Home Church Proof Texting

Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house. Colossians 4:15

Hey all, as you are aware there are several New Testament verses often cited as certain "home church" proof texts.

Is this necessarily so? Could not the writers have been casually greeting the Christians in a particular household without regard to a meeting framework? A large household which might have included servants and extended family members?

We have repeatedly heard in the most emphatic terms that: "The church is not the building but the people." True, I thought everyone knew that. However, the Scriptures are full of imagery and metaphors. In the Old Testament, for example - the family of David is repeatedly called the HOUSE of David.

I've been amazed at how the New Testament writers often used words already in use and imported them into the life and leadership of the churches. Instead of creating new theological terminology.

For me, house meetings are definitely preferred. I cannot not see, however, where they are commanded nor forbidden. 

I just don't want to read things into the Scriptures which are not there.

Interestingly, there was a point in church history where the Lord's Supper was forbidden to be "celebrated" in private homes without the presence of a Bishop. I'll have to look that up...