Whenever I tell people about house churches they have a hard time understanding what I mean. Our minds are so programmed to the typical religious service that most try to transfer that religious meeting into the houses. Unfortunately many do just that when trying to move into house church and they end up with the same religious rituals only now they are practiced in the house instead of a cathedral. If we are going to move into a New Testament Church meeting we not only have to change where we meet, but also, how we meet. Let me share with you the key dynamics of the New Testament House Church meeting.
Macro View
Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking bread, and in prayers.” Also, in verses 46-47, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart…” Remember that after Acts 8:1 God scattered the church through persecution and temple meetings ceased. These are the five major dynamics to the house church meeting. Let’s examine how each of them works.
Apostles’ Doctrine
The apostles’ doctrine is simply what the original twelve apostles taught. In particular they taught what Jesus taught, especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The book of Hebrew 6:1-3 also tell us of the principles of the doctrines of Christ which are repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment. The Didache, which is an ancient document that is attributed to the original twelve apostles, taught that any doctrine taught had to “increase righteousness”. We have discovered in our house churches the powerful benefits of the simplicity of the teachings of Jesus. Our objective is to train disciples who will live what Jesus taught! It is also evident that when people understand that we expect to obey Jesus many are so defiled with the heresies of easy believism that they reject the apostles’ doctrine. This leads us to our next point…
Apostles’ Fellowship
If a person rejects the apostles’ doctrine they are not eligible for the apostles’ fellowship. Doctrine will usually solve the fellowship issues. We put fellowship on an equal plane as doctrine. It is not enough to believe a creed or list of doctrines, they must be lived out relationally. In I John 1:7, the apostle John tells us, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” It is easy to adopt a belief system and sit in a religious environment and say you are Christian. It is quite another thing to live in a relational environment where others observe the things that you say and do on a regular basis. The “light” of relationships makes the religious very uncomfortable and will either demand repentance or they will run to the comfort of religion. How well did John state in the gospel of John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather that light, because their deeds were evil.”
Breaking Bread
Acts 20:7 says, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them,” On a typical Sunday in the early church the heart of the meeting was breaking bread. This was known as the “agape feast” or communion. The Lord’s Supper was not just a little cracker and a cup of juice it was a full meal. When we began to obey this verse, a whole new way of church life unfolded. Instead of a meeting for religious ritual in a building, we now meet for a meal. The meal is the centerpiece of church life that hosts the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and prayers. Sometimes preaching takes place in these meetings but that is only when one of the five-fold ministries gifts is present (we will further discuss this in the micro view).
Prayers
Jesus said that His house would be “a house of prayer”. Have you noticed how little space prayer is given in a typical religious service? Prayer has been reduced to a short transitional role for the next bit of entertainment. The House of God IS PRAYER!!! House churches provide the greatest environment for effectual fervent prayer. James 5:16 tells us “confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” When I am asked to pray for someone that I do not know, I pray with sincerity. When I am asked to pray for someone that I am in relationship with, I pray fervently!!! Jesus said in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The great promise of answered prayer is given to a gathering of two or three. This is the foundational building block of the church. Hell cannot prevail when prayers avail!!!
House to House
The Bible takes on a whole new meaning when we interpret the scriptures by applying them to the house church environment. Some of the greatest doctrinal errors come through forcing the Bible to fit in the unbiblical congregational structures. For instance calling a building the “house of God”, is absolutely unbiblical but common because of the power of traditions. Consider the following passages, how the use of the thought of house church seemed matter of fact to the early church: Acts 12:12, “…he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” Acts 20:20, “…how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house.” Romans 16:3-5, “Greet Prisca and Aquila…Also greet the church that is in their house.” Acts 16:14-15 also lists two other house churches. Colossians 4:15, “Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.” Philemon 1:2, “And to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house…” It is evident that the early churches met in houses not in buildings.
Micro View
The following passage of scripture gives us the greatest insight into a New Testament worship service. As you read notice the contrast between worship in a house church verses a traditional congregational church. I Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” Here we see how all the pieces come together. “EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS…” Instead of the church gathering to hear a professional preacher sermonize, every member is expected to bring evidence that they have been with Jesus! The way to judge the success or failure of the assembly is by edification. The word “edification” means house builder. The house is built when every member is free to be used by the Holy Spirit. As everyone contributes to the dialogue (not monologue), the Holy Spirit begins to prophesy through each person. It never ceases to amaze us how He knits every contribution from each person together. It is wonderful when He is in control.
Conclusion
If you are considering the idea of house church or maybe you are already in a cell group or small group gathering I encourage you to apply these dynamic. I assure you that the Holy Spirit will do the rest.