Going to Church by Staying at Home

[Resting In Him]

Going to Church by Staying at Home

Clergy-Less Living Room Services Seen as a Growing Trend

By Michael Alison Chandler and Arianne Aryanpur
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, June 4, 2006; Page A12

After Sunday dinner at Joe Rodgers's Rockville home, guests adjourn to the living room for church.

In his makeshift chapel, wooden kitchen stools and a floral print couch act as pews, a portable keyboard substitutes for an organ and the host, an electronics technician by day, serves as pastor.

Cont'd... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/03/AR2006060300225.html)

[HSmomto4]

For them, church is not tied to a building or confined to a couple hours a week, he said. "It's a way of life."

I love this line, it just made my heart sing. How do people feel about home churches and do you think it will become a way of life during the end days?

[zhan]

Oh, definitely. :D:

It will have to become a way of life as persecution grows. In other countries where Christianity is illegal and people are killed for their faith, it IS the way of life. :sigh

Mind you, I’m sure the one world church will be more than able to gather openly.

[sozo'ed]

For them, church is not tied to a building or confined to a couple hours a week, he said. "It's a way of life."

I love this line, it just made my heart sing. How do people feel about home churches and do you think it will become a way of life during the end days?
The New Testament Church took place in homes...the synagoges still belonged to the Jews, so the new Christians took to their homes, and broke bread together, heard the Word and testimonies of Christ, and fellowshipped together. " And many joined them, seeing their love one for another"!!

Sadly, how far our current churches have drifted away from this powerful and simple concept of "Ecclesia" or Jesus' 'called out ones'.

I do think that during the Trib. that's going to be the ONLY place Christians will be able to pray together and help one another...in each other's homes, and in secret.

[james48]

This is exactly how I have been feeling lately. I lead a small group Bible study, and some members of my old group want to reform and have home-church instead of going to our Sunday morning service. I am getting very frustrated with how our church is trying to become a mega-church, and the sermons have become so watered down. Even my old associate pastor stepped down, and decided to start a home church. I have not been to Sunday service in 4 weeks, and I went out yesterday trying to go "church-shopping," visiting another church, but I see that it is not only our church, but all of them seem to want to be like these mega-churches. Have any of you participated in home church, and if so, what are your thoughts.

[HSmomto4]

I myself have felt God leading my husband and I to do something in our home, I wonder if this is where He is leading us? I just have a really hard time going and sitting in my Sunday school class and then church and feeling no real connection to us and God. Or feeling as if we are rushed to get the Sunday school lesson over so we can move on to church. This past Sunday we had a lot of announcements and prayer request and we had to skip part of our lesson and rush through the rest of it and it was a great lesson on the first chapter of Job. I was very sad that we had to miss so much of it. I'm glad to see that people are trying to change this by going to home based churches.

[seeHimsoon]

Fortunately we found a good solid Christ honoring/Jesus and bible centered church. If not though, we would be looking around for some way to meet in a home with believers. We are open to that. Some people cannot find one decent church anywhere near them. Meeting in homes, like they did in the beginning, is something we all should consider if we are having a hard time finding a good church. We do not know if we may have to only meet this way (and not in public) in the future.

[LennaD]

We've been holding "home church" for over a year now and I can't begin to tell how deeply God has blessed our uncertain efforts. When it became apparent that we would NOT find a bible-believing church in our area, we were left with no choice but do it ourself. God has touched our lives in ways we never imagined by opening His Word so powefully (so how do I really feel about it?) After a year, we can't imagine doing it any other way!

[Resting In Him]

We've been holding "home church" for over a year now and I can't begin to tell how deeply God has blessed our uncertain efforts. When it became apparent that we would NOT find a bible-believing church in our area, we were left with no choice but do it ourself. God has touched our lives in ways we never imagined by opening His Word so powefully (so how do I really feel about it?) After a year, we can't imagine doing it any other way!

Hi Lenna and fellow Washintonian. Wished you lived a little closer - we'd join you. :):

[Charity4Ever]

Here on campus, it is either a seeker-sensitive church or Christian fellowship. Or social Gospel.

First I tried to request more in-depth, Biblical exegesis to the pastors I know around here. Either no response or negatory. Then I offered to start something within those groups, with the same response. Obviously I can't ask them for advice, or go with them, because it is not in their philosophy.

