I though this concern you had was worth a whole post of its own:
QUOTE: Honestly, I have been a little frusterated lately. We have been part of a house church for going on 2 years this summer. The first year or so was mostly a fun adventure- figuring out how to do church interactively, watching myself, and others grow spiritualy in the process, seeing a couple neighbors come to the Lord. But recently, it seems we have been struggling more- some have moved back to big church for different reasons, the new believers amoung us split their time between big church and house church for different reasons. I guess I had envisioned that by this time we would be looking at multiplication rather than the current reality. The good part about it is that it has begun to drive me to my knees. Prayer has never been a strength of mine, but is starting to become more of one.
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I agree somewhat with John2, that some fresh infusion might be beneficial.
A few thoughts of other things, besides hiring a venue, I have:
-An elder's meeting of men to discuss "the next step for this fellowship" would be most appropriate. Every person who has been attending your fellowship could host a gathering in their own home, and it's time for that to happen.
- A large gathering with a "guest speaker" on house church might be beneficial It seems that there are questions about house church that haven't been answered. I am SURE you can answer all their questions! However, bringing in an outsider often allows people to ask questions they don't want to "feel like a dummy" about, and allows a longer answer than with co-believers in the same fellowship. There are "Church Planting Coaches" scattered all over the country, and I can help you find one. The best source of an "outside the box" CPer would be either the International Missions Board (of the Southern Baptists) or a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement coordinator. Also, North America Dawn, but they are advocating something a bit more structured than what I want to see (but, then again, who's asking me? )
- A large group meeting with some other purpose, such as baptism, the Lord's supper ( a "special" one for teaching, etc...")
- A special guest to talk about missions, Gen Y believers, the towns Red Light District, the neighborhood's homeless populations... just, anything, really, that would be of a concern and where you could model "applying God's word in a relevant way".
These are some small ideas for an excuse to gather the scattered flock. Once you have them together, it is important to try to figure out what their problem is: Is it theological? Are they not convinced that House Church IS the New Testament way? Are they missing social activity? Are they not taking responsibility for their own spiritual growth at home, and therefore not growing "blaming" the house church model? Even some kind of written survey worded so that people say what they think of their house church experience so far would be helpful.
I can't tell you how much it means to have people understand where we are at!!! And then be willing to give practical advice and even better, to pray for us!!! That goes for you too, John2- Thank you both!!!
I can see that we need to get the group leaders together and pray about these options, and any others that the Lord brings up. I am especially feeling that we need to network better.
I guess this all brings up another issue that I am struggling with. We have talked about being led by the Spirit in our own personal lives (on this forum). I believe wholeheartedly in this relational, organic way of seeing how God works in our lives- He has personaly changed my own lfe in this step by step way of being open to whatever he is currently wanting to do in my life. This of course involves obedience and self-control, but in a way that is based on relationship with Him, vs. following any sort of formula, or set of rules. My question is- doesn't this also apply to the way we do "church"? By the way we are a part of the expansion of the kingdom of God? As a church, how do we not either become lazy, or on the flip side go forward in a man-centered way? If any of what I just wrote makes sense to anyone, please feel free to comment .
I guess this all brings up another issue that I am struggling with. We have talked about being led by the Spirit in our own personal lives (on this forum). I believe wholeheartedly in this relational, organic way of seeing how God works in our lives- He has personaly changed my own lfe in this step by step way of being open to whatever he is currently wanting to do in my life. This of course involves obedience and self-control, but in a way that is based on relationship with Him, vs. following any sort of formula, or set of rules. My question is- doesn't this also apply to the way we do "church"?
I agree, Jeanne. But I would put out there that after "individual leading" would come "family leading", _then_ "family of faith" leading.
I know that you have a family-centered philosophy, but I don't know whether you have been thinking of the family as a unit of the church in this way? I think if we skip this, that's where a lot of dissension comes from, because the various families can't fit their "body part" into the bigger body, if they haven't discovered their family's gifting as a unit, and haven't learned to have their family functioning as a body.
I am not at all saying we have perfected this - this is another area we have to detox in, after a life of self-leading, and institutional dictatorship. But, for what it is worth, this is something we've been spending time with - we even have a diagram of our "family's vision statement".
I'm glad you were encouraged by what I've shared so far. You are such a great fellow-disciple, spurring us all on to good works!
