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Finally we've had enough!!!! I can't begin to tell you guys how frustrating it's been to find an IC in our area. To make a long story short we've spent the last 12 years "church-hopping" looking for a place that has a balance of spirit and truth (John 4:23). We stayed in some for over 4 years and some for 2 weeks so it's not like we haven't give it a chance. My heart has always been to seek to help and heal and not to just go to a church to get. However, when the foundations are so shaky and church politics gets in the way, I don't know...I'm just so disappointed. So our family has decided TODAY to try this homechurch thing out. Any advice would be helpful but one of my strongest convictions is that as Father of my children, I need to take the lead as Spiritual leader of my household and not delegate to some Sunday school teacher or Youth leader. My girls, (ages 13 & 14) have been hinting at doing this for some time now. Actually, we are in the perfect spot as well because they are involved already with a dynamic youth group on Saturday nights...it's just we sensed that we needed to be more interactive as a family unit on Sunday morning. So pray for us as we launch out on this new venture and we will include your expert advice and fellowship as well...
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asformeandmyhouse, Jesus taught that one should not call someone or accept the title teacher, rabbi, father - we are all brothers and sisters. Therefore the Sunday school teacher & Youth leader things are questionable - and glad that you don't rely on them. I was taught this verse at Sunday school long time ago: Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Must be my fault not to read the whole passage at that time and thus took a long time to come to understanding. What follows that verse was interesting (reads important): Deu 6:5-9 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
It all starts with oneself, then with the family, if it's a Christian family - and it's not easy, then with one's Christian fellowship - if there's one.
One question - why the need "to be more interactive as a family unit on Sunday morning"? I think the focus should be on interacting as a family, not on a particular day or time. I don't see that it has to be on a Sunday morning...
I don't know if "congratulations" are in order, but at the very least from one brother to another, who is trying to take very seriously the commands of scripture to us fathers, husbands, and bearers of truth, Thank you for what you are doing! It is so easy to just let things go along on their merry way without actually paying attention and saying, "Wait a minute here..." But it sounds like you have been paying attention and now you're taking the riens. Thank you for endeavoring to work out your salvation with fear and trembling!
Tomorrow will our 5th(?) week specifically gathering in our house as a family/church in the name of Lord. I can tell you over these few weeks that there is a greater confidence that we are going in the right direction. At first, there's that, mmmmm I hope we're doing the right thing... That gives way to looking for the fruit of our actions. Are we more/less/about the same being Christ-like? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident? Most recently, I discovered personally, that the DAILY walk has been more (for lack of a better word) important.
Last Sunday, (we meet on Sunday because that seems to work best for us) while my wife put things away after breakfast, I read aloud out of the Psalms. Then we sang together. Then we prayed together for the needs we were aware of. We finished by taking of the Lord's supper. Congregation size: 3. There was nothing formal about it - but it was deliberate and from the heart.
I have invited a neighbor over for a simple Bible study. We get together this coming Tuesday. He's already a believer, but mentioned he'd like to know the word better. One of the greatest ways I've discovered to do that is to teach home Bible studies. We've worked with a very simple one for years and that's where we're going.
Brother, may Jesus bless your steps as you and your family walk this narrow way. And remember, that some of things that helped us to make it along this far, are the same things we need to let go of in order to grab ahold of more.
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