So I tried to start something that is outside of these groups, but it has all been uphill. No person to be our advisor, or pastor. No more than one or two people who are interested and/or could help. And I have had no choice but to conclude that it isn't God's will.

Yet when I talk to people (and I've talked to three or four people over the past year) they all agree in my complaint of being bored and unable to grow. I know one person who is no longer a believer because of that.

[LennaD]

Charity4Ever, I just wanted to encourage you not to look at numbers as your sole indicator of God's will. There are only three in our home church and God has been knocking our socks off spiritually. He promised where ever there were two or three gathered together in His name, He would be there.

Many times we think that if something is a struggle then it must not be right, but often when we ARE doing the right thing, the enemy gets us in his sites and can make things very difficult.

Take if from someone who has had their derierre shot full of arrows by the enemy. I started looking at it as a positive indicator that I was doing something the enemy didn't like! Don't give up until you definately feel the Holy Spirit slam the door shut!

[roadrunner570]

Here on campus, it is either a seeker-sensitive church or Christian fellowship. Or social Gospel.

First I tried to request more in-depth, Biblical exegesis to the pastors I know around here. Either no response or negatory. Then I offered to start something within those groups, with the same response. Obviously I can't ask them for advice, or go with them, because it is not in their philosophy.

So I tried to start something that is outside of these groups, but it has all been uphill. No person to be our advisor, or pastor. No more than one or two people who are interested and/or could help. And I have had no choice but to conclude that it isn't God's will.

Yet when I talk to people (and I've talked to three or four people over the past year) they all agree in my complaint of being bored and unable to grow. I know one person who is no longer a believer because of that.


That, or maybe GOd wants you to lead this group for the time being perhaps. You don't need to have an ordained pastor or whatever for a bible study group or small church. The early church didn't have any such things, and in just getting started, it just takes a few people with a love for Christ to get going.

[queenb]

THis is very interesting. I wonder though, what do you do with your offering? We have left our church and put our offering in a seperate bank account until we find another church or feel led to give it to a worthy organization. We were told that was wrong that the bible teaches we should make an offering each week.

One thing we dont understand is if we felt that we were to leave our church, why we havent felt led to attend any other church. It has been about 9 months. We attend other churchs, but dont feel like they are the one.

[Singlesis]

I held my first home-group meeting this morning!!! Been wanting to do it for quite some time - I've been SO discouraged in the whole church-search thing. So I had 2 of my friends (who have also been discouraged with the way our old church has headed) over for breakfast, and then a bible study. The bible tells where "two or three are gathered..." - that's all it takes - just 2 or 3... and He is there. It was awesome, and we've agreed to start meeting at least once a week.

[Rosebudlr]

I am sorry to say that I stopped going to our church because of the sermans being so nonchalant and our pastor wont talk about end times and the Book of Revelation. I havent found any church locally that does preach what I am looking for so , my hubby and I are spending our Sundays at home with JVI and Hagee and few others to help fill our needs. I think I would be very interested in trying to start a home group meeting like what is mentioned above. I dont know how or where to start though but I bet I know people who would love to get together.

Maranatha!

[sewserious]

Count me in as another one, well my family too! I just finished teaching a Precept course at church last night. We won't be going back. We felt really led to attend/join the church we were in, but after a few months, we realize that it is not to be. I think God did lead us there, only to see that there is something else he has in store for us.

Our family will be having "church" at home from now on. I have me, my husband, our 15 yo DD, our 24 yo DD, her husband, and their 2 girls (18 months and 4) living with in the same house right now. The olders one will take turns teaching the younger ones. Us older ones will be doing some Precept Ministry "40 minute" studies. Charles Stanley has FREE video podcasts of his weekly sermons on ITunes. We will use those for the time being, but we will eventually be transitioning to something else. I am both :(: and :): at the same time about this, but we have to go where God leads. :nod

[Charity4Ever]

I'm nowhere near qualified as a pastor would be with the level of study we would be interested in, and I have a feeling it would be just like a discussion where the consensus is what would be, and that may or may not be anywhere close to Scripture, especially if it is a more advanced study where I am trying to learn ahead of the group. And, I won't have a lot of time to learn ahead of time and also learn how to teach--i'm finishing graduate school and also helping start and lead a worship service at Church. The other girl who was also interested in it is gone.

