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Hello, Searching and reading all material for information about Home Church. (HC)In my search I would appricate your input for my questions. 1. What are the prerequisites for a person to meet as a Home Church? 2. Doesn't the name "Home" in its self limit the number of believers in a worship service? 3. What happens in a HC when the group increases in number and no longer have enough space. (My experience at this point is they began to look for a building and a full time Pastor.) Where as, I am led of the Lord in the concept of "small group" Home Church, in my experience have found searching for information is very piece mill. I would ask of those founded in this movement, is it possible that God is planting the seeds for Home Church in His children and the "seeds" need to be harvested in faith and bonding together to activate the fullness of His Church in these last days? I believe in my spirit, that as this concept of "smallness" in Christ's Church blooms and produces seed crops, the Church will again experience a revivial not seen since the days of Acts and the gathering of the New Testameent Church. I exhort all who are called in the direction of Home Church: "BLOOM WHERE GOD HAS PLANTED YOU!" Ken Butler
Ed Waken
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Ken,
I only have a minute so let me respond to your third question which reads "3. What happens in a HC when the group increases in number and no longer have enough space. (My experience at this point is they began to look for a building and a full time Pastor.)" I think the answer lies in the DNA of the church. Is the church based on reproduction or assimilation? If it is assimilation, then they will probably feel lead to find a building and a full time pastor. However, if they have reprductive DNA, then they will be willing to begin new organic churches (I prefer organic over house because it doesn't limit them to a specific location but speaks of the principle behind it)that will in turn begin more organic churches (2 Tim. 2:2). All healthy organisms reproduce therefore the church should be in the reproductive business on all leves (individuals, churches, leaders, mentors etc.). Many HC's in history seem to be lead by a more maverick leader who tended to be independent and isolated from others, even other HC's. I have a vision to see organic churches to become interdependant not independent. I would love to see regional organic churches to network and worship together periodically (as the political/cultural climate allows) to form a unified base, help with oversight issues when requested by others and promote a prayer/vision base of apostolic leadership. I'll try and answer your other questions later...be blessed! Ed Waken
Faith
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Your question should be who qualifies one to home church? Answer: Jesus! You can do all things through he who lives in you.
posted
Ken, Re. your question # 1:Those who would meet as a home church need to: -be SAVED, -REJECT ALL OTHER AUTHOURITIES OR STANDARDS OR DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN SCRIPTURE, -BE WILLING TO RECEIVE OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONAL BACKGROUNDS FROM THEIR OWN, -BEGIN TO GET A FIRM GRIP ON THE VAST DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE OLD COVENANT AND THE NEW! (Most of Christendom functions under the Old, 2000 years after it decayed, waxed old and vanished away! (Heb.8:13)
You certainly don't need a seminary education, human "ordination", degrees, tiles, or even experience! All those who have had the blood of Christ applied have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1), are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9,10) and have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness (II Peter 2:3)!
Re. your question #2: A house CERTAINLY DOES LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN ATTEND! That is the beauty of the whole concept of house churching! When the numbers grow, the number of house churches multiply! Once a group gets much more than 25 or 30 on a regular basis the ability to share and minister and the intimacy of the gathering decreases!!! Did you ever notice that in the vast majority of large congregations there is absolutely no ability for "Joe or Jane Christian" to share or minister what God has just taught them? Did you ever notice that "Joe and Jane Christian" NEVER experience intimate fellowship and caring with "Bob and Bonnie Believer" (the back of whose heads are plainly visible in the pew ahead of them each week)???
In a house church you rarely (if ever) are compelled to watch the back of somebody else's head while you listen to a boring lecture from behind the "pulpit"! Rather, you have eye contact with almost everybody in the livingroom, and there is so much happening that almost NOBODY falls asleep for fear of missing out on something!!!
Re. your question #3: When a gathering gets too large for the house in which it meets IT IS CLEARLY TIME TO MULTIPLY BY DIVISION! (Not the nasty kind, but the friendly co-operative kind of division which is spelled G-R-O-W-T-H!) The house church which we have been privileged to be part of since the end of March this year started in february and next Sunday we expect to meet in two homes for the very first time. New folks are coming all the time and we have known for some time that we were getting too big. We're convinced that growth will be much more rapid and mionistry much more effective in two smaller groups than if we retained one larger one! Bruce Woodford
[This message has been edited by Bruce Woodford (edited 12-10-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Bruce Woodford (edited 12-10-2001).]
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