Why This Type of Church
It's Caring
People feel known and cared about in this type of church family. A single
woman said, "Home church is a place where I belong, where people are concerned
for each other." We need people in our lives that will be there for us through
thick and thin. In this type of "extended family" church we discover what
it means to "devoted to one another in love."
It's Faith-Building
Everyone develops his/her special God-given gifts and can participate in
the wonder of seeing God work through him/her. Our services are carefully
facilitated by leaders who keep order while allowing the leading of the
Holy Spirit. "Church" is a miraculous display of God working through His
People (the church) to display His love and power. What a faith-builder
to participate in this!!!
It's Freeing
Everyone is valued. Everyone matters. Everyone gets involved in the decision-making
and planning. Everyone takes ownership and fully belongs.
It's Biblical
The early church did not meet in large buildings that were bought and set
aside for "church." They met in facilities that were available: most regularly
in homes and then, less often, in synagogues or at the temple for larger
gatherings. Notice that churches were identified by the home that they met
in because this was the basic church structure:
"Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house." 1 Corinthians 16:19
"Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house." Colossians 4:15
It's Inexpensive
Church financial expenses are reduced which frees up more money for missions and charitable causes.
It's Easily Reproducible
Imagine vibrant families of caring Christians meeting in every neighborhood and marketplace of the world. Simple-house churches
are easy to start and multiply so that God's love and glory can easily reproduce in every part of the earth.
Christianity Becomes a Way of Life
One young woman said this about her home church experience: "It is an environment of faith in which I am being opened, nurtured, challenged, supported. It is an occasion from which I go out to be more effective during the week as a result of the focus that the group offers."