And anyway, I'm a girl. Doesn't it say in the Bible that women are not supposed to lead over men in spiritual matters? Isn't that what the early Church did?

If I could start a group up with just three people that would be great...but, school rules say you need at least ten people to start a club and with that, get funding, find a permanent place to meet, and let it be known you exist.

[HSmomto4]

THis is very interesting. I wonder though, what do you do with your offering? We have left our church and put our offering in a seperate bank account until we find another church or feel led to give it to a worthy organization. We were told that was wrong that the bible teaches we should make an offering each week.

One thing we dont understand is if we felt that we were to leave our church, why we havent felt led to attend any other church. It has been about 9 months. We attend other churchs, but dont feel like they are the one.

From what I had read about home-churches, they take the offering and send it to a Christian charity or support missions around the world.

[HSmomto4]

I am sorry to say that I stopped going to our church because of the sermans being so nonchalant and our pastor wont talk about end times and the Book of Revelation. I havent found any church locally that does preach what I am looking for so , my hubby and I are spending our Sundays at home with JVI and Hagee and few others to help fill our needs. I think I would be very interested in trying to start a home group meeting like what is mentioned above. I dont know how or where to start though but I bet I know people who would love to get together.

Maranatha!

There is a home-church web site with a directory on it of other people in all areas looking for home-churches. I can't remember the name of it but I think it was like homechurch.org or something.

[HSmomto4]

And anyway, I'm a girl. Doesn't it say in the Bible that women are not supposed to lead over men in spiritual matters? Isn't that what the early Church did?



I think that is up to interpretation, but I feel the verse about being silent in the church is taken way to wrong. And you are more qualified than you think. Just remember if God can use a STICK to free the Israelites from Egypt, He can use you.

[50by30]

I, too, am part of what was a home church, and now works with a local ministry that is dedicated to encouraging pregnant women to keep their babies (rather than abort.) It has been an amazing journey we have traveled from starting as a handful of friends and family meeting in a home to now meeting each Sunday morning in the downtown Louisville ministry center.

Someone asked about offering. Yes, the money is given to other ministries or missions. For us, we're giving our offerings (as a church) to the ministry where we meet.

An interesting factoid - I won't quote exactly until I can get the book and provide the exact numbers - but there's a stat that shows that in the U.S., more money is taken from offerings to pay for property mortgages (church buildings) than is given for mission work. IMO, that's kinda sad.

With home church (or as in our case where the facility is owned separately and we are allowed to meet,) all or nearly all of the giving can go directly toward mission work or other ministries.

From my perspective, the home church movement seems to be gaining ground...and from talking with members of our church, I'd have to say the overwhelming reason has to do with the lack of spiritual "meat" that was being received in the other local churches. "Seeker friendly" seemed to be a theme with them.
But perhaps just as important was the sense of the need for "family." My father-in-law (who is our pastor) and I were discussing this some time back. As he pointed out, we can get just about everything else we get in a larger church on our own (music CDs to worship with, study guides to teach, Bibles to read, communion to take.) What we couldn't buy or get in a larger church was the family structure that seemed to be prevalent in the 1st cent. church. In a small group Bible study, or a home church, that can be much more available.

Home church, or small-unorganized churches such as ours, are not for everyone. And, I don't dispell the good that God does through many larger churches and ministries. But, I do see home churches becoming a more widely-recognized direction.

[Singlesis]

An interesting factoid - I won't quote exactly until I can get the book and provide the exact numbers - but there's a stat that shows that in the U.S., more money is taken from offerings to pay for property mortgages (church buildings) than is given for mission work. IMO, that's kinda sad.
I don't have any stats either, but it makes sense. It takes lots of money to operate an average-size church - so much the more for a mega-church. Just think of the mortgage (building) loans, insurance, sound-systems, lighting equipment, computers and programming, not to mention the simple "light bill" - cost of heating and cooling is astronomical. Many operate bus ministries, etc., which are good in and of themselves, but their gasoline prices are increasing too. Then everything else from choir robes to staffing salaries. The bigger the church, the more paid employees to support. The list goes on and on....

