Housegroups

[Grace2022]

Anyone here that attends a housegroup or runs one?
I would love to know about this way of fellowship.
I am reading a fabulous old book given to me by a friend. It is called 'breakthrough' by Tom Rees. In it we are reminded that a lot of Jesus' ministry took place in private houses. This form of evangelism seems to me a very important and good way. Time and space to deeply discuss the Bible and our Lord in comfort privacy and the intimate setting of an inviting welcoming home, sharing food and drink. What could be better!

I do belong to a housegroup and one day i wish to run one too. When i feel confident to take the step.

I particularly would therefore like to hear from anyone who runs one and how they began please. Thanks.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Anyone here that attends a housegroup or runs one?
I would love to know about this way of fellowship.
I am reading a fabulous old book given to me by a friend. It is called 'breakthrough' by Tom Rees. In it we are reminded that a lot of Jesus' ministry took place in private houses. This form of evangelism seems to me a very important and good way. Time and space to deeply discuss the Bible and our Lord in comfort privacy and the intimate setting of an inviting welcoming home, sharing food and drink. What could be better!

I do belong to a housegroup and one day i wish to run one too. When i feel confident to take the step.

I particularly would therefore like to hear from anyone who runs one and how they began please. Thanks.

...breakthrough...is quite an old book. About that time was when I first started attending housegroups. I love the teaching and prayer, combined with the opportunity to have fellowship. As you say, what could be better...

 

[Dave-W]

I have been in home groups for for over 40 years and ran one for about a decade at my last congregation.

As to beginning a home group, you need the full support of the congregational leadership (pastor, elders). Every congregation approaches them differently so you need to find out how the leadership wants the group to work. Some will be a discussion of the past week's sermon. Others will be independent bible studies. Others will be care groups for people with needs of healing.

 

[sdowney717]

We went to a home group in the 80's and my experience was it was sort of emotionally painful.
We developed some friendships there, but the relationship with one half of the group was tough.
I never felt fully accepted there, we were late comers and the group had been together a long time.
Eventually the group disintegrated, people stopped coming and so did we.
So I have no desire to ever join another.

 

[Grace2022]

I have been in home groups for for over 40 years and ran one for about a decade at my last congregation.

As to beginning a home group, you need the full support of the congregational leadership (pastor, elders). Every congregation approaches them differently so you need to find out how the leadership wants the group to work. Some will be a discussion of the past week's sermon. Others will be independent bible studies. Others will be care groups for people with needs of healing.

Thanks! Great advice.

 

[Grace2022]

We went to a home group in the 80's and my experience was it was sort of emotionally painful.
We developed some friendships there, but the relationship with one half of the group was tough.
I never felt fully accepted there, we were late comers and the group had been together a long time.
Eventually the group disintegrated, people stopped coming and so did we.
So I have no desire to ever join another.

What a great shame. It does depend upon personalities.

 

[sdowney717]

What a great shame. It does depend upon personalities.

Philippians 2:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Was not one of their goals, the group was alpha type a personalities and some of the ones I did not click well with were in high earning jobs, very well off. We helped everyone move into new homes in the house group, but get this when we finally were able to buy our own home, not a single one from the group shows up to help us move in. That was what finally soured me on continuing with them. They all had excuses or they forgot. Really it was not worth it.

We got along ok with the home group leader, who is a medical doctor and had some loving care for all of the group. I also friended the stockbroker in the group and had an account with his company. We did not get invited to any of their parties, get togethers or any other things, but we did a lot of birthday parties for the kids with the shipyard family who was not well off. I helped them a lot fixing his car. That one family was relaxed and easier to fellowship with.

When we first started there I was working as a car mechanic and some of them wanted me to fix their cars for free, when they could easily pay to have anything done. When I refused, it was like I was not willing to be a servant and was given a cold shoulder, to this day, If I see him and his wife they make snide remarks, like we remember... but I did help Gretchen who had separated as a single mother with 3 kids with her car and home repairs for free. she and her husband had joined the group but sparks flew and they separated and he left off going to church. She was very poor. No one else in the group went over to help her either, that I knew of.

We moved on with our life. Wife became a school teacher, I went to university and worked as a medical technologist and earned 2 pensions. One of the alpha types who was very prickery with me lost his job and his finger in a basketball hoop, and had to move to Australia to find a similar paying job.

I don't know why I say anything about any of this, it has been decades since that time.
Our moving in day for the new house, my parents had come to visit and I was sad none of my home group showed up to help . I called several and they all said they were busy with other plans. I guess I found out those people were not my friends that day, so from then on I had no desire to spend time with them and they were an unfriendly bunch to us.

Eventually every single one of that group stopped going to our church, without exception. Most of them had been well connected in the church, positions of leadership, worship leaders, teachers, etc...

We went to that group for about 4 years once a week and it was so painful, when I finally got out of it, what a relief.

 

[Grace2022]

Philippians 2:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Was not one of their goals, the group was alpha type a personalities and some of the ones I did not click well with were in high earning jobs, very well off. We helped everyone move into new homes in the house group, but get this when we finally were able to buy our own home, not a single one from the group shows up to help us move in. That was what finally soured me on continuing with them. They all had excuses or they forgot. Really it was not worth it.

We got along ok with the home group leader, who is a medical doctor and had some loving care for all of the group. I also friended the stockbroker in the group and had an account with his company. We did not get invited to any of their parties, get togethers or any other things, but we did a lot of birthday parties for the kids with the shipyard family who was not well off. I helped them a lot fixing his car. That one family was relaxed and easier to fellowship with.

When we first started there I was working as a car mechanic and some of them wanted me to fix their cars for free, when they could easily pay to have anything done. When I refused, it was like I was not willing to be a servant and was given a cold shoulder, to this day, If I see him and his wife they make snide remarks, like we remember... but I did help Gretchen who had separated as a single mother with 3 kids with her car and home repairs for free. she and her husband had joined the group but sparks flew and they separated and he left off going to church. She was very poor. No one else in the group went over to help her either, that I knew of.

We moved on with our life. Wife became a school teacher, I went to university and worked as a medical technologist and earned 2 pensions. One of the alpha types who was very prickery with me lost his job and his finger in a basketball hoop, and had to move to Australia to find a similar paying job.

I don't know why I say anything about any of this, it has been decades since that time.
Our moving in day for the new house, my parents had come to visit and I was sad none of my home group showed up to help . I called several and they all said they were busy with other plans. I guess I found out those people were not my friends that day, so from then on I had no desire to spend time with them and they were an unfriendly bunch to us.

Eventually every single one of that group stopped going to our church, without exception. Most of them had been well connected in the church, positions of leadership, worship leaders, teachers, etc...

We went to that group for about 4 years once a week and it was so painful, when I finally got out of it, what a relief.

Wow i am so sorry to hear such things.
My view is do not get involved in people's lives. All i want is a group to meet once weekly and spend couple of hours reading and discussing the bible. That's it. The group i belong to do purely that with a couple of outings to maybe see a christian film. I want to run a similar group one day. I love the fellowship. We don't interfere in each other's lives at all. Maybe it's a cultural thing, this is England and the English outlook in things. Very understated and reserved!

 

[Grace2022]

Well good news. My dream will come true! My vicar and i have talked, i will be starting a housegroup this year. Cannot wait.
I am also getting involved in a charity group.
These are next steps for me and i pray for Jesus to guide me every step.
I am so excited!