christ, he shall be with them.
Coming together in a house is as the first Christians did. As members of the Way in the first centuries of our western counting they came together in each others houses to discuss the Word of God, to read the Torah, to talk about the Messiah and how to have to continue to live. They also came together to remember the Last Evening meal of Jesus. Together they broke the bread and shared the cup of wine.
wrote it clearly
Originally Posted by OzSpen
From the beginning, the church met in houses. Cathedrals and church buildings were not part of Christianity when the church began. The house or cell church is getting back to the functioning of primitive Christianity.
Originally Posted by scriptures
I think the idea is to make christianity simple, where the Bible is the only authority.
Yes, the accent has to be on the Bible, and sitting around the table or in easy chairs in the round all people can read aloud in turns and say they thought.
Originally Posted by Johnnz
We wanted to have a group where each person belongs and contributes meaningfully - no clergy/laity barrier. It is working well for us after more than ten years.
Also in areas where not many people want to share their believes it is a solution. But most important is the contribution each of the members of the 'congregation' or ecclesia bring in to the group. Each person becomes as important as the other, no matter which age, education, race or sex.
Originally Posted by Hillsage
A big part of what we believe, concerning the 'true' and 'biblical' definition of a 'church' gathering, is spelled out scripturally in Corinthians.
1CO 14:26 What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
In your church, if you have been unctioned with a hymn in your heart, is the choir going to sit down and let you lead it out in the Spirit? Or, if you have a lesson, is the pastor going to sit down and not preach 'his lesson' instead? If you have a revelation while your pastor is preaching his lesson, are you allowed to stand up and share it? Does your church even believe in 'tongues' 'interpretation' as valid today...and if they do, are you allowed to just stand up and speak out? I hope you get my point. We personally feel like the 'homechurch' setting fits scripture better than what goes on in the 'organized church' settings of today.
In the home church everybody can just bring up some songs and all can sing along. No there is not just a choir singing in the front of the house. All the people gathered together in the small environment try to enjoy the singing together, even when the background is a cd or tape.
The 'lesson' of the day can be told by any person of the community. He can do it standing up or sitting down. His words and body communication have to do the convincing.
"Speaking in tongues" is debatable, but in the home church we would expect everybody to contribute and having her or his say. Nice is it when you can hear the personal reactions which can contribute to the general feeling.
The danger for a big church building is that there is a distance created and that members become passive onlookers. In this small community everybody really can get involved and can feel how he is really a necessary asset in the group.
Church is not a building but the body of Christ (which is believers)
The Holy Spirit can move anywhere; home, street, and any building.
Bible Study held at church is great and there is nothing wrong with that.
A small group is a gathering of members who come together once a week to hear the Word of God from a church leader.
A small group, also known as cells, is more personal because of the smallness of the gathering. Every member becomes family. Everyone bonds. You can express your feelings, ask for prayer. It's very intimate.
Now why do they call them cells (only some churches do but small groups and cell groups are the same)? What does a cell in the body do? It multiplies. That is a cell groups main purpose; to multiply. To build up leaders. To make disciples of all nations.
I love the intimacy of a cell. I love them. But other people might be lead to a bible study in church or something... a bit larger. That is fine. Not one is better then the other. The Holy Spirit moves in both.
For me it's about fellowship and about being real with other folks. In the church everyone puts on their best show for other people. In homes people are who they are. People show up looking and acting like real people not like pompous fools. Yes, I do both regular churches and home churches. I'm not saying one is more appropriate than the other just that they have different places in your spiritual growth.
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