With a home church, there is no overhead. All moneys can go to a charity or mission of your choice, or into a "pot" to help out your own group with unexpected medical bills, car trouble, whatever.

[HeartlandGal]

Our family started to "home church" about 5 months ago. It may or may not be temporary until we can find a bible based church. The problem we are finding is that many that claim to be bible based, aren't. The church we left was the same one my DH was baptised in when he was 11 years old. It has changed so much it is almost unbelieveable.

Some of the changes are..

Womens sunday school class is based on womens relationships with other women. (How to be a good friend).

Youth group has toga parties, no dress code, at times is violent, including R-rated video games being played.

Fellowship is dependent on what you do in the church

Has become anti-homeschooling

Church elders and deacons using foul language at chuch softball games. It's acceptable during sports.

Most of the sermons take a scripture and he gives it the meaning he wants it to mean for his sermon. Choosing to use it out of context. Most sermons are not biblically based, but more of a "feel good so you will come back next week" kind of sermons.

No accountablity of anyone. Especially not deacons or elders.

Certain sins are still sins but have become acceptable sins. Such as living together without being married, being pregnant and unmarried, homosexuality, gossip- these are acceptable sins because it is apart of our culture in the US.

This church at one time was NOT like this at all. I have no idea how it got to this point. It's made us maybe even overly cautious of other churchs now. So unless God tells us where he wants us, we will continue to home church and enjoy it and grow from it.

[antsinmypants]

The New Testament Church took place in homes...the synagoges still belonged to the Jews, so the new Christians took to their homes, and broke bread together, heard the Word and testimonies of Christ, and fellowshipped together. " And many joined them, seeing their love one for another"!!


This is true... once they were kicked out of the Synogogues. during the writings of the apostles, they were still mostly (though not completely) meeting in the Synogogues.

[dustbuckets]

just a curious question about home churches. Those of you who are in them, I know you are no different than anyone else, so you have spritual issues, relationship issues, emotional issues, financial issues etc, who do you go to for guidance, spiritual advice, who is your "covering" or sheppard?

Do you guys just open up in a group setting to discuss real life issues in front of everyone?

Do you keep real life issues to yourselves and deal with them at home with the Lord?

When there are financial issues, does everyone chip in?

I'm not knocking home churches at all, just curious how a small group with no "headship" deals with these things.

[Singlesis]

just a curious question about home churches. Those of you who are in them, I know you are no different than anyone else, so you have spritual issues, relationship issues, emotional issues, financial issues etc, who do you go to for guidance, spiritual advice, who is your "covering" or sheppard?

Do you guys just open up in a group setting to discuss real life issues in front of everyone?

Do you keep real life issues to yourselves and deal with them at home with the Lord?

When there are financial issues, does everyone chip in?

I'm not knocking home churches at all, just curious how a small group with no "headship" deals with these things.
These are all good questions... sadly, the pastor or leadership at the last 2 churches I was involved with, were basically "unapproachable". The pastor of my mother's church for 50 years and where I grew up, does not associate with anyone except the six-figure crowd, and I couldn't even get her deacon to visit her in the hospital or nursing home. So even while "in church", we've had nobody to go to for quite some time. I guess we've just become accustomed to sharing and praying among our closest Christian friends. :noidea

[Azariah]

How wonderful! I would LOVE to host or attend a home church. This is something that I think I would very much enjoy.

[LennaD]

[QUOTE=dustbuckets]just a curious question about home churches. Those of you who are in them, I know you are no different than anyone else, so you have spritual issues, relationship issues, emotional issues, financial issues etc, who do you go to for guidance, spiritual advice, who is your "covering" or sheppard?

Do you guys just open up in a group setting to discuss real life issues in front of everyone?

Do you keep real life issues to yourselves and deal with them at home with the Lord?

When there are financial issues, does everyone chip in?

I'm not knocking home churches at all, just curious how a small group with no "headship" deals with these things.[/QUOTE/]

I can't speak for other home churches but in ours, from the very beginning our one goal was to let the Holy Spirit have the ultimate authority in the group. The trick to this is you have to learn to listen, REALLY WELL!