I am a bit unsure that I know what you mean exactly by "family leading". One of the things about being in an HC that I have liked the most has been it's effect on our kids- and others kids as well. I have found that they have much fewer church hangups and therefore have insight that often brings us adults back to the heart of God. HC has definately brought us closer as a family. But are you saying that we will have certain spiritual gifts as a family- like evangelism, or teaching; Or each family member have different gifts that work together? How exactly can a family function as a body? Can you give me an example of a family vision statement?
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Yes, Jeanne, I see that family's have a "personality", a blend of gifts that means they, together, are especially good at something.
In our case, our best gifts are Exhortation and Prophesy, and our best talent is music.With the first two, back when we were still in the IC, pastors always gushed about what an encouragement we were. We always had a servant attitude, and always gave them a good word when they needed it most. We helped many people find their gifts, get through trials, strengthened them, equipped other workers, and so on.
In music,we have been told numerous times that while we are "naturally talented" individually (Jeff and I both performed semi-professionally before we got together) that "something special happens" when we do music together. People are drawn to the Lord by more than just the music, and attracted to us by more than just how good we sound. We've had people just weeping in our living room as we have a sing-along, for no other reason that they feel "loved and accepted".
So now, we as a family are trying to figure out "what does ministry through music look like" outside of the IC context. We are experimenting.
Our other family focus is missions. Several of our family members seem to have an "apostolic calling", but once again, we are working through that now in the new way of doing the Kingdom.
My personal mission statement, which encompasses how I minister to and through my family is, and how I evaluate use of our time, talents and treasures is, "My home a beach-head for the Kingdom of God. My Family a Resistance Movement against the Kingdom of Darkness."
As for you, you specifically have mentioned leading people to Christ. THAT IS AMAZING in the American house church context. Just amazing!
I don't know whether your gift is just for you to evangelize, yourselves, or whether you have the ability to train others to do the same. Can you lead people to Christ and place new converts into other people's homes for discipling, like Paul did with Jason? Or can you go into other people's homes and lead their friends and families to Christ, like Peter did with Cornelius? How are your new converts doing in sharing the gospel with their circle of influence? Should you focus on that and let the older IC-oriented believers move on and get out of your way?
In other words, you look at how God has used you and find ways to expand on that. Let others so what they are good at. This doesn't mean we won't do ALL the things Jesus told "the church" to do, but it means we use our anointed gifts as the "point of leverage" through which we do everything else.
What I mean by that, is for example, that since we are way better at encouraging and equipping the saints than we are at evangelizing the lost. So, we focus on "equipping other people who have the gift of evangelism". Of course, we share the gospel at every opportunity, but I keep in mind people who have "the gift" and introduce them to people who have the need whenever I get the chance.
I bet if you sat down and did a very quick evaluation of the families in your community, you'd see patterns of how God used them in relation to one another. You can look at each individual, then at the family and see how they have been used. There is a family in our community who are good with money, so they meet with people with financial problems. We just send them on over! Another family is really good at farming and food production. We send our young people there to help with fencing and planting, and they learn good work skills along the way. One family has active boys, so we play there when the kids just plain old need to run off some energy.
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No, no- it is not too much! Again- thank you for taking the time and being vulnerable enough to share from your own personal experience! It really is so helpful in clarifying!
I just talked a bit with my husband about some of this- and also what John2 wrote (again, thank you too, John, for sharing personaly).
It is interesting that you brought up evangelism- we have taken gifts tests (as all involved ICers probably have:)), and Glen has tested evangelist, but I have not. As I look at it though, I can see how together we are more effective evangelists than he would be alone, and that our kids add to our effectiveness even more. Glen can bring up a spiritual conversation at the drop of a hat- and in a way that is completely natural and unoffensive to unbelievers. I think I have a way about me that puts people at ease and makes them feel accepted and loved and can often see through to the heart of the issue with people, so can add a lot to a spiritual discussion once Glen has started it. One of the women who has come to the Lord on our street refers to me as Jeanne the baptist with her AA friends because she says that like John the B., I helped prepare her to meet Christ. This makes me a bit uncomfortable- but it is very sweet! She and another woman on our street who has come to the Lord like to tell how it was how our family related to eachother that first began to draw them to the Lord- that was something that they wanted. So in this way the kids have added as well. I think both Glen and I are also teachers- although there were more avenues to use this in the IC than there is now I think. But I am probably wrong, and as you say- we probably just need to be more intentional as a family to seek the Lord for guidance in how He might use us collectively.
Thank you for allowing me to think out loud like this- I can see Laurie Ann how you are gifted in exhortation!
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