It has been a challenge and an incredible growth experience. The bottom line is that we are ALL under the authority of the Holy Spirit and if God has led one into the home church ministry, He is more than able to provide all the covering and leadership that a group needs.

I have been amazed at the "oneness" we have experienced, something I NEVER experienced in a mainstream church. All to often carnal christians with less than godly motives end up in leadership and the "covering" becomes an excuse for sheep bashing and fleecing.

This was the original format of the Gentile churches for the first 300 years, so it must work.

[Singlesis]

I have been amazed at the "oneness" we have experienced, something I NEVER experienced in a mainstream church. All to often carnal christians with less than godly motives end up in leadership and the "covering" becomes an excuse for sheep bashing and fleecing.
:sad

[ub4war]

For them, church is not tied to a building or confined to a couple hours a week, he said. "It's a way of life."

I love this line, it just made my heart sing. How do people feel about home churches and do you think it will become a way of life during the end days?


:thumb ---and trend will grow i think

[Rosebudlr]

There is a home-church web site with a directory on it of other people in all areas looking for home-churches. I can't remember the name of it but I think it was like homechurch.org or something.
Thankyou HSmonto4, I will try searching that one out.:):

[Srogue]

I see both good and bad in this. It can make it more personal, and as some have said already, it will be the only church available once Christianity becomes perscuted here in the US, just as in China. The only problem I really have at this point, is that in some of these home churches, there is no "leader", and wild unsound doctrines can take root and people can get off into some really wierd stuff. A friend of mine, who I don't consider to be a particularly strong Christian, nor does he have a firm foundation in biblical truth, is part of a church like this. There is no "leader", no pastor, and different people get up each week and share what is on their heart, and they take turns doing whatever they feel like. While some may think this is great, it has lead to some really wierd sermons/messages, including messages praising celebrities and atheletes (some of whome aren't even Christians, and the praise should really be for the Lord alone.)

What I am getting at, is if there isn't someone in attendance who is grounded in the faith, who the people can turn to, it can be pretty much a crap shoot and a situation of "the blind leading the blind" In the early church's case, they had the appostles who started the churches, and the appostles deciples. That was fine, and great. But now, you don't have that in some of these "home churches."

Again, I love the idea of a more personal worship service, and the neccesity of them in the future, just be wary that there are people there at these services that take the Bible seriously and have a firm foundation in it.

[Live4Jesus]

We were in a home church when we lived in Wyoming. Our pastor had passed away and there was a church split shortly after (long story). Anyway, those of us who went with the new pastor met in my home for almost a year. There was about 15 of us not including the kids. It was so much more intimate and the fellowship was great. I would love to get back into something like that.

[My Abba's Child]

The New Testament Church took place in homes...the synagoges still belonged to the Jews, so the new Christians took to their homes, and broke bread together, heard the Word and testimonies of Christ, and fellowshipped together. " And many joined them, seeing their love one for another"!!

Sadly, how far our current churches have drifted away from this powerful and simple concept of "Ecclesia" or Jesus' 'called out ones'.

I do think that during the Trib. that's going to be the ONLY place Christians will be able to pray together and help one another...in each other's homes, and in secret.

Actually, for quite some time, they met in the synogogues as well. :): I just took a look through Acts again recently... haven't made it all the way through, but I did get past how the first "Christians" or, more accurately, "Followers of the Way" worshipped and fellowshipped.

In His love,

[dustbuckets]

Actually, for quite some time, they met in the synogogues as well. :): I just took a look through Acts again recently... haven't made it all the way through, but I did get past how the first "Christians" or, more accurately, "Followers of the Way" worshipped and fellowshipped.

In His love,

This was my impression as well and only when life threatening persecution began did they go into their homes and underground.

Interesting tidbit, I have had the Blessing of knowing several Karen from Thailand and Burma where the Burmese and Thai armies will destroy their villages in the jungle and run the Karen out or put them in jail, take them as slaves, kill them, etc, for their Christianity, but the Karen steadfastly refuse to give up and in many cases the very first thing they rebuild in the village is a church or tent so they can all come together in worship.

The tide is, however, beginning to turn and many of their persecuters are giving their lives to Christ and Karen who have lost family members are forgiving them and allowing the killers into their villages, even into their homes! It's truly an amazing thing!